Baccarat has an intimidating exterior, but it’s actually one of the easiest casino games to play. It maintains a low house edge and provides the same thrills of other table games but without the complicated rules and strategies. This makes it perfect for new players and those who want to try something different from the other casino games they’ve played. Baccarat is also featured in old-school James Bond movies, which adds to its appeal.
The object of baccarat is to correctly guess which hand will win on each round. The banker and the player are dealt two cards each, and whichever hand is closest to nine wins. The scoring system is based on the value of each card: 10s, Jacks and Queens equal zero; Aces count as one; and all other cards are worth their face values.
When a player or banker hand totals eight or nine, the game ends and no further cards are drawn. When a hand totals seven or six, the game goes into a ‘stand-off’ and no third card is drawn. If a player or banker totals five, a third card may be drawn, but only if the player’s total is two or lower.
A winning banker hand pays out 95% of the wager, while a winning player hand pays out just over 50%. Ties occur in around 9.6% of the rounds, so it’s better to bet on the banker if you wish to make the most of your money at a baccarat table. Nevertheless, it’s important to set your own limits and stick to them. You don’t want to get carried away and lose more than you can afford to.
After all bets are placed, the dealer deals a card to the Player box and then to the Banker box. The player and banker then reveal their hands, and the winner is determined. The banker must win by a minimum of three points, and if the banker wins by less than four, a third card is drawn.
Those who place bets on the banker hand will qualify for a 1 to 1 payout, while those who wager on the player hand will win at least twice their initial stake. Players can also opt to place a Super Six Bet, which pays out 12x the original bet amount, and a Pair Bet that pays out 8-to-1. Score sheets are usually available at baccarat tables to help players keep track of their bets.