How to Play Bacarrat

Baccarat (/bakrt, bk-RAY) is one of the most glamourous casino games. It’s also one of the most lucrative if you play it correctly and stick to your limits. The best bet is on the banker hand, which has a lower house edge and wins more often than the player hand.

Once you’ve made your bet, the dealer deals two cards to the Banker and Player hands. Sometimes a third card is drawn to either hand or both. The goal is to get as close to nine points as possible, and the side that gets closest is the winner. The rules are simple: all cards rank equal to their pip value, while the Ace and face cards count as one point, and the numbers 2-9 take their numerical value.

If the first two cards dealt are an 8 or a 9, the game is over. The placed bets will be paid out. If the Banker and Player hands have the same total, it’s a tie. If a third card is drawn, the winning side is determined by which hand has the highest total after adding the second digit.

While there’s no way to guarantee a win, playing baccarat is a fun way to relax and have some excitement. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key, try out a specialty baccarat variant like Lunar New Year Baccarat.