Baccarat is a game that seems mysterious to many American casino-goers. It has a long history, and it can be played on the floor of a real casino or at an online gaming site in Michigan or New Jersey. Join our resident baccarat newbie, Priestly, as he explores this table game and uncovers the history, rules, and basic strategy behind it.

Baccarat combines luck, skill and strategy to make it one of the most popular casino games in the world. The game traces its roots to Italy and France, and today is enjoyed in casinos around the world. It is easy to learn, and it offers a low house edge. But there are a few important things to understand before betting any money.

The game starts with players deciding whether to place chips on a Player Hand, Banker Hand or Tie Bet. Each wager has its own payout, and a score sheet is available to help players keep track of the results of each round. The dealer will then deal two cards to the Player and the Banker. The goal is to get a total close to nine, and the winning hand is the one that gets there first.

Players can also bet on a tie, but the payoff is lower at 8-to-1. If a Banker Hand wins, the player will pay 5% of their stake to the bank as commission. If a Player Hand wins, the player will receive 95% of their stake back.

Knowing the rules of baccarat is crucial to understanding the game and developing a winning strategy. Baccarat uses a standard set of cards, with the face values of pictures and tens worth zero points and the numbers ranging from 2-9 worth their actual value. The ace is worth one point, and the value of a hand is determined by adding up the numbers in each card. If the total is a double digit, the second digit is used to determine its value.

A Player’s and Banker’s hands are compared and the winner is decided by who comes closest to 9 points. If either hand has a “natural” (a combination of 8 and 9) or if the hands are equal, a third card is drawn to decide the winner.

Baccarat is a game that requires a little more patience than poker, but the rewards can be great. The key is to stay cool and bet wisely, while keeping your bankroll in check. Decide how much you want to spend before you start, and stick to that limit. Also, make sure to use cash, as casino chips have no monetary value outside the casino and could be lost or stolen.