U.S. patent application number 11/558392 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-15 for multi-hand blackjack game and related methods.
Invention is credited to Michael J. Mitchell, David B. Schultz, Christopher Sneddon.
Application Number | 20080113702 11/558392 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39410348 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080113702 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schultz; David B. ; et
al. |
May 15, 2008 |
Multi-Hand Blackjack Game and Related Methods
Abstract
Methods for playing a multi-hand blackjack game on a gaming
machine in a casino environment are disclosed herein. According to
one method, the gaming machine receives player input selecting the
number of player blackjack hands for play. Additionally, the gaming
machine receives player input selecting a wager amount. The
selected wager amount is the same for each of the selected
blackjack hands. The gaming machine then deals the selected number
of player blackjack hands and a dealer blackjack hand. The gaming
machine also receives player input for each of the selected number
of player blackjack hands to form a final hand, and a determination
is made to whether each of the final hands is a winning hand as
compared to the dealer blackjack hand.
Inventors: |
Schultz; David B.;
(Henderson, NV) ; Mitchell; Michael J.; (Las
Vegas, NV) ; Sneddon; Christopher; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPTOE & JOHNSON, LLP
2121 AVENUE OF THE STARS, SUITE 2800
LOS ANGELES
CA
90067
US
|
Family ID: |
39410348 |
Appl. No.: |
11/558392 |
Filed: |
November 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3216 20130101;
G07F 17/3293 20130101; G07F 17/3262 20130101; G07F 17/32
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/12 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method for playing a multi-hand blackjack game, the method
comprising: providing a gaming machine in a casino environment,
wherein the gaming machine presents multiple hands of blackjack for
play by a player; receiving player input selecting a number of
player blackjack hands for play; receiving player input selecting a
wager amount, wherein the selected wager amount is the same for
each of the selected number of player blackjack hands; dealing the
selected number of player blackjack hands and a dealer blackjack
hand; receiving player input for each of the selected number of
player blackjack hands to form a final hand; and determining
whether each of the final hands is a winning hand as compared to
the dealer blackjack hand.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating a bonus
game in response to a triggering event.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving player input selecting
the number of player blackjack hand further comprises receiving
player input selecting two to seven blackjack hands.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving player input to form
the final hand further comprises receiving player input to request
an additional card, stand, double down, split, or purchase
insurance.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein dealing the selected number of
player blackjack hands and the dealer blackjack hand further
comprises dealing the selected number of player blackjack hands and
the dealer blackjack hand from a single deck of cards.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising shuffling the single
deck of cards prior to dealing new player and dealer blackjack
hands after the determination of whether each of the final hands is
a winning hand as compared to the dealer blackjack hand.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising awarding the selected
wager amount to each of the selected number of blackjack hands if
there is not a sufficient number of cards to form the final hands
for all of the selected number of blackjack hands.
8. A method for playing a multi-hand blackjack game on a gaming
machine in a casino environment, the method comprising: providing a
gaming machine that presents a multi-hand blackjack game on a
widescreen game display, wherein the widescreen display is capable
of presenting at least two player hands of blackjack; receiving
player input selecting a number of player blackjack hands for play;
receiving player input selecting a wager amount, wherein the
selected wager amount is the same for each of the selected number
of player blackjack hands; dealing the selected number of player
blackjack hands and a dealer blackjack hand from a single deck of
cards; receiving player input for each of the selected number of
player blackjack hands to form a final hand for each of the
selected number of player blackjack hands; and determining whether
each of the final hand is a winning hand as compared to the dealer
hand.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising initiating a bonus
game in response to a triggering event.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising shuffling the single
deck of cards prior to dealing new blackjack hands after the
determination is made of whether each of the final hands is a
winning hand as compared to the dealer blackjack hand.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising awarding the selected
wager amount to each of the selected number of blackjack hands if
there is not a sufficient number of cards to form the final hands
for any of the selected number of blackjack hands or the dealer
hand.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving player input selecting
the number of player blackjack hand further comprises receiving
player input selecting two to seven blackjack hands for play
against the dealer hand.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving player input to form
the final hand further comprises receiving player input to request
an additional card, stand, double down, split, or purchase
insurance.
14. A method for playing a multi-hand blackjack game on a gaming
machine in a casino environment, the method comprising: providing a
gaming machine that presents a multi-hand blackjack game on a
widescreen game display, wherein the widescreen display is capable
of presenting seven player hands and a dealer hand; receiving
player input selecting a number of player hands ranging from two to
seven hands; receiving player input selecting a wager amount that
is applied to each of the player blackjack hands; dealing the
selected number of player hands and a dealer hand from a single
deck of cards; receiving player input for each of the selected
number of player blackjack hands to form a final hand for each of
the selected number of player blackjack hands; and evaluating
whether each final hand is a winning hand as compared to the dealer
hand.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising initiating a bonus
game in response to a triggering event.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising shuffling the single
deck of cards prior to dealing new blackjack hands after the
determination is made of whether each of the final hands is a
winning hand as compared to the dealer blackjack hand.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising awarding the
selected wager amount to each of the selected number of blackjack
hands if there is not a sufficient number of cards to form the
final hands for any of the selected number of blackjack hands or
the dealer hand.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving player input to form
the final hand further comprises receiving player input to request
an additional card, stand, double down, split, or purchase
insurance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/558,377, also filed Nov. 8, 2006, entitled
"Multi-Hand Blackjack Game and Related Systems."
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to gaming methods
and systems that offer a multi-hand blackjack game.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Blackjack is a popular casino table game due to the
simplicity of the game, speed of play, and small house advantage.
While this table game has been popular, electronic gaming machines,
such as slot machines and video poker machines, have surpassed
table games in popularity and revenue-generation for a casino.
Accordingly, the number of table games in a gaming establishment
has been reduced in order to allocate more space to gaming
machines. The limited supply of seats at blackjack tables has
resulted in higher minimum wagers that intimidate or otherwise
deter casino patrons from playing blackjack.
[0004] As a result, gaming machines presenting blackjack games have
been developed to fill this void. These blackjack games are
single-hand games that only allow a player to play one hand at a
time because the gaming machines were limited in terms of the size
of the game display. As shown in FIG. 1, traditional blackjack
gaming machines have CRT (cathode ray tube) displays 2 that are not
big enough to clearly display 4 more than one blackjack player hand
(and all potential split hands) playing against a dealer hand 6.
Additionally, larger CRT displays are difficult to securely mount
in a gaming machine and use too much space within a gaming cabinet.
Furthermore, in order for a gaming cabinet to accommodate a large
CRT display, the gaming cabinet would require a large footprint,
thereby decreasing the number of gaming machines that may be placed
on a casino floor and thereby reduce casino profitability.
[0005] Furthermore, traditional blackjack gaming machines only
allow a player to place one initial wager on the game. While the
denomination of the wager may be varied, there are constraints as
to the amount of the wager on each game. For example, the player
has to select a particular denomination (nickels, quarters, or
dollars) and the player is limited in the number of maximum credits
wagered per hand (e.g., five times the denomination unit). Because
a single game can only be played at a given time, the casino return
is limited. Stated differently, the player would need to play at a
fast pace in order to generate a profitable rate of return for the
casino. Furthermore, because players are limited to certain wager
amounts, the player's perceived return might be considered too
insubstantial to play the video blackjack game, thereby reducing
the likelihood that the game is played. Accordingly, what is needed
is a blackjack game machine that improves the profitability of a
video blackjack gaming machine while providing the excitement of a
live table blackjack game.
SUMMARY
[0006] Briefly, and in general terms, various embodiments are
directed to gaming machines and methods for playing a multi-hand
blackjack game. According to one method, the gaming machine
receives player input selecting the number of player blackjack
hands for play. Additionally, the gaming machine receives player
input selecting a wager amount. The selected wager amount is the
same for each of the selected blackjack hands. The gaming machine
then deals the selected number of player blackjack hands and a
dealer blackjack hand. The gaming machine also receives player
input for each of the selected number of player blackjack hands to
form a final hand, and a determination is made as to whether each
of the final hands is a winning hand as compared to the dealer
blackjack hand.
[0007] According to another method, the multi-hand blackjack game
having at least two player blackjack hands is presented on a
widescreen game display. The gaming machine receives player input
selecting the number of player blackjack hands for play.
Additionally, the gaming machine receives player input selecting a
wager amount. The selected wager amount is the same for each of the
selected blackjack hands. The gaming machine then deals the
selected number of player blackjack hands and a dealer blackjack
hand from a single deck of cards. The gaming machine also receives
player input for each of the selected number of player blackjack
hands to form a final hand, and a determination is made as to
whether each of the final hands is a winning hand as compared to
the dealer blackjack hand.
