Punto Banco is one of the most popular variations of the classic game of baccarat. It is played in Iraq in a very similar way as it is played in the rest of the world, although there are some subtle differences. The game is also known as the "Iraqi Baccarat".
In Punto Banco, the players bet on the banker or the player. The game starts with both the banker and the player being dealt two cards. The player's cards are face up, and the banker's cards are face down. The main rule of the game is to try to get a total of nine or as close to nine as possible.
In order to determine the point value of each card, all face cards are given the value of zero, while the other cards are assigned their numeric values. If the total of the two cards is higher than nine, then the right digit of the total is used to determine the point value. For example, if the total of the two cards is eleven, then the point value is one.
The player then has to decide whether to "stand" or "hit" (draw an extra card). If the player decides to stand, then the banker is given a chance to draw an extra card. Ultimately, the player or the banker who has the highest total win the game. If the two totals are equal, then it is a tie.