Baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. You’ll find it everywhere from sticky-floor California card rooms to tuxedo-laden casinos in Monaco. Baccarat is an exciting game that’s easy to learn and offers a great return on your bets.

The game is played with six decks of cards shuffled together. Players sit in a circular or oval table and place their wagers on either the Player’s Hand, Banker’s Hand or Tie. When the hand totals are compared, whichever is closest to nine wins. In the case of a tie, it is determined by dropping the first digit and counting only the remaining numbers.

When playing baccarat at a land-based casino or on an online gambling platform, it is important to set a budget for your gaming session and stick to it. This will help you develop your gambling discipline and limit any losses that may occur. It is also recommended to practice your betting strategy without real money on hand. This way you can build confidence, test and refine your tactics and learn the game rules better. This type of simulated play is offered by most online casinos and it is very useful for newbies.

Once all bets have been placed, the dealer deals two cards each to the Banker’s and Player’s boxes. If the Player or Banker hands have a total of 8 or 9, this is considered a “natural” win and all bets are paid. Otherwise, the dealer will draw a third card on either or both of the hands, if necessary.

In addition to Player and Banker bets, there are a number of other side bets you can make on the game. These bets pay a different return than a player or banker win, and the odds of winning them vary by establishment and platform. These bets can include Super Six and Pair Bets, which pay out a higher payout if the winning hand has a certain amount of points.

The game of baccarat is easy to understand and can be played by people of all ages. In fact, it’s often used as a high-society pastime in Asian countries like Hong Kong and Macau. This is because the game’s rules are simple and it doesn’t require a lot of space for play. Furthermore, the game isn’t as fast-paced as other casino games like blackjack or slots. This makes baccarat the ideal casino game for those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern life.