Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world. This card game is easy to learn and maintains a low house edge, which makes it a great choice for beginners. In addition, baccarat is the featured game in James Bond movies, which adds to its appeal. If you’re looking to play baccarat, you’ll want to know the rules and payouts before starting.
The origins of baccarat aren’t clear, but it is likely based on a legend about an Etruscan virgin who had to throw a nine-sided die to decide her fate. If she threw an 8 or 9, she would become a priestess; if she threw lower, she would be banished to the sea to drown.
The modern version of the game was created in Italy, then spread to France, where it became a favorite among the nobility and wealthy. The game has since grown in popularity around the globe, and casinos now feature from seven to 14 seats for players, plus a dealer’s area. Depending on the game variation, six or more decks of cards are used and shuffled together before being dealt to the table. Two hands of cards are then dealt – the player’s and the banker’s – with both being compared to the other hand. The winning hand is the one that totals closest to nine. Picture cards and tens count as zero points; all other cards are worth their face value, and the ace is worth one point.
When a player bets on the banker’s hand, they pay a commission to the casino that varies by game. If the banker’s hand wins, the player’s bet will be returned, with a small profit. This is a good reason to keep track of your wins and losses in baccarat, which can be done by using a strategy called “edge sorting.”
If you’re planning to play baccarat for real money, make sure you understand the house edge and how the rules work. It’s also a good idea to set limits for yourself before you begin playing, as this will help you stay in control of your gambling budget.
Bill Zender, a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent, casino dealer, executive and current consultant, literally wrote the book on managing casino games. He’s seen baccarat grow considerably over his 40+ year career. He says that Asian high rollers have almost universally made baccarat their game of choice because it is uniquely suited to their cultural preferences. The game is also the top revenue generator for Macau casinos, and accounts for 18 percent of casino win on the Las Vegas Strip.
To begin a game of baccarat, a player must choose either to bet on the player’s hand or the banker’s. After placing the bet, a pair of cards will be dealt to each player and the banker. The goal is to place a bet on which hand will come closest to a total of 9. The winner is the hand that gets closer to 9 than the other.