Card game

Abstract

A method of playing blackjack using a conventional playing card deck of fifty-two cards having four suits of thirteen cards each with number values from one to ten comprising dealing face down two cards to each player and the dealer, allowing one player the option of swapping cards with the face value unseen with the dealer and thereafter playing a conventional blackjack game.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/634,477, entitled "Card Game," filed on Dec. 9, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

SUBJECT MATTER OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a card game and, in particular, a method of playing a game of blackjack. It also relates to a novel physical facility for playing the game.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0003] The game of blackjack generally involves a dealer and a number of players, each of whom, individually, plays against the dealer. The game involves the use of at least one conventional deck of cards having four suits (clubs, spades, hearts and diamonds), with the thirteen cards in each suit extending from an Ace to a King. The Ace has a numerical value of one or eleven, while each of the picture cards has a numerical value of ten. In a conventional game, each player and the dealer is dealt two cards. Bets are made before any card is dealt. In the initial deal, all cards except one of the dealer's cards are dealt face down. In a conventional game, the dealer plays each of the players in sequence, ordinarily starting with the player to his left. Each player has an option of drawing one or more cards from the unused deck. The object of the game is for each player to have a total higher count of the card values than the dealer, but not over twenty-one. If a player asks for a card which places the players total number of card values over twenty-one, that player loses and forfeits any money that may have been bet to the dealer. There are, in addition, a number of subsidiary betting rules and rules relating to initial draws that total twenty-one, as well as rules relating to procedures known as splitting in which a player dealt identical cards may play each one of them separately. In blackjack games conventionally played in casinos, additional rules include, for example, the use of more than one deck in any given game and requirements that are imposed on the dealer to draw if his total is sixteen or less and not draw if his total is seventeen or more. In addition, in casino or professional games, there are conventions as to whether or not the players cards are initially dealt face-up or face-down. Obviously once the player commences to play against the dealer, the player's cards are all turned face-up. The conventional procedure of dealing the hands in which one of the cards of the dealer is turned face-up provides bidding information to the players to determine whether or not there is a likelihood of prevailing. In conventional blackjack games, all picture cards have a face value of ten, while the numbered cards have the face value of their number, from the Ace which is one to the ten card. Additionally, the Ace card in conventional blackjack may alternately have a value of eleven.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides an improved and alternate game of blackjack which introduces an added element of chance available to the players.

[0005] In the present invention, there is provided an alternate method of playing the game of blackjack which introduces an added element of chance at the option of the player. The object of the present invention, therefore, is intended to provide a blackjack game in which at least one player has an added option in playing the game, which option provides a further element of chance and excitement to the player.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide an alternate method of playing blackjack in which the relevant odds of each of the players is substantially the same, while nonetheless providing an added element of surprise, risk and choice to a particular player.

[0007] One further object of the present invention is to provide a physical facility for enhancing the ultimate embodiment of the game in which the actual handling of the cards by the player is facilitated.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic or a plan view of a blackjack table embodying the present invention and designed for playing blackjack with a dealer and up to six players.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] The present invention relates to a method of playing a blackjack card game. In the present invention, there is a dealer and one or more players. The number of players may vary, but conventionally from four to about six in addition to the dealer will play in a game. The players sit on one side 14 of a table 10, facing the dealer on the other side 12. The table is arrayed with "lazy Susan" turn tables 16 for each player. The turn tables 16 are each supported by a suitable pivot 17 on the table and are capable of rotating 360 degrees in either direction. Each of the turntables is provided with two locations for the cards. Initially, location 20 is positioned on the side of the table adjacent to the players while location 22 is closest to the dealer. When the dealer deals the card, the dealer will deal two cards down to each player and two cards down to himself, with the cards dealt to the players being placed on location 20. The dealer will place his two down cards on location 20 of the same carousel of the player who is identified by location 26. A button 26 identifies a player that will have the swap advantage. This button 26 will ordinarily be moved sequentially after each game to the next adjacent player with the button preferably placed in front of the first player in the first game and then switched to the second, third, fourth, and each successive player in each successive game. After the cards are dealt, and before anyone including both players and the dealer look at any cards, the player having the button 26 in front of him may elect to swap both cards for both cards of the dealer. He may signal this by rotating his table until the location of spot 20 on which his--have been placed are moved to spot 22--a location is now closest to the dealer and spot 20 is now closest to the player. Once that election is made, the blackjack game proceeds as an ordinary blackjack game. In this sequence, each player in sequence plays against the dealer, after the dealer has turned over one of the two cards dealt to him. The card turned over is ordinarily the second card dealt. Ordinarily bets are placed before any cards are dealt.

