U.S. patent application number 09/977282 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-18 for bet the house blackjack.
Invention is credited to Cranford, Tony A..
Application Number | 20020045471 09/977282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26933138 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020045471 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cranford, Tony A. |
April 18, 2002 |
Bet the house blackjack
Abstract
A casino style card game, played in accordance with the standard
rules of Blackjack, also known as "21," and including an auxiliary
component allowing additional wagering on the outcome of the
dealer's hand for each participating player. Participating players
are able to wager on the dealer having a non-breaking hand (i.e., a
hand having a value less than 21 in accordance with the rules of
Blackjack) containing two, three, four, five, six, or seven cards.
Wagers may also be made on the dealer having an even or odd count,
or an all read or all black hand. A return is paid on wagers in the
auxiliary game only if the dealer hand does not "bust" (i.e, exceed
a value of 21). The game is also playable in electronic or other
automated versions using, for example, terminals and networks, or
slot machines.
Inventors: |
Cranford, Tony A.;
(Morrison, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Supervisor, Patent Prosecution Services
PIPER MARBURY RUDNICK & WOLFE LLP
1200 Nineteenth Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036-2412
US
|
Family ID: |
26933138 |
Appl. No.: |
09/977282 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60240091 |
Oct 16, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/12 ;
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/003 20130101;
A63F 3/00157 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/12 ;
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 013/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for at least one player and a dealer to play a card
game with a plurality of cards, the card game being played in
accordance with standard rules of Blackjack and including an
auxiliary game portion, the method comprising: receiving a
selection to participate in a Blackjack card game from each of the
at least one player; optionally receiving a selection to
participate in the auxiliary game portion form each of the at least
one player; playing the Blackjack card game in accordance with
rules of Blackjack, the Blackjack round including: sequentially
dealing a first card to each player and a first card to the dealer;
sequentially dealing a second card to each player and a second card
to the dealer; providing an option to receive additional cards to
each of the at least one player and the dealer; dealing additional
cards to each of the at least one player and the dealer selecting
to receive additional cards, in accordance with the rules of
Blackjack, such that each player has a player Blackjack hand and
the dealer has a dealer Blackjack hand; and for each of the at
least one player from which is received a selection to play in the
auxiliary game portion, determining whether the player wins the
auxiliary game portion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection to
participate in a Blackjack card game from each of the at least one
player includes: receiving a Blackjack wager.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein optionally receiving a selection
to participate in the auxiliary game portion form each of the at
least one player includes: receiving an auxiliary game wager.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the player
Blackjack hand for each player to the dealer hand; and determining
whether each player wins the Blackjack card game.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving a selection to
participate in a Blackjack card game from each of the at least one
player includes: receiving a Blackjack wager.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: for each player
winning the Blackjack card game, paying a return, wherein the
return varied depending on the Blackjack wager.
7. The method of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary game portion wager
is placed for one from a plurality of dealer's hand characteristics
by each participating player, and wherein determining whether each
participating player wins the auxiliary game portion comprises:
determining the dealer's hand characteristics; and if the
determined dealer's hand characteristics match the one from the
plurality of dealer's hand characteristics, determining that the
participating player wins the auxiliary game portion.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of dealer's hand
characteristics include at least two selected from a group
consisting of all cards in the dealer's hand being red, all cards
in the dealer's hand being black, the dealer's hand totaling an
even number, the dealer's hand totaling an odd number, the dealer's
hand being two cards, the dealer's hand being three cards, the
dealer's hand being four cards, the dealer's hand being five cards,
the dealer's hand being six cards, and the dealer's hand being
seven cards.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the card game is played on a
gaming table.
10. A method for a player to play a card game with representations
of a deck of cards, the game being played in accordance with
standard rules of Blackjack and including an auxiliary game
portion, the method comprising: receiving a selection to
participate in a Blackjack card game from each of the at least one
player; optionally receiving a selection to participate in the
auxiliary game portion form each of the at least one player;
playing the Blackjack card game in accordance with rules of
Blackjack, the Blackjack round including: sequentially assigning a
first card to each player and a first card to the dealer;
sequentially assigning a second card to each player and a second
card to the dealer; providing an option to receive additional cards
to each of the at least one player and the dealer; assigning
additional cards to each of the at least one player and the dealer
selecting to receive additional cards, in accordance with the rules
of Blackjack, such that each player has a player Blackjack hand and
the dealer has a dealer Blackjack hand; and for each of the at
least one player from which is received a selection to play in the
auxiliary game portion, determining whether the player wins the
auxiliary game portion.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the representations of the
cards are displayed on a terminal.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the terminal includes a
processor.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the terminal comprises one
selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a
minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame computer, and a slot
machine.
