Methods and devices for playing a modified baccarat game
Aspects of the present inventions concerns methods and devices for playing a game with predetermined rules using at least one standard deck of 52 actual or virtual playing cards, wherein at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a first hand, at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a second hand, and a player wagers on either (i) the first hand having a score closer or equal to a predetermined high value than the second hand, (ii) the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the first hand, or (iii) the first and second hands having the same score, wherein the predetermined rules make the odds of the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value more likely than the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value. Such aspects include permitting a player to place an ante bet with a wager on the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the second hand, collecting the ante bet from the player if the score of the first hand does not equal the score of the second hand, and paying the player an ante bet payoff if the score of the first hand equals the score of the second hand.
1 . A method of playing a game with predetermined rules using at least one standard deck of 52 playing cards, wherein at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a first hand, at least two but no more than three cards are dealt to a second hand, and a player wagers on either (i) the first hand having a score closer or equal to a predetermined high value than the second hand, (ii) the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the first hand, or (iii) the first and second hands having the same score, wherein the predetermined rules make the odds of the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value more likely than the second hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value, the method comprising:
permitting a player to place an ante bet with a wager on the first hand having a score closer or equal to the predetermined high value than the second hand;
collecting the ante bet from the player if the score of the first hand does not equal the score of the second hand; and
paying the player an ante bet payoff if the score of the first hand equals the score of the second hand.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ante bet payoff is a multiple of the ante bet.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising calculating the ante bet payoff from a pay table.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the pay table varies according to a house advantage desired by a game operator.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a minimum value of the ante bet based on a frequency with which the score of the first hand exceeds the score of the second hand.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a minimum value of the ante bet is determined by a game operator.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising permitting the player to be a commission player and charging a commission to the commission player when the commission player places a wager on the first hand and the score of the first hand is greater than the score of the second hand.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the commission is 5% of a wager payoff based on the wager on the first hand.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising paying the player at a rate of 10-for-1 odds for a wager that the first and second hands will have the same score if the score of the second hand equals the score of the first hand.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the ante bet is at least 5% of the wager on the first hand.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising paying the ante bet payoff at a rate of 9-for-2 odds.
12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising requiring the player to place the ante bet when the player places a wager on the first hand.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein no commission is charged.
14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising permitting the player to be a commission player and charging a commission to the commission player when the commission player places a wager on the first hand and the score of the first hand is greater than the score of the second hand.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the commission is 5% of a wager payoff based on the wager on the first hand.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the ante bet is at least 10% of the wager on the first hand.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising paying the ante bet payoff at a rate of 8-for-1 odds.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising requiring the player to place the ante bet when the player places a wager on the first hand.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein no commission is charged.
20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising permitting the player to be a commission player and charging a commission to the commission player when the commission player places a wager on the first hand and the score of the first hand is greater than the score of the second hand.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the commission is 5% of a wager payoff based on the wager on the first hand.
22 . An automated system for playing the game according to the method of claim 1 .
23 . A software program or plurality of programs configured to allow the player to play the game according to the method of claim 1 .
24 . An electronic system comprising the software program or plurality of programs of claim 23 .
25 . An electronic system configured to allow the player to play the game according to the method of claim 1 .
26 . The electronic system of claim 25 , further comprising a video display located in a casino.
27 . The electronic system of claim 25 , further comprising a video display not located in a casino.
28 .- 37 . (canceled)