[0008] In yet another method, the multi-hand blackjack game
includes seven player hands of blackjack that are presented on a
widescreen game display. The gaming machine receives player input
selecting two to seven player hands for play. Additionally, the
gaming machine receives player input selecting a wager amount that
is applied to each of the player blackjack hands. The gaming
machine then deals the selected number of player blackjack hands
and a dealer blackjack hand from a single deck of cards. The gaming
machine also receives player input for each of the selected number
of player blackjack hands to form a final hand for each of the
selected number of player blackjack hands, and a determination is
made as to whether each of the final hands is a winning hand as
compared to the dealer blackjack hand.
[0009] Other features and advantages will become apparent from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example, the
features of the various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art gaming machine
having a 4:3 aspect ratio display.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gaming
machine presenting a multi-hand blackjack game.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for
operating a gaming machine presenting a multi-hand blackjack
game.
[0013] FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate the game screens for one embodiment
of the multi-hand blackjack game.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of one method of
presenting a multi-hand blackjack game.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of one method of
presenting a multi-hand blackjack game that includes a bonus
game.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system suitable for
implementing one embodiment of multi-hand blackjack game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Various embodiments are directed to electronic gaming
machines, gaming systems, and related methods directed to
presenting a multi-hand blackjack game. The multiple hand
(multi-hand) blackjack game allows a player to play at least two
hands against a dealer hand in one gaming machine. Furthermore, the
widescreen display of the gaming machine allows a player to view
all of the player hands and the dealer hand on a single display.
According to one embodiment, the multi-blackjack hand allows a
player to play up to seven hands of blackjack against the dealer
hand. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the number of
playable hands may be greater than seven.
[0018] According to one embodiment, the multi-hand blackjack game
is played with a single deck of playing cards having fifty-two
cards. After each game is played, the single deck is shuffled prior
to dealing a subsequent game. Because the game is played with a
single deck, the player wagers for each hand is equal in order to
maintain the house advantage. That is, if a player is able to
select varying wagers, the player may place small wagers on the
initial hands and larger wagers on the last hand in order to count
cards and swing the advantage in favor of the player. In the event
that the player has selected to play a maximum number of hands
(e.g., seven blackjack hands) and there is not a sufficient number
of remaining cards in the single deck to play a hand (either player
or dealer) or to determine whether one or more player hands is a
winning hand, each player hand will be a winning hand. In another
embodiment, the multi-hand blackjack game is played with multiple
decks.
[0019] In another embodiment of the multi-hand blackjack game, a
preselected triggering event initiates a secondary game. In yet
another embodiment, the preselected triggering event initiates a
bonus game. In yet another embodiment, the preselected triggering
event results in a progressive jackpot award.
[0020] Referring to the drawings, and specifically to FIGS. 2-4G,
there is shown one embodiment of a gaming device having a
multi-hand blackjack game. Specifically, the gaming device 100
includes a cabinet housing 120 that accommodates a game display 140
and a plurality of player-activated buttons 160. As shown in FIG.
2, the cabinet 120 is a self-standing unit that is generally
rectangular in shape. In other embodiments, the cabinet (not shown)
may be, without limitation, a table-top style cabinet, or a
slant-top cabinet. Any shaped gaming cabinet may be used with any
embodiment.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the cabinet 120 houses a widescreen
display 140 (i.e., 16:9 aspect ratio display) that presents a game
of chance such as a multi-blackjack game. In one embodiment, the
display 140 is a flat panel display including by way of example
only, and not by way of limitation, liquid crystal, plasma,
electroluminescent, vacuum fluorescent, field emission, LCOS
(liquid crystal on silicon), and SXRD (Silicon Xtal Reflective
display), or any other type of panel display known or developed in
the art. These flat panel displays may use panel technologies to
provide digital quality images including by way of example only,
and not by way of limitation, EDTV, HDTV, or DLP (Digital Light
Processing). The widescreen display 140 is able to accommodate the
maximum number of multiple blackjack hands that are available for
play. Furthermore, the widescreen display 140 may also display one
or more split hands for each of the maximum number of blackjack
hands without creating overly small card images that would be
difficult to see by the player.
[0022] According to one embodiment, the widescreen display 140 may
be mounted in the gaming cabinet 120 in a portrait or landscape
orientation. In another embodiment, the game display 140 may also
include a touch screen or touch glass system (not shown). The touch
screen system allows a player to input choices without using any
electromechanical buttons 160. Alternatively, the touch screen
system may be a supplement to the electromechanical buttons
160.
