If you’re in the mood for a classic casino game with a touch of elegance, look no further than baccarat. The sexy card game is a popular choice in casinos all over the world, and it’s featured in many James Bond movies. But despite its alluring reputation, the game can still seem intimidating to new players. Here are six baccarat tips to help you get started.

The aim of the game is to predict which of two hands will have a total closest to 9. Bettors can bet on either the player or banker hand, or they can place a bet on a tie. In a baccarat round, the dealer deals two cards to the player and one to the banker. The winner is determined by which hand has the higher value. If both hands have a value of 8 or 9, the hand is considered a “natural” and the bettors will be paid out. Otherwise, further cards are drawn according to certain rules that differ by venue.

The baccarat rule book defines each hand’s value and how they are scored. In baccarat, the leading digit is ignored, so a nine-point hand has a total of 9 + 5. A seven-point hand has a total of 7 + 5, and a six-point hand has a total of 6 + 3. If a bet is placed on a winning player or banker hand, it qualifies for a 1 to 1 payout. A bet on a winning tie also pays out 1 to 1, but this is subject to a 5% commission, which reduces the payout odds to 19 to 20.