U.S. patent application number 10/862211 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for modified blackjack game.
Invention is credited to Sorge, Nicholas.
Application Number | 20050269773 10/862211 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446831 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050269773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sorge, Nicholas |
December 8, 2005 |
Modified blackjack game
Abstract
A method for playing a modified blackjack game between a dealer
and at least one player. Each player places an first wager, the
outcome of which is determined by conventional rules of blackjack.
Players may optionally place an additional wager corresponding to a
predicted total point value of an initial hand of two cards dealt
to the player. After the dealer has dealt a player placing an
additional wager a second card from one or more standard decks of
playing cards, an actual total point value is computed for the
two-card hand of that player. If an actual total point value is
equal to a predicted total point value, a player placing an
additional wager wins a predetermined multiple of an amount of the
additional wager. A discrete card game may also be played in which
a player places a wager corresponding to a predicted total point
value of a two-card hand.
Inventors: |
Sorge, Nicholas; (Deer Park,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WILLIAM COLLARD
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 NORTHERN BOULEVARD
ROSLYN
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
35446831 |
Appl. No.: |
10/862211 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 273/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/003 20130101;
A63F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 273/303 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00; A63F
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for playing a modified blackjack game between at least
one player and a dealer using at least one standard deck of playing
cards, the method comprising the steps of: a) having at least one
player place a first wager to participate in the blackjack game,
wherein an outcome of said first wager is determined by
conventional rules of play; b) having at least one player place an
additional wager corresponding to a predicted total point value of
an initial hand of two cards dealt to the player placing said
additional wager; c) dealing a first card to each player and to the
dealer; d) dealing a second card to each player; e) determining an
actual total point value of said initial hand of two cards dealt to
the player placing said additional wager and comparing said actual
total point value to said predicted total point value; f)
collecting an amount of said additional wager if said predicted
total point value is not equal to said actual total point value and
paying a predetermined multiple of said amount of said additional
wager if said predicted total point value is equal to said actual
total point value; g) dealing a second card to the dealer; and h)
completing the blackjack game according to conventional rules of
play.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
selecting said predicted total point value of said initial hand of
two cards from all possible total point values of two cards.
3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
indicating said additional wager by placing one or more wagering
devices in a designated area of a blackjack table.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said designated area
comprises a plurality of zones and each of said plurality of zones
indicates one possible point total value of two cards.
5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said designated area
comprises a plurality of zones and one or more of said plurality of
zones indicates a plurality of possible point total values of two
cards.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
placing said additional wager prior to any cards being dealt.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of
determining and settling an outcome of said additional wager after
a player has received said second card and before a succeeding
player or the dealer receives a second card.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of regulating
said amount of said additional wager between a minimum and maximum
value.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein an outcome of said additional
wager is independent of said outcome of said first wager.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing
the at least one player placing said first wager with an option of
electing or declining to place said additional wager.
11. A method for playing a card game between at least one player
and dealer using at least one standard deck of playing cards, the
method comprising the steps of: a) having at least one player place
a wager corresponding to a predicted total point value of a hand of
two cards; b) dealing two cards to the at least one player; c)
determining an actual total point value of said two cards dealt to
the player and comparing said actual total point value to said
predicted total point value; and d) collecting an amount of said
wager if said predicted total point value is not equal to said
actual total point value and paying a predetermined multiple of
said amount of said wager if said predicted total point value is
equal to said actual total point value.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step
of selecting said predicted total point value of said hand of two
cards from all possible total point values of two cards.
13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step
of indicating said wager by placing one or more wagering devices in
a designated area of a playing surface.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said designated area
comprises a plurality of zones and each of said plurality of zones
indicates one possible point total value of two cards.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said designated area
comprises a plurality of zones and one or more of said plurality of
zones indicates a plurality of possible point total values of two
cards.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of
regulating said amount of said wager between a minimum and a
maximum value.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of casino
gaming. More particularly, the invention relates to a variation or
modification of the card game known as blackjack or twenty-one. The
invention further relates to a card game wherein players place a
wager which corresponds to a predicted total point value of two
cards dealt to the player.
[0003] 2. The Prior Art
[0004] Blackjack or twenty-one is a well-known casino card game.
Blackjack is played with one or more standard decks of 52 playing
cards. Typically, the game is played on a table having a straight
edge behind which a dealer stands and a semi-circular edge around
which one or more players are positioned. The maximum number of
players at a table may be, for example, seven. The blackjack table
may have a top surface covered with felt or another material which
is imprinted with various indicia. These various indicia may
include text describing basic and house rules of play and may
indicate areas where players' cards are to be dealt and where
players' bets are to be placed.
