Baccarat is a card game that has long been a favorite in casinos, from sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-filled casinos of Monaco. The objective is to correctly predict which hand, the player’s, the banker’s or a tie, will win each round. The winner is determined by which hand has a total closest to nine, with tens being worth zero and aces counting as one.

Before cards are dealt, players place their bets on the Player, Banker or a Tie. Each side is then dealt two cards and the hand with a total closest to nine wins. If a total over 9 is achieved, the leading digit is ignored and only the second digit counts. This makes a 6-3 hand equal to 6, for example. Picture cards and tens count as zero, and Aces count as 1.

The table is divided into areas for the player, banker and tie bets. There are usually seven to 14 seats for players and the dealer. Once everyone has placed their chips, the game begins. The dealer deals both the Banker and Player hands and, depending on the version of the game, sometimes a third card. The winning hand is the one with a total closest to nine, which is decided by adding up all of the pips (the dots on the playing card that are clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) and subtracting 10. The Player’s hand is considered a natural when it totals eight or 9.

After the cards are dealt, players make any bets they want, except for those betting on a tie. Players who wager on the Banker or the Player will receive a payout according to their bet amount and the outcome of the hand. A winning Player or Banker bet qualifies for a 1:1 payout, but those who place a bet on a Tie must pay a 5% commission.

This small taking is how a casino pays for things like new games and employee wages. The house edge in baccarat is lower than in other casino games, but it still exists and can significantly impact your bankroll.

If you’re a serious baccarat gambler, it’s recommended to stick with betting on a banker bet, even though you’ll have to pay a small commission. This is because the odds on a Banker bet fluctuate throughout the course of a game, and they can sometimes be better than those on a Player bet. But as always, know your limits and play within them. You should never bet more than you can afford to lose. This is called Responsible Gambling and can help you prevent gambling addiction.