Baccarat is one of the most popular casino games in the world. It has its roots in France and Italy, and has since become popular in casinos across Asia and the United States. A former casino dealer and current consultant, Bill Zender has witnessed the game’s growth over his 40-year career. One of the reasons for its success is the high profit potential. In addition, baccarat has a proven track record around the world. However, high-bet players can ruin a casino’s chances of winning.
While a beginner may not be able to predict the outcome of every single round, advanced players can use betting trends to help them make better decisions. These trends are based on the results of previous games. Using this information, players can develop strategies and use them to their advantage. Some trends may be as simple as the zigzag pattern, which indicates that the outcomes of each round of baccarat alternate between the banker and player.
In baccarat, the goal is to win with the best hand out of two dealt hands. The winning hand is the one that comes closest to nine when the pips are added up. Face cards count as zero, and aces are worth one. If the player has a hand with six or more pips, they must stand, otherwise they must draw.