Baccarat is one of the most popular table games in the casino. It has an appealing low house edge, simple rules and James Bond-style glamour that makes it a favorite of many players. This is why the game is featured in so many casinos around the world and can be found online as well. However, there are a few different variations of the game and they can differ slightly from one another. Some of these differences can affect the payouts, rules and odds of the game. So, it is important to know the difference between these different versions of the game.

The basic game of baccarat is played on a nine-lined table with anywhere from seven to 14 seats for players and a dealer area. Two hands are dealt, the player hand and the banker hand. The goal is to win a bet on either the Player hand, the Banker hand or a Tie. Players place their bets before the cards are dealt and can adjust their bets after each round of play.

Once the bets are placed, two cards are dealt to both the Player and Banker hands. The Player hand and the Banker hand are then compared. If either the Player hand or the Banker hand totals 8 or 9, it is considered a “natural” and the winning bets are paid out. The dealer will then draw a third card on the hand if necessary.

Whether the Player hand or the Banker’s hand wins is determined by adding up the value of each card and subtracting the tens digit. The hand with the highest total is the winner. A tie is less common but occurs in 9.6% of the rounds. In a tie, the stakes are returned to the players and the game is over.

In addition to the bets on a Player hand, Banker hand or Tie, there are a few side bets that can be made in Baccarat. These vary by establishment and platform but include the Player Pair bet, which pays at 11:1 odds, and the Banker Pair bet, which pays at 5:1 odds.

The game of baccarat can seem intimidating for those who aren’t familiar with the rules. However, it is one of the easiest casino games to learn and maintains a relatively low house edge. It is also a very social game that can be enjoyed with friends or family.

The game of baccarat has gained popularity in recent years due to high-profile events such as the Borgata Hotel suing Phil Ivey for over $10 million in winnings from the casino. The controversy surrounding this event sparked discussion on edge sorting, which is a technique that is used in some casinos to help prevent cheating. While edge sorting isn’t illegal, it can make the game unfair for some players and should be avoided. This is why it is important to play at reputable online casinos that follow strict anti-cheating and fairness guidelines.