Table and method of playing a baccarat-type card game

Abstract

A table and method of playing a baccarat-type card game that provides players with the opportunity to play a simpler version of baccarat that is both easier to understand and capable of being played by more players. The method of playing a baccarat-type card game comprises dealing 3 cards to both a house hand and a player hand, with the winning 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.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a baccarat-type card game comprising, in combination, the steps of: 
 dealing a player hand having three cards;    dealing a house hand having three cards;    determining a hand value of said player hand, wherein Ace through Nine cards have respective point values of 1 to 9 and wherein 10's and Jacks and Queens and Kings have a point value of zero, wherein a hand value of said player hand is equal to a total point value of said three cards of said player hand when said three cards have a total point value less than 10 and when said three cards of said player hand have a total point value of at least 10 then the first digit of said total point value is ignored when determining a hand value of said player hand;    determining a hand value of said house hand, wherein Ace through 9 cards have respective point values of 1 to 9 and wherein 10's and Jacks and Queens and Kings have a point value of zero, wherein a hand value of said house hand is equal to a total point value of said three cards of said house hand when said three cards have a total point value less than 10 and when said three cards of said house hand have a total point value of at least 10 then the first digit of said total point value is ignored when determining a hand value of said house hand; and    comparing said hand value of said player hand with said hand value of said house hand wherein the hand with a hand value closest to 9 is a winning hand.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 at least one player wagering a wager on one of said player hand and said house hand; and  
 paying said at least one player an amount equal to said wager when said player wagers on a hand subsequently determined to be a winning hand.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
 at least one player wagering a wager on one of said player hand and said house hand;  
 dealing an additional card when said player hand and said house hand are subsequently determined to have an equal hand value; and  
 paying said at least one player an amount equal to said wager when said additional card is one of 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King, said at least one player pays a dealer an amount equal to said wager when said additional card is one of A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of offering said at least one player an option to receive half of said wager instead of receiving said additional card when said player hand and said house hand are subsequently determined to have an equal hand value.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of; 
 a player wagering a wager that said player hand will have a hand value equal to said house hand;  
 paying said player a multiple of said wager when said player hand and said house hand are subsequently determined to have an equal hand value;  
 a player paying a dealer an amount equal to said wager when said player hand and said house hand are subsequently determined to have an unequal hand value.  
 
     
     
         6 . A baccarat-type card game table comprising, in combination: 
 a table having a house 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 said table, each of said individual betting locations has a house hand wagering area designated for wagering on a house hand and a player hand wagering area designated for wagering on a player hand; and    a tie betting area located proximate said plurality of individual betting locations, said tie betting area is designated for wagering that said house hand and said player hand will subsequently be determined to have an equal hand value.    
     
     
         7 . The baccarat-type card game table of  claim 5  comprising 9 individual betting locations.