Baccarat is one of the most beloved casino games. A mix between chance and skill, it offers high payouts and an extremely low house edge – as seen in James Bond movies! While not easy to master initially, practice can turn you into an expert player of baccarat and ultimately lead you towards becoming a winning one!

Players begin by placing bets on either the Player, Banker or Tie hand and the dealer distributes two cards for each betting area. Next, both Player’s and Banker’s hands are compared against one another with the one closest to nine being declared the winner; picture cards count as zero while cards numbered 2-9 carry their face value and aces count as one point; once total exceeds nine only the second digit is counted; once over 9 the first digit drops out.

Not only can you choose between Player and Banker bets, there are other exciting side bets you can place as well: Player Pair bets offer 11:1 odds while Banker Pair wagers pay 5:1. Depending on your establishment and platform you may even be able to make additional side bets as well.

This game takes place on a large table with a separate betting area for Player and Banker hands, offering from seven to 14 seats for players and offering two cards face up in each gaming space from the dealer. A discard tray also keeps track of played and discarded cards throughout play.

If a player or banker’s total is eight or nine, this is known as a natural and no third card will be drawn. If their total is between 6 and 7, no third card will be drawn either; otherwise they must decide whether or not to draw another one.

When the banker wins a hand, 95% of bets placed are returned. Tie bets pay out 8 times their value. A score sheet is maintained to record each round’s results.

At the casino, it is crucial that you understand your bankroll and betting limits when playing baccarat, both financial and betting strategy-wise. Never wager more money than you can afford to lose and don’t chase your losses – setting a win limit beforehand can help prevent unnecessary risks from ruining the experience, while spending limits should also be implemented so as not to overspend. Finally, always gamble responsibly while having fun!