U.S. patent application number 12/449382 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-16 for blackjack game with innovative bonus wager.
Invention is credited to Michael A. Kirkutis.
Application Number | 20100317421 12/449382 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39682312 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100317421 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kirkutis; Michael A. |
December 16, 2010 |
BLACKJACK GAME WITH INNOVATIVE BONUS WAGER
Abstract
This invention presents methods for playing live and electronic
Blackjack-style games with an optional side wager incorporating a
bonus or Jackpot feature. The essence of the instant invention is
the making of a side bet in the game of Blackjack where the player
making the side bet is wagering that he or she will be dealt
combinations of Aces and Face Cards where Face Cards are defined as
Kings, Queens, and Jacks. Additional payouts can be achieved by
receiving and splitting Aces. Further payouts can be achieved by
obtaining splits that are suited, of the same color, or matched.
This invention presents the opportunity for a unique combination of
significant payouts for the player, increased revenue for the
casino, and relative simplicity while retaining the basic nature of
Blackjack.
Inventors: |
Kirkutis; Michael A.; (West
Hartford, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RICHARD L. BIGELOW
203 TREMONT STREET
NEWINGTON
CT
06111
US
|
Family ID: |
39682312 |
Appl. No.: |
12/449382 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
February 6, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US2008/001580 |
371 Date: |
August 5, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60889269 |
Feb 10, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/003 20130101;
A63F 3/00157 20130101; G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/12 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a computerized or live card game with a
dealer, at least one player, and two or more standard decks of
cards comprising of the steps of: a. a player placing a bet for a
standard 21 or blackjack game wherein Aces are allowed to be split
only once, b. the same player as in (a) above placing an additional
side bet with the goal of being dealt combinations of Aces and/or
Face cards (Kings, Queens, or Jacks) in the first two cards, c. if
the player in (b) is dealt two Face cards or an Ace and a Face
card, the casino pays off according to a pre-established scheme for
achieving those cards in the first two cards, d. if two Aces are
dealt to the player in (b), the player spits those two Aces into
two separate hands, and then is dealt an additional hit card for
each of the two split hands and continues playing 21 or blackjack
in each of two separate hands, e. if Face cards (Kings, Queens, or
Jacks) are dealt to the player in (d) above, the casino pays off
according to a pre-established scheme for the final hands that are
created by the split of the initial two Aces.
2. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
1 where the Face cards are identical.
3. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
1 where the Aces are of the same suit.
4. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
1 where the Face cards received as the hit cards on split Aces are
of the same suit.
5. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
1 where the Suited Aces and Suited Face hit cards on the split Aces
are of the same suit.
6. A method of playing a computerized or live card game with a
dealer, at least one player, and four or more standard decks of
cards comprising of the steps of: a. a player placing a bet for a
standard 21 or blackjack game wherein Aces are allowed to be split
two or more times, b. the same player as in (a) above placing an
additional side bet with the goal of being dealt combinations of
Aces and/or Face cards in the first two cards, c. if the player in
(b) is dealt two Face cards or and Ace and a Face card, the casino
pays off according to a pre-established scheme for achieving those
cards in the first two cards, d. if two Aces are dealt to the
player in (b), the player spits those two Aces into two separate
hands, and then is dealt an additional hit card for each of the two
split hands and continues playing 21 or blackjack in each of two
separate hands, e. if additional Aces are dealt to the player in
(d) above, the player splits the hand with the additional Aces
(split 2 and further split 3) and continues playing 21 or blackjack
with the goal of being dealt Face hit cards on the split Aces. f.
if Face cards (jacks, queens or kings) are dealt to the player in
(d) and/or (e) above, the casino pays off according to a
pre-established scheme for the final hands that are created by the
split of the initial two Aces and possible re-split of additional
Aces.
7. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
6 where the Face cards are identical.
8. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
6 where the Aces are of the same suit.
9. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in claim
6 where the Face cards received as the hit cards on split Aces are
of the same suit.
10. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in
claim 6 where the Suited Aces and Suited Face hit cards on the
split Aces are of the same suit.
