Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games worldwide. Its popularity in Asia has led many casinos to add the game to their offerings, and it’s a common choice in high-limit gaming areas. Despite its reputation for being an exclusive game, Baccarat is easy to learn and play. It’s also a great way to relax and unwind.

Baccarat players place bets on the Player, Banker or Tie before cards are dealt. Once all bets are placed, two cards are dealt to the Player and the Banker hand. The croupier then announces the total of each hand, with the hand closest to nine winning. The croupier then collects losing bets and pays winning bets.

The cards are shuffled in a special dealing box called a shoe, and are released one at a time to the player and the croupier. Eight standard 52-card packs are used, with the exception of the jokers which are worth nothing in baccarat. The game is played on a large table with green felt covering it and numbered areas for the players to keep their money in. There are six seats on either side of the dealer, who only banks the game and does not participate otherwise. The game layout shows where players can bet on the Player, Banker or a tie.

Unlike poker, where the first digit of the combined card value counts, in baccarat the second digit of the total counts. The cards from 2-9 have their pip value, with the numbers 9 and ten worth zero points and picture cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings) equaling zero. Aces are worth a single point.

Once Baccarat had established itself in France, it started to garner attention from around the world. The company’s showings in the expositions of the 19th Century—it won a gold medal at the 1867 Exposition Universelle, and was commissioned to produce table service for the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul—earned it admirers far beyond its home country.

Baccarat is still enjoyed in offline or land-based casinos, where the table is about the size of a craps table and has up to 12 players. The game is now available online, too, with modern games software developers making it possible to enjoy the game on mobile devices and PCs.

When playing Baccarat, it is best to stick with the game’s basic rules. However, you can try out different strategies by observing trends and patterns. In particular, if the banker or player is on a streak, betting on that side can be profitable. Another way to spice up the game is by trying out specialty baccarat variants such as the Lunar New Year version offered by DraftKings. Whether you’re playing offline or online, baccarat is a game that can be enjoyed by any skill level. So, go ahead and give it a try! You might just be surprised at how fun it is. Then, when you’re ready, you can move on to more complex baccarat strategies.