The Basics of Baccarat
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Baccarat is an exciting card game that’s popular in land-based casinos and online. It may look intimidating at first glance, but it’s actually a simple game with three possible outcomes per round. It’s also a popular choice in many US states where gambling is legal. If you’re interested in playing this game, it’s important to understand the rules of baccarat before you play it.
In baccarat, players make a bet on either the Player hand, the Banker’s hand or a Tie. The cards are then dealt and the winning side is determined by whichever hand is closest to nine. Each hand receives two cards, and the dealer may draw a third card for one or both hands depending on the total score. The game is usually played from a six or eight-deck shoe. Each card has a different value, and the cards that equal 10 are worth zero points. All other cards equal their face value.
A player’s best bet is to wager on the Banker’s hand. A winning Banker bet pays out a 9-to-1 payout, while a win on the Player hand will pay out 8-to-1. Bets on a tie are paid out at 8-to-1 as well. While players can’t touch the cards, they can place their bets with chips or a special device that looks like a computer keyboard. Players can also opt to have a special caller handle the cards for them.
Baccarat’s popularity has led to a number of movies featuring the game. For example, in 2007’s Rush Hour 3, the main character James Carter plays baccarat while disguised as a bank robber during a heist. The game is also featured in several of the James Bond films, including the 1954 TV adaptation of Casino Royal, where Bond plays baccarat against Le Chiffre; Dr. No, where Bond is first introduced to the game; Thunderball, which features the most detailed treatment of the game in a film; and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, For Your Eyes Only and GoldenEye.
In a traditional baccarat game, there are seven to 14 seats for players at a table and a table that holds the cards. Players can bet on the Player, Banker or a tie and each have their own betting space. However, players do not handle the cards and a banker or caller deals them for the player. In addition, a score sheet is provided to keep track of the results of each round.