Baccarat scorecards and roads: tracking past results
Baccarat tables show past results on scorecards and screens called roads. Players use them to spot streaks and patterns, but each hand is independent and the house edge stays the same.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Road | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Bead plate | Every result in order |
| Big road | Streaks of Banker or Player in columns |
| Big eye boy | Whether the big road is repeating |
| Small road | A second derived pattern |
| Cockroach road | A third derived pattern |
Key numbers
Roads in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- Roads record what happened; they cannot tell you what comes next.
- A long Banker streak does not make Player more likely.
- Derived roads compare columns of the big road, not the cards.
- Many players enjoy roads for tracking; the bets cost the same either way.
On the felt
Results that build a road
Hand 1: Banker wins
Banker 9 — a red mark
Hand 2: Banker wins
Streak continues down the column
Hand 3: Player wins
New column, blue mark
The big road starts a new column each time the winner changes.
How often streaks happen in 80 hands (rough)
| Streak | How often |
|---|---|
| 4 in a row | Several times a shoe |
| 6 in a row | About once a shoe |
| 8 in a row | A few times in ten shoes |
Streaks are normal in random sequences.
Reading the big road
Red circles mark Banker wins and blue mark Player. A new column starts when the winner changes. Ties are marked with a line through the last circle.
Long columns are "dragons". Alternating short columns are "chops".
Common pattern names
| Name | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Dragon | A long streak of one side |
| Chop | Banker and Player alternating |
| Two-cut | Pairs: BB PP BB |
| Ping pong | One-one alternation |
Names vary by casino and region.
Why patterns do not predict
The cards in the shoe decide each hand. A result does not change the next hand’s chances in a meaningful way.
Card removal effects exist but are tiny, far too small to beat the edge.
Sequence
Using a scorecard for fun
Step 01
Take a card and pencil
Tables provide them.
Step 02
Mark each result
B, P or T.
Step 03
Watch the screen
It draws every road for you.
Step 04
Bet your plan
Banker is still the lowest-edge bet.
Why casinos show roads
Roads keep players engaged and give them a reason to stay through a shoe. They also help players feel in control.
The screens are a service, not a hint. Casinos would not show them if they changed the odds.
Floor rules
Road terms
Know before you sit
- Road
- A chart of past results.
- Dragon
- A long streak.
- Chop
- Alternating results.
- Bead plate
- The simplest road: results in order.
Streaks are expected
In an 80-hand shoe, a streak of six or more for one side happens in most shoes. Players see that on the big road and read it as a pattern.
A random sequence produces runs like that all the time. Seeing them is normal, not a signal. Long chops of alternating results are just as common as long streaks.
Common mistakes
- Betting against long streaks
- A streak does not make the other side due.
- Chasing ties after a gap
- Ties are not due either, and the tie bet costs about 14.4%.
- Raising bets on patterns
- Bigger bets just raise your expected loss.
- Believing derived roads predict
- They compare past columns; they cannot see future cards.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
What are baccarat roads?
Charts of past results shown on table screens. The bead plate, big road and derived roads are the most common.
Do baccarat patterns work?
No. Each hand is close to independent, and patterns do not change the odds of the next hand.
What is a dragon in baccarat?
A long streak of Banker or Player wins, shown as a long column on the big road. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Reading roads
What are derived roads?
Big eye boy, small road and cockroach road. They compare columns of the big road to show repetition.
How are ties shown?
Usually as a green line through the last circle on the big road, or a green bead on the bead plate.
Why do players use scorecards?
Many enjoy tracking results and following a personal plan. It adds structure without changing the odds.
03Betting
Should I bet with or against a streak?
Neither changes the odds. Banker remains the best bet at about 1.06%. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Are roads shown online?
Yes. Live dealer baccarat usually shows all five roads on screen. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
Do card counters use roads?
No. Counting needs card values, and the gain in baccarat is too small to matter.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Baccarat Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER