Baccarat is a game of chance that has gained a reputation for elegance and high stakes. In fact, this classic casino game has been featured in a number of movies including the 2013 film The Great Gatsby. Despite its glamorous reputation, Baccarat is actually an easy game to play. The rules of the game are simple, and players can place bets based on the outcome they believe will happen. In addition, Baccarat is also available at online casinos and is a popular choice for players with limited time to spare.
In a live game, eight cards are shuffled together and dealt by the croupier using a shoe or dealing box. A player may choose to bet on either the Player hand, Banker hand or a tie. Those who correctly bet on the winning Player or Banker hand receive a payout of 1:1. However, the player must pay a 5% commission to the house, which reduces the payout odds on this hand to 19 to 1.
The objective is for the hand you bet on to be closer to nine than the opposing one. When the values of all the cards are added up, the digit closest to nine wins. Depending on the value of the two hands, a third card may be drawn or not. If the first two cards total six or seven, they are known as a stand and no third card is drawn. On the other hand, if the first two cards are 8, 9 or 10, they are called a natural and no third card is drawn.
During the game, a croupier is the dealer, and the table is covered with green felt with numbered areas for players to keep their money (or chips) during the course of the round. The croupier is the only participant who does not bet, and the game starts when one of the players announces they want to “go bank.” Once all the players have placed their initial bets, the croupier will start the round by dealing two cards to the Player hand.
After the players have placed their bets, the croupier deals a third card to the Banker hand. If the Banker hand is a natural, there are no more bets to place and the game is over. If the Banker hand is not a natural, the croupier will then deal another card to the Player hand and determine the winner of the round.
There are some variations in baccarat games, so it is important to check the rules and betting options of each individual casino before playing. For example, the number of decks used can affect the house edge and the odds of winning. Moreover, some online casinos may use different variations of the game and these can sometimes have small differences in terms of rules and betting options. The most common variation of baccarat is the 8-deck game.