[0023] In alternate embodiments, the cabinet 120 may house a
widescreen display 140 in addition to one or more displays (not
shown). The additional displays may be used to display a pay table,
animation, top box artwork, progressive jackpot information,
advertising, help menus, or any game-related or general interest
information. The additional display may also present a secondary
game such as, but not limited to, mechanical slots, video slots,
video keno, video poker, video roulette, or Class II bingo. In
alternate embodiments, the additional display may present games of
skill or games of chance involving some player skill.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 100 includes a
plurality of player-activated buttons 160. These buttons 160 may be
used for various functions such as, but not limited to, selecting a
wager denomination, selecting a number of games to be played,
selecting the wager amount per game, initiating a game, or cashing
out money from the gaming machine 100. While the buttons 160 shown
in FIG. 2 are mechanical buttons, a touch screen system, touch pad,
track ball, mouse, switches, toggle switches, or other input means
may be used to accept player input.
[0025] In an alternate embodiment, a cellular phone or other input
device (e.g., PDA), separate and apart, from the gaming machine may
also be used to input various player choices and information to
enhance the player's interactive experience with the gaming
machine. Furthermore, inputting information via these devices
provides an added level of security as any key presses may be
hidden from view. In yet another embodiment, a player may call or
send a text message or a short message service (SMS) to the gaming
machine.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 100 includes a
cashless gaming system 180. The cashless gaming system 180 includes
a ticket printer and ticket reader that are provided on the gaming
machine 100. The ticket printer and ticket reader may be separate
or integral components. As shown in FIG. 2, the ticket reader and
the ticket printer have separate slots 202, 204 for receiving and
issuing tickets, respectively. Alternatively, the same slot (not
shown) may be used to insert and/or issue a ticket. In one
embodiment, the ticket reader (not shown) of the cashless gaming
system 180 is capable of accepting previously printed vouchers,
paper currency, promotional coupons, or the like. The ticket
printer (not shown) of the cashless gaming system 180 generates
vouchers having printed information that includes, but is not
limited to, the value of the voucher (i.e., cash-out amount) and a
barcode that identifies the voucher.
[0027] Additionally, in another embodiment, the gaming machine 100
is in communication with a player tracking system 210. The player
tracking system 210 allows a casino to monitor the gaming
activities of various players. Additionally, the player tracking
system 210 is able to store data relating to a player's gaming
habits. That is, a player can accrue player points that depend upon
the amount and frequency of their wagers. Casinos can use these
player points to compensate the loyal patronage of players. For
example, casinos may award or "comp" a player free meals, room
accommodations, tickets to shows, and invitations to casino events
and promotional affairs.
[0028] Typically, the player tracking system 210 is operatively
connected to one or more input components on the gaming machine
100. These input components include, but are not limited to, a slot
for receiving a player tracking card, a keypad or equivalent, an
electronic button receptor, a touch screen and the like. The player
tracking system 210 may also include a database of all qualified
players (i.e., those players who have enrolled in a player rating
or point accruing program). Generally, the database for the player
tracking system 210 is separate from the gaming machines 100.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an operating system 220
suitable for operating the gaming device 100. According to one
embodiment, the operating system includes a central processing unit
(CPU) 230 that executes a game program 240 that causes the video
display screen 140 to display a base game (e.g., multi-hand
blackjack game) that includes an initial set of two simulated
cards. According to one embodiment, a currency acceptor 260 signals
the CPU 230 when a player has inserted a form of currency such as,
for example and without limitation, paper currency, coins or
tokens, cashless tickets or vouchers, electronic funds transfers,
or the like. The player controls the operation of the gaming device
100 (e.g., selecting the number of hands to play, wager amount, or
game play actions) via electromechanical buttons 160 or touchscreen
buttons (not shown). The multi-hand blackjack game starts in
response to the player further pulling a lever or pushing one of
buttons 160. A random number generator 270 responds to instructions
from the CPU 230 to provide a randomly shuffled deck or shoe from
which cards are dealt. The CPU 230 deals cards that are displayed
on video display screen 140. In response to instructions from the
CPU 230, any winning hand is paid according to the rules of the
game and is provided to the player in the form of coins or credits
by payout mechanism 280.
[0030] In various embodiments, the game program 240 may be stored
in a memory (not shown) comprising a read only memory (ROM),
volatile or non-volatile random access memory (RAM), a hard drive
or flash memory device or any of several alternative types of
single or multiple memory devices or structures.
[0031] It should be appreciated that not all gaming devices 100
will have all these components and may have other components in
addition to, or in lieu of, those components mentioned here.
Furthermore, while these components are viewed and described
separately, various components may be integrated into a single unit
in some embodiments.
