Baccarat, also known as baccara or baccaraet, is an incredibly popular casino game. It is a game of pure chance that is played on large tables in high-roller rooms with table minimums that can run into the hundreds of dollars. It is a slow, ritualistic game that can feel very glamorous, especially in films like James Bond’s Casino Royal where the game was portrayed as being formal and elegant. It is a game of chance, however, and there is no strategy that will guarantee you total success.

Despite its popularity, baccarat is a little bit of a mystery to many American players. While the game is most often seen in the salons of Europe and Asia, it is becoming more and more common in US casinos. This is largely due to the fact that the game offers players some of the best odds in a casino, while also being a relatively simple game to play.

In a baccarat round, the player and banker each have two chances to win. The winner of each hand is determined by which one has a total closer to nine. If the player’s hand is closest to 9, they will receive a payout of 1 to 1. The same goes for a winning banker hand, although a 5% commission must be paid by the winner.

The banker’s edge is a bit higher than that of the player because the banker must draw and deal the cards, whereas the player doesn’t. This adds to the house’s advantage, but the overall game’s edge is still fairly small compared to other casino games.