Hi there brother Milhouse, I am not a baccarat player but know the game a bit years ago when I was a gambling addicts - on roulette! But that's a different life time .
Gamble responsively is what I like to say to me but too easy to say and very hard to do whether you are on a winning row or losing street !
And you said sometimes you have the biggest bet on the table - good luck and let's be careful out there !
It's perfectly ok to either let the dealer open your cards or just throw them open in one go a la James Bond style , it's your money, your cards and you decide !
You mention when you win on the bankers sometime they only pay you half, you sure that's not the 5% commission taken out ?
Or sometimes after a drawn hand, the players are allowed to place an opposite bet equal to the first bet to get his money back ?
Last but not least, if the whole table are betting on say the banker and you bet on player. Of course they are going to give you the look as you are betting against them !
The same situation , but happens a lot on baccarat table is that you follow some big bets players for a few hands, won some money and walk - that's what I do . Of you can see which player keep losing, then you bet the opposite on him and try to win, but this act is usually considered Not in the good spirit or table manner ! It's best when the whole table all win !
Just my two cents
Cheers
Ps. Come to think of it, there could be a new house rule at Star only that if a certain hand occurs with the banker, you win. But only half is paid. Other more experienced brothers please advise !