Baccarat is a card game that’s synonymous with class and high-rollers. It’s an exciting game that evokes images of men in tuxedos and women in posh evening gowns laying down chips as the dealer hands out cards. The mystique of this game can be intimidating, but it’s not as difficult as you might think to learn the rules and get started playing.

Before the cards are dealt, you have to place your bets. Players have three options to bet on: the player hand, the banker hand, or a tie. You have to decide on which one you want to bet on before the cards are dealt, and the payout varies depending on your selection.

If you bet on the player hand and win, you’ll receive a 1:1 payout. The house has a 1.24% edge on this bet. If you bet on the banker hand, you’ll pay a 5% commission to the casino and have a slightly lower house edge of 1.06%. If you bet on a tie, the payout is much higher at 8:1 or 9:1.

Once all bets are placed, two cards are dealt for each of the Player and Banker’s hands. The goal is to have a hand that is closest to nine points. The Player and Banker hands are both ranked separately, and the winning hand is the one that has a number closer to 9.

It’s also important to know the rules of when a third card should be drawn. You can find this information in a decision table that’s included in the rules of baccarat. This chart is helpful in determining whether or not you should call for a third card and what the best betting strategy is.

A third card can only be drawn if the first two cards give the player or banker an 8 or 9 score. If the first two cards give either a 7 or an ace, the player must hit. If the first two cards give a 5, the player must stand. The Banker must always hit, even if the second two cards give them a 0 or 1.

Baccarat is a great way to have fun and relax in the comfort of your home. However, you should never gamble more than you can afford to lose. Make a plan ahead of time about how much you are willing to spend, and stick to it. It’s easy to get carried away when you start gambling, so be sure to set limits before you begin and stop when you’ve reached them. This is how you can avoid losing too much money and keep your gambling experience a positive one.