[0032] Turning now to FIG. 4A, a screenshot of a multi-hand
blackjack game is shown on the widescreen video display 140. As
shown in the screenshot of FIG. 4A, the video display 140 presents
a plan view of a blackjack table having seven simulated player hand
positions 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 307, 307 and a dealer hand
position 308. As those skilled in the art appreciate, the
multi-hand blackjack game may have two or more simulated hand
positions. This screenshot simulates the view of a traditional
table blackjack game. In an alternate embodiment, the screenshot
may be a two-dimensional or three-dimensional view of a blackjack
table and a plurality of player hand positions. Furthermore, a
video image of a dealer may be shown to simulate the dealing and
game play of the blackjack game.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 4A, the display 140 also presents a credit
meter 310 that presents the player's current credit balance (i.e.,
remaining credits for play or redemption). According to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the display 140 has an optional meter
that displays the last amount of the last winning outcome. In other
embodiments, additional meters 320 may be presented on the display
screen that contain information such as the number of credits
awarded to the player per game.
[0034] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, the SEE PAYS
button 330 accesses a pay table (not shown) that displays the
payout for winning outcomes of the blackjack game. Alternatively, a
help button 340 may be activated to access the pay table. Once the
SEE PAYS button 330 or the help button 340 is activated, the pay
table may be presented on the main display screen 140.
Alternatively, the pay table is presented on a secondary video
display (not shown). In another embodiment, the pay table is
printed on a display (e.g., by silk screening) that is attached to
the gaming device (e.g., a "pay glass.") The pay table information
may be presented in terms of odds (e.g., "Blackjack pays 3 to 2")
or relative to a single-coin wager (e.g., "Blackjack pays 2
coins"). Alternatively, some video representations of pay tables
may factor in the amount of the player's wager and no additional
award adjustment is required by the player to determine the size of
a win.
[0035] According to one embodiment, the player selects the active
player hand positions by touching the corresponding player hand
position 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 on the touchscreen or
touch glass. In another embodiment, the player selects the desired
number of hands and the CPU 230 automatically selects the hand
positions moving from right-to-left or vice versa. As shown in FIG.
4A, the player is able to select the wager for the selected using
touch screen selection buttons 350 that correspond to incremental
bets of one credit or a maximum wager. In other embodiments, the
player may select the wager for a hand using electromechanical
buttons, a toggle switch, or any means of receiving player input.
According to one embodiment of the multi-hand blackjack game, the
wager selected by the player is applied to each and every active
blackjack hand. Stated differently, the wager for each active hand
is the same in order to maintain the house advantage for the
game.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4A, the display screen 140 also provides a
REBET/DEAL button 360 that allows a player to initiate game play.
Alternatively, corresponding buttons 160 on the gaming device
control panel (FIG. 2) may be used in conjunction with or in lieu
of the touchscreen buttons 350 to perform any of the actions
described herein.
[0037] The multi-hand blackjack game may be played according to the
set of rules provided in Table 1, which are meant to be exemplary
and not intended to be limiting. For example, in another
embodiment, the multi-hand blackjack game is dealt from multiple
52-card decks (e.g., 7 decks). Alternatively, Blackjack may pay 3:2
rather than 2:1. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate
that one or more of the rules of the blackjack game may be altered
to adjust the house or player advantage.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Game is dealt from a single 52-card deck
Player may play 1 to 7 hands per Game Dealer stands on all 17's
Blackjack pays 2:1 Insurance pays 3:1 Player may double down on 10
or 11 only Player may split any pair up to 4 times Aces may be
split up to 4 times, but with only one hit per Ace
[0038] With reference to the screenshot in FIG. 4B, the player has
elected to play seven hands. According to one embodiment, the
active hands are represented by identifiers 370 that note the
position (e.g., HAND 1, HAND 2, HAND 3, etc.) of the selected hand.
The identifier 370 is presented when the hand position is activated
and is presented adjacent to the player position. As shown in FIG.
4B, a bet indicator 380 represents the amount wagered on each hand.
In another embodiment, active hand positions are denoted by an
outline of a card or hand position. In yet another embodiment,
changing the color of the identifiers 370 represents the active
hand positions. Alternatively, an icon or symbol (not shown) may
represent that a hand position 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307 is
activated. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the
multi-hand blackjack game may use any means of signifying an active
hand position.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 4B, bet indicators 380 are associated with
each active hand and display the number of credits wagered for that
hand. In one embodiment, bet indicators 380 are represented by an
image of gambling chips that correspond to the player's wager.
Different denominations of chips may be represented by different
colors or by any other indicia. As shown in FIG. 4B, the bet
indicators 380 show that ten credits (wherein each credit is worth
$0.01) have been wagered on each hand. As those skilled in the art
will appreciate, any type of bet indicator may be used to represent
the player's wager amount.
