How to Bet in Baccarat

Baccarat is that sexy card game that you see in movies, where high-rollers sit in opulent casinos laying down chips and waiting for the dealer to hand out cards. While the game has a reputation for sophistication and is associated with high rollers, you can play it on a smaller bankroll as well.

In a typical game of baccarat, the dealer passes out two cards to each of the gaming spots at the table – the player’s space and the banker’s space. The players then bet on either the player hand winning, the banker hand winning, or a tie. The winner is determined by which hand totals closer to nine, without going over. The game is played in rounds, with a fixed number of cards being dealt each round.

When betting on the player hand, you can choose whether to bet on a single hand or a pair. A pair bet is a wager that both the player and banker will have a pair of identical cards on the deal. This bet pays one to eleven, although you’ll have to pay a 5% commission when placing the bet.

If you’re a fan of matched pairs, then this is the bet for you! This bet pays out eight to one and is one of the few baccarat bets where you can win money. This bet is only available when the first two cards in the player or banker’s hands make a pair.

The player’s and banker’s hands are both scored by adding up the values of the individual cards in the hand and removing the tens digit. The higher the value of a hand, the more it wins. A hand with a value of eight or nine is called a “natural” and wins by default. A ten or more is a “no match” and loses to the dealer.

There are also a few side bets you can place in baccarat, though the odds vary by establishment and platform. The player pair bet wagers that the player and banker will both receive a pair on the deal, and offers 11:1 odds. The banker pair bet, on the other hand, is less lucrative, as it only pays out five to one.

The game of baccarat may seem intimidating to new players, but the rules are actually quite simple. All you need to do is bet on the player, banker, or tie before the cards are dealt and you’ll be paid out based on the result of that round. In addition, you can take advantage of casino bonuses and loyalty programs for baccarat, which are not always available for other types of casino games. However, be sure to know your limits and play responsibly!