14. A gaming table for at least one player and a dealer to play a
card game with at least one deck of cards, the game being played in
accordance with standard rules of Blackjack and including an
auxiliary game portion, the gaming table comprising: a table
surface; and at least one player location indicated on the table
surface, each of the at least one player location including: an
indicated Blackjack bet location; an indicated auxiliary game
portion bet location; wherein the play of the card game includes:
receiving a selection to participate in a Blackjack card game from
each of the at least one player; optionally receiving a selection
to participate in the auxiliary game portion form each of the at
least one player; playing the Blackjack card game in accordance
with rules of Blackjack, the Blackjack round including:
sequentially dealing a first card to each player and a first card
to the dealer; sequentially dealing a second card to each player
and a second card to the dealer; providing an option to receive
additional cards to each of the at least one player and the dealer;
dealing additional cards to each of the at least one player and the
dealer selecting to receive additional cards, in accordance with
the rules of Blackjack, such that each player has a player
Blackjack hand and the dealer has a dealer Blackjack hand; and for
each of the at least one player from which is received a selection
to play in the auxiliary game portion, determining whether the
player wins the auxiliary game portion.
15. A device for a player to play a card game with representations
of a deck of cards, the game being played in accordance with
standard rules of Blackjack and including an auxiliary game
portion, the device comprising: a display for displaying the card
game, including the representations of a standard deck of cards;
and a processor for receiving selections from the player for play
of the game, for determining progress of play, and for processing
and displaying a graphical user interface; wherein a selection is
received to participate in a Blackjack card game from each of the
at least one player; wherein a selection to participate in the
auxiliary game portion is optionally received form each of the at
least one player; wherein the Blackjack card game is played in
accordance with rules of Blackjack, the Blackjack round including:
sequentially dealing a first card to each player and a first card
to the dealer; sequentially dealing a second card to each player
and a second card to the dealer; providing an option to receive
additional cards to each of the at least one player and the dealer;
dealing additional cards to each of the at least one player and the
dealer selecting to receive additional cards, in accordance with
the rules of Blackjack, such that each player has a player
Blackjack hand and the dealer has a dealer Blackjack hand; and for
each of the at least one player from which is received a selection
to play in the auxiliary game portion, determining whether the
player wins the auxiliary game portion.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device comprises a
terminal.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the terminal comprises one
selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a
minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame computer, and a slot
machine.
18. The device of claim 15, wherein the display is coupled to a
display processor, the display and display processor comprising a
display terminal.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the display terminal is coupled
to the processor via a network.
20. The device of claim 19, wherein the network is the Internet.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/240,091 filed Oct. 16, 2000. The
entirety of that provisional application is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a game, and in particular to a
card game that includes both an underlying game, such as Blackjack,
also known as "21," and an auxiliary feature in which participating
players may optionally select to bet on outcomes of the dealer's
hand.
[0004] 2. Background of the Technology
[0005] It is known in the art to provide card games, such as
Blackjack, also known as "21," in a casino environment or
consistent with casino style rules. In existing variations, the
gaming establishment typically seeks to attract as many
participants to a game as possible to increase the money collected
at the gaming table. In addition, the number of games played during
a specified time, such as the number of hands per hour, is an
important metric used to evaluate the return potential for a game.
That is, the more hands that are played during a unit of time, the
greater the money collected by the house and the corresponding
profit realized.
[0006] With play in accordance with standard Blackjack, each player
has no incentive to continue play and to continue betting other
than for that player's own hand. The standard betting for Blackjack
thus limits the house's ability to collect money from bets for
players who lose or otherwise are restricted in their betting.
[0007] There is a need for a card game having both standard
Blackjack play and an auxiliary wagering feature to increase player
betting and player participation, even in the event that the player
would otherwise fold or discontinue play.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a casino style card game, referred
to in various embodiments as "Bet the House Blackjack," "Bet the
House," or "Bet the House Bonus Blackjack." The game is played in
accordance with the standard rules of Blackjack, also known as
"21," and includes an auxiliary component allowing additional
wagering on the outcome of the dealer's hand for each participating
player. Participating players are able to wager on the dealer
having a non-breaking hand (i.e., a hand having a value less than
21 in accordance with the rules of Blackjack) containing two,
three, four, five, six, or seven cards. Wagers may also be made on
the dealer having an even or odd count, or an all read or all black
hand. A return is paid on wagers in the auxiliary game only if the
dealer hand does not "bust" (i.e, exceed a value of 21).
