Baccarat is a popular casino game with a reputation for elegance and sophistication. It is usually played in the high-limit sections of casinos and requires no technical skill to play. It can also be found at online casinos and is a very easy game to learn. The game is based on simple rules and involves betting on which hand will win, or if it will be a tie.

In order to play Baccarat, the dealer deals two cards to both the Player and Banker hands. Players can choose to bet on either the Player or Banker hand, or a third option – the Tie. After the deal, the dealer will tot up the values of each hand and the winning one is declared. The winning hand must be closer to nine than the opponent’s hand to win. If the first digit is over nine, the value is dropped, so for example a seven and six would be worth three points (subtract ten) but not twelve.

Unlike most casino games, Baccarat uses a unique system to calculate the value of each hand. This differs from the usual card counting method, as only the rightmost digit is taken into account. For this reason, a 10 and a five in the same hand count as a total of 14 but not 16 points. Aces are valued at one, tens and face cards at 0, and all other cards at their pip value.

The simplest way to win a Baccarat game is to back the Banker’s hand, as it wins more often than the Player’s. However, if you’re looking for a higher payout, you can also bet on a “Super Six” or “Pair Bet.” The Super Six Bet pays out 12x your initial bet amount, while the Pair Bet pays out 11x your original bet amount.

Once all the bets are placed, the dealer will deal two cards to each hand. If the Player and Banker hands are equal, they’ll stand and no more cards will be dealt. If one hand has a total of 8 or 9, this is called a “natural,” and the winning bet is paid out immediately. The remaining bets will then be settled.

There are many different strategies to play Baccarat, and some can be used for either the Banker or the Player hand. The Martingale strategy is very popular for casino games that pay even money, and it can be easily applied to Baccarat as well. It’s important to remember that, however, you must always gamble responsibly and limit your losses. It’s also a good idea to set a bankroll before playing any casino games, especially those that pay out at odds of less than 1:1. This will help you stay within your budget and avoid any unwanted financial surprises.