Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world, with a reputation that extends from sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco. But despite its glamorous image, the game remains simple for most players. Baccarat is a table game that involves betting on the player, banker or tie hand and trying to get closer to nine than the opposing hand. The game has a relatively low house edge of about 1.2% for both the player and banker hands, but the third option of a tie bet is more complicated and comes with a higher house edge.

The game is played with six decks of cards, which are shuffled together and arranged in an oval on the table. Depending on the version of the game, from seven to 14 players can be seated around the table. Each player is assigned a seat, and play begins to the right of the croupier. After all the bets have been placed, two cards are dealt to both the banker and player. The hand with the total closest to nine wins. The croupier then announces the winning hand. The winning hand is paid out to the players and lost bets are collected by the dealer. The croupier also takes a 5% commission on winning bets on the banker’s side.

As with most other card games, the rules of baccarat can vary slightly from one place to the next. The most commonly-played form of the game is known as punto banco, and it is this version of the game that most people see when they walk into a casino. The other major versions are chemmy and baccarat banque, but these are typically found in high-limit gaming areas.

While the exact origin of baccarat is unknown, historians believe that the game was invented in 1500s Italy by Felix Falguiere. It then made its way to France, where the quicker and easier variant called chemin de fer became very popular. From there, the game spread throughout Europe, Asia and eventually into the United States.

While there are plenty of different strategies and tactics to improve your baccarat strategy, the most important thing is to understand the game’s rules. This will help you make the best decisions and avoid making bad bets. If you want to try your hand at the game, we recommend setting a budget and sticking to it. You should also always gamble responsibly and never chase your losses.