Baccarat is the casino card game made famous in movies like James Bond. It’s a simple game of guessing which hand will come closest to 9 points. Bettors place bets on either the player hand, banker hand, or a tie. The dealer deals two cards for each of these hands, visible to the players at the table, and whoever’s hand totals closest to nine wins. Unlike blackjack, there’s no need to analyze the cards or make complex calculations. Moreover, Baccarat has one of the lowest house edges in the casino (banker bets have a 1.2 percent hold) and is easy to learn.

Baccarat’s history dates back more than 500 years. It began in medieval Italy as a game for the upper class and aristocracy, but quickly spread to neighboring France. It became known as Punto Banco or Chemin de Fer (“Chemmy”), and was a favorite of King Charles VIII’s court. It eventually reached the United States, where it exploded in popularity among high rollers and other players seeking to push their luck.

Today, Baccarat is played on a table with anywhere from seven to 14 seats, plus the area where the dealer sits. Regardless of the number of players, only two hands of cards are dealt. The Player’s and Banker’s hands are based on the first two cards dealt. The player’s and banker’s rules are determined by a fixed set of rules that are referred to as a “tableaux.” A third card is drawn in certain situations, depending on the totals of the player’s and banker’s cards.

The game is a great option for beginners and casual players, because it’s the least intimidating game in the casino. It has one of the lowest house edges in the industry and is very fast, particularly with non-commission versions of Baccarat. Baccarat’s rules are very clear and do not affect other players, and a round of play can be completed in seconds.

While there is no skill involved in the game, some players choose to use strategy or systems when playing baccarat. For example, some players follow a system called the Martingale, which involves doubling your bet after every loss. This strategy works best if you have a large bankroll and the discipline to stick to it. For these reasons, the game remains popular among high rollers and others seeking to push their luck. While it is still primarily found in high-limit areas, baccarat is becoming more common on the casino floor, especially in higher-end establishments. In fact, some casinos are now offering a streamlined version of the game that looks much more like blackjack, with lower minimums and a single table. This has attracted many new players to the game. Baccarat has also been embraced by online gambling operators, who have developed their own versions of the game. These versions have a softer, more relaxed pace and offer lower minimums than the traditional European version. Some even have live dealers!