Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It is easy to learn, slow-paced, and stacked full of fun. It has a reputation for being glamorous and is played for high stakes. This has helped make it a favorite among Asian high rollers. Its popularity has also created variations on the game and additional ways to bet.

The premise of baccarat is that you bet on which hand will get closer to nine points. You can bet on either the Player hand, the Banker’s hand, or the tie. When a round ends, the hand that has the total closest to 9 wins. The other two options, which are less likely to win, are a Tie and a Draw.

Unlike blackjack where you have some control over the cards dealt, in baccarat it is the dealer’s job to deal the cards. After the first two cards are dealt, if the Player or Banker hand has 8 or 9 on their score cards it is a “natural,” and all placed bets are paid out.

A third card may be drawn on either the Banker or Player hand depending on the house rules at a particular venue. This is known as a re-draw and it can alter the winning outcome of the hand. The dealer then pays out winning bets and collects losing ones. The dealer will also take a 5% commission on winning bets on the Banker’s hand. This is how the casino makes its money in baccarat.