U.S. patent application number 11/446767 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for beat the dealer 21 card game.
Invention is credited to Conrad B. Hernandez.
Application Number | 20070252333 11/446767 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38647611 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070252333 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hernandez; Conrad B. |
November 1, 2007 |
Beat the dealer 21 card game
Abstract
A method of playing the card game of Twenty-one or "Black Jack"
involving a variation modification which allows a player to place a
side wager in addition to the initial wager or ante, wherein the
side wager allows a player to win if one of the printed cards
grouped together on the layout, referred to as the "players hand",
matches the dealer's up card. This additional wager is paid
according to predetermined odds, such as two-to-one odds, or
three-to-two odds. The house only wins the side wager if there is
no matching card. The dealer now reconciles the payoff or
collection of the side wagers according to house policy. The side
wager variation is now complete and the Twenty-one game is played
out according to the conventional method of play and the normal
winning and losing hands are paid or collected by the dealer.
Inventors: |
Hernandez; Conrad B.;
(Tucson, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONRAD B. HERNANDEZ
PO BOX 85484
TUCSON
AZ
85754
US
|
Family ID: |
38647611 |
Appl. No.: |
11/446767 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60699341 |
Jul 14, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/003 20130101;
A63F 3/00157 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20060101
A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of including an optional separate wagering feature in a
standard game of Twenty-One comprising the steps of: a) a player
making a first wager to participate in the standard game of
Twenty-One; b) a player making a second wager, at the time that the
first wager is made, on the dealer's initial up card; c) the player
participating in the standard game of Twenty-One conducted
according to the standard method of play; d) the player
participating in a second wager that the dealer's initial up card
will be a ten, jack, queen, king, or ace; e) the player will win on
his second wager at predetermined payoff odds of two-to-one if the
dealer's initial up card is any black ace. f) the player will win
on his second wager at predetermined payoff odds of three-to-two if
the dealer's initial up card is any ten, jack, queen, king, or red
ace; g) the player will lose his second wager if the dealer's
initial up card is not a ten, a face card, or an ace; h) an
addition, to the typical Twenty-One layout, is the placement of 20
miniature playing cards printed side by side inside a semicircle;
i) an addition of three colored markers used by the dealer to
validate the second wager outcome; j) a restriction placed on the
game variation that only a single deck or a continuous shuffler be
used in the play of the game; k) a player's first wager limits and
second wager limits are determined by the house rules.
2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the dealer upon turning up his
up card will immediately proceed to validate the results of the
second wager by placing a winning or losing marker at the center of
the layout.
3. A method as in claim 2, wherein if the up card is a black ace
the dealer places a green marker showing 2 to 1 payoff odds.
4. A method as in claim 2, wherein if the up card is a ten, jack,
queen, king, or a red ace the dealer places a yellow marker showing
3 to 2 payoff odds.
5. A method as in claim 2, wherein if the up card is not a ten,
jack, queen, king, or an ace the dealer places a red marker showing
that there is no match.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/699,341 filed Jul. 14, 2005
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a variation modified Twenty-One
game, and more particularly to a variation modified Twenty-One game
in which an additional wager is permitted with the outcome of the
additional wager determined by the outcome of the dealer's face up
card.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] "Twenty-one", also known as "Blackjack", has historically
been the most widely played card game of chance at gaming
establishments. Each round of the game is a contest between each of
the players respectively and the dealer.
[0006] Under the conventional rules of the game of twenty-one, the
goal of the game is for one or more player's to achieve a hand
which has a final number count closest to 21, without exceeding 21,
than the final number count of the dealer's hand. Each card dealt
contributes to the final number count in accordance with its face
value, except all face cards count as 10 and an ace may count as
either 1 or 11. The play of the game involves each player, as well
as the dealer, receiving a first of two cards. Depending upon the
particular rules of a given casino, the first card dealt the dealer
normally represents his "up" card and is dealt to him face up. The
second card dealt the dealer is considered his "hole" card and is
presented to the dealer face down, usually during a normal deal.
