Baccarat is that enigmatic card game we often see in movies, where high-rollers play it at opulent casino tables. It has gained a reputation for sophistication and is commonly associated with luxury, but it’s actually an easy game to learn and fun to play. The game’s mystique is due more to its elegant look and the fact that it’s often played by people wearing tuxedos and other formal attire, but there’s no need to let it intimidate you. With the right strategies, you can enjoy this game without losing too much money.

Unlike blackjack and roulette, which have many different betting options, baccarat is simple because there are only three bets: your hand winning, the banker’s hand winning, or a tie. If your hand wins, you receive a 1:1 payout and the house has a 1.24% edge. If you place a bet on the banker’s hand, the house has a 1.06% edge and you will usually pay a 5% commission on winning banker bets. If you bet on a tie, the player and the banker both win and you are paid out 8:1.

The dealer deals two cards to each of the gaming positions at the table, the banker’s space and the players’ spaces. The cards are dealt face up and the winner is determined by which hand has a total closest to 9. Only the rightmost digit of the hand is considered, and card suits have no significance. If a hand has a total of 10 or more, the total is adjusted by subtracting 10.

Once the betting is done, the dealer will deal one additional card to the banker and the player’s hands, and if either of them have a 9 from their first two cards, they are the winner. The player and banker can choose to accept or deny a third card, but the decision is made at the same time for both hands, so there’s no advantage to taking the risk of a bad outcome.

The game is a popular choice at Asian casinos, and some online gambling websites have also incorporated it into their offerings. You can find the game in many forms, with the number of decks varying by site and variant. You should always check the rules of the specific variation you are playing to determine how it affects the odds and house edge. Most sites will provide you with the number of decks being used and the game rules for each variation on their baccarat pages.