Baccarat (pronounced bah-cah-rah) is the game of choice for high rollers and celebrities. It is one of the easiest casino games to learn and has a low house edge. It is a card game played by a dealer and can be played with up to eight players. The player and the banker each receive two cards in a hand, and the winner is determined by which hand totals closer to nine. The game first appeared in Europe in the 1400’s. It was popularized in the James Bond movies and is now a favorite among many casino goers.

The game starts when all players make their bets. They can choose to bet on either the Player, the Banker or a tie. Once everyone has placed their bets, the croupier deals out the cards. The cards are dealt face up, and the aim of each hand is to get a score as close to 9 as possible. The Player and the Banker each receive two cards, and a third card may be drawn depending on the total.

A Tie bet pays out if the third card is a 9 or 8. The game is played with 8 decks of cards that are dealt from a dealing shoe. The card suits have no relevance, and the values of the cards are based on their number value. A 9 is worth nine points, while a 2 is worth four. A 3 is worth six, and a 7 is three.

Besides betting on the Banker, Player or a Tie, you can also place bets on side bets. These wagers are placed in the corresponding betting areas on the baccarat table, and they pay out if certain events happen. The most common side bets include the Banker pair and Player pair. The Banker pair bet wins if the first two cards dealt to the Banker are a pair, while the Player pair bet wins if the first two hands dealt to the Player are a pair.

If you’re a beginner, it’s best to start with a small budget and play conservatively. This way, you can avoid large losses over the long run and maximize your winnings. It is also wise to set a time limit and quit while you’re ahead. Aside from this, it is important to practice your baccarat strategy before you play for real money. The Martingale System is a popular baccarat betting strategy that focuses on positive progression. It involves increasing your bet size after every loss and reverting to your initial bet size after a win. The Paroli System is a similar strategy but it works in the opposite direction and is more conservative.