Dragon Tiger Dragon Tiger
A card game where one card is placed on each of the Dragon and Tiger spots and you bet on which is higher. It's a one-card version of Baccarat, and if the cards tie, Dragon and Tiger bets lose half.
| English | Dragon Tiger |
|---|---|
| Classification | Basics & Betting Terms |
| Category | Card table game (house bank) |
| Cards | Usually a 6 to 8 deck shoe |
| Card ranking | Ace is lowest, King is highest |
| Main bets | Dragon, Tiger, Tie, Suited Tie |
| House edge | Dragon/Tiger 3.73% (8 decks, half lost on a Tie) |
| Similar game | Baccarat |
Overview
Dragon Tiger is a game where one card is dealt to the “Dragon” spot and one to the “Tiger” spot, and you bet on which side has the higher number. There’s no third-card rule and no point calculation, so a single card decides the round and a hand ends in a few seconds. Several live casino providers offer their own versions, so side bet payouts differ a little from provider to provider.
Rules at a glance
- A shoe of 6 to 8 decks is usually used. The analysis here is generally based on 8 decks.
- Ace is the lowest card, and the order goes 2, 3, …, 10, J, Q, then K as the highest. Suits don’t affect the ranking.
- One card is dealt to Dragon and one to Tiger, and a bet on the higher side wins 1:1.
- If both cards have the same value, it’s a Tie. In that case, bets on Dragon and Tiger lose half.
House edge by bet
These are values calculated by Wizard of Odds based on 8 decks. Tie payouts vary by provider and table, so check the paytable first even if the game has the same name.
| Bet | Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|
| Dragon / Tiger | 1:1 (half lost on a Tie) | 3.73% |
| Tie | 8:1 | 32.77% |
| Tie | 10:1 | 17.83% |
| Tie | 11:1 | 10.36% |
| Suited Tie (same value and suit) | 50:1 | 13.98% |
| Big / Small (over or under 7, a 7 loses) | 1:1 | 7.69% |
Depending on whether the Tie pays 8:1 or 11:1, the house edge differs by more than three times. Odd/Even side bets also have different rules and payouts depending on the provider.
Compared with Baccarat
| Item | Dragon Tiger | Baccarat |
|---|---|---|
| Number of cards | 1 card per spot | 2 to 3 cards per spot |
| Score | Card rank as is | Last digit of the total |
| Tie handling | Half of the main bet is lost | Main bet is returned |
| Typical house edge | 3.73% | Banker 1.06%, Player 1.24% |
The flow of the game is similar to Baccarat, but because you lose half on a tie, the house edge on the main bets is higher than in Baccarat. You can read about the house edge concept in the House Edge article.