Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. It’s easy to learn, has high payout odds and maintains a low house edge, which makes it a good choice for players of all skill levels. It’s also featured in old James Bond movies and has a reputation for glamour and luxury.

In baccarat, players place their bets on either the banker hand or the player hand. The hand that comes closest to nine wins. The player and banker hands are dealt two cards each from a shoe that holds eight or more decks of cards. The bettor’s wager determines the total of the hand. If the hand is a ‘natural’, that is, it has a total of 8 or 9, no third card will be drawn.

If the hand is a ‘natural’, the player will win 95% of the bet amount, but there are other rules that may apply depending on the game type. For example, some baccarat tables require that a player subtract ten from a total of more than nine or drop the first numeral. Other baccarat tables allow players to add a second number when making their wager. Score sheets are available at live baccarat tables to help players keep track of their winnings and losses.

The earliest recorded baccarat games date back to the 1400s in Italy and France. The game remained popular in France even after public gambling became illegal there in 1837. The popularity of the game has spawned many variations on the basic rules, side bets and mini baccarat.