Always 8 Baccarat Game Review, Strategy and How to Play

Introduction To Always 8 Baccarat

Always 8 Baccarat is a new spin on the traditional game of Baccarat. Evolution keeps developing innovative ways to attract and retain players, and Always 8 Baccarat is their latest baccarat variant to try to do that.

Who’d have thought that giving one hand, the Banker, a head start in the game by always making the first card an Eight would prove popular and allow players to think they can win while the house can still make a profit?

This game is innovation at its best and something Evolution does exceptionally well.

In this review, I’ll explain how to play Always 8 Baccarat, compare it to existing Baccarat games, and give my verdict on whether it’s worth playing. I’ve also included a video where I play a few hands and explain some of its idiosyncrasies.

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What You Need To Know About Always 8 Baccarat

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know before playing Always 8 Baccarat.

• The Banker’s first card is always an eight.
• Eight decks of fifty-two playing cards are used in Always 8 Baccarat.
• A continuous shuffling machine holds the cards and provides a fresh shoe for each new hand.
• The Bankers Pairs side bet will only win on a pair of Eights.
• The Player payout is 1.48:1, and a Banker win pays 0.62:1
• Player’s bets are retuned in the event of a Tie.
• There is no commission on Banker wins.
• The RTP is 98.29%.
• The game is rapid as all cards are played face up.

Traditional Baccarat is a card game in which players bet on one of two positions: the Player or the Banker—the position with a hand total closest to or equal to nine wins.

This game traditionally pays 1:1 for a Player win and 0.95:1 for a Banker win. Each hand receives two cards, and a third is dealt depending on whether it meets the Third Card Rule criteria.

The rules for playing Always 8 Baccarat remain the same as those for the traditional game. The payouts, however, have changed, as has the way the first card to the Banker is played.

The Banker now always receives an Eight as his first card. The remaining cards for the hands are dealt as normal.

The payouts for the Player have been increased to 1.48:1, while the Banker payout has been reduced to 0.62:1.

The side bet offered is Pairs.

You can bet on the Player’s Side or the Banker’s Side.

The Player pair pays 11:1, while the Banker pair pays 10:1. This is for any pair, coloured, mixed or the same; there is no differentiation between them; they all pay the same – which is not standard with this type of bet.

The RTP is a shocking 89.64% for the Player Pair and 84.62% for the Banker. The Banker is lower because the Banker can only win with a pair of eights – as the first card he’s dealt is always eight!

Baccarat is traditionally a game where players use superstition and past results to help them determine what’s likely to happen in the future and, therefore, how to place bets to win.

For that reason, Baccarat Roadmaps were developed to record the game’s results. Two roads, the Bead Road and the Big Road record the actual results and trends. The Big Eye Road, Small Road, and Cockroach Road are derived from the Big Road, which provides an alternative way of viewing the results.

All in all, there’s a complete set of data that some players find helpful. Interpreting the roads is down to the individual, so no matter who you ask, you will likely get a different prediction on what to bet on next.

Notwithstanding, Always 8 Baccarat has a complete set of roadmaps in the playing interface.

Strategy Betting on Always 8 Baccarat

I will not tell you I know a strategy to ensure you’ll win because there isn’t.

I use a strategy that helps me play for a long time, so that’s all I can show you.

I like to bet on trends. While it’s tempting to bet on the Player Position because it has the best payout, the fact that the Banker’s hand always starts with eight and there are more ten cards in the dealing shoe than any other, the odds of the Banker winning more often is higher.

A natural 8 is an instant winner, regardless of what the Player gets, and that’s the reason why Banker payouts are only 0.62:1.

So, my strategy looks at the last results, and I bet on that position again until I lose.

When I lose, I switch to the opposite position and double my bet. If I win, I reduce my bet and keep betting on that position until I lose. Then I switch, double my bet and start again.

The risk with this approach is a run of losing hands—say four or more—because by now, your bet is 16 times higher than when you started (for four losing hands).

This element is the Martingale Strategy and not one to follow for many hands.

Baccarat is a high-roller game because you don’t win much unless you bet large sums. Before playing, make sure you’re comfortable with your bet amounts and managing your bankroll.

The RTP for the Player position is 98.02%, while the Banker has an RTP of 98.29%.

When you play, you must decide whether the more attractive RTP of the Banker position, 0.27%, is worth more than the extra 0.86:1 the Player position payout offers.

The RTP for a Tie bet, paying 9:1, is 95.89%, which is far superior to either of the Pair’s side bets!

There are some differences between Standard Baccarat and Always 8 Baccarat. I do not include the other variants, such as Lightning Baccarat, Prosperity Tree Baccarat, etc., as these have specific differences that make them very different games.

Always 8 Baccarat is the closest variant to regular Baccarat. The main playing rule change is that the dealer’s first Card is always an 8.

The paytable has changed accordingly, with the Player payout benefitting from 1:1 to 1.48:1. The Banker position does less well, reducing from 0.95:1 to 0.62:1.

The RTP for the game is also lower at 98.29%, while regular Baccarat is 98.94%.

The Tie bet remains the same at 9:1, but while the payout for the pair side bet is roughly the same at 11:1/10:1, the RTP is dramatically reduced to 84.62% for the Banker. It’s not a bet to play!

Besides those minor differences, the game plays much more in the Banker’s favour.

I thought Baccarat was notably untouchable regarding variants of the game. I didn’t know it was possible to modify such a simple game without it becoming overly complicated. How wrong I’ve been!

And now, we have Always 8 Baccarat, which gives the Banker an eight as his first card in every game! That’s just stupid. Of course, by doing that, he’s bound to win more hands than the Player, especially as the dealing shoe has more ten cards than any other. He’ll be getting natural eights and nines all the time?

But here’s the thing – he doesn’t, and when he does, he’s paid 0.62:1, whereas the Player position gets paid 1.48:1. That’s 2.38 times more than the Banker.

I’ve learned that you can make a small profit if you manage your bankroll carefully and get a run of results on Player with a higher payout.

The playing rules and roadmaps are all the same. Only the payouts are different, so you haven’t got to adapt your existing game to play.

It’s crazy, I know, but Always 8 Baccarat works.

One more thing: keep away from the pair side bet. If you want some side bet action, play the Tie bet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How is Always 8 Baccarat Different From Regular Baccarat?

As the name suggests, in Always 8 Baccarat, the dealer’s first card is always an eight. The Player initially receives two cards from the shoe, and the dealer one before play continues if the third card rule comes into effect.

Are there any new rules in Always 8 Baccarat?

The rules are the same as regular Baccarat. The hand closest to or equal to a value of Nine wins.

How easy is Always 8 Baccarat to Play?

Baccarat is very easy to play. Players don’t have to make any decisions during a game round except for which playing position to bet: Player, Banker or Tie.

Are the Roadmaps the Same in Always 8 Baccarat?

The Baccarat Roadmaps are the same. Two of the Roads record the results of each game round, while three more are derived from the Big Road, giving an alternative view of what has happened.

Can I play Side bets in Always 8 Baccarat?

There is one optional side bet, Pairs. You can bet on a Player Pair or Banker Pair. The Banker can only ever make a Pair of Eights, as his first card is always an eight!

Where Can I play Always 8 Baccarat?

You can play Always 8 Baccarat at any Evolution Live Casino. My current favourite is Playojo.

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