Baccarat is a card game that is played on large tables in high-roller rooms at casinos. Its slow-moving pace and ritualistic procedures give it a mystique that attracts players looking for a sophisticated casino experience. This game may seem intimidating at first, but it is actually one of the easiest options on the casino floor. Baccarat is a game of chance, but it has a low house edge and can be enjoyed by all types of players.

In a hand of baccarat, players place a bet on either the Player, the Banker, or a Tie. They are not allowed to change their bets during the course of a hand, unlike in Blackjack. The croupier will then deal the cards according to a predetermined dealing system that has been set up ahead of time. This ensures that the croupier is not dealing the cards incorrectly and that all players receive their cards in the same order each round.

The goal of the game is to get a total value closest to nine without going over. A ten and nine count as zero, while all other cards have their face value. The ace counts as 1 (never 11), and the other cards hold their values, such as an 8 and 7 for a total of 15.

Players are dealt two cards each in the Player and Banker hands. Then the dealer adds up the values of each hand. The one with the highest value wins. Sometimes, a third card is dealt to one or both hands. This is called a “third-card rule” and can complicate the game, so players should always ask their croupier to clarify the rules of the game before they begin playing.

When the Player and Banker hands have a value of eight or nine, this is called a “natural.” The winning hand pays out 9 chips for every one that was wagered. The losing bets are collected by the croupier and held over for the next hand. If the Banker and Player hands tie, a tie bet pays 8-to-1.

In baccarat, the Banker bet has the best return percentage and lowest house edge. However, many players feel intimidated by the process of betting on a Banker hand, so they avoid this wager altogether. This is a mistake, as the Banker bet is a good way to increase your chances of winning big on baccarat.

Baccarat is a simple card game that can be easy to learn, but is also challenging to master. The simplest strategy for the game is to bet on the Banker hand every time, as this has the highest return percentage and the least house edge of any bet in baccarat. The player bet is the second-best option, as it pays out a lower payout but still has a decent return percentage and better odds than the Tie bet. Players can also opt to bet on the redeal, which is similar to the Banker bet but has higher minimum stakes and lower odds of winning.