Abstract:
A table and method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game that provides players with the opportunity to play together a simpler version of both poker and baccarat that is both easier to understand and capable of being played by more players. The method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game comprises dealing 3 cards to both a banker hand and a player hand, with the winning baccarat hand having a hand value closest to nine based on the traditional baccarat scoring system, but without all of the complex baccarat rules for determining if and when a third card is to be dealt. Included is the option of any player to select that the player hand of three cards or the banker hand of three cards or both the player hand of three cards and the banker hand of three cards will provide a bonus poker hand of one pair, a flush, a straight, three of a kind and a straight flush (and also the highest six card straight flush if both the three card poker player hand and the three card poker banker hand are selected and together provide such a combination of playing cards).

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of Applicant&#39;s co-pending U.S. Patent Application entitled “TABLE AND METHOD OF PLAYING A BACCARAT-TYPE CARD GAME, Ser. No. 10/073,580, filed Feb. 12, 2002. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to card games and tables and methods therefor and, more particularly, to a table and method of playing a simplified combination poker and baccarat-type card game that provides players with the opportunity to play a simpler version of baccarat with a poker option that is easier to understand and capable of being played by more players. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game baccarat is a popular card game at many casinos. Although usually found in a roped off or somewhat secluded area to attract high rollers or bettors seeking to gamble in relative privacy, baccarat is now played by many gamblers. The object of the game is to receive a hand value closest to 9. An Ace has a point value of 1 and cards 2 through 9 have point values equal to their face values (e.g. 3 of Spades has a point value of 3). 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings have a point value of zero. Thus, if the first two cards dealt are a Jack and a 6, the total point value of the hand is 6. When the combination of cards creates a point total of 10 or more, the first digit is ignored. For example, a 4 and a 7 have a point value of 1 (not 11). Therefore, the highest point total that it is possible to achieve is a 9. Between the banker&#39;s hand and the player&#39;s hand, the hand value closest to 9 is the winning hand. 
     In baccarat, two cards are first dealt to a player&#39;s hand and two cards are first dealt to a dealer&#39;s, or banker&#39;s, or house hand. A two-card point total of 9 is called a “natural” and this hand cannot lose. A two-card point total of 8 is also called a “natural” and this is the second-best hand. In the event of a tie between the player&#39;s hand and the banker&#39;s hand neither the banker&#39;s hand nor the player&#39;s hand wins. Although, it is possible for the player to wager that a tie would occur, in which case the player is paid a multiple of his or her wager, usually the player is paid at a rate of 8 to 1. If the player or banker receive a two-card point total of 7, no further cards are received. No more than a total of 3 cards can be received, including the original two cards dealt. 
     When two-card point totals are 6 or less a very complex set of rules govern when the banker or player must draw an additional card. One of the dealers, known as the caller, determines the need for additional cards, which are dealt automatically and without direction or consent from the player. This method of play can be confusing, when one is not completely familiar with all of the rules governing card disbursement. The rules are often hard to pick up, causing many players to avoid the game of baccarat altogether. 
     It is also possible for the player to wager that the banker&#39;s hand (and not the player&#39;s hand) will win, although a successful wager on the banker&#39;s hand results in a 5% commission on the wager, paid to the casino. Since it is cumbersome to collect this sum each time a successful wager on the banker&#39;s hand is made, an additional dealer keeps track of what the player owes, and all debts are paid to the dealer once 8 decks of cards (known as the shoe) have been dealt. This method can create the feeling that one must pay the casino to win, a notion which can create some animosity and resentment when playing the game of baccarat. The 5% commission is also an additional calculation that must be taken into account by a gambler when determining his or her winnings. In the game of baccarat, the shoe is passed from player to player. When the player has the shoe, he or she must bet on the banker&#39;s hand, with the ensuing commission to be paid for a winning wager. 
     The game of baccarat can therefore create difficulties in determining the amount of winnings, and therefore the amount of money to wager, and the complex set of rules also makes the game of baccarat hard to follow. 
