Baccarat is a casino game where players place bets on either the Player, Banker or Tie hand. The game is played using a standard deck of cards and is governed by strict rules and procedures. Baccarat is popular with high rollers and can be found in many of the top casinos online and on the casino floor. The game is played with nine points and the winner is the one who gets closest to 9. The game can also end in a tie, in which case all wagers are returned.
To start playing, you will need to locate the baccarat table on the casino floor. It will usually be separated from the rest of the casino games and marked with a velvet rope. It may be best to ask one of the casino employees for directions if you have trouble finding it. Once you have found the table, you will need to make an initial bet by placing chips in the betting area. You will also have the option to place side bets, which can increase your winning potential.
Once you have placed your bets, the dealer will deal the cards and begin the round. The cards are worth their face value, and the goal is to correctly predict which hand will win. If you bet on a Player hand and it wins, you will receive a payout of 1 to 1. If you bet on the Banker hand and it wins, you will receive 5% commission, which will reduce your payout odds to 19 to 20. A winning tie bet will pay out 8-to-1, and there are score sheets available to help you keep track of your bets.
There are several variations of baccarat, and some of them have different house edges. The most popular is Chemin de Fer, which is a French version of the game that uses six decks of cards and is played in a circle of eight players. In this game, a player chooses to be the banker and sets the initial betting amount. After that, the other players go in counterclockwise order and announce if they want to “go bank” and play against the banker’s bet.
Baccarat has been featured in many movies, including Dr. No; Thunderball; On Her Majesty’s Secret Service; and GoldenEye. It is also a common casino game in Asia, where it has been played for centuries.
In the casino, baccarat is often played with a large table and high limits. There are also smaller tables with lower limits for low rollers. Whether you are playing at a large or small table, it is important to follow the rules of the game to avoid any misunderstandings. Also, never touch any of the chips until the hand is over. This is a violation of etiquette and can cause you to lose money. In addition, never join a game that is already in session. If you do, the other players will think that you are rude.