Baccarat is a popular casino card game that involves betting on the Banker hand, Player hand or a Tie. Regardless of how you bet, your goal is to get the hand closest to nine. The game can be complex to understand and learn, but with practice you can become a pro in no time.

In a typical Baccarat table, there are from seven to 14 seats for players and a dealer area. There is a box for each customer that indicates where they are placing their bets. Each bettor has a designated area where they place a banker bet, and another box to place a player bet. The cards are dealt from a shoe that contains six or eight decks of cards. The ace, 10, jack and queen equal nine; all other cards have their face value.

Once the cards are dealt, the banker and player hands are played out. Occasionally, a third card may be dealt to one or both hands. The hand with the total closest to 9 wins the round. The banker’s hand will win more often than the player’s, but neither hand is guaranteed to win a round.

The rules of baccarat differ from casino to casino. While most have the same basic rules, some have their own variations. For example, a few casinos may require the dealer to deal a third card if the first two are a tie. This can make the game more exciting for the players. Regardless of the variation, however, Baccarat is a fun and rewarding casino game.

When you play baccarat, be sure to set your limits ahead of time. This will help you avoid making any major mistakes. It’s also important to choose your bankroll in advance and stick to it. Ultimately, Baccarat is an expensive game, and you don’t want to blow all your money in the first few rounds.

Once you’ve determined your bankroll, you can begin to learn the basic game rules. It is important to understand the values of the cards in a Baccarat hand. For example, picture cards and tens count as zero points, while the ace is worth one point. The numbers numbered from two to nine are worth their face value, and the king and queen are worth three points.

A baccarat hand is dealt by the dealer, who takes a 5% commission on winning banker bets. The dealer then places a marker on the box that corresponds with each bettor’s position. These markers can be used to identify a player and banker, and they are also useful for trend following.

Baccarat is a great game to play with friends, and the rules are simple enough for beginners to follow. It’s important to stay focused and be disciplined, as baccarat is an addictive game that can lead to big losses if not controlled properly. In addition to setting your bankroll in advance, it’s also important to set a win limit. This will ensure that you don’t spend more than you can afford to lose and can enjoy the experience without getting frustrated or overwhelmed.