     The game of mini-baccarat has been developed to try and introduce the game of baccarat to more gamblers. The passing of the shoe and other customs of the traditional game of baccarat have been eliminated, but mini-baccarat follows the same rules of play as regular baccarat. For the most part, therefore, mini-baccarat retains the same shortcomings of regular baccarat. Mainly, the game of mini-baccarat was introduced as a way to place the smaller tables of mini-baccarat amongst the black-jack tables where there is more pedestrian traffic, and consequently, more likelihood of attracting gamblers. 
     As with virtually every game in a casino, the more players capable of playing the game, the more money a casino can make. Additionally, it is often the case that more players means more fun for the players, as a more social atmosphere is created by a larger group of people. 
     In my co-pending patent application noted above, I have disclosed a simpler baccarat-type game using three cards for the player and three cards for the banker, dealer or house. While my simpler baccarat-type game as disclosed in the co-pending patent application is a significant improvement over prior known baccarat games, I have now discovered an improved version thereof which provides a more interesting game with other betting options that could result in a bonus payback to the player successfully selecting one of the betting options that results in the player receiving three cards that are a bonus payback type three card hand. 
     Two prior references, the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/841,174 that was filed on Apr. 25, 2001 in the name of Derek J. Webb and also his U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,306 that issued Dec. 11, 2001 (both with the same title “Method And Apparatus For Playing A Game With Numerical Result”) disclose various types of baccarat games, but do not disclose my simplified combined game using both baccarat and poker concepts and a potential significant bonus payout. 
     A need therefore existed for providing a new, simpler table and method of playing a combined baccarat and poker-type card game with a significant bonus payout potential, without all of the complex rules regarding when a third card is received, with no 5% commission for successfully wagering on a banker&#39;s hand, and with the possibility of playing with additional players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a new method of playing a combined baccarat and poker-type card game in which both a banker hand and a player hand receives three cards, and following the baccarat rules of determining hand values, the hand with a hand value closest to nine wins, however, there is also provided a poker betting option with a bonus payout opportunity. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved combined poker and baccarat-type card game table capable of allowing more than 6 players to wager on either a house hand, a player hand, or on a tie between the house hand and the player hand or on the chance of obtaining a poker hand that would qualify for a bonus payout. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of dealing a player hand having three cards, dealing a banker hand having three cards, determining a hand value of the player hand, wherein Ace through Nine cards have respective point values of 1 to 9 and wherein 10&#39;s and Jacks and Queens and Kings have a point value of zero, wherein a hand value of the player hand is equal to a total point value of the three cards of the player hand when the three cards have a total point value less than 10 and when the three cards of the player hand have a total point value of at least 10 then the first digit of the total point value is ignored when determining a hand value of the player hand, determining a hand value of the banker hand, wherein Ace through Nine cards have respective point values of 1 to 9 and wherein 10&#39;s and Jacks and Queens and Kings have a point value of zero, wherein a hand value of the banker hand is equal to a total point value of the three cards of the banker hand when the three cards have a total point value less than 10 and when the three cards of the banker hand have a total point value of at least 10 then the first digit of the total point value is ignored when determining a hand value of the banker hand, comparing the hand value of the player hand with the hand value of the banker hand wherein the hand with a hand value closest to 9 is a winning hand, and permitting a player to select a poker hand from at least one of the player hand and the banker hand to permit the player to be eligible to receive a corresponding pair, flush, a straight, three of a kind, and a straight flush. If a super bonus poker payout is to be sought by a player, then the player will select both the poker hand of the player hand to be combined with the poker hand of the banker hand to see if the two combined hands totaling six playing cards will provide a 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace in any one of the four suits. This is a Casino option for such a super bonus payout. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a combined poker and baccarat-type card game table is disclosed comprising, in combination, a table having a banker hand area dimensioned to receive three playing cards and a player hand area dimensioned to receive three playing cards, a plurality of individual betting locations located proximate an outer perimeter of the table, each of the individual betting locations has a banker hand wagering area designated for wagering on a banker hand and a player hand wagering area designated for wagering on a player hand, a tie betting area located proximate the plurality of individual betting locations, the tie betting area is designated for wagering that the banker hand and the player hand will subsequently be determined to have an equal hand value, and areas located on the table for a player to wager that at least one of the banker hand and the player hand will receive a poker hand eligible to receive a corresponding bonus payout if any selected hand receives one of a pair, a flush, a straight, three of a kind and a straight flush. A player selecting both the poker hands of the banker hand and the player hand is eligible to not only receive the above noted corresponding bonus payout for each of the two hands (the banker hand and the player hand), but also is eligible to receive a super bonus jackpot type payout if the combined two hands totaling six playing cards together provides a 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace all in the same one suit of the four total suits. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the combined poker and baccarat-type card game table of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of one set of betting options that is located on the table in front of each player wherein seven such sets of betting options are provided (only one of the seven such betting options is shown in FIG.  1 ). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention includes both a method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game and a table therefor. Referring now to FIG. 1, the first step in the method of playing the baccarat-type card game is dealing a player hand  12  having three cards. The next step is dealing a banker hand  16  also having three cards. 
