Baccarat is one of the oldest casino games and is still very popular today. Many players associate the game with James Bond in the movie “Casino Royale” and the game’s popularity continues to grow around the world, especially in Asian countries. In fact, casinos in Macau (which dethroned Las Vegas as the world’s largest casino city) generate over 88 percent of their profits from the game. This is largely due to the simple gameplay and the low house edge that baccarat has over other casino games.

Often seen in high roller rooms of European and American casinos, baccarat is a card game where you bet on which hand will come closest to a total of nine points. It is a game of chance and luck and requires no skill to play. But, like all casino games, there are some things that you should know before playing baccarat.

First, you should know how the game works: two cards are dealt to each of the banker and player hands. The value of each hand is determined by adding the values of the individual cards and subtracting the tens digit from the result. If the player or banker hand has a value of eight or nine, it wins; otherwise, a third card may be drawn to decide the outcome.

Second, understand that a tie bet has a much higher house edge than either the player or banker bet. It is therefore best to avoid this bet unless you are very confident in your ability to predict the winner of a given round. If you do make a tie bet, it is best to limit your wager to no more than five units.

Finally, learn the rules of baccarat and be sure to practice good stake management. It is easy to get carried away with this game, especially if you have a winning streak. Make sure you set a budget for yourself before you start playing and stick to it. It is also a good idea to use cash instead of credit cards when you are gambling. This way, you won’t be tempted to spend more money than you have planned.

Baccarat is a great game to try if you are looking for a relaxing and rewarding casino experience. Just be sure to follow these tips before you play and you’ll have a good time.

By Forbes Passport

Bill Zender is a former Nevada Gaming Control Agent, casino dealer, executive, and consultant who wrote the book on managing casino games. He’s seen baccarat grow in popularity over the past thirty years, mostly in Asia where it is a cultural favorite. But it’s a hard game for Americans to play, because the rules don’t align with our culture’s expectations for fairness and probability. In his words, baccarat is 90 percent luck and zero percent skill.