11. A method of playing a computerized or live card game with a
dealer, at least one player, and two or more standard decks of
cards comprising of the steps of: a. a player placing a bet for a
non-standard 21 or blackjack game wherein Aces are allowed to be
split one or more times, b. the same player as in (a) above placing
an additional side bet with the goal of being dealt combinations of
Aces and/or Face cards (Kings, Queens, Jacks) in the first two
cards, c. if the player in (b) is dealt two Face cards or an Ace
and a Face card, the casino pays off according to a pre-established
scheme for achieving those cards in the first two cards, d. if two
Aces are dealt to the player in (b), the player spits those two
Aces into two separate hands, and then is dealt an additional hit
card for each of the two split hands and continues playing 21 or
blackjack in each of two separate hands, e. if Face cards (Kings,
Queens, or Jacks) are dealt to the player in (d) above, the casino
pays off according to a pre-established scheme for the final hands
that are created by the split of the initial two Aces.
12. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in
claim 11 where the Face cards are identical.
13. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in
claim 11 where the Aces are of the same suit.
14. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in
claim 11 where the Face cards received as the hit cards on split
Aces are of the same suit.
15. A method of playing a computerized or live card game as in
claim 11 where the Suited Aces and Suited Face hit cards on the
split Aces are of the same suit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] None
FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT
[0002] None
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention relates to Blackjack-style games and more
particularly to methods for playing live and electronic
Blackjack-style games with an optional bonus wager incorporating a
bonus or Jackpot feature.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The prior art reveals a multitude of live and electronic
casino card games wherein one or more players are dealt or assemble
hands of cards and compete against a hand representing a dealer's
hand. One of the most common and popular of such casino card games
is the game of Blackjack, which is also referred to as "21." In the
card game of Blackjack, each player makes a wager and the dealer
deals two cards to each player to define an initial holding and two
cards to himself defining a dealer's initial holding. The cards may
be dealt from a single, standard deck of fifty-two playing cards,
or from a "shoe" containing multiple decks of cards. The cards to
the player(s) may be dealt Face up or Face down. For the dealer, in
the traditional game, one of the dealer's cards in his initial
holding is turned Face up, which is often referred to as the "up"
card, and the other card is dealt Face down, which is often
referred to as the "hole" card. In the traditional game of
Blackjack, the cards have the following arithmetic value:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Card Value Ace 1 or 11 (at player's option)
King 10 Queen 10 Jack 10 2-10 card Face value
[0005] Each player, in turn, has the opportunity to complete his or
her hand in a manner well known in the prior art. The object of the
game is for the player to assemble a final hand which (1) has a
higher numerical count value than the dealer's final hand without
the value exceeding a predetermined target value which, in
traditional Blackjack, is 21. In this regard each player may
generally exercise the following options:
1. Receiving no additional cards (i.e. "stand") thereby making the
value of the initial holding the player's final holding; 2. Being
dealt additional cards (taking "hits") in order to attempt to
achieve or come close to the predetermined target value but at the
same time not exceeding the predetermined target value; 3. Doubling
the value of his or her initial wager (i.e. "doubling down") in
accordance with the casino's rules; 4. Splitting card pairs of the
initial holding into two hands and playing each hand separately; 5.
Stopping play of his or her hand (i.e. "surrendering") and giving
up half their wager as permitted and governed by casino rules;
and/or. 6. Taking insurance by wagering an amount equal to their
game wager and if the dealer has a "Blackjack" or "natural"
(initial holding composed of an Ace and a Ten-value card), the
player wins 2:1 and therefore, basically, does not win or lose.
[0006] Once all the players have completed their hands, the dealer
does so as well by taking hits or standing according to the house
rules. A variation included in those rules is that the dealer may
be required to stand on a "soft 17" (i.e., a hand numerical count
of 17 including an Ace which counts as a 1 or an 11). Other rules
require the dealer to hit a soft 17.
