If you’re looking for a table game with few complexities, and lots of James Bond-style gambling fun, baccarat might be the game for you. The classic card game has only three possible winning outcomes: a banker win, a player win or a tie. The dealer does all the work, and players only have to place their bets. However, baccarat is still an intricate game with several rules that should be understood before playing the game.

Baccarat is played with either six, seven or eight standard decks of 52 cards. Each hand is valued according to the sum of its cards, but only the rightmost digit counts. For example, a 10 and 6 are worth fifteen points, while a 7 and 8 would be worth twenty. Each player and banker receive two cards each, and the hand with the highest value wins the round. The game also has a few side bets, such as Super Six Bets and Pair Bets. The payouts for these bets are higher than those on the main bets, but they come with greater risk.

The first step in baccarat is to choose which bet to make. Players can bet on the Player Hand, the Banker Hand or a Tie. Before the cards are dealt, the bettors must make their bets and then the dealer will flip over four cards in total – two for the Banker Hand and two for the Player Hand. The hand with the highest value wins, but if neither of the hands produce a natural (a total of 8 or 9), further cards are drawn to decide the winner.

Once the cards have been dealt, the dealer will calculate the winning hand’s score and pay out bets accordingly. If a player bets on the Player Hand, and the hand wins, they will receive a 1:1 payout. If they bet on the Banker’s Hand and the hand wins, they will have to pay a 5% commission to the house.

When a player bets on a Tie, and the tie is won, they will receive a 9:1 payout. However, the house edge on this bet is over 4%, so it’s best to avoid this bet in favor of more profitable side bets like the Player Hand and Banker Hand.

Whether you’re playing baccarat in Las Vegas or at home, it’s always important to set a budget and stick to it. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and be sure to set aside a small amount of money for experimenting with different strategies. Using a betting system, such as the Martingale, can help you increase your bankroll and improve your overall winnings.

While baccarat does not have many betting options, there are some side bets that can increase your chances of winning. One of the most popular is the Super Six bet, which pays out 12x your original bet if the Banker Hand wins with a total of six points. Another is the Pair Bet, which pays out 11x your bet if you get a Banker or Player pair.