If you’ve ever been to a sticky-floor California card room or the tuxedo-laden casinos of Monaco, chances are you have seen baccarat played. The glamorous game of chance has become one of the most popular casino games in the world. But it’s more than just a fancy table and a stack of $100 bills spread around the table – there is actual strategy involved.

In baccarat, players place their bets on either the Banker, the Player, or the Tie. Once all bets are placed, two cards will be dealt to the Banker and the Player hand, and the winner is determined by which hand comes closest to a total of nine. In some cases, a third card may be drawn to one or both hands.

While the rules of baccarat can be complex, they are fairly simple to understand. First, you must decide how much money you want to spend in advance. Baccarat is a high-stakes game, and it is easy to lose more than you intended to. To avoid this, set a limit for yourself in advance and only play with cash you’d be happy to part with.

As a fan of perfume, Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud is especially fond of Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540. Created to honor the 250th anniversary of Baccarat, a crystal house renowned for their beautiful ruby-colored crystals, this fragrance is a woody floral-amber that’s equal parts transparent, dense, and intense. It’s a good choice for those who like the classic scent of the game itself.