Baccarat is one of the oldest and most popular casino games. It has a reputation for elegance and is often associated with high rollers and luxury, but it’s possible to play baccarat with small bets as well. The game has a number of variations, and the rules differ slightly between them. You should always check the specific game rules and payouts before you start playing. In addition, it’s important to set a bankroll and spend limits.

In the game of Baccarat, players bet on whether the Player or Banker hand will come closer to a total of nine points. The cards are dealt by the dealer, and the hand with a score closest to 9 wins. If either hand totals 8 or 9, it’s a “natural” and the game is over, and bets are paid out. A tie is a loss for both the player and the banker.

A game of Baccarat begins with the dealer placing down an initial stake. Then, players take turns to place a bet on the Player or Banker hand. The dealer then deals two cards to the Player and Banker hands. The first card is dealt face up and the second is dealt face down. If the Player or Banker hands have a total of eight or nine, it’s a natural and the bets are paid out.

If neither the Player nor the Banker hands have a total of eight, the dealer draws another card on each hand. The value of the cards is determined by adding up the values of all the cards in the hand. Court cards have a value of zero, while tens, jacks, queens and kings have a value of one. Aces count as one.

After the third card is drawn, the values of each hand are summed and the hand nearest to nine wins. If the sum of the hand’s values goes beyond nine, the leading digit is dropped (for example, a 7 and a 6 would be a total of 13, but it would be a three in a Baccarat hand).

Besides betting on the Player or Banker hands, baccarat players can also place side bets on the Tie. However, a Tie bet has a high house edge and should be avoided. Players should instead focus on making the best bets in the game that will maximize their winnings. A good way to do this is by using the Martingale betting system. The system involves starting with a small bet, such as $10, and then increasing it after each win. This will allow you to build your bankroll without risking too much of your own money. You can practice the game for free in demo mode, where you can use virtual credits to try out different strategies. Then, when you feel comfortable with the game, you can switch to real money mode and bet bigger amounts.