Baccarat is the card game of choice for high rollers in opulent casinos. It exudes sophistication, evoking images of men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns laying down chips as the dealer distributes cards. But don’t let the mystique of this thrilling game intimidate you – it’s easy to learn and fun to play. The rules are simple, and with a little practice you can be a winner in no time.

The game begins with players putting down their chips in the betting area. There are from seven to 14 seats for players and a banker’s space. The dealer deals two cards to each hand, the Player’s and the Banker’s. The goal is to get a hand closer to nine than the opposite hand. Picture cards and tens count as zero points, while numbers from 2-9 are worth their face value. Aces count as one point. A hand must total eight or nine to win; if the total goes over that number, the first digit is dropped.

Depending on your preferences, you can bet on either the Banker or Player’s hand. A bet on the Banker predicts that the Banker’s hand will have a higher value than the Player’s. A bet on the Tie predicts that both hands will have a close-to-nine point total. A bet on the Banker is preferred because it pays out 1:1, while a bet on the Player only pays if the hand wins.

To maximize your profits, follow a baccarat winning strategy. One popular system is the Paroli System, which works by increasing your wager size after each loss and decreasing it after each win. For example, if your initial wager is $10, you increase it to $20 after each loss and return to the original bet size after a win. This strategy minimizes your risk of large losses and is a great way to build up your bankroll.

The best online casinos have a rule sheet that is easy to find and accessible. It will remind you of when to hit or stand, and how payouts for tie and side bets work. It will also list the minimum and maximum bet amounts and the odds of winning each type of bet. This is a handy tool to have, especially when playing live baccarat.

Another advantage of online baccarat is that you can choose how many decks the game will use. Though the house edge isn’t drastically affected by the amount of decks used, every little bit helps. The best online baccarat sites offer standard 8-deck games.