Baccarat is an elegant casino card game, favored by high rollers. It has a rich history dating back to the 1500s, and its popularity continues to rise globally. While the card game may look daunting for new players, it is actually quite simple. The rules are straightforward, and players can bet on the Player hand, the Banker hand, or a tie. The objective of the game is to correctly predict which hand will come closest to nine points in total, and cards are valued at their face value except for 10s and face cards, which have a value of 0.

A game of Baccarat begins with each player placing their bet in the betting circle. The dealer then deals one card to the Player box and another to the Banker box. If the Player or Banker hands are closer to 9 than the other, the player wins that round. If neither hand is close to 9, the round is a draw. The winnings are paid out to the players and the Banker must pay a 5% commission to the house for this win.

Although baccarat is often seen in glamorous casinos and tucked away in high-limit gaming areas, it’s also available at some online casinos. The game is very easy to learn and plays in a similar way to blackjack, but it is much faster. The cards are dealt from a multi-deck shoe, and there is no busting like in blackjack.

A baccarat strategy should start with setting a budget and defining a bet unit. A good bet unit is 2% of your total budget and can help you manage your risk, especially during losing streaks. This will help you to prevent high losses and maximize your winnings.

In addition to betting units, it’s important to be aware of the game’s rules and payouts for the various bets. The best place to do this is by visiting a reputable online casino. There, you can practice for free and find out the baccarat rules before playing for real money.

Regardless of which baccarat strategy you choose, it’s important to remember that the banker bet has the edge over the player and tie bets. This is because the banker bet pays 1:1, while the other two options pay 8:1 or less. As a result, you should prioritize banker bets when making your wagers. However, make sure to read the rule card to ensure that you’re not ignoring any important details. A reputable online casino will have a handy rule sheet that’s only a click away. This can be helpful if you ever forget when to hit or stand, or how payouts for the tie and side bets work.