[0007] If a player exceeds the target value of "21", he or she
loses the wager regardless of whether the dealer also exceeds the
target value. This is so because the players complete their hands
first. If the player's hand does not exceed the target value and
(1) his hand has a value exceeding the dealer or (2) the dealer
exceeds the target value, the player wins and is paid 1:1 on his or
her game wager. If the dealer does not exceed the target value and
his hand has a greater value than the player's final hand, the
player loses his or her wager. If the player's and the dealer's
final hand values are the same, it is a tie (or "push") and the
player neither wins nor loses.
[0008] The prior art also reveals computerized games wherein the
computer generally assumes the role of the dealer and competes
against a player or players. The prior art also reveals hand held,
electronic Blackjack.
[0009] The rules of traditional Blackjack are somewhat limiting in
that the most a player can win is a 3:2 award (i.e. 150% of
original wager) which occurs when the player has a natural (i.e.
Ace and a ten value card) and the dealer does not have a natural.
Therefore, several variations of traditional Blackjack have been
developed whereby the potential payouts for players have been
increased (thereby making the games more attractive to players)
while at the same time increasing potential revenue for the
casino.
[0010] For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,845,981 to Ko, a method for
playing Blackjack with a side wager is disclosed. The player wins
or loses based upon (1) the dealer's hand exceeding the target
value and (2) various parameters involving the dealer's hand and/or
the player's hand.
[0011] Another example is shown in Griffiths, U.S. Pat. No.
5,174,579. In Griffiths, there is disclosed a Blackjack side wager
"21 or over". The player making this side wager is betting that the
dealer will either "bust" (i.e. exceed the value of 21) or achieve
exactly a hand count of 21 with 3 or more cards. When the dealer
has either busted or achieved an exact hand count of 21, the player
is paid according to predetermined odds of 1:1, 3:2 or 2:1. A
significant drawback to this wager is the low payoff odds which
limit the attractiveness of the game to the player.
[0012] There are many Blackjack side wagers that pay much higher
payoffs. One such game is known as Lucky Ladies where the top
payoff odds are 1000:1 if the player has a hand of a pair of Queens
of hearts and the dealer has blackjack. Thus "21 or over" won't be
enticing or exciting enough for the players. The reason "21 or
over" cannot pay odds more than 2:1 is that its hit frequency
(probability of the occurrence during play) of 36% is too high. In
a "Blackjack game dealt from 6 decks with the "dealer hits a soft
17" rule, a dealer will bust 28.58% of his hands and achieve a
count of 21 7.49% of the time. Since the odds are only 1.78:1
against winning a bet with a hit frequency of 36%, there is no way
the casino can pay odds higher than 1.78:1, and even with a dealer
hand count of 21 being a push, 2.24:1 would be the highest odds the
casino can pay without incurring a loss.
[0013] Another example is shown in Keller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,575,
where several side wagers are disclosed, one of which allows the
player to bet that the dealer will go bust. When the dealer busts,
the player is paid at 5:2 (i.e., 2.5:1) odds. Again, like "21 or
over", the payoff odds for the side wager are unattractive.
Furthermore, since the odds against the dealer going bust are only
2.499:1, the casino won't have an advantage if the side wager is
paid 2.5:1. Thus the casino would not have a profit motive for
hosting a game with such a side wager.
[0014] In Forte, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,998, there is disclosed a side
wager that rewards the player if the number of consecutive dealer
bust hands has exceeded a predetermined dealer bust event threshold
of 5. The drawback to such a wager is that it not only requires
additional equipment such as electronic displays and counters to
tally the dealer bust event for every player, but once the dealer
starts to bust, the player has to stay and continue to play until
the dealer either stops busting or reaches the predetermined
threshold. Hence side wagers that cannot be resolved in one single
hand or round of play require more supervision and cause
inconveniences for the players. Further, because new players may
enter the game during the dealer busting sequence, maintaining the
tally for each player is difficult and likely to lead to
disputes.
