The Basics of Baccarat

Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It is played for high stakes and can be found in the big money sections of most European and Nevadan casinos. It is also a popular game in Asia, particularly Macao.

It has a low house advantage and is relatively easy to play. It is also played in many online casinos and can be played by players in the five US states that allow online gambling.

The rules of baccarat are fairly simple and the game is played by placing bets on either the Banker or the Player. The game is usually played using 8 decks of cards, although it can be played with as few as six.

When the cards are dealt, they are placed in a box that has the name of each hand (Player and Banker) written on it. The dealer then deals one card to the Player box and another to the Banker box, repeating this twice so that each box contains two cards. The highest ranked combination of two cards wins the round and the bets on that combination are paid out.

If neither the Player or the Banker hand totals eight or nine points, the dealer draws a third card. This third card can only be a face down card and is not a live card, but it must follow the same rule as the first two. If the third card is a face down card, it is called a natural win and all bets are paid.

In addition to the basic bets on the Banker and the Player, a player may also place a Tie bet. If the banker and player hands both come closest to 9, a tie bet pays out 8 to 1.

How the cards are dealt

The cards are dealt in standard 52-card decks that have been shuffled together. Each card rank has a numerical value, from 2 through 9 pip cards being worth the corresponding number of points, and Aces being worth 1 point. All other cards are worth their face value.

After the cards are dealt, a player must decide whether to call ‘carte’ or ‘non.’ Unlike most other games, the player has no obligation to draw a card after each hand has been dealt. However, if the active player’s hand total is less than four or more than seven then they should call ‘carte’ and if the hand total is five or more, they should call ‘non’.

It is important to remember that in most cases, the active player will call ‘carte’ if the hand total is zero or if the active player has not previously placed any bets on the banker’s hand. The banker will then look at the player’s hand, and then choose whether or not to draw a third card.

Baccarat has been a favourite with high rollers for a long time and is still a popular choice with many players. It is not a game that requires much skill to play and has a low house edge, making it a good choice for high stakes wagers. It is also one of the few casino games that can be played for real cash, although table minimums remain quite high.