Two Way Blackjack Betting

Abstract

A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack may include the steps of dealing dealer cards to an dealer of the game of blackjack; dealing player cards to a player of the game of blackjack; placing a bet on the dealer cards by the player; paying the player of the game of blackjack based on the bet if the dealer has blackjack.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a game of chance and more particularly to a modified game of blackjack.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is the most widely played casino banking game in the world. Blackjack is a comparing card game between a player and dealer, meaning that players compete against the dealer but not against any other players. It is played with one or more decks of 52 cards. The object of the game is to "beat the dealer", which can be done in a number of ways:

[0003] Get 21 points on the player's first two cards (called a blackjack), without a dealer blackjack;

[0004] Reach a final score higher than the dealer without exceeding 21; or

[0005] Let the dealer draw additional cards until his or her hand exceeds 21.

[0006] The player or players are dealt an initial two-card hand and add together the value of their cards. Face cards (kings, queens, and jacks) are counted as ten points. A player and the dealer can count his or her own ace as 1 point or 11 points. All other cards are counted as the numeric value shown on the card. After receiving their initial two cards, players have the option of getting a "hit", or taking an additional card. In a given round, the player or the dealer wins by having a score of 21 or by having the highest score that is less than 21. Scoring higher than 21 (called "busting" or "going bust") results in a loss. A player may win by having any final score equal to or less than 21 if the dealer busts. If a player holds an ace valued as 11, the hand is called "soft", meaning that the player cannot go bust by taking an additional card; 11 plus the value of any other card will always be less than or equal to 21. Otherwise, the hand is "hard".

[0007] The dealer has to take hits until his or her cards total 17 or more points. (In some casinos, the dealer also hits on a "soft" 17--e.g., an initial ace and six.) Players win if they do not bust and have a total that is higher than the dealer's. The dealer loses if he or she busts or has a lesser hand than the player who has not busted. If the player and dealer have the same point total, this is called a "push", and the player typically does not win or lose money on that hand.

[0008] Many rule variations of blackjack exist. Since the 1960s, blackjack has been a high-profile target of advantage players, particularly card counters, who track the profile of cards that have been dealt and adapt their wagers and playing strategies accordingly.

[0009] At a casino blackjack table, the dealer faces five to seven playing positions from behind a semicircular table. Between one and eight standard 52-card decks are shuffled together. At the beginning of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the "betting box" at each position in play. That is, there could be up to three players at each position at a table in jurisdictions that allow back betting. The player whose bet is at the front of the betting box is deemed to have control over the position, and the dealer will consult the controlling player for playing decisions regarding the hand; the other players of that box are said to "play behind". Any player is usually allowed to control or bet in as many boxes as desired at a single table, but it is prohibited for an individual to play on more than one table at a time or to place multiple bets within a single box. In many U.S. casinos, however, players are limited to playing two or three positions at a table and often only one person is allowed to bet on each position.

[0010] The dealer deals cards from his/her left (the position on the dealer's far left is often referred to as "first base") to his/her far right ("third base"). Each box is dealt an initial hand of two cards visible to the people playing on it, and often to any other players. The dealer's hand receives its first card face up, and in "hole card" games immediately receives its second card face down (the hole card), which the dealer peeks at but does not reveal unless it makes the dealer's hand a blackjack. Hole card games are sometimes played on tables with a small mirror or electronic sensor that is used to peek securely at the hole card. In European casinos, "no hole card" games are prevalent; the dealer's second card is neither drawn nor consulted until the players have all played their hands.

[0011] Cards are dealt either from one or two handheld decks, from a dealer's shoe, or from a shuffling machine. Single cards are dealt to each wagered-on position clockwise from the dealer's left, followed by a single card to the dealer, followed by an additional card to each of the positions in play. The players' initial cards may be dealt face up or face down (more common in single-deck games).

