Baccarat is one of the most glamourous casino games around. Its trappings include a special table in an alcove away from the main gambling action, and $100-bills are often used instead of chips. It is a game of pure chance, however, and players can be subject to wild fluctuations in winnings. This is why it is important to decide how much you want to spend before you begin, and not to be carried away by the excitement of the game.

It is important to understand the rules of baccarat before you start playing, and there are many guides available online. Essentially, you place a bet on either the Banker or the Player hand, or that the game will end in a Tie. In a typical round, two cards are dealt to each hand and the winner is determined by which hand gets closest to nine points. The winner also pays a commission to the dealer (usually 5% of the winning bet).

The game is played with eight standard decks of cards that are dealt from a shoe and card suits have no bearing on the game. Each card has a specific value, and the numbering system is different to blackjack in that 2s through 9s count as their face value, while 10s count as zero. The ties in Baccarat are also adjusted by subtracting 10.

In addition to understanding the rules, you must know how to calculate the outcome of each round. A baccarat hand has a maximum of nine points, but it can be won by any total that is closer to nine than the banker’s or player’s hand. In ordinary play, the first two cards are dealt to each hand. If the first two cards total 6 or 7, then the player must stand, and if they are 8 or 9, then the banker must draw a third card. If a third card is drawn, then the hands are re-scored and the winner is declared.

While there is a small house edge to betting on the Banker, it is the best bet to make. There are, however, some casinos that apply a 5% commission to bets on the Banker, so it is important to check the rules before you start playing.

The first thing you must do before you start playing Baccarat is to set a limit for how much you will be willing to spend. Once you have decided on a limit, it is important to stick to it, even if your winning streaks are short-lived. The simplest way to do this is to use a money management system like the 1-3-2-6, which reduces your bet size by two units every time you lose. This can help to stretch your bankroll across a number of rounds and reduce the amount you are able to lose on losing streaks.

Baccarat is an easy casino game to learn, and it can be extremely exciting. It can be a fun way to spend an evening, but it is important to remember that it is not a money-making game and you should treat the money you are spending on this night out as if it were cash you were going to spend on a night out.