Baccarat is a casino table game that’s easy to learn and play. It’s also popular with high rollers, who are drawn to the game’s low house edge and high-end payouts.

The game is played by one player and a dealer, who each receives two hands. The goal is to have a hand that’s closer to nine than the opposite hand. The dealer does most of the work, and players sit back and watch the action.

There are two ways to win in baccarat: by betting on the banker or the player, or by wagering that the game will end in a tie. Some casinos also offer a third option called “tie bet” that pays 8:1 if both the banker and the player have the same total.

It’s not as simple as it looks, though!

In a standard baccarat game, the dealer deals two cards to each player and one card to the banker. Both hands are then ranked according to their cards’ value, with the highest card in each hand earning the highest score.

Unlike other casino games, face cards have no value in baccarat. Tens, jacks, queens, and kings count as zero, and an ace is worth one point.

When a baccarat game is finished, the dealer will deal another set of two cards to each player. The first and third cards are dealt to the player, and the second and fourth to the banker. This is repeated until each box has two cards. If a player’s bet matches the box that contains the highest-ranked combination, they win; otherwise, they lose their bet.

Before a live baccarat game starts, players should check what the rules are. Some casinos allow players to touch the cards, while others lay them on the table.

Most baccarat tables use between six and eight decks of cards, and each deck is stored in a box called a shoe. The shoe is passed around the table from player to player, counter-clockwise, every time a hand wins.

Each card has a pip value (the dots that form a club, diamond, heart, or spade). The digits on a pips are the numbers closest to nine, so a 7 and a 6 will result in a 13, while a 7 and a 5 will result in a 6. If you’re playing baccarat online, it’s important to check the rules for your particular baccarat table before attempting to bet.

Baccarat can be found in many casinos across the world, but it’s most popular in the Macau and Singapore casinos. It’s also a popular choice at Las Vegas Strip casinos, where it accounts for 18 percent of total casino win.

Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced bettor, baccarat is a great game to practice your skills and build up your confidence before you start betting real money. Free online baccarat games offer an ideal way to build your strategy and try out new bets without risking any of your own money.