Baccarat is one of the casino’s most exciting games. It exudes refinement and conjures images of men in tuxedos and women in sexy evening gowns laying down chips as a dealer distributes cards. Despite its mystique, it’s actually quite simple to learn and play. Each baccarat “coup” (round) has only three possible outcomes: Player win, Banker win or tie.

The game originated in China during the Song Dynasty, which lasted from 960 to 1279 BCE. The earliest forms of the game used tiles instead of cards, but the basic rules remain the same. Generally, whichever hand has the highest total score wins.

In the early days, baccarat was played with popular medieval tarot cards. The game moved to Italy and then France, where it became a favorite of King Charles VIII and the French aristocracy. It also traveled to England, Argentina and Cuba.

There are many strategies for playing baccarat, but the most important thing is to enter the game with a plan. Set your limits and stick to them. Then, if you lose your limit, stop gambling.

One of the best ways to maximize your profits is to place a bet on the Banker. It is the safest bet because the house edge is very low. However, you can also increase your chances of winning by placing a bet on the Player. In this case, you will win if the player’s total is closer to nine than the banker’s.