Evolution switches gears with Live Dealer Speed Baccarat

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Just a few short weeks ago, players were singing the praises of Evolution Gaming‘s new Live Dealer Baccarat Controlled Squeeze. Incredibly popular with the more superstitious variety of gamblers, the squeeze effect makes this form of live baccarat one of the slowest you’ll find. On the heels of that launch, Evolution has switched into high gear, now launching a new Live Dealer Baccarat Speed.

How do you make baccarat move along at the fastest possible pace? By doing everything that the Controlled Squeeze version doesn’t. All cards are dealt face-up for instant recognition by players, the video stream is limited to just one camera angle, and player’s have less time to get all their wagers in before the hand proceeds.

Live Dealer Baccarat – Decisions, Decisions!

In the old days, baccarat was considered one of the easiest, low-house-edge games to play in any casino. There was but a single decision to be made, and it wasn’t a difficult one. Should you bet on the Player, or the Banker?

There’s not even a question as to whether you should bet on the Tie. That’s a sucker bet and anyone with half a brain cell knows it.

Based on the house edge, the Banker bet is the proper choice, carrying a house edge of 1.064%. The house edge on a Player bet is slightly worse at 1.228%. (And yes, those figures include the cost of 5% commission on winning Banker bets).

But now, with so many different varieties of live baccarat popping up, there are more decisions to be made than ever. So many questions arise – so many decisions to be made – and everyone wants to make the ‘right‘ choice.

So we ask… Is there any advantage to playing at slow or fast pace? And does the superstition behind squeezing the baccarat cards having any real baring on a player’s odds of winning?

Live Speed Baccarat vs. Controlled Squeeze

In Baccarat Squeeze, all cards are dealt face down. Squeezing the cards means that the edges of some of the cards will be shown, but only the suits along those edges are revealed, not the actual numbers. This gives players a hint as to what the number might be.

However, by this time, all bets are already placed. Knowing the numbers won’t have any actual baring on the outcome of the hand. The superstitious belief is that a player can somehow mentally impact the actual number on the card before it is revealed.

Thus, theoretically speaking, there is no advantage to live dealer baccarat with a squeeze. What Controlled Squeeze games do provide is an added element of suspense and entertainment, and the slower pace has it’s benefits as well. More on that in a moment…

As for live baccarat speed games, the only real difference is that the cards are played face up, making for a much faster game. The odds of a Banker, Player or Tie bet winning do not change in the slightest.

What does change, however, is the rapidity of a player’s wins/losses. Let’s not forget that the house always has an advantage. That means that, odds are, you will lose some money before your session is over. As the name suggests, playing Baccarat Speed is only going to speed up the rate at which the casino expects to win your money.