[0012] The players' object is to win money by creating card totals that turn out to be higher than the dealer's hand but do not exceed 21 ("busting"/"breaking"), or alternatively by allowing the dealer to take additional cards until he/she busts. On their turn, players must choose whether to "hit" (take a card), "stand" (end their turn), "double" (double wager, take a single card and finish), "split" (if the two cards have the same value, separate them to make two hands) or "surrender" (give up a half-bet and retire from the game). Number cards count as their natural value; the jack, queen, and king (also known as "face cards" or "pictures") count as 10; aces are valued as either 1 or 11 according to the player's choice. If the hand value exceeds 21 points, it busts, and all bets on it are immediately forfeit. After all boxes have finished playing, the dealer's hand is resolved by drawing cards until the hand busts or achieves a value of 17 or higher (a dealer total of 17 including an ace, or "soft 17", must be drawn to in some games and must stand in others). The dealer never doubles, splits, or surrenders. If the dealer busts, all remaining player hands win. If the dealer does not bust, each remaining bet wins if its hand is higher than the dealer's, and loses if it is lower. In the case of a tied score, known as "push" or "standoff", bets are normally returned without adjustment; however, a blackjack beats any hand that is not a blackjack, even one with a value of 21. An outcome of blackjack vs. blackjack results in a push. Wins are paid out at 1:1, or equal to the wager, except for winning blackjacks, which are traditionally paid at 3:2 (meaning the player receives three dollars for every two bet), or one-and-a-half times the wager. Many casinos today pay blackjacks at less than 3:2 at some tables.

[0013] Blackjack games almost always provide a side bet called insurance, which may be played when dealer's upcard is an ace. Additional side bets, such as "Dealer Match" which pays when the player's cards match the dealer's up card, are sometimes available.

[0014] After receiving an initial two cards, the player has up to four standard options: "hit", "stand", "double down", or "split". Each option has a corresponding hand signal. Some games give the player a fifth option, "surrender".

[0015] Hit: Take another card from the dealer.

[0016] Stand: Take no more cards, also known as "stand pat", "stick", or "stay".

[0017] Double down: The player is allowed to increase the initial bet by up to 100% in exchange for committing to stand after receiving exactly one more card.

[0018] Split (only available as the first decision of a hand): If the first two cards have the same value, the player can split them into two hands, by moving a second bet equal to the first into an area outside the betting box.

[0019] Surrender (only available as first decision of a hand): Some games offer the option to "surrender", usually in hole-card games and directly after the dealer has checked for blackjack

SUMMARY

[0020] A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack may include the steps of dealing dealer cards to an dealer of the game of blackjack; dealing player cards to a player of the game of blackjack; placing a bet on the dealer cards by the player; paying the player of the game of blackjack based on the bet if the dealer has blackjack.

[0021] The method may include the step of determining if the dealer has an ace card.

[0022] The method may include the step of determining if the player has taken insurance if the dealer has the ace card.

[0023] The method may include the step of if the dealer has blackjack, then the player takes ante on dealer's hand to cover the wager of the player.

[0024] The method may include the step of if the dealer does not have blackjack, then the player loses insurance and loses the bet on the dealer's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a blackjack table of the present invention; and

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of the blackjack game of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Two way blackjack does not change the core game of basic blackjack; however, Two way blackjack does increase the game's appeal, options, excitement, acceptance, and everything else the game already has and more.

[0029] Rule 1: If a player bets the ante only on the player's own hand, blackjack is played under conventional rules.

[0030] Rule 2: If a player places a bet on the dealer's hand, the player cannot, and does not make any decisions on how the dealer's hand is played (standing, hitting, splitting, doubling down, or surrendering) after placing the bet. All decisions are made by the dealer, and based on house rules as the dealer plays the house hand and/or rules expressed by the house.

[0031] Rule 3: If the player places a bet on the dealer's hand, and the dealer's hand has blackjack (defined as: an Ace and a card with a value total of 10) the hand (bet placed on the dealer's hand) is paid even money. However, should the player's hand have blackjack (defined as: an Ace and a card with a value total of 10) and the dealer's hand has an ace showing, the player can take insurance. If the dealer's hand does not have blackjack (defined as: an Ace and a card with a value total of 10), and insurance was taken on the dealer's hand, the player loses the insurance and the placed bet on the dealer's hand. Should the dealer's hand and the player's hand have blackjack (defined as: an Ace and a card with a value total of 10) and the player took insurance, the player shall receive their ante on the dealer's hand based on the insurance to cover the wages.