     In the method of this invention, the Ace through Nine cards have respective point values of 1 to 9, and 10&#39;s, Jacks, Queens and Kings have a point value of zero. The next step of the method of playing a combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention is determining a hand value of the player hand  12 . This is done by adding up the individual point values of all three cards based on the point system discussed above. When the total point value of the three cards of the player hand  12  is less than ten, then the hand value is equal to the total point value. If the three cards have a total point value of at least 10, then the first digit of the total point value is ignored when determining the hand value. For example, if one of the hands comprised an 8, 3, and a Queen, then even though the total point value would be 11, the hand value would be 1 since the first digit is dropped when establishing the hand value for a hand with a point value of at least 10. 
     After determining the hand value for the player hand  12 , the hand value is determined for the banker hand  16 . Then the hand value of the player hand  12  is compared to the hand value of the banker hand  16 , with the hand with a hand value closest to nine constituting the winning hand. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention further comprises the step of at least one player (not shown) wagering a wager on one of the player hand  12  and the banker hand  16 . The method preferably further comprises the step of paying the at least one player an amount equal to the wager when the player wagers on a hand subsequently determined to be a winning hand. Although, as few as one player could play the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of the present invention, it should be clearly understood that as many as 7 players are capable of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention further comprises the step of dealing an additional playing card when the player hand  12  and the banker hand  16  are subsequently determined to have an equal hand value. Preferably, the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention further comprises paying the player an amount equal to the wager when the additional card is one of 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. When the additional card is one of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, then the player pays the dealer an amount equal to the wager. In one embodiment of the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention, the dealing of an additional card is automatic. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention further comprises the step of a player wagering a wager that the player hand  12  will have a hand value subsequently determined to be equal to the banker hand  16 . The player will then be paid a multiple of the wager when the player hand  12  and the house hand  16  are subsequently determined to have an equal hand value. Preferably, the multiple is 8, although to maintain a statistical advantage for the house, the multiple can be any number less than 10. 
     While, in the preferred embodiment, the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention comprises the steps of at least one player wagering a wager, and paying the at least one player an amount equal to the wager when the player wagers on a hand subsequently determined to be a winning hand, or paying the at least one player a multiple of the wager when the player wagers that the banker hand  16  and the player hand  12  will have an equal hand value, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the method of playing the combined poker and baccarat-type card game of this invention in which there is no wagering. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  is shown. The combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  comprises a table  22  having a banker hand area  24  dimensioned to receive the three playing cards of the banker hand  16  and a player hand area  26  dimensioned to receive the three playing cards of the player hand  12 . The combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  further comprises a plurality of individual betting locations located proximate an outer perimeter of the table  22 . Preferably, the combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  comprises 7 betting locations, although it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  in which the number of individual betting locations deviates, even substantially, from the preferred number of betting locations, in either direction. 
