Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. It’s also a game that’s accessible online, with many sites offering both live and virtual table games. The rules of the game are simple and easy to understand, and players can play for fun or try out a strategy.

In a traditional baccarat game, the banker and player each receive two cards, with the aim of getting a total closest to 9. The values of individual cards are determined by their type, with tens and nines counting as zero and kings and queens counting as one. Aces count as 10. In addition to the main bets on Player, Banker or a Tie, players can place Super Six and Pair Bets. A winning Super Six bet pays out 12x the amount wagered, while a winning pair bet pays out 11x the bet amount.

The first step in playing baccarat is to decide on which side of the table to bet on. Once the bet has been placed, a dealer will deal out the two cards. The Player and Banker hands will then be compared to see which has the highest total. Players can also bet on a tie, which is unlikely to win but offers higher payouts than either of the other bets.

A winning Player or Banker hand will qualify for a 1 to 1 payout, but players must pay a 5% commission on this bet, reducing the payout odds to 19 to 20. A winning Tie bet qualifies for a 9 to 1 payout, but this isn’t a good option in the long run because it has an extremely high house edge of over 4%.

If you’re a newcomer to baccarat, try out a free online version of the game before betting any money. This way, you can practice different strategies without the pressure of losing real money. You can even use these free games to build up your confidence until you’re ready for the real thing.

Baccarat is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. The rules of the game vary slightly depending on where you are, but all games follow a basic format. The banker and player each have a designated area of the table where they will place their bets. The game begins when the banker makes an initial bet, followed by the other players in counterclockwise order. Each player then announces if they want to bet on the banker or player, and then places their bet against the banker’s amount.

After each round, the dealer will announce the outcome of the hand. If the banker wins, he or she will collect the winnings and the winning bets will be paid out. If the player or banker lose, the losing bets will be collected and the game will end. Baccarat is a game of chance, so the best way to increase your chances of winning is by practicing good stake management. This means always betting a small number of units per wager, and avoiding chasing losing streaks. Staking 10 units for each wager and setting a limit of 200 units per session (followed by a break) is a wise schedule to stick to.