Baccarat, also known as Punto Banco, is a casino game of chance that requires no special skills to play. It is played in the big money tables at most European and Nevada casinos. The objective is to place bets on the hand that will come closest to 9. Aces and tens are worth zero, and all other cards are worth their pip value.

Baccarat players often employ betting and pattern systems to boost their chances of winning at the table. Betting systems prioritize maximizing wins and minimizing losses, especially during losing streaks. Pattern systems, on the other hand, focus on anticipating the order of cards in the baccarat shoe.

Some of the most popular baccarat strategies can be found online. These range from the simple Martingale system that focuses on progressively increasing bets, to more complex grid-based baccarat patterns that track wins and losses on player, banker, and tie bets. Many online baccarat players also use free baccarat games to practice their strategies before playing for real money.

Another baccarat strategy that is popular among advanced players is to follow pattern trends. This strategy combines flat betting with zigzag and double-win patterns. In a zigzag pattern, bets alternate between the banker and player hands, while in a double-win pattern, bets are made on the opposite hand that won the previous game. This strategy can help reduce the house edge and increase the number of wins over a longer period of time.