[0015] In Vancura, U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,917, there is disclosed a
side wager for the player to make in addition to his or her base
game wager in Blackjack. One embodiment describes the player as
making a side wager based upon the number of "hits" the player will
take in completing his or her hand. Players are paid for their side
wager according to one of several suggested pay tables. One
drawback to this game embodiment is that the side wager is either
fixed, a percentage of the base wager, or confined within strict
limits to counteract the effect of an advantage obtained by
professional card counters. When the outcome of a side wager
depends on the base wager or is confined within limits determined
by the possible effects of card counting in a game where skill can
impact the frequency and amount won such as Blackjack, most players
will, with respect to the side wager, lose a disproportionate
amount of the time. The strategy for this side wager will
presumably comprise a set of 2- to N-card strategies, where N
equals the maximum winning number of successful hits minus 1 and
each multi-card strategy is a matrix composed of "hit or stand"
rules based on the player's current hand total of 12 through 20
versus the Ten dealer up cards for a total of 90 rules times
(N.times.2)!
[0016] Furthermore, since the base wager and the side wager are
paid at different odds, the optimal strategy will vary with the
ratio of the base wager to the side wager, thereby necessitating
memorizing many more strategy deviations if the player wants to
vary their wager size, which they often do. Thus the size of the
side wager had better be a fixed amount or fraction of the base
wager as stated in his claims 20 to 23.
[0017] Another embodiment described in Vancura is that the player
may make one or more side wagers where he or she is attempting to
predict the exact number of hits the dealer or player will take. If
the player incorrectly predicts the exact number, e.g., the player
wagers on two hits and the dealer only takes no hits, one hit or
three or more hits, the player loses their side wager. There are
several drawbacks to this side wager. First, the player must
accurately and precisely predict the number of the dealer hits. If
he does not so predict, the player loses their side wager. Second,
the outcome of the side wager is also dependent upon the player
hand. For the side wager where the player is predicting the number
of dealer hits, exact prediction is required for the player to win
their side wager. For the side wager on the number of player hits
there is disclosed an "over" wager, i.e. three or more hits.
Second, the outcome of the side wager is also dependent upon the
player hand. Also, according to certain disclosed embodiments, if
the player receives a natural Blackjack, the side wager is a push.
This means the player will not have a chance to win the bet an
additional 4.7% of the time (the statistical frequency of player
Blackjack(s)). Also, the side wager either pushes or loses if the
player exercises one of such options as surrender, double down and
splitting. This further deprives the player of their chances to win
the side wager an additional 12% of the time. The requirement to
precisely predict the dealer's hits and the dependency of the
outcome of the side wager on the player hand reduce the frequency
that the player will win their side wager. If players do win or see
other side wagers won relatively frequently, they may abandon the
game or at least the side wager. Further, since precise prediction
is required for side wagers based on the dealer's hand, players may
become frustrated by infrequent wins of the side wager. As for
wagers on the player's hand, often the player will be put into a
situation where they must choose between winning their base wager
and trying to win their side wager. This creates a stressful
situation which may cause casual players to shun the side wager
altogether. It is further noted that limiting the side the side
wager to 1/5 of the base game wager not only reduces both the
excitement and betting action for the player and the revenue for
the casino, but it also creates difficulties in calculating the
exact bet amount for the player and in calculating and making the
payment for the dealer as well when the bet amount is not a
multiple of 5. Imagine a player making a base wager of $17.
[0018] Another Blackjack-style game is known as "Spanish 21" as
revealed in the Lofink U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,888 where all the "10s"
are removed from the deck. The game plays like standard or normal
blackjack although the odds are slightly worse for the player due
to the removal of the 10s.
[0019] Yet another Blackjack-style game is known as "No Bust 21" or
"21.sup.st Century Blackjack" where no hands can "bust." If the
player hand goes over 21, instead of losing their wager immediately
as in traditional Blackjack, the player's wager remains in effect
until the dealer plays out his hand. Unless the dealer's hand also
goes over 21 and is closer to 21 than is the player hand, the
player won't lose the wager.
[0020] Some Blackjack-style games have been adopted and played
which provide for a side ("bonus") wager that (1) the dealer will
have a Blackjack, (2) the dealer's hand will have a certain
combination of cards such as suited Queens, or (3) the dealer will
take a certain number of hits, or (4) the dealer will bust.