[0040] FIG. 4C is screenshot representation of cards 390 having
been dealt to each of the active player hand positions 301, 302,
303, 304, 305, 306, 307 and the dealer hand position 400. As shown
in FIG. 4C, the highest possible total for the value of the face-up
cards in each of the active player hand positions 301, 302, 303,
304, 305, 306, 307 is reflected by a player card total box on the
display 410. According to one embodiment, the dealer's highest
value of the face-up-card total is reflected in the dealer card
total box 420. For example, the dealer's Ace card may be counted as
either 1 or 11, but the highest total value (i.e., 11) is shown in
the dealer card total box 420. Similarly, the card total for the
third active player hand 303 may be either 3 or 13 (depending on
whether the Ace is counted as having a value of one or eleven), but
the value shown in the card total player card total box 410 is
highest possible total value (i.e., thirteen). In an alternate
embodiment, the player card total box 410 may alternate between the
two possible card totals (i.e., 3 or 13). The final total
evaluation of each hand will always use the highest possible total
for comparison between the player's hand and the dealer's hand.
[0041] In the example shown in FIG. 4C, the multi-hand blackjack
game offers an insurance option with message 430 because the
dealer's face-up card is an Ace. If the gaming machine 100 includes
a touch screen, the player may touch the cards or areas of the
screen near any hand he wishes to insure. Alternatively, the player
may select those hands to insure via controls such as, but not
limited to, a mouse, trackball or the like may also be used in lieu
of a touchscreen. As shown in FIG. 4C, the player has elected to
insure HAND 7. If the dealer has "Blackjack," the player will only
lose the initial wager on HAND 7 but will win a matching pay-off on
the insurance wager. Alternatively, if the dealer does not have
"Blackjack," the player will lose the insurance wager but not the
initial wager.
[0042] Turning now to FIG. 4D, the game actions available to the
player are shown at the bottom of the display 140. The player is
able to "hit" (i.e., draw another card), "stand" (i.e., refuse to
draw another card), "double down" (i.e., double the player's
initial wager and only drawing one card), or "split" the hand
(i.e., match the initial wager and divide the initial hand into two
hands for play). As shown in FIG. 4D, the player has hit the first
hand 440 (i.e., drawn an additional card 450). The total value 410
has exceed 21 (i.e., total hand value is 25) and the player has
lost and has a "bust" hand. Accordingly, an indicator, symbol, or
icon (e.g., term `bust") 460 is shown on or around the hand 440
that has busted.
[0043] FIG. 4E is a screen shot illustrating that game play has
moved from HAND 1 to HAND 2 by displaying an arrow 470 between the
first and second hands. The arrow 470 is shown for illustrative
purposes and is not a component of the game. However, the arrow 470
may be displayed in the help menu or in a demonstration mode. In
some embodiment of the multi-hand blackjack game, the arrow 470 may
be a component of the game. In another embodiment, a halo or ring
(not shown) may flash around the active hand. As shown in FIG. 4E,
the player has elected to stand. Once the player has selected a
game play action (e.g., stand in HAND 2), the player's elected
action is displayed on or around the active hand.
[0044] FIG. 4F illustrates the game flow of the multi-hand
blackjack game. As shown, the game moves from hand-to-hand in a
clockwise manner. That is, the game moves in the direction of the
arrows 470. As shown in FIG. 4F, the player has elected to draw an
additional card and then stand on HAND 3 with a card total of 18.
With respect to HAND 4, the player has hit two times (i.e., drawn
two additional cards) and then elected to stand with a card total
of 19. Turning now to HAND 5, the player has elected to stand
without drawing any additional cards thereby having a card total of
19. Game play then turns to HAND 6 where the player has elected to
stand with a card total of 18. For HAND 7, the player has pressed
the DOUBLE DOWN button 480 and thereby electing to receive only one
additional card in exchange for the opportunity to double the
initial wager of 10 credits to 20 credits. As shown in FIG. 4F, the
player's elected action (i.e. doubling down) is displayed on or
around the active hand with the indicator "Double."
