Method of playing a blackjack type card game

A method for playing a blackjack type game including a "Dealer Hand" and a common "Player Hand". At least one Customer wagers a first bet on any one of a Dealer betting station corresponding to the "Dealer Hand", a Player betting station corresponding to the Common "Player Hand", and a tie betting station corresponding to a tie between the "Dealer Hand" and the Common "Player Hand". The object of the game is to wager on the winning hand. The Dealer executes play of both the Common "Player Hand" and the "Dealer Hand" in accordance with a predetermined set of rules. If the at least one Customer has wagered on a winning station, the Customer wins. Thus, the Customer wagers on the outcome of the blackjack game without actually participating in the card play.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates to casino or cardroom gaming, and more 
particularly, to a method of playing a blackjack type card game. 
BACKGROUND ART 
The game of "Blackjack" or "21" is arguably the most popular casino game 
offered by gambling establishments. Blackjack has fascinated the public 
for years as a leisure time activity, or as a means of income for some 
individuals. Each year billions of dollars in wagers are traded over the 
table in connection with this one game alone. 
Typically, in Blackjack, each Player wagers a bet and is dealt two cards by 
a Dealer who also deals two cards to himself. To win, the Player's cards 
must have a total card value higher than that of the Dealer, but no 
greater than twenty-one. 
The "Dealer Hand" is played out by the Dealer, in accordance with a set of 
predetermined "house rules", such as the "Northern Nevada" rules now 
practiced at HARRAH'S.RTM. Casino. These rules control the play of the 
Dealer's Hand with respect to when drawing subsequent cards. However, the 
Player's Hand, in a typical Casino Blackjack game, is played out according 
to the individual Player's choice. Thus, each Player has his own option to 
"hit" (draw a card) or "stand" (not draw a card) in his effort to reach 
twenty-one with respect to their card hand. Thus, to some extent, the 
Players can increase or decrease their probability of success against the 
Dealer. 
Although the Players are not bound to "hit" or "stand" at certain card 
situations, a general set of "common rules" apply which are generally 
known to those familiar with the game. By "hitting" or "standing" in 
certain card situations, the individual Player may substantially increase 
their probability of beating the Dealer. 
Unlike some card games, Blackjack is an ideal gambling establishment card 
game because all the Players oppose the Dealer (or "house") rather than 
each other. Thus, more revenue may be generated, as opposed to card games 
which generate revenue by merely acting as the "house", such as "poker". 
However, one problem associated with the typical Casino Blackjack game is 
that the game itself is relatively slow to develop. The Dealer may have to 
deal to as many as seven Players not including the Dealer. Furthermore, 
each Player has to make the individual decision whether to "hit" or 
"stand" on their own card hand. This is especially time consuming when the 
Player is indecisive. Accordingly, the pace is not fast enough for some 
individuals, and in addition, may reduce the potential revenue for both a 
Player and the gambling establishment. 
Another problem associated with the typical Casino Blackjack game is that 
those unfamiliar with the game reduce their probability of success by 
electing to "hit" or "stand" at inappropriate or inopportune times. Such 
inexperienced play may potentially affect the other Players surrounding 
the inexperienced Player. For example, the inexperienced Player may draw a 
card which hurts not only themselves, but may also hurt the other Player's 
at the table. In the worst case scenario, the Player's inexperienced play 
may help the Dealer. This is especially imperative, should the 
inexperienced Player be positioned at the "third base" position (i.e., the 
positioned just before the Dealer) . Such inexperienced play may dictate 
whether the Dealer "busts" (i.e., surpasses twenty-one) which, not 
surprisingly, will immensely aggravate the other Blackjack Players. 
Accordingly, inexperienced Players may shy away from playing Blackjack or 
be intimidated from increasing their wager due to their card gaming 
ignorance or improper playing strategy. Often, first time or inexperienced 
gamblers refuse to participate in the game for fear of losing money, 
and/or for fear of embarrassment. Therefore, they are relegated to being 
mere observers. Moreover, one bad experience may forever intimidate them 
from playing again. It is for these Players that initial playing 
experience may not provide a proper vehicle for learning the game. 
Moreover, some potential Players may be intimidated from playing the game 
because they are not good at mathematics. Thus, they fear being 
embarrassed by not adding fast enough or by adding their cards incorrectly 
in which they may inappropriately draw another card or the like. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method 
of playing a blackjack type game which acts as a learning vehicle for 
playing a blackjack type game. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of 
playing a blackjack type game which reduces Player involvement so that 
they may enjoy the game without concern for proper playing strategy. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a 
blackjack type game which allows the Player to bet on the "Dealer Hand". 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of 
playing a blackjack type game which increases the pace of the game. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of 
playing a blackjack type game which increases the participation and 
interest in the game to an inexperienced Player. 
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of 
playing a blackjack type game which increase potential revenue by 
increasing the pace of the game. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of 
playing a blackjack type game which is easy and fun to play by unskilled 
personnel. 