     Still referring to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, each of the individual betting locations has a banker hand wagering area  30  designated for wagering on a banker hand  16  and a player hand wagering area  32  designated for wagering on a player hand  12 . The combined poker and baccarat-type card game table  20  further comprises a tie betting area  34  located proximate the plurality of individual betting locations. The tie betting area  34  is designated for wagering that the banker hand  16  and the player hand  12  will subsequently be determined to have an equal hand value. 
     Previously, three card poker games have been created and have been introduced into play in some casinos. However, the previous three card poker games that have been introduced or implemented have a serious problem in that a player cannot receive any poker bonus payout unless the dealer&#39;s three card hand is a qualifying hand of, for example, a queen or better. Furthermore, another weakness of the prior three card poker game is that the player can only play the three cards allocated to the player and cannot play the three cards that are designated for the dealer or in this disclosure, the banker. 
     These two glaring disadvantages of the prior three card poker game have been overcome by the combined poker and baccarat game of this invention. Accordingly, each player at the table  22  can, in addition to playing baccarat, play three card poker and can select either to place a wager for the player in an area designated poker player  36  or in an area designated poker banker  38 . For example, if the player selects placing a wager in the player area  32  (which will permit the player to win at baccarat if the player&#39;s hand  12  is better, under baccarat rules, than the banker hand  16 ), the player can also place a wager in either the poker player area  36  or, if desired, in the poker banker area  38  (or, if further desired, in both the poker player area  36  and the poker banker area  38  to be eligible for a super poker bonus payout in addition to being eligible for the poker payouts in the schedule set forth in FIG. 2 for each (player and/or banker) hand or hands). Accordingly, if, for example, a player selects placing a wager in the poker player area  36 , then the player can receive a bonus poker payout as set forth in FIG.  2 . This is the same if the player selects the poker banker area  38  to wager on the banker&#39;s hand  16  receiving one of the poker bonus hands as set forth in FIG.  2 . If the player places a wager in both the poker player area  36  and in the poker banker area  38 , then if either the poker player hand  12  or the poker banker hand  16  receive playing cards that are eligible for one of the poker bonus payouts, the player will receive such a poker bonus payout for either or conceivably both hands without any requirement that there be a minimum qualifying hand. Furthermore, a player selecting to place a minimum or pre-set wager in both the poker player area  36  and the poker banker area  38  can, besides having the chance of receiving at least one of the poker bonus hands set forth in FIG. 2 for each hand, also be eligible to receive a super jackpot poker bonus if the six cards representing both the player hand  12  and the banker hand  16  contain the 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of only one suit (i.e. hearts, spades, clubs or diamonds). In such an event, the player can receive, for example, a bonus payout of $100,000 or any other selected amount. Other possible super, super poker bonus payouts for even greater sums can be to provide such super, super poker bonus awards or payouts if the total six playing cards is in sequence in only one suit from the first card dealt to the player hand  12 , to the last card dealt to the banker hand  16  (i.e. 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace or Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 and 9. 
     The implementation of the combined poker and baccarat game of this invention can be used in video machines, slot machines, scratch-card formats, computer software, home and internet entertainment and can also be implemented in various types of computer program products such as floppy disks, compact disks, etc. Also, multiple decks of cards can be used, if desired, which, for example, can also provide a super, super bonus poker payout if the six total cards provide 6 of a kind for 2 or more decks of playing cards. 
     In another preferred embodiment, an arrangement can be made for players to make an additional wager or bet of, for example, one dollar to be eligible to win part of or an entire progressive jackpot amount that has been separately set aside by one or more casinos for this combined poker and baccarat-type game. For example, if a player bets or selects both the poker player and the poker banker hands, and if, for example, the six combined cards of both of these hands provides three separate pairs or a four of a kind or a six card straight or a six card flush or a six card straight flush or the highest six card straight flush of 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace of any one but only one of the four suits, then the player will win at least a portion of the progressive jackpot poker hand designations (the entire progressive jackpot is paid for the highest six card straight flush). If more than one player in the same game selects the same poker player and poker banker combined hands, then each player making the same selection will share in the total allocated progressive jackpot amount. Each casino can determine the various progressive jackpot amounts and whether or not to implement this progressive jackpot. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.