Baccarat is often associated with high-stakes games in high-roller rooms of casino tables, but it’s actually one of the simplest casino card games to learn and play. Players place their chips on either the banker hand, player hand, or a tie before a round begins. The game then proceeds in a slow, ritualistic manner. The winner of the game is the hand that is closest to nine points. A bet on the banker will win more often than a bet on the player. However, it is important to remember that the game’s house edge is higher when betting on the banker than on the player.

The dealer passes out two cards face up to each of the two gaming spaces at the Baccarat table-the banker’s space and the player’s space. The players who placed bets on those two hands then determine whether they think that one of those hands will win. The game is dealt from a six- or eight-deck shoe. All tens and face cards equal nine points, and all other cards equal their pip value.

After the game has ended, the winning hand is declared. The winning banker or player hand is the one that comes closer to a total of nine than the other hand. The game’s rules differ slightly depending on if you are playing the “punto banco” or the “chemin de fer” version of the game. The chemin de fer rules allow the player to take a third card when playing a Player or Banker bet.

The player can also make a Super Six or Pair Bet, which are additional bets made alongside the initial bet amount. A Super Six bet pays out if the Banker’s first two cards equal 6, and a Pair bet pays out if the Player’s first two cards are a pair. These bets can significantly increase a player’s payout potential in the game, but they come with an increased risk of losing their entire bankroll in a single cycle.

As with all casino games, it’s essential to play within your bankroll. Never bet more money than you can afford to lose, and always be sure that you have enough funds left to gamble for a long time if you go on a bad streak. This advice applies to any game, but it’s especially important when you’re gambling at a casino.

Before Baccarat became the high-stakes game of choice in 21st century casinos, it was played in offline or land-based casinos on a table that is about the size of a craps table. The game gained national fame in 1909 when a court case that involved the future King Edward VII resulted in the public’s first exposure to its rules and strategy. The game has since become a fixture in many European and Nevada casinos, where it is still popular with high-rollers. It’s also available online, so you can experience its thrills without traveling to a brick-and-mortar casino. The online version of the game is similar to its offline counterpart.