Baccarat is one of the easiest casino card games to learn. The rules are simple, with just two hands and three betting options – Banker, Player, and Tie. The dealer deals two cards to each hand and the hand closest to a total of 9 wins. Winning bets are paid out, with the Banker side paying the most (usually 8:1). The house takes a 5% commission on winning Banker bets and pays back stakes on tied hands.

Players place their bets on the Player or Banker hand before the dealer deals cards to both hands. The dealer then tots up each hand’s total value and determines the winner. In the event of a tie, bets on either the Player or Banker are paid out. In addition, players can also bet on the Tie, which pays a high 8:1 payout at some online casinos.

Eight 52-card packs are shuffled and dealt by the croupier from a dealing box, called a shoe. The decks are then placed on a large table covered with green felt with numbered areas where the bets are made. The dealer and the players sit around the table, six on each side.

The first player to act plays as the banker and sets an initial betting amount. The other players then go in order in counterclockwise direction to announce whether they want to bet on the player or banker, and their wagers are compared against the banker’s bet. If a player wins, the bet is doubled and then added to the next round. This pattern continues until a player loses. If neither the player or banker wins, a third card is drawn.