Furthermore, depending upon the particular house rules, each of the
first two cards dealt the player may be face up or face down. In
establishing the final number count and attempting to come as close
to 21 as possible without exceeding 21, both the players and the
dealer are allowed to "stand" on the number count of their first
two cards or receive additional cards or "hits." Each player may
stand or hit on any number count of the first two cards. However,
if any player decides to take additional cards or "hits" such
player "busts" if the final number count exceeds 21. Any player's
or dealer's hand that "busts" is considered a losing hand and is
removed from consideration in the further play of the game. The
dealer is normally placed under the additional requirement of being
forced to take one or more hits if his number count is under 17. If
the final number count of the first two cards dealt the dealer is
between 17 and 21, the dealer is generally prohibited from taking a
hit unless house rules provide otherwise. Typical betting involved
under the conventional rules of the game of twenty-one require each
player to make an original wager or ante. The player wins the
amount of his initial wager from the house if the final number
count of his hand is greater than that of the dealer's hand without
exceeding 21 or if the dealer busts. If the player receives a
"Black Jack" or reaches the final number count of 21 with his first
two cards, he is paid a greater amount than his initial wager,
normally in the range of one and one-half to two times the initial
wager.
[0007] One advantage of the house which exists in the conventional
play of the game is that the dealer shows his total number count of
his first two cards only after all the players decide to stand,
take hits or bust. As a result one or all of the players may be
eliminated prior to the dealer determining his final number count.
After all of the players have taken hits or have decided to stand
on their hands, the dealer "stands" or "hits" based on the
conventional rules of the game. After the final number count of the
dealer's hand has been established, it is compared to the final
number count of the hands of the existing players. All player's
hands having a final number count closer to 21 than that of the
dealer win in accordance with the conventional or normal payout,
based on their initial ante or wager.
[0008] There are other variations normally found and accepted under
the conventional rules of casino Twenty-one. Such variations
include the well-known procedure of splitting pairs. If the
player's first two cards are pairs, meaning that they have the same
numerical count, they may be "split" thereby giving the player the
opportunity to create two hands. The player is normally required to
put up an additional ante bet equal in amount to his initial wager
or ante and is thereafter dealt a second two cards, with the second
card of one of the hands either being dealt immediately, or after
the first hand is played out, depending upon the house rules. Each
of the second two cards is applied to a different one of the split
cards so as to form two complete hands for the player. The player
than proceeds in his play by standing or taking hits on each of the
two hands as set forth above. In most casinos the player is given
the added opportunity of creating even more hands if either or both
of the second two cards dealt the player also has the same number
count as the split pair of cards.
[0009] Other variations normally accepted under the conventional
rules of Twenty-one include allowing a player to "double down" if
he is holding a total number count of 10 or 11. The player may
double his original wager and take only a single additional hit.
The player is not allowed to take additional hits in order to
increase his final number count. If the player's final number count
is closer to 21 than that of the dealer's hand, he wins the total
amount wagered.
[0010] Yet another accepted version under the conventional rules of
Twenty-One involves "insurance" wherein the player may make an
insurance bet, often equal to half of his initial ante or wager if
the face card of the dealer's hand is an ace. If the dealer's hand
reaches the number count of 21 with his first two cards, the player
loses his initial ante or wager, unless the player also has a
natural 21, but receives twice the amount of his insurance bet.
[0011] These and other variations are generally accepted in playing
conventional casino Twenty-one in order to make the game more
exiting and seemingly more attractive from a payout standpoint to
the player. However, in order to increase the popularity of the
game by raising the excitement level of the players, additional
variations in the method of play, not normally considered within
the conventional rules, have been proposed. Such variations include
the creation of a progressive jackpot or payout, at least a portion
of which is paid to a player who obtains certain, predetermined
arrangements of cards, in his first two cards or first successively
dealt number of cards. Other modifications or variations involve
allowing a player to modify his wager and/or make a side bet so he
may selectively choose to bet that either a player's hand or a
dealer's hand will be the winning hand. Other unconventional "side
bet" variations of the game involve the player making a side wager
on the number of hits that the addition, a player may make a side
bet on whether he will receive a "stiff" hand wherein the term
"stiff" is defined as occurring when the first two cards dealt to a
player have a total number count of 12 to 16 or whether the player
will be dealt either a non-pair "stiff" hand or a pair of aces.
[0012] Twenty-one has remained remarkably unchanged over the years.
