Baccarat, the European classic that made its mark in Asia and back again, has returned to American casinos. Boasting Bond-like mystique, high roller enclave vibe and rituals that give the game its Zen-inspired minimalism, players from around the globe are eager to play this timeless classic game.

However, many casino patrons still lack an understanding of baccarat despite its increasing popularity. If you pass by a table and hear gasps coming from the crowd as someone uses strategies that could alter the outcome of a hand, be suspicious!

Baccarat is a card game in which both player and banker wager on which hand will have a total value closest to nine. Hand values are determined by adding up all cards dealt while disregarding tens, picture or face cards; natural nine hands are considered successful; otherwise it’s considered a tie and bets are returned back to player. A croupier, or dealer, deals two hands per round and each total determines its respective hand’s value.

One of the primary strategies employed by baccarat players is tracking trends. Instead of burning error cards like in blackjack, when an incorrect card is drawn from the shoe a free hand will be awarded to either player (or banker). By keeping track of winning and losing streaks on paper score cards provided at each table they can make bets based on whether that streak will continue or reverse itself.

The free hand rule also serves another important purpose: maintaining the perceived order of the shoe. Discarded cards are placed into a bead plate, and when dealing the next hand, croupier draws from same deck – this way no irregular dealing occurs which would violate rules and increase house edge.

However, even though numerous baccarat strategies have been developed over time, none guarantee winning. They can however help manage your bankroll more efficiently and improve your chances of success at the tables – popular systems include Fibonacci, Martingale and D’Alembert strategies; regardless of which approach you decide upon it’s essential that players remember that baccarat is ultimately a game of chance and not skill.