Baccarat (pronounced bah-cah-rah) is a card game that has been around for over 500 years. It is played around the world in casinos and is often referred to as “one of the oldest casino games”.

Baccarat was first invented in Italy and France during the early renaissance. Today it is a popular game in casinos worldwide and is played by high rollers.

It is considered to be one of the most popular games in casinos because it has a great player advantage and offers a very low house edge. It also has a great social aspect and is very easy to learn.

The rules of baccarat vary from country to country and from one version of the game to another, however the basic principle is the same. Cards are dealt from a deal box called a shoe, and each hand has its own betting area.

Players are seated in rows on either side of the dealer. The table is covered with green felt and the numbers are numbered from 1 to 12.

A croupier (dealer) deals out two hands of cards, a Player’s hand and a Banker’s hand. The player bets on which hand he believes will win the game.

Depending on the variation, both players have the option to draw a third card after the second hand is dealt. This third card can be a natural or an additional one. In the case of a natural draw, the player wins and the banker loses.

The next step in baccarat is for both players to reveal their cards. The Banker and Player can choose to stand, taking a third card, or they can draw an additional card and expose their hands.

When the player draws a second card, his or her total is compared to the Banker’s. If the total is a tie, the bets on both sides are returned. If it is a winner, the bets on both sides are paid out.

If the Player or Banker has a total of 9 points, they both win. If neither has a total of 9, they have a tie and the bets on both sides are returned.

Baccarat is a single-digit game, so it is important to get as close to nine as possible. For example, a score of six is worth one point, eight is worth two points, and so on.

Some baccarat variants, such as mini-baccarat and Macau-style baccarat, have different rules. These rules vary from place to place and are best avoided, as they tend to increase the house edge.

A croupier deals the cards from a shoe, which holds 52 cards in 52-card packs. Usually, these decks are divided into two groups, each holding six cards.

There are a few variations of baccarat in the world, but the most common are Punto Banco and Chemin de Fer. The latter is played like a blackjack game, except that the banker is the house.

The house edge is the difference between the winning and losing wagers. In baccarat, it is 1.2 percent for the Player’s and Banker’s bets. It is over 14 percent for the Tie bet.