Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in Europe and Latin America, and it’s also one of the easiest to play. It is played with six decks of cards and a group of players at a table. The objective is to bet on the hand that will come closest to nine without going over. The game features different types of bets, including the Player’s Bet, Banker’s Bet, and Tie Bet.

To begin playing, players simply walk up to a Baccarat table and place a bet on either the player’s hand winning, the banker’s hand winning, or a tie. If you bet on the Banker’s hand and win, you will receive a payout of 1:1 minus commission. A 5% commission is applied to winning banker bets. This is a standard practice in all casinos.

There are from seven to 14 seats for players in a Baccarat game, and two hands of cards are dealt: the Player’s hand and the Banker’s hand. The cards are shuffled and then cut by a dealer, who may be an actual person or a piece of equipment called a “carte.” Then the players and bankers place their bets.

When a round of Baccarat is completed, the winning hand is determined by adding up the total points of the cards in the two hands. Picture or face cards are worth zero points, while cards numbered from 2-9 are worth their value and the ace is worth one point. When the total reaches a double digit, the second digit becomes the hand’s score.

The game of Baccarat has many rules that differ slightly between online casinos and even between variations of the game itself. It’s important to familiarize yourself with the game’s rules before you start playing for real money. A good way to do this is by reading the game’s rules and regulations and practicing on a free version of the game.

Another tip is to always set a budget for your baccarat session before you start playing. This will help you to stay in control of your gambling habits and prevent you from chasing your losses or becoming too greedy when you are winning. It’s also a good idea to set win goals, such as hitting a certain amount per game.

Finally, when you’re ready to play for real cash, it’s a good idea to avoid placing bets on the tie bet. This type of bet is the least likely to win, and it comes with a high house edge. It’s usually best to stick to betting on the player or banker hands, which offer higher payouts.