Side bet for baccarat   

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to methods and apparatuses for playing a game of chance, and in particular, a casino card game.

Baccarat is a simple game with only three possible results—‘Player’, ‘Banker’ and ‘Tie’. The term ‘Player’ does not refer to the customer and the term ‘Banker’ does not refer to the house. They are just options on which the customer can bet.

In Baccarat, cards 2-9 are worth face value, 10s and face cards (J, Q, K) are worth zero, and Aces are worth 1 point. Players calculate their score by taking the sum of all cards modulo 10, meaning that after adding the value of the cards the tens digit is ignored. For example, a hand consisting of 2 and 3 is worth 5 (2+3=5). A hand consisting of 6 and 7 is worth 3 (6+7=13=3)—the first digit is dropped because the total is higher than 10. A hand consisting of 4 and 6 is worth zero, or Baccarat (4+6=10=0). The name “Baccarat” is unusual in that the game is named after the worst hand, worth 0. The highest score that can be achieved is 9 (from a 4 and 5, 10 and 9, or A and 8, etc).

In punto banco Baccarat, the form most popular in North America, the cards are dealt face down, one to the ‘Player’ first, then to the ‘Banker’; ‘Player’ then ‘Banker’ again. This is the initial deal consisting of two cards each. Both cards in each hand are then turned over and added together and the croupier calls the total (e.g. five to the ‘Player’, three to the ‘Banker’). From this position the ‘Tableau’ or table of play is used to determine if further cards need to be drawn. Depending on the two hands, the Player and Banker may draw a single card or stand pat. The hand with the highest total wins.

If either the Player or the Banker achieves a total of 8 or 9 on the initial deal (known as a ‘natural’), no further cards are drawn. If not, play proceeds as follows. If the Player has an initial total of 0-5, the Player draws a single card. If the Player has an initial total of 6 or 7, he stands.

The Banker\'s play depends on the Player\'s hand, on whether the Player drew a card, and on what card the Player drew. If the Player did not draw a card, the Banker draws if he has 0-5, and stands if he has 6-7. If the Player drew a 2 or 3, the Banker draws if he has 0-4, and stands if he has 5-7. If the Player drew a 4 or 5, the Banker draws if he has 0-5, and stands if he has 6-7. If the Player drew a 6 or 7, the Banker draws if he has 0-6, and stands if he has 7. If the Player drew an 8, the Banker draws if he has 0-2, and stands if he has 3-7. If the Player drew an ace, 9, 10, or face-card, the Banker draws if he has 0-3, and stands if he has 4-7.

The croupier will deal the cards according to the tableau and the croupier will announce the winning hand—either ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’. Losing bets will be collected and the winning bets will be paid according to the rules of the house. Usually even money or 1-1 will be paid to the player and 95% to the ‘Banker’, 5% commission to the house. (Commission Baccarat) Some casinos pay even money or 1-1 to both ‘Player’ and ‘Banker’ except when the ‘Banker’ wins with 6. Then the ‘Banker’ will be paid 50% or half the original bet. In this scenario the house edge on a banker bet is 1.46%, whilst the house edge on player and tie bets remain the same as commission baccarat.

Should both the ‘Banker\'s’ hand and the ‘Player\'s’ hand have the same value at the end of the deal the croupier announces that tie bets win. All tie bets will be paid at 8 to 1 odds and all bets on ‘Player’ or ‘Banker’ remain in place and active for the next game (the customer may or may not be able to retract these bets depending on casino rules).

The traditional form of punto banco baccarat is played at an oval table, similar to the chemin de fer version. The table is staffed by a croupier, who directs the play of the game, and two dealers who collect and pay bets as well as tallying commissions due. Six or eight decks of cards are used, normally shuffled only by the croupier and dealers. Like chemin de fer, the shoe is passed around from player to player, who acts as the dealer of the cards and as “banker,” but he or she does not actually bank the game. Indeed, the “banker” may bet on the player hand if he or she wishes, or may pass the shoe along to another player—the role of the “banker” is merely ceremonial. The person who bet the highest amount on the player hand is given the player-hand cards, though he or she simply turns the cards over, announcing their total. The croupier instructs the “banker” on if or when to deal third cards, and then announces the winning hand.

The punto banco version of baccarat offers some of the lowest house advantage available in a casino. The player bet has a house advantage of 1.24%, and the banker bet (despite the 5% commission) has an advantage of 1.06%. The tie bet has a much higher house advantage of 14.44%, based on six decks in play.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the invention comprises a method of playing a casino card game, comprising the steps of: (a) allowing at least one customer to place a bet on the outcome of a baccarat game where a player hand and a banker hand are dealt; and (b) allowing the at least one customer to place a side bet on the outcome of a score of a hand, where the score equals a value which equals or is derived from the player\'s hand, the banker\'s hand, or a combination of the player\'s and banker\'s hand. In on embodiment, the value may comprise: i) the value of the player\'s hand; ii) the value of the banker\'s hand; iii) the value of sum of the player\'s and banker\'s hand, if the sum is less than 10; or iv) the remainder remaining after 10 is subtracted from the sum of the player\'s hand and bankers hands, if the value or sum is greater than 9.

In one embodiment, the score is derived from the sum of the player\'s and banker\'s hand. In another embodiment, the score is derived from the value of the winning hand.

In one embodiment, the outcomes of the score may be grouped. In one embodiment, the outcomes are grouped such that scores 1, 3, 5 are in one group, scores 2, 7 and 9 are in another group, and scores 4, 6 and 8 are in another group, and the score 0 represents a losing outcome for all wagers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a game of chance, and the game of baccarat in particular. When describing the present invention, all terms not defined herein have their common art-recognized meanings. To the extent that the following description is of a specific embodiment or a particular use of the invention, it is intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting of the claimed invention. The following description is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that are included in the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

In one aspect, the invention comprises a method of playing a casino card game between a banker and a player, which allows a customer to place a side bet during a game of baccarat. The side bet is in addition to any wager made in accordance with standard baccarat play.

The side bet is made on the expected outcome of a score, where the score equals a value which may be a numeral from 0 to 9 inclusive, and which is derived from the baccarat score of the player\'s hand, the banker\'s hand, or the sum of the player\'s hand and the banker\'s hand. The value is determined using the baccarat counting method, where the digit of the 10\'s is dropped. In other words, if the combined score is greater than 9, then the value equals the remainder remaining after the score is divided by 10. If the number is less than 10, then the value is simply the number. The player score or the banker score will always be less than 10, in accordance with standard baccarat rules.

In one embodiment, the value is derived from the sum of the score of the player\'s hand and the banker\'s hand. For example, if the banker wins over the player with respective baccarat scores of 9 over 7, then the value is derived from the sum which equals 16. Therefore, the value for determining the wager will be 6.

In one embodiment, the value outcomes may be grouped. In one embodiment, the outcomes are grouped such that scores 1, 3, 5 are in one group, scores 2, 7 and 9 are in another group, and scores 4, 6 and 8 are in another group. In this case, for example, the winning payout on wagers of the first three groups is 2:1. If the value is 0, then all wagers lose half of the amount wagered.

In one embodiment, a wager on the value 0 (where 0 as an outcome value is a winning bet) may be permitted with a different payout ratio.