There have been a few other modifications proposed to the basic
game, but none of these modifications have achieved universal
popularity.
[0013] What is needed is a side bet game associated with twenty-one
that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular,
the side bet wager should give the player an opportunity to win
when the dealer has a ten-value up card showing. Prior to the start
of Twenty-one, even before the first card is dealt, the players are
concerned with the numerical value of the dealer's up card as to
whether the card is a ten valued card in which case their chances
of making wagers on conventional variations that depend on the
dealer holding a "stiff," i.e. up card with a value between 2 and
6, in order to provide successful outcomes, and/or the chances of
winning the hand are greatly diminished.
[0014] The conventional game of Twenty-one has a disadvantage, from
the casino's standpoint, in that the house "edge" in the game is
extremely small against players who do nothing more than play what
is called the "basic strategy", a system of play which defines the
best action (hit, stand, double-down, etc.) the player should take
in each playing situation. More and more players are becoming
familiar with "basic strategy" with the result that the game is not
as profitable as the casinos would like. In addition, since the
betting action is limited, the profitability intake for the casino
over a period of time is smaller than it would be if additional
betting action is possible.
[0015] There is a need for the gaming establishment to increase the
amount of revenue generated by the game of Twenty-one without
simply increasing the size of the wagers made by the player.
[0016] There is a need in Twenty-One for a modification in which
the player has the opportunity to win more than once during each
round of play. It is an object of the present invention to provide
a form of Twenty-one in which the player places a side bet wager at
the start of the game and knows what the results of the side bet is
as soon as the dealer deals himself an up card.
[0017] It is a feature of the present invention to have a side bet
that is easily understood, and does not require any formal training
for the dealers, and also does not slow down or compromise the flow
of the Twenty-one game.
[0018] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a
super variation that will increase the "drop and hold" potential
revenue twofold. Likewise the player is provided with multiple
opportunities to win.
[0019] This unprecedented method of the present invention of
combining two house advantages will challenge the notion about
proposed Twenty-one modifications not being able to achieve
universal popularity.
[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from a consideration of the
following detailed description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] It is an object of the present variation modification to
allow a player to protect the Twenty-One hand that he is dealt by
betting on the dealer's up-card. On the layout in front of the
dealer is an area that has indicia placed in a semi-circle that is
centered on the layout that informs the players of a specific group
of cards that represent the "Players Hand." It is a community group
of cards used by any player electing to wager on the side bet. The
"Players Hand" consists of 4 tens, 4 jacks, 4 queens, 4 kings, and
4 aces. A player electing to wager on the "Players Hand" is betting
that the dealer's up card will match a card in the "Players Hand"
and that he will be paid at payoff odds of 2 to 1, or at 3 to 2.
Having these side bet payoffs will add further excitement to the
game. The player will now welcome the appearance of the dealer's
once dreaded high card as this card will now place the player in a
position that no matter whether he wins, ties, or loses his
Twenty-One hand he will still come out a winner. The player's
anticipation of having a losing hand is now reversed. The player is
now on the dealer's side, rooting for the dealer to turn up a high
card. The player can now sit back and enjoy playing his Twenty-One
hand. If the player does not win the side bet, he knows that he has
a better chance of beating a nine or lower dealer card than he
would having to win against a face card.
[0022] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method
of play of the game which increases the effective number of hands
that can be played in the same amount of time.
[0023] It is a feature of the present invention to provide the
player with a side bet that is easy to understand; does not require
any formal training requirements for the dealers, floor personnel,
of for surveillance, and does not require player decision making
during play.
[0024] It is an advantage of the present invention that the
potential revenue to the gaming establishment can be increased
because more hands per hour are provided due to the addition of
side wagers.
[0025] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention shall become apparent from the ensuing description and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates the best mode presently contemplated for
carrying out the present invention; there is shown a top plan view
of a table felt used while playing Twenty-one; the table felt
having indicia provided thereon for making a side bet of the
present invention; and a view of the "players hand."
