Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco, is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It is a game of chance where players wager on which hand they believe will come closest to nine points without going over. It is considered a table game and is typically played with a banker and player. It is a high stakes game and as such is often roped off from other casino tables with higher betting minimums. The game has even appeared in some movies, including the 2007 film Rush Hour 3 where James Carter plays baccarat with Genevieve during a heist.

The game is dealt from a 6- or 8 deck shoe. Each player places a bet on either the Banker or Player hand before the cards are dealt. Once the two cards are dealt, whoever is closer to 9 wins. A third card may be drawn in some situations but the game ends when neither hand is closer to 9. The Banker hand always wins unless there is a tie and winnings are paid out according to a predetermined table payout chart. In addition to the main bets, a Super Six Bet and a Pair Bet can be placed alongside the initial bet. The payout for a winning Super Six Bet is 12x the original bet amount and the payout for a winning Pair Bet is 11x the bet amount.

Baccarat’s popularity has led to a number of different variations on the game and additional ways to play. Side bets and Mini Baccarat make the game accessible to more players while still allowing for a high-stakes game. The game has also generated a variety of betting strategies that try to predict the outcome of each hand by analyzing past results. While these systems are often successful in the short term, they can be very risky in the long run as they rely on the Martingale system, which is mathematically flawed.

In the United States, baccarat is regulated by state gaming laws. The rules differ slightly from state to state but generally require that the game be played in a casino, and that there be a minimum bet amount. In some states, the game must be conducted by a licensed dealer.

While many people enjoy the drama and suspense of a baccarat game, some players find it too much like betting on coin tosses. In fact, some baccarat enthusiasts believe that there is no skill or strategy involved in the game and therefore it is a pure gamble. Others, however, argue that there are certain basic strategies that can be used to increase the chances of a win. Those strategies usually involve a complicated series of bets that can be very expensive and are based on a mathematically flawed model. These betting and pattern spotting strategies are not recommended for anyone who is interested in maximizing their chances of winning at baccarat. Instead, the best strategy is to simply decide on a maximum amount that you are willing to lose and stick to it.