Baccarat is the glamorous casino game played for high stakes in a special alcove away from the general casino floor. It’s simple and easy to play, but it requires no technical skill and relies solely on luck. The object of the game is to bet on which hand will come closest to 9. Aces count as 1, and cards numbered 2-9 are worth their face value.
The game begins with one player taking the role as banker, who sets an initial betting amount. Then, players move in counterclockwise order and announce if they want to “go bank,” adding their bets to the banker’s amount. They may add more bets as long as the total doesn’t exceed the banker’s amount.
After the players have bet, the dealer deals two cards to both the player and the banker. The banker then draws a third card if the initial two don’t result in a winner. The game was formerly played with both the player’s and banker’s hands concealed. The original hand decisions were only revealed after the draw decision was made.
Players can bet on either the Player hand, Banker’s hand, or a Tie. If they bet on the Player hand and win, they receive a 1:1 payout and pay a 5% commission to the house. If they bet on the Banker’s hand and win, they get a 1:1 payout but the house has a 1.24% edge over them.
When betting on the Banker’s hand, players should always stand if their total is 6 or higher. If the player total is 7 or more, they should call ‘carte’ (meaning no draw) with a 6, and ‘non’ with a 7.
A popular side bet in Baccarat is the Super Six. In this wager, the player picks a combination of cards that will equal or exceed 9. The game also has a Pairs side bet. The odds for this bet vary by platform and establishment.
The game can be slow and ritualistic, with the players taking turns dealing and deciding how to proceed with each round. It’s important for players to calculate how much money they are willing to lose and to be prepared for a sudden loss. It’s also important to stay within the betting minimums, as these can vary from casino to casino. For example, in some casinos, the minimum bet for baccarat is $20-$25.