The Goal
When you sit down at a Rules of Baccarat table, you and all other players will be dealt two cards. The banker will also get two cards The goal in any game of Baccarat is either to acquire a hand of cards valued at nine or to place a bet on the banker's cards if you believe that they are valued at nine. A hand valued at exactly nine is an automatic win, but if no one draws an equivalent of nine, then the hand closest to nine is the default winner.
The Bets
Before all players (including the banker) reveal their cards, everyone is required to place a bet either for or against the house. Many Baccarat aficionados will tell you that the house always wins slot machines and that your best bet is to bet on the banker, but if you are dealt cards that equal nine, then go with your gut and bet on yourself.
Unlike most card games, the face cards in Baccarat (King, Queen, and Jack) have the least value, at zero points--though this is not necessarily a bad thing. If you draw a nine, for instance, a face card will obviously be your saving grace.