[0005] The object of blackjack is for a player to accumulate a hand
of cards which has a point total exceeding that of the blackjack
dealer, without exceeding twenty-one. Numbered cards have a point
value which equals their number value. Face cards (kings, queens,
and jacks) are assigned a point value of ten and aces are assigned
a point value of either one or eleven as determined by the person
holding the hand including one or more aces. A two-card hand having
a point total of twenty-one is known as blackjack.
[0006] Blackjack play is commenced by a player making an initial
wager or bet on the outcome of the upcoming hand. An amount of this
initial bet, also known as an ante, may be regulated between a
minimum and maximum amount set by the casino or house for the
particular table of play. Players typically indicate their bet or
wager by placing an appropriate number of chips or markers, each of
which has a designated value or values assigned to it, in a
designated area of the blackjack table.
[0007] Following the placing of bets or wagers, the dealer deals
cards to each player and to himself or herself. Each player and the
dealer are initially dealt two cards. Each of the players' cards is
dealt face up. The dealer's initial two cards are typically dealt
one face up and one face down. The dealer generally deals one card
to each player in turn, starting from the dealer's left and
proceeding to the dealer's right. The dealer then deals a card to
himself or herself and proceeds to deal a second card to each
player, again moving from left to right and to himself or
herself.
[0008] After the dealer and the players have been dealt an initial
hand of two cards, each player in turn elects to receive one or
more additional cards ("hit") or to take no additional cards
("stand"). A player may elect to take additional cards until they
decide to stand or until the point total of the player's hand
exceeds twenty-one, known as "busting." Once all players have
either received their desired number of cards or have busted, the
dealer elects to take additional cards or to stand. Under most
rules, a dealer is not permitted to receive additional cards if the
dealer's existing hand has a total point value of seventeen or
greater and a dealer is required to take an additional card if the
dealer's existing hand has a point total of less than
seventeen.
[0009] Once all of the players and the dealer have either received
a desired number of cards or have busted, the outcome of the game
is determined. A player wins if either the dealer's point total
exceeds twenty-one (i.e. the dealer busts) or if the player's point
total exceeds the dealer's point total for a particular hand. In
either event, the winning player is paid an amount equal to his or
her initial bet in addition to receiving his or her initial bet
back. If the dealer's hand exceeds that of a player's or if a
player busts, that player loses and forfeits his or her bet. If a
dealer's point total for a hand equals that of a player, a tie or
push is declared and that player receives his or her initial bet
back.
[0010] The conventional game of blackjack described above has been
supplemented with a number of alternative betting procedures,
including insurance, doubling down, and splitting pairs.
Additionally, various methods or procedures relating to variations
on or modifications of a conventional blackjack game are disclosed
in the following references, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041 to Jones et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,586 to Marks et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,042 to
Lo; U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,675 to Handelman et al.; U.S. Pat. No.
6,113,102 to Marks et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,456 to Long; U.S.
Pat. No. 6,450,500 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,485,020 to Broadnax;
U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,767 to Keller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,692,003 to
Potter et al.; and U.S. patent Publication Nos. 2003/0222400 to
Collins et al.; 2003/0218303 to Walker et al.; and 2003/0057648 to
Webb.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The invention relates to a variation on or modification of
the game of blackjack or twenty-one. The invention also relates to
a discrete card game wherein a player places a wager which
corresponds to a predicted total point value of a two-card hand
dealt to the player.
[0012] In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, a
modified blackjack game is played between at least one player and a
dealer using at least one standard deck of playing cards. Each
player places a first wager in order to become eligible to
participate in the blackjack game. The outcome of the first wager
is determined in accordance with conventional rules of a blackjack
play and is dependant upon the final hands of cards drawn by the
dealer and the individual player placing the first wager.
[0013] Each player may optionally place an additional wager or side
bet. The additional wager corresponds to a predicted total point
value of an initial hand of two cards dealt to a player placing an
additional wager. An initial hand of two cards is dealt to each
player who has placed a first wager and to the dealer. An actual
total point value is determined for the initial hand of two cards
dealt to each player placing an additional wager. The actual total
point value of the two-card hand is compared to the predicted total
point value for a player placing an additional wager. If the actual
total point value is equal to the predicted total point value, the
player making the additional wager is paid a predetermined multiple
of an amount of the additional wager. If the actual total point
value is not equal to the predicted total point value, the dealer
collects an amount of the additional wager from the player making
the additional wager.
[0014] The blackjack game is completed according to conventional
rules of play.
[0015] In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, a
player electing to place an additional wager may select a predicted
total point value of an initial hand of two cards from all possible
total point values of two cards. A player placing an additional bet
may indicate a predicted total point value of an initial two-card
hand by placing one or more wagering devices in a designated area
of a blackjack table. Such designated area may include a plurality
of zones, each zone indicating a possible total point value of two
cards. A zone of the designated area may indicate individual two
card total point values or, alternatively, one or more zones may
include a plurality of two card total point values grouped
together.
