How to Play Baccarat

Baccarat is a simple game that pits the banker’s hand against the player’s. The goal is to get a total closer to nine than the opponent’s. The tens, jacks and queens count as zero points, while aces are worth one point. In the event of a tie, the bettors’ stake is returned. Unlike some casino games, baccarat is easy to learn and requires very little skill.

The first thing to do is locate the baccarat table on the casino floor. It is often separated from the rest of the tables by a velvet rope and will usually be marked with a “baccarat” sign. The next step is to place your bets on either the Player’s hand, the Banker’s hand or a Tie bet. Once all bets are placed, the dealer will deal the cards according to baccarat rules. After the hands are determined, the winning bettors will be paid and a new round will begin.

If the Banker’s hand is higher than the player’s, the banker pays all bets on that side of the table. If the player’s hand is higher than the Banker’s, the bettors on the Player’s side of the table will receive their bets back and the game continues.

After the dealer deals two cards to each of the two gaming spots at the baccarat table, the counting begins. The dealer must follow the card-counting rules based on the value of each hand and can draw an extra card depending on the value of the current hand. If the player’s hand has a value of 7 or 9 or greater, a third card is automatically drawn.

In the case of a tie, the player’s and banker’s bets are compared to determine which hand has the highest total. The hand that is closest to 9 wins. In the rare case that neither of the hands have a total of 9, the tie bets are paid out.

There are also a number of interesting side bets you can make on Baccarat. Depending on the establishment and platform, these bets can pay out at different odds. For example, the Super Six Bet wagers that the player will win a round with a Banker hand of 6 points or better. This bet pays out at 12:1 odds.

If you want to maximize your baccarat betting experience, set a loss and win limit before starting each session. This will ensure that you don’t lose more money than you can afford to spend, and will make the game much more fun. Also, don’t try to chase a win after losing a few rounds. This can lead to bad habits and will not help you in the long run. Instead, keep up a steady pace and stick to your plan. The results will be better in the end.