Baccarat is a table game that has made a comeback in casinos across the country. It’s played on a large table and is often found in casino high-limit rooms. Players place bets on either the Banker, Player or Tie. The goal of the game is to get a number closest to 9. The game was popularized in America when it was featured in the first James Bond movie. The rules of baccarat are easy to learn, but implementing a strategy can be difficult.

The game consists of a shuffled eight- or nine-card deck. The Player and Banker hands are dealt two cards each. Sometimes a third card is drawn. The hand that scores closest to nine wins the round. The cards are worth their face value, except for the Ace which equals one. If the Player or Banker hand has a total that is higher than 9 the first digit is dropped and the second digit becomes the score.

Players make their wagers before the cards are dealt. They can bet on the Player, Banker or a Tie. Once the bets are placed, the cards are dealt. The Player and Banker hands are then compared to determine which has the highest score. The Player or Banker with a score closer to nine is the winner.

If the total of a hand is less than nine, the Banker will draw a third card. However, if the total of the hand is 9 or 10, a third card is not drawn. This is because a hand with a total of 9 or 10 is considered to be a natural and no third card should be drawn. The rules of baccarat vary from venue to venue, so be sure to check the rules before you play.

Some baccarat players believe they can win at the game by following certain strategies. While this may be true in the short run, a long-term winning session is unlikely. Baccarat is a game of chance, and the house has an edge on all bets. If you bet on the Banker, you’ll win about 12 percent of the time. The Player bet offers a slightly lower payout of about 8.5 percent of the stake.

The most common misunderstanding about baccarat is that the game can be won by knowing the odds of winning. But it’s important to remember that the odds are based on how much money is at risk for each bet. That means that if you bet on the Player, the odds are 8 to 1 and the Banker’s odds are 9 to 1. The Tie bet pays out 9 to 1, but most intelligent players forget about it when judging the game.