Baccarat is one of the casino games that has taken the world by storm over the past few decades. Tracing its roots back to the gambling salons of Italy and France, baccarat has become the game of choice for many players at both brick-and-mortar and online casinos. The game’s low house edge and straightforward rules make it easy to play for any player regardless of skill level.
In the game of baccarat, there are only three possible outcomes: a win for the player, a win for the banker, or a tie. The game starts when the dealer and all players place their wagers. Then the dealer deals two cards, a player hand and a banker hand. Then the dealer or the software compares the hands’ total to 9. If the player hand is closer to 9 than the banker hand, the bettor wins and is paid. If the player hand is close to 8, or a tie, the bettor loses and the game continues.
The simplest way to play baccarat is to bet on the hand that will have a total closest to nine. The minimum bet is usually $20, though this varies from casino to casino. In most cases, the player’s hand must have a score of 6 or higher. If the banker hand has a 6 or higher, it is called a ‘super six’ and pays 12x your initial bet amount. A player can also bet on a pair of hands, which pays 11x the initial bet amount.