Baccarat is one of the most famous casino table games. Its glamorous trappings and high stakes are a major draw for many players. This game is played on a large table in the high-roller room of casinos and has its own betting area that is blocked off from the rest of the casino action. Unlike most casino card games, Baccarat is a banked game where the player wagers that either the Player hand or the Banker hand will win. A 5% commission is charged on Banker bets which gives the house a small edge over the Player hand. The Player and Banker bets are the two main wagers in the game but there are also other side bets available such as the Super Six Bet and Pair Bet.

The game is played with eight decks of cards that are shuffled together. The cards have different ranks and values with 9 being the highest value and Aces carrying a value of one point. The game has five types of bets: the Player Bet, the Banker’s Bet, the Tie Bet, the Super Six Bet and the Pair Bet. These bets pay out at varying odds depending on the type of bet. It is important to know the payouts and house edge of each bet before placing any chips.

When the game begins a Player and Banker hand will be dealt two cards each. The goal is for the player to guess correctly which of these two hands will come closest to nine. If the Player hand totals 8 or 9, the hand is known as a natural and no third card is drawn. If the player totals 0 to 5, 6 or 7, a third card is drawn.

Whether the Banker or Player hand wins, the bettors that place bets on these two outcomes will receive a payout based on their bet amount. Winning Banker bets are paid out at 1 to 1, while winning Player bets are paid out at a rate of 8 to 1. The Tie bet is the only wager that does not offer a payout and has a house edge of 14.1 percent.

A popular baccarat strategy involves using a combination of betting systems and pattern trends. Typically players start the game with flat betting and fill out their results on a score board sheet. Once they notice a pattern, they make alternate bets on the Banker and Player hand. This can lead to losing streaks, so it is important to have a loss limit in place before continuing to play the game.

In addition to these common wagers, some casinos will create their own side bets with unique payouts and odds. These side bets can have a high house edge and should only be placed if the player’s bankroll can handle the risk. The most common side bets include the Big Six and the Pair Bet.