Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. It’s a very simple game that requires little skill. The goal is to bet on either the Player’s or the Banker’s hand and hope that it’s closer to nine than the opposite hand.

Before a game of baccarat begins, the player must decide how many chips to bet. There are three options: a Player bet, a Banker bet, or a Tie bet. These options can be played with chips or with real money.

Once the players have made their bets, the dealer will deal cards. Typically, a card is dealt to the Player and another to the Banker. Each card is worth a certain amount of points. Face cards and 10-count cards are worth zero. Cards with a value of six or seven are considered to be a tie. In some versions of the game, a third card is dealt.

Each player has an equal number of points. Unless the dealer has a ten, face cards with a seven aren’t worth 18. A pair of eights and a queen are worth eight points. Similarly, a king and an ace are worth one point. But if the dealer has a 7, he’ll be left with a total of five. If this happens, the active player can choose to call “carte” or to stand.

The goal of baccarat is to make the closest to nine without going over. When the cards are all pips added up, the winner is the hand that has the highest number of points. That’s why a bet on the Banker’s hand is the most profitable option. This has a house advantage of 1.24%, whereas a bet on the Player’s hand is a house edge of 1.06%.

Both the Player and the Banker have the same points, but the banker has more freedom. He can choose to draw a third card, if he feels he’s getting close to a total of eight. His third card is also known to the other players. As a result, the banker doesn’t have to follow all the rules. However, the banker’s decision is based on what he knows.

In a standard game, the Banker will try to beat the Player’s hand. When the Banker’s total is five, he can choose to stand or call. Otherwise, the Banker draws a card. Usually, the banker stays on the number of decks in play, but he’s allowed to draw on either 3, 4, 5, or 6.

In the case of a tie, the banker and the player have the same points. However, the banker’s bet is paid out at a higher rate than the player’s bet. Depending on the type of baccarat, the payout can be between 8:1 and 9:1.

Depending on which version of baccarat you’re playing, the third card can be drawn by the Player or the Banker. However, the Player is not allowed to draw a card if the banker has a total of 7 or if the other players have bet against him.