[0045] FIG. 4G illustrates the dealer hand 480 being played by the
CPU 230. That is, the dealer 480 hand is played after the active
player hands have been played. Once the player has finished playing
all the active hands, the dealer's hole card 490 (i.e., the card
that is face down) is revealed to give the dealer a total hand of
20. Accordingly, the active player hands 301, 302, 303, 304, 305,
306, 307 are compared to the dealer hand 480. A player card total
greater than the dealer hand total is a win, and a player card
total less than the dealer hand total is a losing hand. If a player
card total is the same as the dealer hand total, the player hand
"pushes" (i.e., ties) and no win or loss occurs for this player
hand. Accordingly, reviewing the player hands in FIG. 4G, the
player lost HAND 1 because the player's card total exceeded the
maximum of 21. With respect to HAND 2, the player has pushed (i.e.,
both the player and dealer hands total 20). With respect to HANDS
3, 4, 5, and 6, the player has lost since they player card totals
(18, 19, 19, and 18, respectively) are less than the dealer card
total of 20. HAND 7, with a total of 21, is a winning hand and pays
20 credits, as shown by pay indicator 500. As shown in FIG. 4G, the
total of all winning hands is also reflected on the win paid meter
510.
[0046] Turning now to FIG. 5, a logical flow diagram generally
depicting the acts associated with operating a multi-hand blackjack
game. At block 600, game play is initialized when the player
inserts credit into the gaming machine. The credit may be in the
form of currency (paper or coin), account credits, promotional
credits, debit cards, credit cards, or the like. At block 610, the
CPU 230 receives player input from the touchscreen or player
activated controls, and the CPU 230 determines the number of hands
the player has selected to play and the player's selected wager
amount. The player's selected wager is then applied uniformly to
all of the active hands. That is, the player is not allowed to vary
the wager for each of the active hands.
[0047] At block 620, a first card is dealt face-up to each active
hand positions, and the dealer card is dealt face-down. A second
card is then dealt face-up to each active hand position. Then, the
dealer card is dealt face-up. In another embodiment, the player
cards are dealt face down and then revealed as each hand is
played.
[0048] After the active player hands and the dealer hand have been
dealt, the CPU 230 determines if the dealer's face-up card is an
Ace at block 620. If the face-up dealer card is an Ace, the player
is provided with the opportunity to buy insurance for one or more
of the player's hands at block 630. In an alternate embodiment, at
block 620, the CPU 230 determines if the dealer's face-up card has
a value of 10 (i.e., 10 or face card). If so, the player is
provided with the opportunity to buy insurance at block 640. If the
CPU 230 does not receive player input electing to buy insurance,
the game continues at block 650, where the CPU 230 processes player
input regarding game play (i.e., player makes optional hit, double
or split decisions until the hand total busts or the player decides
to stand).
[0049] At block 660, the CPU 230 determines whether there are
additional hands to be played. If the player has wagered on more
than one hand, game play at block 650 continues. If there are no
remaining player hands to play, game play moves to block 670 where
the dealer hand is played.
[0050] At block 670, the dealer's face-down card is revealed. If
insurance was offered in block 640, insurance wins and losses are
resolved for each hand on which an insurance wager was made based
on whether the dealer's hand is a blackjack (i.e., an Ace combined
with a 10 or a face card). According to the rules of the multi-hand
blackjack game, the dealer hits or stands based upon the card total
of the dealer's hand. For example, in one embodiment, a dealer hand
may be required to stay on all hands totaling 17 or more. In
another embodiment, a dealer hand may be forced to hit "soft 17,"
(i.e., a hand comprised of an Ace and a 6, the combined value of
which is 17 when the Ace is treated as an 11).
[0051] Once a total has been established for the dealer's hand, the
dealer's hand total is compared to each of the non-busted player
hands at block 680. If the dealer's hand total exceeds the total
for a particular player hand, the player's hand is lost and no
credits are awarded. If the dealer's hand and a particular player
hand tie, credits equal to the original wager are returned to the
player in a "push." If the dealer's hand total is less than the
player hand total, the player is awarded a win according to the pay
table. For example, if the dealer hand total is 19 and the player
hand total is 20, the player is awarded credits equal to the
original wager plus another equal sized award for the win. In the
case of a player hand that resulted in a blackjack (an Ace and a 10
or face card), the player is commonly awarded the base win plus a
premium. Any credits paid for the various hands are awarded to the
player by, typically, but not limited to, incrementing the gaming
machine's credit meter by the amount paid and play resumes at block
610. In the event that the dealer hand has busted, all active
player hands that have not busted are winning hands.
[0052] In the event that the dealer hand or any player hand cannot
be completed (e.g., single deck game and all 52 cards have been
used), all the player hands are deemed winning hands and the credit
meter is incremented accordingly. For a single deck, multi-hand
blackjack game, once the player's active hands are evaluated
against the dealer hand, the single 52-card deck is shuffled for
the next game. For a multiple deck game, the decks may be
reshuffled after every game or the deck is shuffled after a certain
number of cards have been played. As those skilled in the art will
appreciate, the order of actions as shown in FIG. 5 are merely
illustrative and not meant to be considered limiting.
