Baccarat is a classic card game and the rules of baccarat make it easy to learn. This makes it widely played in casinos around the world. The game has three main variants: Punto Banco, Chemin de Fer, and Baccarat Banque. The most popular variant found in casinos is Punto Banco. Here are the rules for baccarat (Punto Banco), which is the version commonly played in most casinos:

Objective: The objective of Baccarat is to bet on the hand that you believe will have a total closest to 9 – the player’s hand (Punto), the banker’s hand (Banco), or a tie.

Card Values:

• Number cards (2 to 9) have their face value.
• 10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings have a value of 0.
• Aces have a value of 1.

Gameplay:

1. Players place their bets on either the player’s hand (Punto), the banker’s hand (Banco), or a tie before the cards are dealt.
2. The dealer deals two cards each to the player (Punto) and the banker (Banco) face-up.
3. If the total value of either the player’s or banker’s hand is 8 or 9 (a “natural”), no more cards are drawn, and the hand closest to 9 wins.
4. If the total value of the player’s hand is 6 or 7, the player stands (no more cards are drawn).
5. If the total value of the player’s hand is 0 to 5, the player draws a third card. The third card rules are as follows:
   
   • If the player’s third card is 0 to 7, the banker’s third card rule comes into play.
   • If the player’s third card is 8 or 9, the player’s hand stands, and the banker does not draw a third card.
6. The banker’s actions depend on the value of their own hand and the player’s third card (if drawn). The banker’s third card rules are as follows:
   
   • If the banker’s hand total is 0 to 2, the banker draws a third card, regardless of the player’s third card.
   • If the banker’s hand total is 3, the banker draws a third card unless the player’s third card was an 8.
   • If the banker’s hand total is 4, the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 2 to 7.
   • If the banker’s hand total is 5, the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 4 to 7.
   • If the banker’s hand total is 6, the banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 6 or 7.
   • If the banker’s hand total is 7, the banker stands (no more cards are drawn).
7. After the final cards are dealt, the hand closest to 9 wins. If the player’s hand wins, bets placed on the player win. If the banker’s hand wins, bets placed on the banker win, minus a small commission (usually 5%). If there is a tie, bets on a tie win, and players are paid out at higher odds.

Baccarat is a game of chance, and once the cards are dealt, players have no control over the outcome. The rules of baccarat make it a simple game with a low house edge. This has contributed to its enduring popularity in casinos worldwide.