Quick Answer: What Do Baccarat Scoreboards Show?
Baccarat scoreboards (also called “roads” or “roadmaps”) show:
- whether Banker or Player won each hand
- when ties happened
- whether outcomes repeated (streaks) or alternated (chop)
They help you track results. They do not change the odds of the next hand.
If you want the full big-picture guide first, start here: The Complete Guide To Baccarat.
Why Baccarat Has So Many Different Roadmaps
Baccarat is a fast game. In a long session, it’s hard to remember what happened five hands ago.
Scoreboards solve that by:
- organizing outcomes visually
- highlighting streaks and chops
- giving players a “story” to follow
Casinos also like them because they keep players engaged. People pay more attention when they feel like they’re “reading” the table.
The One Thing To Know Before You Read Any Road
No matter how fancy the board looks, it’s all built from the same base data:
- Banker win
- Player win
- Tie
Everything else is just a different way to display that history.
If you understand the Big Road, the others get easier.
The Bead Plate (The Simplest Baccarat Scoreboard)
The Bead Plate is usually the easiest to read.
It’s basically a running list of outcomes, placed into a grid.
What The Bead Plate Shows
- Each circle = one hand
- Color indicates Banker or Player
- Ties are usually marked with a small symbol or different color
Why Players Like It
- it’s fast
- it’s simple
- it shows the full sequence without “grouping”
If you’re brand new, the Bead Plate is the best place to start.
The Big Road (The Main Baccarat Roadmap)
The Big Road is the one most players treat like “the real board.”
It groups results into columns to show streaks.
How The Big Road Works (Simple Version)
- If Banker keeps winning, the marks stack downward in one column
- If the winner switches to Player, you move to a new column
- The same logic applies for Player streaks
So the Big Road makes streaks obvious:
- long vertical columns = streaks
- many short columns = chop (switching back and forth)
What About Ties On The Big Road?
Ties usually do not create a new mark position the same way. Instead, they are often shown as a small symbol added onto the existing result.
So the Big Road is mainly about Banker vs Player streak shape.
Big Eye Boy, Small Road, And Cockroach Road (The “Derived Roads”)
These roads look confusing because they’re not direct outcomes like “Banker won.”
They are “roads about the road.”
In plain English:
They look at the Big Road and ask:
- “Is this pattern repeating?”
- “Is the table behaving consistently?”
They then mark that as:
- more “stable” looking, or
- more “chaotic” looking
This is where a lot of players fall into the prediction trap.
Big Eye Boy (The First Derived Road)
The Big Eye Boy is usually the first “pattern road” shown next to the Big Road.
What It Tries To Indicate
It compares parts of the Big Road to see if the structure is consistent.
Players interpret it as:
- “trend” behavior vs “chop” behavior
But remember: it’s still based on history only.
Small Road (Another Pattern Road)
The Small Road is similar to Big Eye Boy, but it uses a slightly different comparison point.
What It Tries To Indicate
It’s another attempt to measure whether the Big Road structure is repeating or breaking.
Players often treat it like “confirmation,” but it’s still derived from the same past outcomes.
Cockroach Road (The Most Dramatic Looking One)
The Cockroach Road is the one with diagonal slashes that looks intense.
It’s another derived road.
What It Tries To Indicate
It’s basically another “consistency vs change” marker, displayed in a more dramatic way.
It looks like it’s screaming “GO NOW,” which is why people love it.
But it still cannot predict the next hand.
Why These Roads Feel Predictive (Even When They Aren’t)
This happens for two reasons:
1) Baccarat Has Real Streaks
Streaks happen naturally in random sequences. When a streak shows up, the Big Road looks “right,” and players feel the board is working.
2) Your Brain Wants Patterns
Humans are pattern machines. When you see a clean column or repeated structure, your brain assumes it means something.
But baccarat outcomes are not controlled by the scoreboard.
How To Use Baccarat Scoreboards The Smart Way
You can use scoreboards in a helpful way if you keep expectations realistic.
Use Them For Tracking, Not Predicting
Good uses:
- tracking Banker vs Player frequency in your session
- spotting when you’re starting to chase
- knowing how long you’ve been playing without counting hands
Bad uses:
- betting bigger because “two roads agree”
- switching sides every hand because the board “shifted”
- treating the Cockroach Road like a signal
If you want to understand why outcomes don’t become “due” (and why the odds don’t change just because a pattern looks strong), read Understanding Natural Wins In Baccarat.
Common Scoreboard Mistakes Beginners Make
Mistake 1: Thinking Patterns Create Future Odds
Past results don’t change the next deal.
Mistake 2: Switching Bets Too Often
Changing sides constantly usually increases mistakes and emotional betting.
Mistake 3: Using The Board To Justify Chasing
Many players don’t chase because they’re angry. They chase because the board gave them a story.
Mistake 4: Treating Derived Roads Like A Secret System
Big Eye Boy, Small Road, and Cockroach Road are not secret forecasts. They are just alternate ways to display Big Road history.
A Simple Rule For Using Roadmaps Without Losing Control
If you want one rule that saves bankroll:
Never increase your bet size because of the scoreboard.
If you want to use the board for entertainment, fine. Just keep your bet sizing stable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Baccarat Bead Plate?
It’s a simple scoreboard that shows each hand’s result in order, placed into a grid. It’s the easiest roadmap to read.
What Does The Big Road Mean In Baccarat?
The Big Road groups outcomes into columns to show streaks. Runs stack in the same column; switches move to a new column.
What Is The Cockroach Road In Baccarat?
It’s a derived roadmap that reflects changes in Big Road structure. It looks dramatic but it does not predict outcomes.
Do Baccarat Scoreboards Predict The Next Hand?
No. Scoreboards display past results. They can look predictive during streaks, but they don’t change the odds of the next hand.
Should I Change My Bets Based On The Road?
It’s usually a bad idea. The safest approach is choosing a main bet and sticking to your bankroll rules.
Where To Go Next
You now know what baccarat scoreboards are, what each roadmap shows, and why they feel predictive even though they can’t forecast the next hand.
Next, it’s time to learn how players interpret streaks and patterns on these boards, and where that thinking goes wrong.
Continue with How To Interpret Streaks & Patterns In Baccarat Scorecards.
