Rules to Casino card game

Catch a Wave is a card game which has been played in a few casinos, but which isn’t in fashion at present. Anyone playing at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut in the early years of the 21st century might remember the game, as it was played there for a handful of years. A handful of online casino software packages contain “Catch a Wave”, so I’d like to give a brief description.

416-Card Standard Deck

Catch a Wave is played with 8 combined 52-card decks. The standard card ranks apply in the game, so new players should have no trouble learning how to play. Card suit does not matter in the game, so disregard hearts, aces, clubs, and diamonds.

Playing a Hand

To begin a new hand, the player makes a wager. Next, the dealer deals a card each to the player and the house (dealer). The dealer’s card is dealt face-up, giving betters an additional piece of information. After seeing their card, the player has an option to either hit or stand. When hitting, the player must correctly guess whether the next card to be dealt will be higher or lower than the card he or she is holding. If the player’s call is incorrect (or if the cards are equal), the gambler loses the bet.

If the player’s call is correct, the player once again has the option to stand or hit. All players whose call “stand” must wait to see if they win their wager.

Catching a Wave

Active players (those who haven’t busted) have the option to bet on six consecutive hands, so long as they continue to make the correct call. So after the first successful call, the player has the option to hit. After the second successful call, the player has the option to hit again. This may continue until the player correctly has predicted the outcome of six different high/low calls. If this happens, then the player has “caught a wave” and is immediately paid out a 6:1 payout.

All other gamblers must wait for the outcome of the dealer’s hand to see if they win and are paid.

Dealer’s Hand

Assuming at least one player’s hand is still active–in this case, they haven’t either busted or caught a wave–then the dealer plays out his or her hand. A “house way” exists in Catch a Wave, so the dealer follows rigid rules on which call to make. If the dealer is holding a 7 or lower, then the house must call “higher”. If the dealer is holding an 8 or higher, then the house must call “less”.

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