Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. It is a game of chance, but there are certain strategies that can increase your chances of winning. It is important to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game before you begin betting. You can choose to bet on the Banker, Player, or Tie hand. The game begins when the dealer shuffles the cards and deals two to each hand. The values of the cards are then summed and whichever hand is closest to 9 wins. If the hand total is higher than 9, it must be drawn a third time. The dealer then announces the winner.

The simplest way to win baccarat is by betting on the Banker. A bet on the Banker predicts that the banker’s hand will have a value closer to nine than the player’s. Similarly, a bet on the Player predicts that the player’s hand will have a value closer than the banker’s. If neither hand produces a natural, the game ends in a tie.

A win on the Banker or Player hands will earn you a payout of 1 to 1. The only way to get more than this is by placing a bet on the Tie, which is subject to a 5% commission from the casino. This commission reduces the payout odds on a winning tie bet to 8-to-1.

You can also place a bet on a ‘Super Six’, which pays out if the Banker hand has a total of 6. This bet can be made alongside the original Player or Banker bet and has a payout of 12x the amount of your initial bet.

Another strategy to use is the Martingale system, which involves increasing your bet size after every loss. This can lead to short-term gains, but it is risky and can cause you to lose more money than you would if you played with a smaller bet. It is best to set a budget before you start playing and stick to it.

Edge sorting is a technique that allows players to identify the most likely outcome of a baccarat round by looking at the number of times a particular card has been dealt. This can help players make more accurate predictions about the future results of a hand and therefore improve their betting strategy. This strategy has recently become controversial after Phil Ivey won around $10 million from casinos using it. However, it is important to remember that edge sorting is not illegal and should be used responsibly.