From sticky-floor California card rooms to tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat is one of the world’s most popular casino games. It’s also a staple of James Bond movies, most famously in the 1954 film version of Casino Royale where Sean Connery plays the game to bankrupt Le Chiffre. Baccarat is also a favorite of high-rollers around the world, with some players betting $100,000 per hand. In fact, baccarat generates more revenue in Macau than any other table game.

There are three possible outcomes in a game of baccarat: the player win, the banker win, or the tie. Two cards are dealt to the banker and the player hands, and then a third is drawn (if necessary). The hand closest to 9 wins. The game is usually played from a six or eight-deck shoe. Aces are worth one, tens equal nine, and other cards equal their face value. A king or queen counts as six, but a jack or lower counts as zero.

While baccarat is not the most complicated casino game, it does have its own set of rules and terminology. There are some things that can confuse new players, especially if they’re used to other casino games with simpler rules and terminology. It’s important to understand these rules and terminology to play the game correctly.

In a game of baccarat, the simplest way to bet is to place a bet on either the Player’s or Banker’s hand winning. If you bet on the Banker’s hand, then the casino charges a 5% commission. This gives the house a small edge over you.

The player’s hand, on the other hand, has a higher chance of winning and does not require a commission. The Player’s hand must hit a total of 8 or 9, but it is not necessary to draw a third card.

A supplementary bet called a Super Six is an optional bet that pays out on a Banker hand scoring 6 points. The payout on a winning Super Six bet is 12x the original bet amount. Another supplementary bet is a Pair Bet, which pays out on a Banker or Player pair of cards. The payout on a winning Pair Bet is 11x the original bet amount.

Baccarat has evolved a lot from its European origins. While it still has its place in the high-limit areas of the casino, tables are often smaller and the tuxedoed dealers have been replaced by a more generic look. This has meant that the game has become more accessible, although it’s still difficult to find a seat at the highest-limit tables in Las Vegas. However, there are a number of online casinos that offer baccarat and these sites typically have a much smaller minimum bet than the high-limit casino floors.