Baccarat is a game where the rules are simple but the outcome is not always clear. It is played with eight standard 52-card decks shuffled together. The cards are dealt by the croupier (dealer) from a dealing box called a shoe and each player places their bets on either the Banker, the Player, or the Tie.

The goal is for the hand you are betting on to be closest to nine points. The digits are determined by counting the total of all the pips on the card, with 10s and aces counting as zero and all other numbers counting as their face value. The winning hand is the one with a final score of 9 or 8.

Two cards are dealt to the Banker and to the Player hand, and sometimes a third card is drawn for both hands. The hand with the point total closest to nine wins, and the bets on the Banker and Player are paid out according to their rules. The game of baccarat used to be played with the original Banker and Player hands hidden, and the decisions made on draw were based only on the information known from the two cards that were exposed.

When a player bets on the Player, the croupier will announce “no more bets” and then deal a card to the Player box. Then he or she will do the same for the Banker box. This is done to make sure each hand has a full set of cards, even if the player bet is lost.

After the two cards are dealt, a decision must be made on whether to call for a third card for the Banker or the Player hand. If the player calls for a third card, it must be a nine or higher. If the player calls for a three or lower, the Banker must draw a third card and stay on a 0-4 score. Then the banker must decide if to draw a three or less or stay on a five or more.

The most important rule to remember is that baccarat is a game of chance. You will win and lose in the long run, but you can increase your chances of winning by playing responsibly and limiting your losses. To do so, you can set loss limits, or a maximum amount you can lose, and stick to them. This will help you manage your bankroll and keep you from losing too much money in a single game. You can also play baccarat online and claim casino bonuses to boost your bankroll. The best way to maximize your winnings is to place bets on the Banker. The house only applies a small 5% commission to bets on the Banker, so this is the smartest bet in baccarat. In addition, the payout on the Banker bet is the highest in the game. However, the banker bet is not as lucrative as it sounds. It is a bet that requires patience, skill and luck.