[0021] A more recently disclosed method of play is presented in
Patent Application No. US2003/0218303 by Walker, et al. The Walker
application discloses games whereby a player can make side wagers
on future hands.
[0022] Another recently disclosed method of play is presented in
U.S. Patent Application No. US2003/0222400 by Collins, et al. In
Collins, the casino makes the determination which cards may be
split. In this case, the player splits Ace--eight hands.
[0023] Applicant submitted two patent applications in 2006 which
disclose two other blackjack games with innovative side wagers.
U.S. application Ser. Nos. 11/332,667 and 11/439,840 disclose games
in which initially dealt Aces are split and payouts are based on
subsequent cards dealt.
[0024] None of the games, patents, or patent applications described
above presents the opportunity for the unique combination of
significant payouts for the player, increased revenue for the
casino, and relative simplicity while retaining the basic nature of
Blackjack that the present invention comprises.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention comprises a method of playing live and
electronic Blackjack games with an optional bonus side wager. In
the interests of brevity, the instant game will be referred to as
Supersplit 21 hereafter. The terms "Supersplit" and "Supersplit 21"
are trademarked property of the applicant. Also, the terms
"Blackjack" and "21" will be used interchangeably in this
application as they are throughout the gaming industry. The
optional bonus side wager in Supersplit 21 is made only once at the
beginning of the hand and no further bonus wager is collected. The
bonus wager game is essentially a play for a specific predetermined
combination of cards a player has the possibility of receiving in
the normal play of Blackjack utilizing split Aces as the
foundation. The bonus wager game does not incentivize the player to
make abnormal decisions in the game of Blackjack. The bonus wager
game follows the basic strategy of always splitting Aces.
[0026] The essence of Supersplit 21 is the making of an optional
bonus wager in the game of Blackjack where the player making the
bonus wager is wagering that he or she will be dealt a combination
of Aces and Face Cards. Face Cards are defined as Kings, Queens,
and Jacks in accordance with the general conventions of the gaming
industry and will be referred to as such throughout this
specification. The overall goal is for the player to utilize split
Aces as the foundation upon which the player is able to get to the
higher levels of card combinations for the highest payouts.
[0027] Initially, the player is seeking to be dealt either two Face
cards, an Ace and a Face card or two Aces in the first two cards
dealt by the dealer. Depending on the structure of the payout
hands, these cards may also be suited and/or colored and/or matched
as to offer additional payout options.
[0028] For example, one schema may offer payouts with respect to
the initial two cards dealt by the dealer for two Face cards, and
Ace and a Face card, two matching Face cards, or two Aces. Or,
another schema may offer payouts with respect to the initial two
cards dealt by the dealer for two Face cards, and Ace and a Face
card, two Aces or two suited Aces.
[0029] In order to advance to second level of payout beyond the
initial two cards, the player must receive a pair of Aces in the
initial two cards dealt by the dealer, which may be suited and/or
colored and/or matched. These Aces are then split and re-split, if
allowed. The decision to re-split will be made by the casino at
which the game is being played. The side bet games created in the
instant game allow for one split and three split options which are
the two most widely used options in the casino industry. The
Supersplit 21 game can also allow for other split options as
disclosed in the following example.
[0030] A player plays the one split paytable on a table which
allows multiple splits for three or four hands created by
re-splitting of Aces. This game would payout on the "active Aces"
which are defined as the initial or first two Aces only dealt by
the dealer. This would allow a casino, for example, who has the
rule in place for re-splitting of Aces two or three times, for
three or four hands respectively, to play the single split
paytable. It gives the casino a more a probable paytable to achieve
as the probability of occurrence of the hands is more likely than
in the multiple split paytable.
[0031] If the initially received Aces are split, and re-split (if
allowed), the goal of the player is to receive Face cards (which
may be suited and/or colored and/or matched) as hit cards on the
split and/or resplit Aces. This game assumes that the house or
casino will only allow one hit card per Ace. However, the game can
be adapted to allow for more than one hit card per Ace.
