Patent ID: 7523941
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. A method of playing a modified version of Blackjack, comprising: Providing one or more standard decks of playing cards, each deck containing 52 cards and each card having a specific numeric value; One or more players making a blind wager prior to any cards being dealt to be eligible to play a hand; A dealer dealing an initial hand of two cards to each of the players and two cards to the dealer, the dealer's cards being dealt face down, wherein each player and the dealer obtains an initial card sum according to a schedule; Thereafter, the dealer reviewing the numerical values of the dealer cards and then selecting which of said two dealer cards to turn face up; Thereafter, each player declaring said player's hand either as a surrender wherein said player must withdraw from play, as a playing hand, or as an increased wager hand wherein said player must make an additional wager; After all players have declared their hands, the dealer declaring the dealer's hand either as a surrender or as a playing hand, wherein the dealer's declaring is based on a discretionary election by the dealer; If dealer surrenders, dealer paying half of each remaining player's blind wager to said player or, if player's initial card sum equals 21, the dealer paying pre-set odds on the player's blind wager to said player; The dealer dealing additional cards to each player upon said player's request, wherein each player elects in turn to stand or receive additional cards one at a time until the player elects to receive no more or until the card sum exceeds 21, with the final number of cards held by each player comprising said player's hand and final card sum; If a player's final card sum exceeds 21, said player forfeiting the player's wager to the dealer and withdrawing from play; The dealer dealing additional cards to the dealer when the dealer's card sum is less than 17 and the dealer's hand does not contain an ace valued at a value of 11; The dealer dealing additional cards to the dealer upon dealer's request, provided dealer's card sum is less than 21 and the dealer's hand contains an ace valued at a value of 11, with the final number of cards held by the dealer comprising the dealer's hand and final card sum; Comparing each player's final card sum to the dealer's final card sum, wherein a player has a winning hand if player's final card sum is 21 and dealer's final card sum is not 21 or if player's final card sum is less than 21 and closer to 21 than dealer's final card sum or if player's final card sum is equal to or less than 21 and dealer's final card sum exceeds 21; a player has a losing hand if player's final card sum exceeds 21 or is further from 21 than dealer's final card sum, and a player ties with the dealer where player's final card sum is equal to dealer's final card sum; The dealer collecting a player's wagers if said player has a losing hand; A player retaining said player's wagers if the player ties with dealer; and The dealer paying winnings to a player based on said player's wager and pre-set odds if the player has a winning hand.