Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Betting or wagering board
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-14
2001-12-11
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Betting or wagering board
C273S292000, C463S013000, C463S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328306
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to casino games and gaming formats and, more particularly, to betting options and modified versions of existing games where a result is determined according to numerical values.
Baccarat is played internationally with different rules and different names, such as Punto Banco and Chemin-de-Fer. In the U.S., Baccarat is typically played in a dedicated VIP high-stakes gaming area. In an effort to increase the popularity of the game, smaller versions of Baccarat such as Mini-Baccarat have been introduced in the regular gaming area.
There are several drawbacks associated with conventional Baccarat. In particular, in certain situations, the house takes a commission on wagers. Although the house needs an advantage, the use of commission can deter many players. Moreover, from a casino perspective, calculating commissions slows down the game. To correct this, the game may be operated where the commission is collected not after each hand, but at the end of each shoe (a shoe holds multiple decks of cards from which hands are dealt by the dealer), prior to reshuffling the decks. While this speeds up the game, collection of commission may be impacted by the player running out of funds or not wishing to meet the obligation.
Moreover, for novice players, the rules of play seem obscure, and the procedure is prone to error. In Baccarat, there is a player hand and a banker hand, but the casino player may bet either hand. Each hand receives two cards with 10's and face cards counting as zero. The superior hand is the higher hand, with 9 being the highest total and with each hand being allowed to draw a third card in certain circumstances. The card draw option to the player hand is determined by the player two-card total, and the card draw option to the banker hand is determined by the banker two-card total and the exact third card drawn by the player. With these rules, although the game is simple in its concepts, the game has a complicated appearance.
Still further, with conventional Baccarat, there is an inherent hand-value deterioration bias. That is, a two-card total of 5 improves with a 1, 2, 3 or 4 value card, but deteriorates with a 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 value card, which creates the inherent bias.
Additionally, except for a tie offering payoff odds of 8 to 1, conventional Baccarat does not present any opportunity to win above even money. Notwithstanding, many players perceive the odds for a tie bet to be unfair. Also, as the tie is a push, there is no casino advantage working on the player and banker wagers when a tie occurs. If the tie outcome could be incorporated into the outcome of the basic wager, then either the house could enjoy an increased advantage, or a lower advantage on the primary wagers would be viable.
In one modified version of Baccarat, so called Bahama Baccarat or No Commission Baccarat, the commission aspect has been successfully removed. The house advantage is incorporated in a bar rule so a specific result is determined differently than with conventional Baccarat. In this context, however, the game retains a complicated draw process, does not offer higher payoffs, the tie is a non-result, and the bar rule gives an impression of a lack of balance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is thus a need for a Baccarat variant that not only removes the commission aspect of the game, but also eliminates card drawing complications, incorporates a house advantage in the tie result, offers additional wager options with high odds payoffs, and removes the inherent deterioration bias in conventional Baccarat. With such a Baccarat variant, the game would be simple to operate and attractive to new players.
According to the present invention, a Baccarat variant incorporates a number of betting options in addition to the standard player hand win or banker hand win option. For example, additional wagering options may include a “win by” option corresponding to an amount by which one hand beats the other or a “tie with” option corresponding to a particular total that both hands will be dealt. The methodology according to the invention can be applied to other numerical value games such as Blackjack, War, Dice or an original numerical game.
According to a particular aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of playing a game where a result is determined according to numerical values. The method includes (a) receiving at least one wager that at least one of a plurality of events will occur. The plurality of events include at least two of (1) a first side having a higher numerical value than a second side, (2) the first side having a higher numerical value than the second side by a prescribed amount, (3) the first side having a numerical value equal to the second side, and (4) the first side having a particular numerical value equal to the second side. The method further includes (b) playing the game such that the first side and the second side each obtains results of a numerical value, and (c) resolving the at least one wager according to the numerical value results. According to the rules of the game, the player can wager on either the first side or the second side. Step (b) may be practiced by dealing one or more playing cards to each of the first side and the second side. Playing cards having an indicia of a King, a Queen, or a Jack are preferably assigned a value of zero. Alternatively, prior to step (a), the deck or decks may be prepared by removing cards having an indicia of a King, a Queen, or a Jack.
Step (b) may be practiced by dealing two playing cards to each of the first side and the second side and determining a numerical total of each of the two playing cards according to predetermined rules of the game. Subsequently, one of the first side and the second side having a higher numerical total is declared to be the winner. Step (c) is preferably practiced by paying 1 to 1 for wagers on event (1) and paying an amount higher than 1 to 1 such as 18 to 1 for wagers on event (2). Step (c) may be further practiced by paying 90 to 1 for wagers on event (4). Values of 10 may be counted as zero, and thus the one of the first side and the second side having a numerical total that is closer to 9 is declared to be the winner. Step (c) may be practiced by collecting wagers on event (1) when the first side numerical total has a particular numerical value equal to the second side numerical total. Alternatively, step (c) may be practiced by pushing wagers on event (1) when the first side numerical total has a numerical value equal to the second side numerical total.
Step (b) may be practiced according to the rules of Baccarat, Blackjack or War. Additionally, step (b) may be practiced using one or more dice for each of the first side and the second side.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus configured for playing a game including a display, a player interface for receiving player input, and a processor configured to effect game play. The processor enables the method according to the invention.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus configured for playing a game including a display, a player interface, and a controller receiving input from the player interface and including circuitry for effecting game play. The apparatus includes a betting unit forming part of the player interface that receives at least one wager that at least one of a plurality of events will occur. The plurality of events include at least two of (1) a first side having a higher numerical value than a second side, (2) the first side having a higher numerical value than the second side by a prescribed amount, (3) the first side having a numerical value equal to the second side, and (4) the first side having a particular numerical value equal to the second side. The apparatus further includes a processing circuit that effects play of the game such that the first side and the second side each obtains results of a numerical value. The processing circuit then resolves the at least
Layno Benjamin H.
Mendiratta Vishu K
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Prime Table Games LLC
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for playing a game with numerical result does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method and apparatus for playing a game with numerical result, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for playing a game with numerical result will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2561096