[0032] The following examples are embodiments of how Supersplit 21
can be structured as a side bet/bonus game for 21 or Blackjack for
a casino environment or other gaming venue. The predetermined
payout hands, betting options, and payouts may be changed to
achieve different results.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 Supersplit 21 .TM. Mathematical Probability
and Possible Paytables Bonus Wager game in Blackjack Six Decks Aces
allowed to be split once for a total of 2 hands. Bonus Wager $1-$25
Initial two cards: Payout Win Frequency Probability Cost/$1 Unit to
payout Two Face Cards 3-1 20.42 .048973535 $.1959 Ace and Face Card
6-1 28.07 .035617116 $.2493 Two Identical Face Cards 15-1 269.53
.003710116 $.0594 Two Aces 25-1 289.63 .003452663 $.0898 Two Aces
Must Be Split - One hit card per Ace One Ace with a Face 50-1
513.91 .001945867 $.0992 Two Aces with Faces 200-1 3,489.95
.000286537 $.0576 JACKPOT HAND Two Aces with Faces - All cards
suited. ($25,000 max payout) 2500-1 264,690.31 .000003778 $.0094
.093989612 $.7606 Theoretical advantage (1 - .7606) = 0.2394 or
23.94% Overall hit frequency 1 in 10.64 hands!
[0033] Another example of Supersplit 21 using eight decks and
allowing Aces to split only once is shown in Table 2 below:
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Supersplit 21 .TM. Mathematical Probability
and Possible Paytables Bonus Wager game in Blackjack Eight Decks
Aces allowed to be split once for a total of 2 hands. Bonus Wager
$1-$25 Initial two cards: Payout Win Frequency Probability Cost/$1
Unit to payout Two Face Cards 3-1 20.44 .048934198 $.1957 Ace and
Face Card 6-1 28.10 .035588508 $.2491 Two Identical Face Cards 15-1
256.90 .003892493 $.0623 Two Aces 25-1 286.26 .003493364 $.0908 Two
Aces Must Be Split One Ace with a Face 50-1 510.23 .001959891
$.1000 Two Aces with Faces 200-1 3,462.58 .000288802 $.0580 JACKPOT
HAND Two Aces with Faces - All cards suited. ($25,000 max payout)
2500-1 249,812.64 .000004003 $.0100 .094161259 $.7659 Theoretical
advantage (1 - .7659) = 0.2341 or 23.41% Overall hit frequency 1 in
10.62 hands!
[0034] Some casinos allow Aces to be split up to three times (for
four possible total hands) which results in the six deck game
summarized in Table 3
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3 Supersplit 21 .TM. Mathematical Probability
and Possible Paytables Bonus Wager game in Blackjack Six Decks Aces
allowed to be split up to three times for a maximum total of 4
hands. Bonus Wager $1-$10 Initial two cards: Payout Win Frequency
Probability $ Per Hand to payout Two Face Cards 3-1 20.42
.048973535 $.195894 Ace and Face Card 5-1 28.07 .035617116 $.213703
Two Identical Face Cards 10-1 269.53 .003710116 $.040811 Two Aces
20-1 313.54 .003189390 $.066977 Two Aces Must Be Split - One hit
card on all split Aces Any Additional Aces Split a for a Max Total
of Four Hands One Ace with a Face 40-1 446.70 .002238625 $.091783
Two Aces with Faces 200-1 2187.02 .000402087 $.080819 Three Aces
with Faces 3,000-1 69507.19 .000014387 $.043175 Four Aces with
Faces 40,000-1 2,717,391.30 .000000368 $.014720 JACKPOT HAND Four
Aces with Faces - All cards suited. ($1,000,000 max payout)
$1,000,000 166,666,666,666 6.18892E-12 $.000006 .094145624 $.747888
Theoretical advantage (1 - .747888) = 0.252112 or 25.21% Overall
hit frequency 1 in 10.62 hands!
