Information display system for Baccarat

Abstract

An information display system for baccarat having a multiple columns to indicate for up to a predetermined number of previous hands, the winning hand of each previous hand, including if the hand was won by a natural hand, and if the hand resulted in a tie. The display may also show the number obtained by each side in a hand. Further, the display will indicate the last hand dealt from a shoe or includes a reset to start display of hands from a new shoe. In addition, there is provided input means to a computer for storage of information to display, and a printing device to print at least some of the information displayed on the display.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of gaming, and more specifically to an information display system for Baccarat.

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 typically 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 . . . the banker draws if the player's
cards equal . . .  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
                   When the
                   banker's first two
                   cards equal . . . . . . 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 typically an 8:1 payoff.

Although banker bets must typically 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.

When a new player approaches a table where Baccarat is being played, it is very often the case that the new player wants to know the outcome of a number of the immediately preceding dealt hands, and wants such information in a written format to refer to at later times. It is customary that play stops while the new player is informed from the dealer and/or the existing players about the historical outcome of hands. Such suspension of play takes time and effort, disrupts existing players enthusiasm, and stops the flow of play, a condition not advantageous for the casino.

There is currently a system shown at web site http://www.gripsusa.com/html/bacarrat.html. However, such system is limited in the information that can easily and quickly be conveyed to new players. The present invention addresses such limitations and provides more information to the new player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a casino baccarat display system to convey the outcome of a predetermined number of immediately previously hands in a lesser amount of time and disturbance to existing play.

It is a related advantage of the present invention to convey the outcome of a predetermined number of hands to new players that lessens the time interruption of play for existing players.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an information display system for baccarat comprises a multi-column display to indicate for up to a predetermined number of previous games, the wining hand of each previous game, an input control to indicate the winner of each hand and a printer to print at least part of the information displayed. Further features include an indication of a tie in any previous game for which information is displayed, an indication of the last hand dealt from a shoe and indication if the win was by a natural for any previous game for which information is displayed. In addition, the display and print out may contain information about the number obtained by the Player and the Banker of each hand dealt

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 drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments 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 detailed view of an information display system for baccarat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a print out of an information display system for baccarat in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an input panel 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 an information display system for baccarat 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The display system 10 includes in the illustrated embodiment a main display area 15 having eight columns 17 of ten rows 19 each. Each row represents a hand of play. Each column 17 has two sub-columns 21, 23, where sub-column 21 is filled to indicate that the hand was won by the Banker hand and sub-column 23 is filled to indicate that the hand was won by the Player hand. It is understood that any number of rows and columns can be used, and that the illustrated embodiment is only on example. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the anticipated number of hands in a shoe is able to be displayed, rather than only a limited number of preceding hands.

In the illustrated embodiment, the symbol X is used in the sub-column, whether sub-column 21 or sub-column 23, to indicate a win, as described above. In addition, a circle around the X-symbol, the actual score numbers, or some other chosen indicator, indicates that the win was by a ‘natural’, though it is appreciated that any number of indicators could be used, such as the letter N, or the X-symbol of a different color. Further, a tie is indicated by a dashed line in both the sub-column 21 and sub-column 23 in the illustrated form, though alternate ways may be used, such as by using the X-symbol in a third sub-column labeled T for tie, leaving both sub-columns blank, butting the X-symbol in both sub-columns, etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the display is re-set after the last hand dealt from one shoe, or stack of cards. Alternately, a designator symbol may be used to indicate where one shoe ends, and a new shoe begins, such as the X-symbol in both sub-columns, a blank in both sub-columns, or otherwise.

In the illustrated embodiment, additional areas are shown on the information display system 10. Area 31, for example can be used to indicate table betting limits, payout odds, and a longer history of Banker and Player win percentages, such as the percentage win rates for each in the last shoe, or the last 48 hours, or other defined periods. Further, area 33 may be used as advertisement space, and area 35 indicates by whom, Banker or Player, the last or most recent hand won, or tied, and which hand had what score.

When a new player wants to have a print out of the display 10, pressing button 41 or otherwise will activate a printer that will print out much, if not all, the displayed information on card 45, as illustrated in FIG. 2, where similarly placed information conveys similar information as described above in connection with FIG. 1. To activate the printer, alternate form as may be used such as dealer activation, a card insertion, code, or otherwise.

It is to be understood that the information about each hand is input into a data information system that will store for display on display 10, the information. FIG. 3 shows an input control panel 51 with areas to indicate the Player, Banker or Tie, as well as the number obtained by each in any hand, and if a win was by a natural, as well as a re-set button to indicate the last hand had been dealt from a shoe. Statistical manipulations are direct and can be executed by computer. Such systems are well known in the art. The remaining display statistics can be calculated by simple mathematical calculations. Connections between input control panel 51, computer and display are not shown, though are well know in the field.

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 issued claims.

Claims

1. An information display system for baccarat comprising:

a multi-column display to indicate for up to a predetermined number of previous hands, the winning hand of each previous hand;

an input control to indicate the winner of each hand;

a printer to print at least part of the information displayed.

2. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an indication of a tie in any previous game for which information is displayed.

3. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an indication of the last hand score dealt from a shoe.

4. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 further wherein:

the input control can indicate the number each of the Player hand and Banker hand obtained, if the hand was a tie, if the hand was won by a natural, and if the hand was the last dealt from a shoe.

5. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

an indication if the win was by a natural for any previous game for which information is a displayed.

6. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a print out containing at least some of the information displayed.

7. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system is micro-processor based providing capability for processing, storage, calculations, MICR capture, scan capture, networking, graphics, uploading, downloading, streaming video, server/internet connection and wireless connection/transfer.

8. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system has the capability to swipe applicable Casino Customer Reward cards, with a MICR, and transfer information to applicable Casino system.

9. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system has the capability to integrate an automatic card reader, to allow automatic scoring without input from the dealer.

10. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display has a graphics area on the display for a period of predetermined time, for the percentage of winning and tie hands for Banker, Player, and Tie.

11. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display has a graphics area on the display for the host casino logo.

12. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display has an ad space area for sponsored advertising.

13. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display can convert to full or part display screen graphics, or full video of in-house advertising/promotions, or sponsored advertising, when the applicable table is not in “play”.

14. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display provide audio output for any applicable function.

15. An information display system for baccarat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the display can generate a “Winner Celebration” screen, immediately after a hands' score is input, for full or partial screen display, that will time out under the “program”.