[0032] Rule 4: Should the player bet on the dealer's hand and the player's hand, controlled by the dealer burst, the dealer will not pay the bet until the dealer's hand is completed. Should the dealer's hand burst, the dealer will pick up the player's bet place on the dealer's hand. The dealer will only pay the hand, if the dealer's hand does not go over 21 total. Additionally, the casino holds the right to charge a commission in exchange for the services provided.

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates a blackjack table 100 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. At a blackjack table 100, the dealer faces five to seven playing positions 102 from behind a semicircular table. Between one and eight standard 52-card decks are shuffled together. At the beginning of each round, up to three players can place their bets in the "betting box" 104 at each position in play. That is, there could be up to three players at each position 102 at a table 100 in jurisdictions that allow back betting. The player whose bet is at the front of the betting box 104 is deemed to have control over the position 102, and the dealer will consult the controlling player for playing decisions regarding the hand; the other players of that box 104 are said to "play behind". Any player is usually allowed to control or bet in as many boxes 104 as desired at a single table 100, but it is prohibited for an individual to play on more than one table 100 at a time or to place multiple bets within a single box 104. In many U.S. casinos, however, players are limited to playing two or three positions at a table 100 and often only one person is allowed to bet on each position 102.

[0034] The dealer deals cards from his/her left (the position 102 on the dealer's far left is often referred to as "first base") to his/her far right ("third base"). Each box 104 is dealt an initial hand of two cards visible to the people playing on it, and often to any other players. The dealer's hand receives its first card face up, and in "hole card" games immediately receives its second card face down (the hole card), which the dealer peeks at but does not reveal unless it makes the dealer's hand a blackjack. Hole card games are sometimes played on tables 100 with a small mirror or electronic sensor that is used to peek securely at the hole card. In European casinos, "no hole card" games are prevalent; the dealer's second card is neither drawn nor consulted until the players have all played their hands.

[0035] Cards are dealt either from one or two handheld decks, from a dealer's shoe, or from a shuffling machine. Single cards are dealt to each wagered-on position 102 clockwise from the dealer's left, followed by a single card to the dealer, followed by an additional card to each of the positions 102 in play. The players' initial cards may be dealt face up or face down (more common in single-deck games).

[0036] The table 100 may include an area 106 for bets paying 2 to 3 ante and even money on the dealer.

[0037] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart showing the betting procedure for betting on the dealer's hand.

[0038] The process starts in step 201; next, the player places a bet on the dealer's hand in step 203. If the dealer has blackjack in step 205 then the player who had placed the bet on the dealer's hand in step 203 is paid even money in step 207. The game is over.

[0039] However, if the dealer does not have blackjack in step 205, then in step 209, and it is determined if the player has blackjack. If the player does not have blackjack then control passes to step 211 where the game continues.

[0040] If the player has an ace card in step 213, then control passes to step 217. If the player does not have an ace card in step 213, then the blackjack game progresses under normal rules.

[0041] In step 217, if the player does not take insurance. Control passes to step 219 where the normal playing rules of blackjack are applied.

[0042] In step 217, if you the player does take insurance, control passes to step 221 where it is determined if the dealer has blackjack. If the dealer has blackjack, then the player takes ante on dealer's hand to cover the wager. If the dealer does not have blackjack, then the player loses the insurance and loses the bet placed on the dealer's hand.

[0043] A new game may begin.

[0044] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack, comprising the steps of: dealing dealer cards to an dealer of the game of blackjack; dealing player cards to a player of the game of blackjack; placing a bet on the dealer cards by the player; paying the player of the game of blackjack based on the bet if the dealer has blackjack.

2) A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack as in claim 1, determining if the dealer has an ace card.

3) A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack as in claim 2, determining if the player has taken insurance if the dealer has the ace card.

4) A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack as in claim 3, if the dealer has blackjack, then the player takes ante on dealer's hand to cover the wager of the player.

5) A method of claim cards in the game of blackjack as in claim 3, if the dealer does not have blackjack, then the player loses insurance and loses the bet on the dealer's hand.

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