Baccarat game with additional betting option

Abstract

A casino baccarat game includes an additional betting area for each of the Player hand and Banker hand, and payout based upon a pre-established payout table for each of one or more specific card combinations dealt for the respective hand. The card combinations include at least one or more of the following: a pair, a suited pair, three of a kind, three of a kind all of the same suit, a three card straight, a three card flush, a three card straight-flush.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of gaming, and more specifically to the field of the game of Baccarat game with additional betting option.

There are several variations on Baccarat play, depending upon the venue. A basic set of rules follows. There are two hands played in Baccarat—the “player”]hand and the “banker” hand. You can bet on either one. If the hand you bet on wins, you receive an even money (1:1) payoff. There is one other bet you can make—the tie bet. If you make this bet and the two hands tie, you receive an 8:1 payoff. Ties, however, occur less than once out of every ten hands.

At the start, each hand receives 2 cards. When necessary, additional cards are drawn according to the rules. The hand closest to 9 wins.

10s, Jacks, Queens, and Kings all count as 0. The ace through 9 cards have face values of 1 to 9, respectively. To determine the value of each hand, you simply add the cards. If the total is over 10, the first digit is ignored. So an 8 and a 6 would normally equal 14, but since we disregard the first digit, we instead have a hand of 4. Similarly, a 6 and 4 would equal 0, and a 10 and 9 would equal 9.

If the first two cards total 9, the hand is called a “natural” and automatically wins. Two cards totaling 8 is also referred to as a natural, and it wins automatically too, unless the hand it is playing against has a natural as well. When both hands contain a natural, the higher natural hand wins (9 beating an 8). If the hands have equal value, it is a tie.

When neither hand has a natural, there is no automatic winner, and additional cards are drawn to determine the outcome of the hand.

The Player Hand

The player hand is played first, according to the following rules:

When the first two cards
equal . . .     . . . the player must
6, 7, 8, or 9   Stand
Any other value Draw one card

The player hand can never receive more than one additional card. The hand must stand after the third card, regardless of its value at that point.

The Banker Hand

The banker hand is a bit more complicated. How the banker hand gets played is usually determined by what the player hand's third card is. If the player did not draw a third card (i.e. had a 6 or higher), then the banker draws a card only if its first two cards total less than 5. Otherwise, the banker stands.

If the player did draw a third card, then the banker plays as follows:

When the
banker's first two
cards equal . . .
           . . . the banker draws if the player's
           third card is:
3          1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
4          2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
5          4, 5, 6, 7
6          6, 7
           . . . the banker will:
2 or less  Always draw
7, 8, or 9 Always stand

Wins, Losses, and Ties

The hand closest to nine always wins. If there is a natural, it is an automatic winner, and no further cards are drawn.

Banker and player bets pay even money when you win. A winning banker bet, however, is subject to a 5% house commission. So, if you made a $5 banker bet and won, you would receive $5.00 minus 5% ($0.25), which would actually be $4.75. If the two hands tie, neither bet wins nor loses any money. If you made a tie bet, however, you would receive an 8:1 payoff.

Although banker bets must pay a 5% commission when won, they are still good bets to make since banker hands actually win more frequently than player hands. All things considered, the banker and player bets give you about the same odds. In both cases, the house edge is quite small—in fact, it is only 1.17% on banker bets, and a 1.36% on player bets. From a statistical standpoint, you are slightly better off wagering on the banker, albeit not by much.

It is not necessary to memorize the rules to play; They are automatically followed and implemented by the dealer. A player should not be confused with the Player's hand or the Bank, neither of which is the casino. A player may bet either side, i.e., bet either that the Player hand will win, or that the Banker hand will win.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a casino baccarat game that generates increased enthusiasm from players, the house and onlookers, without disturbing materially the usual and normal play of traditional baccarat.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a standard baccarat table wherein the improvement comprises an additional betting area and payout based upon pre-established card combinations similar to combinations found in the game of poker.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

The drawing constitutes a part of this specification and includes an exemplary embodiment to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a baccarat gaming table in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Various aspects of the invention may be inverted, or changed in reference to specific part shape and detail, part location, or part composition. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Turning to FIG. 1 there is shown a modified baccarat table 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The table 10 is in most respects the same as a conventional baccarat table, but includes an additional betting area 15 for each person wagering. Additional betting area 15 provides for gambles to wager on particular combinations of cards dealt in either the Player hand 17 or Banker hand 19.

Though many combinations are possible, in an exemplar embodiment, payout can be made in accordance with a pre-established payout table for each combination when, for example, 1) a pair is dealt, 2) a pair having the same suit, e.g., two 3 of diamonds, 3) three of a kind, 4) three of a kind with the same suit, 5) a three card flush, e.g., three clubs, 6) a three card straight, and 7) a three card straight all of the same suit. Other combinations can be established and have corresponding payouts for each combination.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to in-person baccarat games, as well as video, internet and other virtual based baccarat games.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A casino baccarat game comprising:

an additional betting area for each of the Player hand and Banker hand, and payout based upon a pre-established payout table for each of one or more specific card combinations dealt for the respective hand.

2. A casino baccarat game as claimed in claim 1 wherein the card combinations include one or more of the following: a pair, a suited pair, three of a kind, three of a kind all of the same suit, a three card straight, a three card flush, a three card straight-flush.