[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the game is
played on a casino style table having a location for the dealer and
multiple locations for players. At each player location are betting
spots for Blackjack and also the auxiliary Bet the House portion of
the game. Each of the Bet the House portions of the game includes
multiple betting spots, with differing odds, depending on the
dealer's hand event upon which the bet is placed. These dealer hand
events include, for example, all red, all black, even hand, odd
hand, and number of cards dealer will receive without busting, in
one embodiment, the numbers being two, three, four, five, six, or
seven cards.
[0010] Additional advantages and novel features of the invention
set forth in part in the description that follows, considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, will become more
apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the
following or upon learning by practice of the invention. It is to
be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for
the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a gaming table for play of the
game in accordance one embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 presents a gaming table layout for a gaming table in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a closeup of an example Blackjack betting spot
and Bet the House spot, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts the components for processor based play of
the game in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 presents components for play of the game using a
processor on a network, such as the Internet or an intranet, in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIGS. 6A-6C show a flow diagram of an example method of
play, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0018] FIGS. 7A and 7B present example probability calculations in
accordance with play of an embodiment of the present invention
using the payout indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Play in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention occurs on a standard sized casino gaming table. The
layout of the table includes marked areas for one or more players.
Each player area includes two betting locations, one for betting in
accordance with standard play of Blackjack, and the other for
betting on the auxiliary "Bet the House" feature. In an embodiment
of the present invention, players are able to select to play only
the Blackjack round and play and bet in accordance with the
standard rules for Blackjack using only the Blackjack betting
location. Players are also able to play both Blackjack and Bet the
House in the combined game. However, players are not permitted to
play Bet the House without playing Blackjack.
[0020] Play of the game, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention, proceeds as follows. Players indicate their
selection to participate in the game by placing at least an initial
wager on the Blackjack play indication area. This initial wager is
made, for example, in accordance with play with a gaming table of
the present invention, by placing a bet on the Blackjack betting
spot on the gaming table.
[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, each player also
optionally selects whether to play in the auxiliary Bet the House
feature of game at the same time the player places the initial bet
for Blackjack (marked "BJ"). Selection to play in the auxiliary Bet
the House feature, as with selection to play in the Blackjack
portion of the game, is made, for example, by placing a bet on one
of the portions of the Bet the House betting spot on the gaming
table.
[0022] The wager for Bet the House is placed on the area
corresponding to the bet and return for Bet the House that the
player selects. In an embodiment of the present invention, these
Bet the House return areas include "all red," "all black," "even
hand," "odd hand," "two cards," "three cards," "four cards," "five
cards," "six cards," and "seven cards." In an embodiment of the
present invention, the amount of the wager for Blackjack and Bet
the House is selected by the player and, for example, must fall
within the ranges for minimum and maximum bets as typically set by
casinos.
[0023] After the placement of wagers, in an embodiment of the
present invention, cards are dealt for the Blackjack round to each
player electing to play and to the dealer. In accordance with
standard rules of Blackjack, each player is dealt cards
sequentially, beginning with the player to the immediate left the
dealer, and proceeding clockwise about the table. The dealer, for
example, deals a first card face up or down to each participating
player, and one card face down to the dealer. The dealer then deals
a second card face up or down to each player, and a card face up or
face down to the dealer. Each subsequent card dealt to the players
or the dealer are also dealt face up or face down, depending, for
example, on the preferences of the house. The game is playable with
a single or multiple decks of cards using, for example, a card
shoe, in which one or multiple decks are held and cards are dealt
one at a time by removal from the shoe.
[0024] Play of the Blackjack round then continues in accordance
with the standard rules of Blackjack. Each player elects to stand
(play with the cards received) or to receive additional cards
("hits") until the player elects to stand or busts (player hand
exceeds "21"). Players may also split, double down, and make other
play selections in accordance with the standard rules of
Blackjack.
[0025] When all players have completed their play in the Blackjack
round, the dealer plays. In the dealer's play, the dealer begins by
turning the dealer's face down card face up. The dealer then elects
to either continue to hit or to stand. When the dealer has
completed play, the Blackjack round is complete. Players having a
bust hand lose their Blackjack round wagers.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the Bet the House
betting is then resolved. For each player participating in Bet the
House, payouts are determined based upon the dealer's hand. For
example, in an embodiment of the present invention, if all of the
dealer's cards are red, players betting all red receive a payback
of 5 to 1 on the bet made. Similarly, each of the other bet payouts
are made, based on each player's bet and the dealer hand. If the
dealer busts, no players receive any payout, and all bets are
collected by the house. Similarly, any player wagering on an event
that does not occur forfeits the bet to the house.