[0011] The blackjack game proceeds in the usual fashion with the first player drawing cards from the top of the unused deck until the first player either has cards that total more than twenty-one points or, alternately, when the first player decides to hold with a card value of up to twenty-one. The game then proceeds sequentially to each of the remaining players. If any player has drawn more than twenty-one points, the player automatically loses and whatever bet made prior to the deal is forfeited to the dealer. After all players have drawn whatever cards they want, the dealer then turns over his second or hole card. If the dealer, as is the case in casino blackjack, has seventeen points or more, as for example a King and a seven, the dealer stands firm and will pay anyone else with an eighteen through twenty-one. In the conventional blackjack, if a player has the same number as the dealer, it is a draw for that particular player. If the player has less than the total points in the dealer's hand, the dealer wins. If the dealer is required to draw a card or cards because his total is 16 or under and the drawn cards make the total exceed 21, and the player has himself not exceeded a 21 point total, the player wins.

[0012] After the first game, successive games may be played with the button moved to successive players, each of whom has the option of swapping cards with the dealer before any cards are turned over.

[0013] Other variations of the invention are contemplated within the broad scope of this invention. For example, the invention contemplates a game in which a dealer and player exchange hands, after the hands are initially dealt, but before any of the players examine their cards. As noted above and as is conventional in these games, the players' cards are all dealt face down, while one of the dealer's cards is dealt face up and the other face down. In this variation, the players have the same option of exchanging hands with the dealer. However, in this instance, the player having the option to exchange hands has the added information of seeing one of the cards of the dealer as he does, traditionally, in conventional blackjack. This gives the player with the option additional information that will impact his decision as to whether or not the player should exchange hands. In this variation, the player exercising the option to exchange hands with the dealer will pay a premium for this option. For example, if the advantage works out to be a 20% advantage to the player, then the casino may charge a premium on the player's wager. Thus, if the player wagers $20 to win $20 as is usual in blackjack hands of this type and assuming the additional information has a calculated 20% advantage, the player would either bet $25 to $30, depending upon the specific calculation of the casino, for the privilege of this extra choice. If a player wants to bet $20, he would have to place a $25 bet, of which $5 would be immediately taken by the casino. If the player loses, the remaining $20 will be taken by the casino. If the player wins, the player will recover his remaining $20, plus the $20 paid for winning if the payoff is 100% of the bet.

[0014] The percentages set forth above are exemplifications. However, it is contemplated that the actual percentages will be mathematically calculated based on conventional laws of probability. A still further variant of the game contemplates the playing cards be dealt with each player and the dealer having one face-up card. In this variation, the bets are made and the option of swapping cards with the dealer are made before the players and the dealer turns over their hole cards.

[0015] These further embodiments provide additional gaming activity for players which allow players to use additional gambling skills in determining whether or not to achieve further interest in the game.

Claims

1. A blackjack card game using a conventional deck of fifty-two cards of four suits from an Ace to a King, comprising dealing a pair of cards to each player and to a dealer, with the cards face value down and not showing, allowing one player to swap both cards with the dealer before any card value is seen, and thereafter playing a conventional game of blackjack

2. A table for playing blackjack comprising a table surface and at least one rotatable platform pivotally supported on the table with diametrically opposite locations for playing cards.

3. A blackjack card game using a conventional deck of playing cards having four suits from an Ace to a King comprising dealing a pair of cards to each player and to a dealer, allowing one player to exchange cards with the dealer and wagering on the outcome of the game before or after the face value of cards are examined by the players.

4. A blackjack card game as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cards are dealt with face values down for all cards except one of the dealers cards.

5. A blackjack card game as set forth in claim 4 wherein one card is dealt face down and the other face up to each player and wherein the one player elects to exchange or not exchange cards with the dealer before looking at the one player's face down card.

6. A blackjack card game as set forth in claim 5 wherein the player electing to exchange cards with the dealer pays a premium over a wager made by the one player.

7. A blackjack card game as set forth in claim 6 wherein the premium paid is a percentage of the wager made by the one player.

8. A blackjack game as set forth in claim 7 wherein a premium is paid by the one player irrespective of whether the one player wins that particular game.