[0035] Another example of Supersplit 21 using eight decks and
allowing Aces to split three times (for four possible hands) is
shown in Table 4 below:
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4 Supersplit 21 .TM. Mathematical Probability
and Possible Paytables Bonus Wager game in Blackjack Eight Decks
Aces allowed to be split up to three times for a maximum total of 4
hands. Bonus Wager $1-$10 Initial two cards: Payout Win Frequency
Probability $ Per Hand to payout Two Face Cards 3-1 20.44
.048934198 $.195737 Ace and Face Card 5-1 28.10 .035588508 $.213531
Two Identical Face Cards 10-1 256.90 .003892493 $.042817 Two Aces
20-1 310.33 .003222391 $.067670 Two Aces Must Be Split - One hit
card on all split Aces Any Additional Aces Split a for a Max Total
of Four Hands One Ace with a Face 40-1 442.61 .002259331 $.092633
Two Aces with Faces 200-1 2,451.02 .000407993 $.082007 Three Aces
with Faces 3,000-1 66,804.73 .000014969 $.044862 Four Aces with
Faces 40,000-1 2,544,529.26 .000000393 $.015720 JACKPOT HAND Four
Aces with Faces - All cards suited. ($1,000,000 max payout)
$1,000,000 100,000,000,000 9.79552E-12 $.000010 .094320276 $.754987
Theoretical advantage (1 - .754987) = 0.245013 or 24.50% Overall
hit frequency 1 in 10.60 hands!
[0036] The tables shown above depict examples of how the game
Supersplit 21 can be played to accrue to the benefit of the player
and the casino or other gaming venue. Payouts can be modified as
casinos see fit to attract more players or increase casino profits.
In addition, casinos or other gaming venues can incorporate added
payouts for Ace and Face cards being of the same suit, same color,
or identical cards (i.e. matched).
[0037] While the above disclosed bonus game contemplates playing
the game as an adjunct to a standard game of 21 or blackjack, it is
also easily adaptable to other non-standard 21 games such as
Spanish 21. Probabilities and paytables are different for such
non-standard 21 games and would have to be derived and calculated
for any such non-standard game.
[0038] The following rules for Supersplit 21 have been created for
the player to understand the game better: [0039] 1. Supersplit 21
is played within the regular game of 21. The Supersplit 21 bettor
is attempting to receive specific card combinations of Aces and/or
Face Cards as posted in the paytable without regard to beating the
dealer's hand. [0040] 2. Face Cards are defined as Jacks, Queens or
Kings. [0041] 3. Supersplit 21 begins with each player placing a
wager on the mandatory Ante Bet for the standard 21 game. The
player also may choose to place a wager on the Supersplit 21
sidebet. The Supersplit 21 wager can be in amounts within the
posted paytable. [0042] 4. If the Supersplit 21 bettor achieves in
the first two cards dealt by the dealer a combination of cards as
defined in the posted paytable, the bettor receives a payout based
on the paytable. [0043] 5. If the Supersplit 21 bettor receives a
pair of Aces: [0044] I. and the dealer has Blackjack, the bettor
receives a payout based on a pair of Aces as defined in the
paytable for the first two cards. In this instance, the hand is
over. [0045] II. and the dealer does not have blackjack, the bettor
may split the Aces in the hope of receiving Face hit cards to
achieve a higher level of payout as defined in the paytable. [0046]
III. and the dealer does not have blackjack, and the Supersplit 21
player chooses not to split the Aces, the bettor receives a payout
based on a pair of Aces as defined in the paytable for the first
two cards dealt by the dealer. [0047] 6. If a Supersplit 21 player
splits a pair of Aces, he/she must match his/her original Ante Bet
within the standard 21 rules. No additional Supersplit 21 wager is
collected. [0048] 7. For any Supersplit 21 bettor, the required
sequence rule for all payouts higher than the first two cards dealt
by the dealer, is to receive a pair of Aces, which need to be split
with appropriate Face hit cards. [0049] 8. All payouts are
non-cumulative. A Supersplit 21 player is paid out at the highest
payout level achieved.
* * * * *