A popular casino game that was a featured in James Bond movies, baccarat is one of the easiest table games to learn. Its simple rules and low house edge make it a good choice for players looking for a relaxed game with some decent payouts. It’s also the perfect option for high rollers who can place large bets with no problem.
Baccarat is a card game that involves two hands: the Player hand and the Banker’s hand. Players can choose to bet on either of the hands, or on a tie. The goal is to predict which hand will have a total closer to nine than the other. The winning bet is paid out according to the odds on the hand.
The game is played with eight decks of cards that are dealt from a dealing shoe. Each card has a numerical value, with 2s through 9s having the same value as their face values. Aces, however, have a point count of one. Adding up these points will give you the total of the hand. If the hand’s total crosses nine or enters double digits, you must subtract ten or drop the first numeral to get the new total.
After all the bets are placed, the dealer deals two cards to himself and to each player. If the Player’s hand and the Banker’s hand have a total of 8 or 9, this is a natural win and all bets are paid out immediately. If the hands have a different total, the bettors are given an opportunity to request a third card for the hand.
When the third card is drawn, the hands are compared and the winner is determined. If the Player’s hand has a higher total, it wins; if the Banker’s hand has a higher total, then it wins; and if the hands have the same total, it is a tie and no more cards are drawn.
In addition to the Banker and Player bets, players can also place a Super Six and a Pair bet. Super Six bets pay out if the Banker’s hand wins with a total of 6; and Pair bets pay out if the first two cards are a Player or Banker pair.
The best bet to place in baccarat is on the Banker bet, as this has the lowest house edge. However, most casinos apply a 5% commission to this bet, so you’ll want to factor this into your betting strategy. Despite this, it’s still the most lucrative bet in the game. If you’re a beginner, we recommend starting off with the Banker bet and slowly moving on to the Player and Tie bets. This way, you can get a feel for the game before risking any real money. Just remember that it’s always a good idea to play for free before betting with real cash!