Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world. The game was first introduced in Europe, and is now played in casinos in the United States and Asia. In the casino, the dealer deals two cards to the banker, and the player chooses one of the banker’s hands. If the player chooses the banker’s hand, the payout is a one-to-one bet, but the casino pays a 5% commission to the player.

The goal of baccarat is to have the hand with the closest score to nine. If the total is eight or nine, the players win. However, if the hand is seven or six, the players lose. A tie is also possible, but it has a higher house edge.

To win, the players and banker must have equal points. Each card has a numerical value, and face cards are worth zero. Aces are considered to be a one, and the 10-count cards are considered to be a zero. All other cards are considered to have a face value of 0.

The player’s hand can be called “non” if the total is five or less. The banker’s hand can be called “non” or “carte” if the total is six or seven. After a round of play, the players and banker draw three cards. They then determine which hand will be the winner.

Once the draw decisions are made, the original hands are exposed. If the hand has a total of eight, the dealer draws a second card, and the digit is dropped from the hand above eight. That digit then counts as the score. For example, if the dealer has a hand of eight, the player can call ‘non’ and draw a card, or the player can take a card. The active player continues to play for the same side of the table in the next coup.

The player’s hand must be the one with the highest value after all of the cards have been dealt. The house has a 1.24% advantage over the player, and a 5% commission is applied on winning bets. There are several variations of the game, but all have the same objective: to get as close to nine as possible without going over.

If the player’s hand is a tie, the casino will pay out the bet in full instead of losing it. Betting on the banker’s hand is the best bet. This is because the banker has a 5% commission on the bet, and the house has a 1.17 percent advantage.

Some casinos will offer side bets. These bets are usually used to increase the action of baccarat. One of these is to bet that the banker’s or player’s cards are all black. Another is to bet on the banker’s hand to be the winner. You can also bet on the banker’s hand not to win.

Before you go to the casino, it is a good idea to understand the rules of baccarat. If you have questions, you can always contact a dealer or a casino consultant.