If you’re looking for a game of chance without any real skill, Baccarat is your ticket. This game has its origins in France and is played in many casinos around the world today. From sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, Baccarat is one of the top casino games in the world. In fact, it generates more revenue for casinos than any other table game.

Its popularity stems from its simple rules. The object is to bet on a hand, Player or Banker, that is closest to nine when all the pips are added up. The Player and Banker cards each get two points, while the third card determines whether a win or loss occurs. If either the Player or Banker hand is closest to 9 — a hand that gets 8 and a 6 is the best of these — you win the hand. The game also allows you to bet on the Tie, which pays out if the total of both the Player and Banker is nine or higher.

After players have placed their bets, the dealer will deal one card to the Player box and then a second card to the Banker box. The Player and Banker boxes are then compared to see who has the highest ranked combination of cards. If the Player’s hand is the highest, the winner is awarded the round and bets on the Banker or Player are paid out.

However, if the total of the Player’s and Banker’s first two cards is 8 or 9, the game ends and all bets are paid out. This is called a ‘natural’, and no third card is drawn in these cases. A player must choose to bet on the Player or Banker side of the table when placing their wagers.

The simplest way to understand a baccarat strategy is to follow the rules of the game as described by the dealer. This is the most common form of play in a land-based casino and will not differ too much from online baccarat. However, in addition to following the rules of the game as set out by the dealer, there are certain basic strategies that can be used to increase a player’s chances of winning.

The most important rule is to remember that the ace and king are both worth one point. This means that a total of nine is worth eight, while ten and seven are both worth six. The rest of the cards are valued according to their numbered values. For example, cards numbered between 1 and 10 have their face value, while picture cards and aces count as zero. Once you know how the cards are ranked, the rest of the rules of baccarat come together easily.