Baccarat is the card game that conjures images of high rollers in opulent casinos, with men in tuxedos and women in elegant evening gowns laying down their chips as the dealer distributes cards. While it may look a bit intimidating, this exciting casino game is easy to learn and can be very fun to play. But before you start betting real money, make sure you know the rules of baccarat.

During the course of the game, a banker and player hand are dealt two cards each, with the goal of getting as close to nine as possible. The winning hand is the one with a total closest to 9. The values of the cards are as follows: Picture cards and Tens are worth zero points, cards numbered from 2-9 are their face value, and the ace is worth one point. If your two cards add up to a total over nine, you must drop the first digit and count the second to determine the total.

Before the cards are dealt, players place their wagers on either the player or banker side to win that round. Once the bets are placed, the dealer will draw a card for each hand and the one with the score closest to 9 wins. In case of a tie, all bets are returned.

If you bet on the player hand, and it wins, you will receive a 1:1 payout. If you bet on the banker hand, and it wins, you will have to pay a 5% commission to the house.

You can also bet on a tie, which pays 8-to-1. A score sheet is available at the table, so it is easy to keep track of your progress. It is also important to practice good stake management, as Baccarat can be very addictive. Having an established loss limit and cutting your losses once you hit it is a great way to stay in control of your bankroll.

Beyond the player win, banker win and tie, there are a few additional bets you can make on a Baccarat table. These include the Super Six Bet and Pair Bet. Depending on the platform or establishment, these bets have odds that vary.

A Super Six bet is a wager that the Banker will have a six-point total in the first two cards. If this happens, the bet pays out 12x your stake. A Pair Bet wagers that the Banker and the Player will have a pair of matching cards on the deal. If this bet wins, it pays out a generous 11x your wager amount.

The rules of baccarat are simple enough to understand, but understanding the strategies behind the game can be more complicated. If you’re looking for some tips to help you get started, check out our article on Baccarat Strategy. Then, you’ll be ready to take your baccarat experience to the next level! Good luck!