Perfect strategy III: the most fun per dollar
Spend your budget where the thrills are cheapest.
Open this lesson in baccaratton — free, play money
Not everybody plays to lose as little as possible. Many people play for the big moments: a 30 to 1 Dragon Bonus, a tie at 8 to 1, a run of Paroli wins. That's fine. This chapter is about getting the most of those moments for each dollar the evening costs.
Here's what each $5 side bet buys in an hour (72 hands), next to what it costs:
| $5 side bet | Big win | Big wins per hour (avg) | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Bonus, Player | 30:1 / 10:1 / 6:1 (wins by 9, 8, 7) | 2.0 (all three) | $9.55 |
| Tie 9:1 (if offered) | 9:1 | 6.9 | $17.44 |
| Dragon 7 (EZ) | 40:1 | 1.6 | $27.40 |
| Panda 8 (EZ) | 25:1 | 2.5 | $36.68 |
| Player Pair | 11:1 | 5.4 | $37.30 |
| Tie 8:1 | 8:1 | 6.9 | $51.69 |
The fun-per-dollar plan:
- Base: flat Banker at a unit you're happy with (or EZ Banker).
- If you want side action, start with Dragon Bonus on Player: it costs about a quarter of a Pair bet for the same stake.
- If you like Tie, find 9 to 1, or bet it rarely and small.
- If you like systems, pick a win-rider (Paroli or 1-3-2-6) at a small unit. Skip loss-chasers.
- Budget the hour, not the hand: "$10 Banker + $5 Dragon Bonus Player ≈ $17 an hour" is a plan you can check against your wallet.
An example evening of 3 hours:
| Plan | Cost per hour | 3 hours |
|---|---|---|
| $10 Banker | $7.62 | $22.85 |
| $10 Banker + $5 Dragon Bonus Player | $17.16 | $51.49 |
| $10 Banker + $5 Tie (8:1) | $59.31 | $177.93 |
| $10 Martingale on Banker | $25.32 | $75.96 |
Quiz
You want a side bet for excitement at the lowest price. Which one?
- Player Pair
- Tie 8:1
- Dragon Bonus on Player
- Lucky 6
Show the answer
C: Dragon Bonus on Player. 2.65%: about $9.55 an hour at $5.
Quiz
$10 Banker plus $5 Dragon Bonus Player for 2 hours costs on average about…
- $15
- $34
- $60
- $120
Show the answer
B: $34. $17.16 an hour × 2 ≈ $34.33.
Quiz
Which kind of system fits a fun-per-dollar plan best?
- Martingale
- Labouchère
- Paroli at a small unit
- D'Alembert
Show the answer
C: Paroli at a small unit. Win-riders raise only with winnings and cost the least of the systems.