[0027] The game is also playable with representations of any of the
features described. For example, the game is playable in an
electronic or partially electronic manner using a terminal, such as
a personal computer, microcomputer, minicomputer, mainframe
computer, or other device having a processor and display, such as
an electronic hand-held game device, for which representative
images of cards are displayable on a screen via a graphical user
interface (GUI), or using, for example, a slot machine. The game is
also playable in conjunction with performance of selected functions
on a network, such as the Internet or an intranet.
[0028] The game table used conjunction with an embodiment of the
present invention is a standard blackjack or poker sized casino
table, in which a dealer occupies one side of the table and players
occupy the other. In one embodiment, the table includes a bar
located on the dealer's side of the table. The table also includes
the name of the game, "Bet the House," "Bet the House Blackjack,"
or "Bet the House Bonus Blackjack."
[0029] References will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0030] FIG. 1 is an overhead view of a gaming table for play of the
game in accordance one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1
shows an embodiment of the game as played with one or more players
1, 2, 3, 4 and a dealer 5 at a gaming table 7 using one or more
decks of cards located at a card location 8.
[0031] FIG. 2 presents a gaming table layout for a gaming table in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 2, the table 7 includes a dealer play area 9 and a number
of player areas 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j on the players' side of the
table, the lower side of the table as shown in FIG. 2. As shown
blowup "A" of FIG. 2, each player area 7d, 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h, 7j
includes two marked areas, a Blackjack betting spot 9a marked
"Blackjack Bet" for placement of a Blackjack round wager, and a Bet
the House spot 9b for placement of Bet the House wagers.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a closeup of an example Blackjack betting spot
9a and Bet the House spot 9b, in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 4 depicts the components for processor based play of
the game in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the player 1
plays at a terminal 10, such as a personal computer, a
minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame computer, or other
device having a display, processor, and GUI, including a hand-held
electronic game or a slot machine.
[0034] FIG. 5 presents components for play of the game using a
processor on a network, such as the Internet or an intranet, in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 5, a player 1 plays at a terminal 10, such as a
personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame
computer, or other device having a display and processor. The
terminal 10, is connected 11, 12 via, for example, wire, wireless,
or fiberoptic coupling to a network 13, such as the Internet or an
intranet, to a server 15, such as personal computer, a
minicomputer, a microcomputer, a main frame computer, or other
device having a processor.
[0035] FIGS. 6A-6C show a flow diagram of an example method of play
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As shown
in FIG. 6A, play begins with each of the players placing wagers for
participation in Blackjack and auxiliary Bet the House portions of
the game 20. In an embodiment of the present invention, a wager
must be placed for the Blackjack game in order for the player to
participate in Bet the House.
[0036] Two cards are dealt to each player and to the dealer
sequentially, the cards being dealt face down, face up, or both
face down and face up, for example 21, in accordance with the
standard rules of Blackjack and preferred play. Play then continues
in accordance with standard rules for Blackjack. A determination is
then made by each player as to whether to receive another card,
referred to as a "hit" 22. If the player elects to receive an
additional card, the card is provided to the player 23. A
determination is then made as to whether the player busted 24. If
the player busted, the player loses at Blackjack and loses the
Blackjack wager 25, and play proceeds to the auxiliary Bet the
House portion of the game for the player, as shown in FIG. 5C.
[0037] If the player did not bust 24 upon receiving the additional
card, the player is provided with another option to receive a hit
22. If the player elects not to take a hit, the player's Blackjack
hand is compared to the dealer's Blackjack hand 26, and play
proceeds as shown in FIG. 5B.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5B, before comparing the player's Blackjack
hand to the dealer's Blackjack hand, the dealer's Blackjack hand is
determined. First, the dealer makes a selection as to whether to
receive a hit 27. If the dealer elects to receive a hit, the dealer
receives an additional card 28. A determination is then made as to
whether the dealer busted 29. If the dealer busted, the dealer has
a bust hand for comparison to the players' hands for the Blackjack
round 30, and all players lose any Bet the House wagers 31. If the
dealer did not bust upon receiving the additional card, the dealer
is provided with another option to receive a hit 27. The dealer
Blackjack hand is then compared to the player Blackjack hands in
accordance with the standard rules of Blackjack 32.
[0039] Play then proceeds to the auxiliary Bet the House portion of
the game, as shown in FIG. 6C. As shown in FIG. 6C, the dealer's
hand is evaluated for Bet the House wagers 33. Winning Bet the
House wagers are then paid to winning players 34.
[0040] FIGS. 7A and 7B present example probability calculations in
accordance with play of an embodiment of the present invention
using the payout indicated.
[0041] Thus, while there have been shown, described, and pointed
out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to
embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions,
substitutions, and changes in the form and the details of the
disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *