live dealer baccarat, any tips for someone just starting out?

so i usually stick to slots or blackjack when i jump on live tables, but tried baccarat for the first time tonight and felt like i was just flipping coins. i get the main idea, bank vs player, but all those weird side bets keep throwing me off. don’t really wanna burn through my bankroll trying every side thing they throw on the felt.

some folks say there’s like, trends or patterns to spot but it all looks random as anything to me. maybe i’m missing something basic? only read the quick-start how-to when i sat down. felt like every bet was just hoping for the right outcome and moving chips. is there something obvious i should know to avoid dumb mistakes, or is it literally just about picking one side and sticking with it? anyone else start out and figure out some rhythm or is it always just 50/50 noise?