Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco and bak-car-tay, is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It can be played for high stakes and is often found in the big money section of European and Nevada casinos. The game is simple: bet on which hand – the player, banker, or tie – you think will get the closest to nine. The winning hand must be the one with a final digit equal to or greater than 9. Aces count as zero, and other cards have their pip value.

While the game is portrayed as elegant and sophisticated in the movies – it’s James Bond’s favorite casino game – it is a relatively slow, easy game that anyone can play. Baccarat is also one of the most simple casino games to learn. There are only three bets in baccarat – Player, Banker, or Tie – which means that it is easier to master than other casino games with more complicated betting options.

Baccarat players must place their bets before the dealer deals the cards. Each round, the dealer will deal two cards to both the Player and Banker. The Player and Banker hands are then scored based on their totals, with the hand that gets the closest to 9 winning. If a tie occurs, the banker’s bet is paid out but the player’s bet is lost. The dealer then collects any loser bets and pays the winners.