[0053] FIG. 6 illustrates a logical flow diagram for managing a
multi-hand blackjack game having a bonus game. The logical flow
diagram of FIG. 6 is similar to that of FIG. 5 except that after
all the hands of the multi-blackjack game have been played, the CPU
230 determines whether a triggering event has been established at
block 690. The triggering event is a condition that needs to be
satisfied in order to initiate a bonus game at block 695. The
triggering event may be a particular game outcome such as, but not
limited to, a blackjack hand consisting of an Ace and any suit of a
Jack. Alternatively, the triggering event may be winning all active
hands (e.g., all seven hands of blackjack). In yet another
embodiment, the triggering event may be winning a hand against the
dealer where the player has "hit" at least 4 times. In another
embodiment, the triggering event is a particular "poker" hand based
upon the blackjack hand. For example, if the player's blackjack
hand consists of a pair of Jacks or better (e.g., three-of-a-kind,
straight, or flush), this will trigger the bonus game. As those
skilled in the art will appreciate, the triggering event does not
have to be a winning blackjack hand but any possible game outcome
may trigger the bonus game.
[0054] Additionally, triggering events may be based upon player
activity/actions. For example, the triggering event may be based
upon player performance such as, but not limited to, inserting a
player tracking card into the gaming machine, time of play, rate of
play (i.e., number of games player in a particular period of time),
number of maximum bets, number of player points earned, or a
combination thereof. In another embodiment, a random player
performance characteristic may be selected to be the triggering
event. For example, a bonus game is triggered when a player has
played the multi-hand blackjack game for 30 consecutive minutes. As
those skilled in the art will appreciate, one or more of the
triggering events may be required to initiate a bonus game.
[0055] In another embodiment, the gaming machine presenting a
multi-hand blackjack game may include a progressive jackpot. In
this embodiment, if a player achieves a predetermined game outcome
or triggering event, the player may be entitled to a portion of or
the entire progressive jackpot. For example, if the player elects
to play the maximum number of hands with maximum wagers and the
player receives a blackjack on all of the hands, the player wins
the entire progressive jackpot amount. As those skilled in the art
will appreciate, any combination of winning outcomes may entitle
the player to a portion of or all of the progressive jackpot.
[0056] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a gaming system 700
allows a multi-hand blackjack game to be played in a particular
area of a casino (e.g., a carousel) or across one or more casinos
located in geographically separate areas through cooperative or
competitive play under the control of a system server 710. For
example, the players at various betting positions on the displayed
blackjack table may reside at more than one gaming machine. The
type of server 710 used is generally determined by the platform and
software requirements of the gaming system 700. Examples of
suitable servers are an IBM RS6000-based server, an IBM
AS/400-based server or a Microsoft Windows.RTM.-based server, but
it should be appreciated that may suitable server may be used.
Additionally, the system server 710 may be configured as a
"logical" server that comprises multiple physical servers. The
gaming machines 100 illustrated in FIG. 7 act as terminals for
interacting with a player playing a casino game. Networking
components facilitate communications between the system server 710
and game management units 720 and/or gaming display control
computers 730 that control displays for carousels of gaming
machines 100 across a network 740. Game management units (GMU's)
720 connect gaming machines to networking components and may be
installed in the gaming machine cabinet or external to the gaming
machine 100. The function of the GMU 720 is similar to the function
of a network interface card connected to a desktop personal
computer (PC). Some GMU's 720 have much greater capability and can
perform such tasks as presenting and playing a blackjack game using
a display 750 operatively connected to the GMU 720. Displays
related to blackjack games being played on gaming machines 100 or
GMU displays 750 may also be presented on gaming displays 760 by
gaming display control computer 730. In one embodiment, the GMU 720
is a separate component located outside the gaming machine 100.
Alternatively, in another embodiment, the GMU 720 is located within
the gaming machine. Optionally, in an alternative embodiment, one
or more gaming machines 100 connect directly to a network and are
not connected to a GMU 720.
[0057] Of course, one will appreciate that a gaming system 700 may
also comprise other components, and the above illustrations are
meant only as examples and not as limitations to the types of
components or games used in a casino gaming system having a
multi-hand blackjack element.
[0058] The various embodiments described above are provided by way
of illustration only should not be construed to limit the claimed
invention. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various
modifications and changes that may be made to the claimed invention
without following the example embodiments and applications
illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the
true spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth
in the following claims.
* * * * *