Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco or Baccarat Banque, is a game of chance played with cards on a table. The objective is to wager on the hand that is closest to nine. Each player has the choice of three options: betting on the Player Hand, Banker Hand, or Tie. If the first two hands are tied, the payout will be equal to the total of all the bets.

Players will sit around a two-sided table. A dealer, or Caller, will distribute the cards from the shoe. The Caller will take turns giving cards to the players. After the first hand is dealt, the second and third are drawn. Once the player has finished drawing the cards, the dealer will announce the total of the hand.

Both the banker and the player have a slight advantage over the house. The house has a 5% commission on any bets on the banker’s hand winning. This reduces the payout odds to 19-20. In addition, the number of decks used in the game has a significant effect on the House Edge. Unlike Blackjack, the house edge in baccarat is relatively low. It is approximately 1.06%.

Baccarat is usually played with eight decks. However, in casinos it can be played with as few as four or six. Typically, the payout is at least double the amount of the stake. As a result, baccarat is often played for big money.

To win in baccarat, the first two cards should total eight or nine, which is a “natural”. Unless the hand is a tie, the winner is determined by the third card drawn. Some players may be confused by the rules regarding when to draw the third card.

The third card is then dealt to either the player or the banker. Generally, the banker has the option of choosing to draw another card, stand, or call. Whether the banker calls, stands, or draws depends on the information available to the banker. For example, if the banker has a 7 in his hand, he will not draw another card. But if the banker has a 6 in his hand, he will draw another card.

When a player is about to bet, the dealer will give the players the choice of calling for a card. If a player is about to bet, it is best to stay with the banker bet. Otherwise, you will lose your bet. Regardless, it is always a good idea to follow the streaks.

Baccarat is an easy game to play, but there are some important rules to keep in mind. Firstly, the face cards are worth zero, meaning the player’s total must be between 0 and 5. Also, the banker has to have a total of at least 6. Lastly, the player should bet on his hand to be closer to nine, or the banker to be closer to two.

Baccarat is a relatively easy game to learn, and it can be played for relatively high stakes. You can find it in many European and American casinos.