Janette Hays, age 17, of Las Vegas, Nev., for her question:

HOW DO YOU PLAY BACCARAT?

Baccarat is a French card game that dates from the end of the 15th Century. The game is usually played in gambling casinos. One or more decks of cards is used by two or more players, one of whom deals and acts as banker.

Players bet any amount equal to or less than the amount of the bank.

The cards count according to the number of marks, with tens and face cards counting zero. The object of the game is to form a combination of two or three cards totaling,a count as close as possible to nine or 19.

After the bets are made, the banker deals two cards to each player, face down. The player may ask for another card, which is dealt face up.

After all players have been supplied, the cards are turned face up and the bets are settled. The count nearer to nine or 19 wins. In case of a tie, the bets are withdrawn.

Two varieties of baccarat are played. In chemin de fer, the banker plays individually against each of the other players. In baccarat banque, the banker plays against only two hands, on which all the other players bet.