From sticky-floor California card rooms to the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, baccarat has long been one of the most popular casino games. The game is simple to learn, has high payouts and a low house edge. It is also the featured game in many of the James Bond movies, which gives it a certain level of prestige. However, despite its popularity, there are a few misconceptions about the game that can lead players to make some costly mistakes.

The most important thing to remember about Baccarat is that it’s a game of chance. Even a very experienced player can’t predict the outcome of every hand, so you need to have realistic expectations about your chances of winning. The best way to approach baccarat is to play it conservatively and only place bets on the Banker or Player side.

After each player has placed a bet, the dealer will deal two cards to the Player box and one to the Banker box. The goal is to get a total closer to 9 than the opponent’s hand. The winner of the game will be the hand that gets closest to nine. The tie bet pays out 8:1 but this can vary depending on the rules and online baccarat games you play.

To determine the winner of a hand, the dealer will add up the values of all the cards in the hand. He or she will then subtract the tens digit to determine the total value of the hand. If the hand has a value of eight or nine, it’s a “natural” and the winner is determined. If the hand has a value of seven or below, it’s a “non-natural” and the loser is determined.

In order to make the most of your baccarat experience, you should understand how the game’s different betting options work. Most players will place a bet on either the Player hand, the Banker hand or a Tie bet. While the Player and Banker hands have a low house edge, the Tie bet is the riskiest. The payout odds for a winning Player or Banker bet are 1:1, but the Banker bet is subject to a 5% commission so you’ll only win about half of your stake back.

The Banker side is usually favored when the odds are low, but that’s not always the case. It’s also worth noting that the odds of a given hand will fluctuate throughout a game, so it can be difficult to determine which bet has the lowest house edge at any time.

The best strategy is to bet on the banker whenever possible, even when the banker’s odds are not great. This will minimize the house’s advantage and give you the best chance of winning. When the banker’s odds are lower than 1.06%, it’s especially important to bet on this side. This is especially true if you’re looking to win the most money with your bets.