Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. From sticky-floor California card rooms to tuxedo-laden Monaco casinos, this classic game has become a staple in the gambling scene. But, despite its glamorous trappings (and the scene in “Casino Royale” where Sean Connery plays against Le Chiffre), it’s actually a very simple game to play.

Baccarat consists of two hands of cards, a Player hand and a Banker hand. After players place their bets, the dealer will deal each hand a set of two cards face up. A winning hand will be the one that totals closest to nine. The score is calculated by adding up the values of each card. Picture cards and tens count as zero points, while aces count as one point. When the total reaches a double digit, it automatically becomes the value of the second number.

Whether you’re betting on the Player, Banker or Tie hand, the goal is to predict which hand will come closest to nine without going over. The dealer will tally up the totals of the two hands and declare the winner. If you bet on the Player or Banker, your stake will be returned to you if the hand wins. If you bet on a Tie, you’ll be paid out based on the odds of winning, which can vary depending on online casino and variant of baccarat.

The game of baccarat is often played for high stakes, and a special table for the game is typically located in a separate area away from the rest of the gaming floor. In American casinos, the game is typically played with cash – $100 bills spread around the table and stacked in oblong stacks called plaques. In European casinos, however, the game is usually played with a special form of chips that resemble paper money.

During a baccarat game, players place bets on the Player or Banker hand, either individually or in groups. The first player to act as the banker sets the initial betting amount. Other players go in counterclockwise order and announce if they want to “go bank” by placing their bet against the banker’s bet amount.

Baccarat rules and etiquette dictate that players should not enter the game while it’s in session. In some cases, a player may be invited to watch the game by the dealer but should respect the etiquette and wait until the session is over before joining the table.

There are a few strategies that can be used to help reduce the house edge in baccarat. The most common strategy is flat betting, where the players alternate between betting on the player and banker hands. More advanced players will also follow pattern trends in the shoe, observing for shoes that zigzag or show double streaks for the banker and player hands. When the pattern changes, the players will change their betting strategy accordingly. Using both of these strategies can help players lower the house edge and increase their chances of winning.