[0016] In a method according to an embodiment of the invention, an
additional wager may be placed prior to any cards being dealt and
an outcome of an additional wager is determined and settled
immediately after a player who has elected to place an additional
wager receives a second card and before a succeeding player or the
dealer receives a second card. An amount of an additional wager may
be regulated between a minimum and maximum value and an outcome of
an additional wager may be independent of an outcome of a first
wager. The placing of an additional wager may be optional, with a
player placing a first wager electing or declining to place an
additional wager.
[0017] In a further embodiment according to the invention, a card
game may be played between at least one player and a dealer. A
player places a wager corresponding to a predicted total point
value of a hand of two cards to be dealt to a player. The wager is
placed in a manner as described herein for an additional wager
placed in a modified blackjack game. A dealer deals two cards to a
player from one or more standard decks of playing cards. An actual
total point value for a player's two-card hand is computed and
compared to a predicted total point value. If an actual total point
value is equal to a predicted total point value, the player wins
and is paid a predetermined multiple of an amount of the winning
player's wager. If an actual total point value for a player's
two-card hand is not equal to a predicted total point value, a
player forfeits an amount of the wager placed.
[0018] An advantage of a modified blackjack game according to an
embodiment of the invention is that a player is given an option to
place an additional wager corresponding to a predicted total point
value of the first two cards dealt to that player, wherein the
option to place an additional wager increases player interest and
casino revenue. Other advantages of a modified blackjack game
according to an embodiment of the invention are that the modified
game is simple to learn and play and that the outcome of an
additional wager is independent of an outcome of a first wager,
thereby providing a player with increased possibilities for winning
in a particular game. A further advantage of a modified blackjack
game according to an embodiment of the invention is that a player
choosing to make an additional wager may select a predicted total
point value of an initial hand of two cards from all possible total
point values of two cards.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Other benefits and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an
illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the
invention.
[0020] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote
similar elements:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a playing surface which can be
used to play a modified blackjack game according to an embodiment
of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a playing surface which can be
used to play a card game according to a further embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a playing surface which can be
used to play a modified blackjack game according to a further
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring now in detail to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a top
view of a top surface of a blackjack table which can be used to
play a modified blackjack game according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0025] One or more players, for example six players, sit or stand
adjacent to a front, semi-circular portion of a blackjack table. A
dealer is positioned behind a back edge of the table, facing the
one or more players.
[0026] One or more first wager locations 10 are provided for
players to make a first wager in order to be eligible to
participate in a particular game or round of play. A player may
indicate a first wager by placing one or more chips, markers, or
other wagering devices in a first wager location 10 associated with
that player. Each chip or marker may have a predetermined value.
The amount of a first wager which a player may make for a
particular game or table may be regulated between certain maximum
and minimum values by a casino or other authority. An outcome of
each player's first wager is determined at the conclusion of a
particular game in accordance with conventional rules of blackjack
play by comparing a player's final hand total point value to a
dealer's final hand total point value.
[0027] One or more additional wager locations 20 are provided for
players to make an additional wager which corresponds to a
predicted total point value of an initial hand of two cards dealt
to a player making an additional wager. The placing of an
additional wager may be optional, and a player may elect not to
place an additional wager in a particular game or round of play and
still participate in that particular game or round of play provided
the player has made a first wager.
[0028] Additional wager locations 20 may comprise a plurality of
zones 30, wherein each individual zone indicates a possible total
point value of two cards. Individual zones 30 may, for example,
include all possible total point values of two cards, i.e. 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 or
Blackjack.
[0029] A player electing to make an additional wager may indicate
an additional wager by placing one or more wagering devices, such
as chips or markers, within a zone 30 of additional wager location
20 which corresponds to a predicted total point value of an initial
hand of two cards dealt to the player electing to make an
additional wager. For example, a player who hopes a total point
value on an initial two cards dealt to him or her will total
eleven, may place one or more wagering devices in an area or zone
30 of additional wager location 20 demarked "11". Each player
electing to place an additional wager may place their one or more
wagering devices in a pre-determined section or region within an
individual zone 30 and/or the dealer may re-position one or more
wagering devices within an individual zone. A position of one or
more wagering devices within an individual zone 30 corresponds to a
particular player position at a table. In this way, a dealer and/or
player can associate a particular additional wager with a
corresponding player making the additional wager. The amount of an
additional wager which a player may place for a particular game or
table may be regulated between certain maximum and minimum values
by a casino or other authority.
[0030] Following the placing of first and additional wagers, a
dealer deals a card to each player who has made a first wager in
succession from left to right and a card to the dealer himself or
herself. Next, the dealer deals a second card to each player who
has received a first card and to the dealer himself or herself.
