Baccarat is a card game that requires strategic thinking and knowledge of the rules and strategy. Players place bets on either the Player hand, the Banker hand or a tie. A winning bet pays out according to a set of predetermined rules. In addition, a number of betting systems can be used to increase your chances of winning. These systems include card counting and edge sorting. In addition, baccarat is a very fast-paced game, so be sure to set bankroll and spending limits before playing.
The game of baccarat is played with six or seven standard decks of cards that are shuffled together and dealt to players in a dealing “shoe.” All the cards are worth their face value, tens count as zero points, and jacks, queens and kings count as one point. Aces count as one point only if they are the first card in a hand (ex: a two and three would be valued as five). The object of the game is to correctly predict which of the two hands will win. The winner is determined by whose final total comes closest to nine. A tie results in no winner and is settled by the drawing of a third card.
Unlike many casino games, baccarat is relatively simple to understand and learn. Often tucked away in high-limit areas of casinos, it is a game that has attracted the attention of high rollers because it offers a low house edge and high payouts on player and banker bets. The game of baccarat also has an alternative bet, the tie bet, but this option pays out much less and has a higher house edge than the player and banker bets.
Before the deal begins, the croupier will ask players to place their bets on the table. The banker will then deal two cards to himself and the bettors. If the total of the first two cards is 8 or 9 the game is over and all placed bets are paid. If the initial total is greater than nine, the dealer will draw a third card on one or both of the hands.
In a tie, the third card will be drawn depending on which hand has the higher total. If the first two cards equal, a tie is settled by adding the amount bet on the Player or Banker to the sum of all other bets.
The game also features an optional side bet called the Super Six Bet, which pays out 12x if the Banker or Player hands have a total of 6 points. Players may also choose to place a Pair Bet, which pays out 11x if the first two cards are a Banker or Player pair. The player must place a bet of at least $10 to qualify for the Super Six and Pair Bets.