Baccarat is a game of chance, but you can do some things to increase your odds of winning. The most important thing to remember is to set a budget for your baccarat session and stick to it. That way you’re not tempted to chase losses or try to make back any losses you had. Another good idea is to set some win goals for yourself and celebrate when you reach them.

Before a hand is dealt, players place their bets. They can choose to bet on the Banker’s hand winning, the Player’s hand winning, or a tie. Once the hands are dealt, the dealer will add up their totals and determine a winner. Whichever hand has a total closest to nine will win. If the hands have equal totals, a third card may be drawn.

Traditionally, baccarat has been a game played for high stakes, and it is usually tucked away in special alcoves of the casino floor, separated from other gambling action. This is still the case for some online baccarat games, but the game has become more popular and is now found in many casinos and gaming sites.

It’s easy to see why baccarat has attracted high rollers. It has one of the lowest hold percentages in the casino and has a relatively low house edge for both banker and player bets. However, there is a third bet, the Tie, that pays out at 8:1 but comes with a higher house edge than either the Player’s or Banker’s bet. That’s why most serious baccarat players simply stick with the Player or Banker bet.

Once all the bets have been placed, the dealer will deal two cards to the Player’s hand and two to the Banker’s. The hand with the highest total wins, but there are some exceptions to this rule. First, the tens and picture or face cards count as zero points. Second, the ace counts as one point. Third, a seven and a six are a combined total of 13 points, but the first digit is dropped to three because it’s an odd number.

It’s also a good idea to stay away from the Tie bet. While it offers high payouts, it is also the most risky bet in baccarat and has the lowest chance of winning. So, unless you have a specific strategy in mind for making this bet, it’s best to steer clear of it. This is especially true if you’re playing at a casino that applies a commission on this bet. Typically, this will be around five percent, but it can vary. This is why it’s important to check the rules of each baccarat game you play.