Beat The Bookie Race Odds Game

Beat The Bookie Race Odds Game

To quote eminent card game researcher John McLeod, "I like the idea of it. A simple but effective concept, leaving a lot to the imagination of the players. Plenty of psychology." For his review of this game and a mine of information on playing cards visit: http://www.pagat.com/com/comgames.html

Leading games author David Parlett, whose books include The Oxford Guide to Card Games and Dictionary of Card Games, comments: It's nicely produced and appears to combine depth with simplicity, which to me is the ideal requirement of a successful card game.

Game Description and Rules

An excellent gambling game for mixed company playing for modest stakes. Will be enjoyed after dinner, golf or a day at the races.

Given various odds the bookie chooses which horse will win and the other players bet on what they think has been chosen. The bookie then reveals the horse chosen and settles the bets accordingly.

Can be played superficially relying on pure luck or deeply using great skill. Will appeal to those who enjoy second guessing, double bluffing and a flutter.

Equipment The pack consists of 8 horse cards and 44 odds cards.

Objective The objective of the game is to place bets on the horse the bookmaker picks.

Play Four horse cards are laid on the table as follows:

The other 4 horse cards are given to the first bookie and six odds cards are given to each player. Each player takes his turn as the bookmaker for the duration of six races. For each race the bookmaker turns over an odds card.

Then selects one of the horse cards and places it unseen face down at the bottom of the other horse cards. The bookmaker announces the number of the race and made up form of each colour available. The other players then place their bets.

The bookmaker announces the selected horse card and turns it over to reveal it. Selections are settled in accordance with the odds. The next odds card is turned over and so on.

Staking Each player including the bookmaker places an agreed amount onto the table. Players take it in turn to start the betting. The players stake to win any amount up to the amount on the table which includes any money bet on other selections. The bookmaker takes all the remaining money on the table after six races. The next round begins, new money is placed on the table and the new bookmaker takes over.

Handicapping Each odds card has been calculated to offer no advantage to either bookie or player. To allow an advantage to the bookie a deduction of an agreed percentage from winning bets can be made. This percentage is applied to both the amount won and the original stake.

Charity Events If the game is used for a charity event the above deduction would go to charity.

For a detailed explanation of Race Odds visit: http://www.raceoddsgame.freeserve.co.uk/odds.html

Please submit your comments to beatthebookie@raceoddsgame.freeserve.co.uk

Now For The Fourth Great Year!

Available at leading games shops including:

Hamley's 188-196 Regent St, London, UK

Leisure Games 91 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London. (Listed under McKinnon) http://www.leisuregames.com/general_games/general_games.htm

Spirit Games 98 Station Street, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire. DE14 1BT http://www.spiritgames.co.uk/gengm.html#B

The Games Store The Manor House, Eagle, Lincoln, LN6 9DG, England http://www.tgs.co.uk/store/c_listproductsbysupplier.asp?idsupplier=207

Cards complete with robust traveling box and rules only £4.95

Sites of Interest

To visit Hal Layer's fascinating site on bookie games and the history of bookmaking:http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~hl/g.bgames.html

To rate this game on the Mind Sport Olympiad site: http://www.msoworld.com /links/pages/Proprietary_Games/

Site last updated June 2002

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