Baccarat is a popular card game in which players place bets on either the banker or player hand. The goal is to correctly predict which hand will total closer to 9. A winning bet pays out 9-to-1, while a losing bet loses your stake. The game is played with six, seven or eight standard decks of 52 cards. The player and banker hands are dealt by the dealer who also collects the bets and pays out the winnings.

The rules of baccarat are fairly straightforward, but there are some important things to keep in mind before you start playing. The game has a high house edge, so you should always play responsibly and within your means. You should never bet more than you can afford to lose, and stop playing when you’ve reached your loss limit. Baccarat is a game of skill, so don’t be afraid to take your time and learn the game before betting large amounts of money.

Before the cards are dealt, players must place bets on which hand they think will win. The banker and player hands each receive two cards face up, and a third card may be drawn for each hand. If the first two cards total 8 or 9, they are considered a ‘natural’ and won’t need a third card. If the first two cards are equal in value, a third card is drawn to determine a winner. If a player’s first two cards total 6 or 7, they must stand, and no third card is drawn.

Once all of the cards are dealt, the final digit of the sum of the cards is used to determine the winner. The value of the digit is determined by counting the number of pips (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) in each card. Aces count as one, while the rest of the cards count as their face value. A hand with a higher total wins, and ties occur in 9.6% of the rounds.

There are several side bets in baccarat, and the options vary by platform or establishment. The most common is the player pair, in which a player wagers that they will receive identical cards on the deal. This bet pays 11:1 odds. Another option is the banker pair, which wagers that the banker will receive a pair on the deal, and it pays 5:1 odds.

Depending on the type of game, players can make other types of side bets, including a tie bet, which pays out 8:1. Tie bets have a 9.51% chance of occurring and produce a push, meaning that neither the banker nor the player loses. There is no risk when betting on a tie, but the payout is low compared to the other bets. The best strategy is to bet on a player or banker and avoid the tie bet. This will increase your chances of winning and improve your long-term results.