Cards may be dealt from one or more standard decks of 52 cards,
preferably from six to eight standard decks. Each card dealt to a
player is dealt face up. After a player electing to make an
additional bet has received a second card, and prior to any
succeeding player or the dealer receiving a second card, a two-card
total point value is computed for that player. An outcome of an
additional bet is determined and settled after a player receives a
second card and prior to any succeeding player or the dealer
receiving a second card. In this way, all additional player bets
are settled prior to the dealer receiving a second card.
[0031] An actual total point value is computed by adding the point
values of the two cards initially dealt to a player who has made an
additional wager. Card point values are assigned as in conventional
blackjack play with numbered cards (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) of
the various suits being assigned a point value equal to their
numerical value and face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) of the
various suits being assigned a point value of ten. Aces are
assigned a point value of either one or eleven at the discretion of
a player holding a hand including an ace. An exception exists if a
player draws a two-card hand consisting of an ace and any ten-point
card, (10 or face card). This hand is a blackjack hand and the ace
is assigned a point value of eleven, so that the total point value
of the hand equals twenty one. A player drawing a blackjack hand
cannot count an ace as one point.
[0032] An actual total point value is compared to a predicted total
point value for any player who has placed an additional wager. If
an actual total point value is not equal to a predicted total point
value, a player forfeits an amount equal to that player's
additional wager and a dealer may collect the one or more wagering
devices placed by that player as an additional wager.
[0033] If an actual total point value is equal to a predicted total
point value, a player wins their additional wager and may be paid a
predetermined multiple of an amount of that player's additional
wager. For example, a player whose actual total point value for an
initial two-card hand equals the player's predicted total point
value may be paid a multiple of an amount of an additional wager
according to the ratios in the following chart:
1TABLE 1 PAYS TOTAL POINT VALUE OF AMOUNT PAID-AMOUNT INITIAL
TWO-CARD HAND WAGERED 2 165-1 3 78-1 4 53-1 5 39-1 6 31-1 7 25-1 8
22-1 9 19-1 10 16-1 11 19-1 12 9-1 13 9-1 14 9-1 15 10-1 16 11-1 17
12-1 18 13-1 19 15-1 20 8-1 21/Blackjack 19-1
[0034] The payout ratios for an additional wager can be adjusted by
an individual casino or other authority. After any additional
wagers are settled, a game may be completed according to
conventional rules of blackjack play. An outcome of an additional
wager or side bet may be independent of a final total point value
of either a player or a dealer's hand and independent of an outcome
of a player's first wager.
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a playing surface which can be used to play a
card game according to a further embodiment of the invention. In
this embodiment, a discrete card game may be played between at
least one player and a dealer using at least one standard deck of
52 playing cards.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, seven wager locations 10 may be provided
to accommodate seven players. The game is played in a manner
similar to the method described above, except no first wager is
made and the game is not played in conjunction with blackjack or
21.
[0037] In a game according to this embodiment, a player drawing a
two-card hand including an ace and a ten point card may count the
ace as either a one (for a total hand point value of eleven) or as
an eleven (for a total hand point value of twenty-one). An
additional zone demarked "22" is provided as a total point value of
twenty-two is possible in this embodiment when a player draws two
aces.
[0038] A player may place a wager corresponding to a predicted
total point value of a two-card hand by placing one or more
wagering devices, such as chips or markers, in a designated zone of
a table or playing surface corresponding to a predicted total point
value. A dealer deals two cards to a player. An actual total point
value is calculated for a player's two-card hand and compared to a
predicted total point value. If actual and predicted total point
values are equal, a player is paid a pre-determined multiple of an
amount of their wager. If actual and predicted point values are not
equal, a player forfeits an amount of their wager. This game is a
stand-alone card game not played in conjunction with blackjack or
twenty-one.
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a top surface of a blackjack
table which can be used to play a modified blackjack game according
to another embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 3,
additional wager location 20 may comprise a plurality of zones 30,
wherein individual zones 30 may indicate one or more possible total
point values of two cards. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, one
zone 30 may include total point values 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8;
another zone 30 may include total point values 9, 10 and 11;
another zone 30 may include total point values 12, 13, 14, 15 and
16 and another zone 30 may include total point values 17, 18, 19,
20 and 21. In this way a player may indicate an additional wager by
placing one or more wagering devices, such as chips or markers,
within a zone 30 of additional wager location 20 which includes a
predicted total point value of an initial hand of two cards dealt
to the player. If the zone in which the player has placed one or
more wagering devices includes the actual two card point total
dealt to that player, the player wins and is payed a pre-determined
multiple of the wager amount. Each zone 30 may have associated
therewith a particular winning payout ratio, which may be set or
regulated by a casino or other authority.
[0040] Accordingly, while several embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many
changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *