Baccarat is a glamorous card game that conjures up images of high-rollers in opulent casino pits. It has a mystique that is difficult to dispel, but if you take the time to learn the rules and apply some basic strategy you can enjoy this exciting casino game.

Unlike most casino games, baccarat is a banked game in which players place bets on either the Player hand or the Banker hand winning. The objective is to guess which hand will be closest to nine. During the course of the hand the dealer deals out two cards to each gaming space, called the Player box and the Banker box. The player then places their bets on which hand they think will win, and pays the casino a small commission if they win.

The cards are dealt in a certain order. An ace and a king to the banker, and a seven and a six to the player. The total for the two hands is then determined by adding up the values of the individual cards. Then the tens and units are subtracted to find the score, which is then compared with nine to determine the winner.

A third card is sometimes drawn if the initial two results are close, but it is very important to note that the player and banker must both win their bets to get paid out. The Player and Banker bets pay out 1:1, but the Tie bet has a much lower payout rate (over 14%), and most serious players avoid it altogether.

Baccarat can be played at a number of different casinos, including those in Nevada and the new online casinos. However, if you want to play baccarat online you must be sure that the website is licensed and regulated by the state where you live. In addition to the licensing and regulation, you also need to be aware of the minimum and maximum bet limits for that particular casino.

In addition to the aforementioned bet limits, it is important for any player to set a loss limit and to cash out once they reach it. This will help prevent you from getting carried away with the game and losing more than you intended to. It is also a good idea to set a winning limit, so that once you have won your set amount you stop playing and walk away. It is easy to get caught up in a game like Baccarat, but exercising some self-control and sticking to a plan will make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.