[0027] FIG. 2 is a view of the three markers used to identify the
results of the dealer's up card to the players using a preferred
version of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, there is generally indicated a table
felt 10 that is used while playing Twenty-one according to the
principles of the present invention. As shown, the table felt 10
has a layout of indicia imprinted thereon that is substantially
similar to the layout of a standard Twenty-one table felt. More
particularly, the table 10 has circular indicia 24 provided for
designating where each player places a wager used to play
Twenty-one. Also, circular indicia 22 is provided on the table felt
10 for designating where each player may place a side bet wager.
Table felt 10 also has written indicia which spells out some of the
basic rules of Twenty-one, such that "blackjack pays 3 to 2 and
insurance pays 2 to 1," respectively. Additionally written indicia
is placed on the table felt 10 that spells "dealer must hit on all
16's, and stand on all 17's. Above the written indicia is a
semicircle containing the "player's hand" 18. The "player's hand"
18 is made up of twenty miniature playing card indicia which are
displayed on the semicircle consisting of tens, jacks, queens,
kings, and aces (See FIG. 1). Centered above the "player's hand" 18
is a rectangular indicia 20 that is used by the dealer for the use
of circular markers (See FIG. 2) to indicate to the players what
the result of the side bet is. If the dealer's up card matches any
black ace that is part of the "player's hand" 18 the dealer will
place a green marker having "2:1" indicia 26 on the marker location
indicia 20. If the dealer's up card matches any card other than a
black ace that is part of the "player's hand" 18 the dealer will
place a yellow marker having "3:2" indicia 26 on the marker
location indicia 20. If the dealer's up card does not match any
card on the "player's hand" 18 the dealer will place a red marker
having "NO MATCH" indicia 30 on the marker location indicia 20.
Players placing wagers to play Twenty-one should also place side
bet wagers at the same time before any cards are dealt. The
specific rules of Twenty-one pertinent to the present invention
will be discussed in greater detail below as the detailed
description of the invention proceeds.
[0029] To describe the operation of the invention, set forth in the
following are the rules of play:
[0030] At commencement, a single deck is shuffled, and presented to
a randomly selected player who cuts the deck. In this preferred
embodiment only a single round is played with the cards having to
be re-shuffled. An alternative to the use of a single deck is the
use of a continuous shuffler. Use of this device does not require
pre-cutting of the cards and since after every round of play the
cards are placed back in the shuffler the games can proceed in a
continuous manner.
[0031] Players 12 are seated in front of their respective
Twenty-one betting circle indicia 24 and side bet indicia 22. Each
player 12 places a wager on their Twenty-one indicia 24. The side
bet is an optional wager therefore the player 12 may or may not
place a side bet indicia 22 wager.
[0032] After all of the players have placed their wagers, the
dealer 14 now deals one card to the player 12, one card to the
dealer 14, one more card to the player 12, and one more card to the
dealer 14. Both of the cards to the player 12 are face up whereas
one of the cards to the dealer 14 is face up and the other card is
face down. This face up card defines the "winning" or "losing"
outcome of the side bet 22 wager. If the dealers 14 face up card
matches a card from the "player's hand" 18 the dealer 14 will
select a marker to place in the marker location 20 that properly
identifies the results of the side bet wager. There are three
possible results of the card matchup between the dealer's up card
and the "player's hand" 18. (1) if the matching card is one of the
black aces the dealer would select the green marker 26 that
identifies the payoff odds as paying 2 to 1 and places the green
marker 26 in the marker location 20; (2) if the matching card is
not one of the black aces, the dealer will select the yellow marker
28 that identifies the payoff odds as paying 3 to 2 and places the
yellow marker 28 in the marker location 20; and (3) if there is no
match the dealer will select the red marker 30 that identifies the
house as being the winner and places the red marker 30 in the
marker location 30 and would immediately proceed to collect all of
the side bet wagers 22. If a green or yellow marker had been placed
in the marker location 20 the dealer in order to maintain the flow
of the game would reserve paying the side bets until the conclusion
of the game. At this point the dealer continues dealing the
Twenty-One game according to the conventional method of play. At
the end of the game the dealer would pay the player his side wager
first and then pay the player the normal winning or collection from
the Twenty-One game.
[0033] My invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred
embodiment thereof, which provides an improved playing card casino
game system of great novelty and utility. Various changes,
modifications, and alterations in the teachings of the present
invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without
departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is
intended that the present invention encompass such changes and
modifications.
* * * * *