The apparatus of the present invention has other objects and features of 
advantage which will be more readily apparent from the following 
description of the best mode of carrying out the invention and the 
appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 
Accordingly, there has been a need for a Blackjack type game which permits 
Customer participation in the game without the additional pressure of play 
making decisions. The present invention meets this need. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
A method of playing a blackjack type card game of the present invention, 
including a "Dealer Hand" and a common "Player Hand", comprises, briefly, 
the steps of at least one Customer wagering a first bet on any one of a 
Dealer betting station corresponding to the "Dealer Hand", a Player 
betting station corresponding to the common "Player Hand", and a tie 
betting station corresponding to a tie between the "Dealer Hand" and the 
common "Player Hand". A Dealer dealing an initial hand of blackjack to 
each common "Player Hand" and "Dealer Hand". The Dealer playing each the 
common "Player Hand" and the "Dealer Hand" in accordance with a 
predetermined set of rules. If the Customer has wagered on a winning 
station, the Customer wins a first preselected amount based on the 
Customer's first bet. 
The present invention permits betting on the outcome of the blackjack game 
without actually participating in the card play. Accordingly, the pace of 
the game is substantially increased.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the 
invention. While the present invention will be described with reference to 
a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the 
invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various 
modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred 
embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true 
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
In accordance with the method of the present invention, briefly, a game of 
"Blackjack" is played out only by a Dealer whom plays the game in 
accordance with a predetermined set of rules which will be discussed in 
more detail below. The version of the present invention to be employed at 
gambling establishments, hereinafter referred to as "Gambler's Choice", 
will be described with reference to the gaming table 10, illustrated in 
FIG. 1. As used in this description, the "House" is referred to as the 
gambling establishment and acts as the banker. The House collects all 
losing wagers and pays all winning wagers to the Players or Customers. The 
Dealer is employed by the House to deal the cards and each Customer plays 
exclusively against the House. 
In the preferred form, only two card hands will be dealt out by the Dealer 
which are generally referred to as a "Dealer Hand" and a common "Player 
Hand". It will be appreciated, however, that more than one common "Player 
Hand" may be dealt without departing from the true spirit and nature of 
the present invention. A prospective "Customer", as distinguished from the 
"Player Hand", will have their option of wagering a "primary" or "first" 
bet on at least one of the "Dealer Hand", the "Player Hand" or on a tie 
between the "Dealer Hand" and the "Player Hand". In the most basic 
assessment of the Gambler's Choice Blackjack game, the object of the game 
is to wager on the winning hand. 
Unlike a typical "Casino Blackjack" game, a Customer is not a Player of the 
card game in the sense of making strategic or card playing decisions 
during the course of the game. That is, the Customer of the present 
invention does not control the destiny of his card hand by not 
participating in the "hit" or "stand" decisions. These are determined by a 
set of predetermined rules, described below, which are executed by the 
Dealer. 
Attention is now directed to FIG. 1, where the subject method of playing a 
Blackjack type card game in accordance with the present invention is 
preferably played on. Briefly, gaming table, generally designated 10, 
includes a playing surface 12 which defines a plurality of playing 
locations, generally designated 14. In the preferred form, as illustrated 
in FIG. 1, seven playing locations 14 are radially positioned about a 
token rack 16 which, in turn, is positioned in front of a Dealer's playing 
location 18. The token rack, of a conventional design, holds playing chips 
of a typical gambling denominations. It will be appreciated, however, that 
the number of playing locations 14 may be more or less than seven. 
Each playing location 14 includes a betting station, generally designated 
20, and each having three betting circles: a Dealer betting stations 22 
corresponding to bets placed on the "Dealer Hand"; a Player betting 
stations 24 corresponding to bets placed on the "Player Hand"; and a tie 
betting stations 26 corresponding to bets placed on a tie between the 
"Dealer Hand" and the "Player Hand". These separate betting circles 20 for 
each Player location 14 clearly illustrate the station where the Customer 
has placed their wager. As viewed in FIG. 1, playing surface 12 also 
includes a "Player Hand" placement area 28 and a "Dealer Hand" placement 
area 30 which represents the placement areas of the respective hands 
during the course of the game. 
The House, of course, has a distinct advantage over a Customer in the 
typical Casino Blackjack game. Most gambling establishments would not 
succeed otherwise. This advantage would persuade constant wagering on the 
"Dealer Hand" rather than wagering on the "Player Hand". Hence, in 
accordance with the present invention, the Customer's betting on the 
"Dealer Hand" will have to assume the risks associated with the Dealer. 
Accordingly, the payout is adjusted so that the House is compensated 
whether the Customer wagers on the "Player Hand" or the "Dealer Hand". 
Otherwise, those familiar with the game would probably always bet on the 
"Dealer Hand". 
For example, upon every winning bet placed on the "Dealer Hand", the 
"House" or Casino may impose a commission as compensation. In the 
preferred embodiment, Customers betting on the "Dealer Hand" will bet 6-to 
win-5 or 5-to-6. This will persuade Customers to place bets on the other 
alternatives as well. Similarly, because the odds against having a tie are 
substantial, the payout may be adjusted accordingly. In the preferred 
form, the payout odds for a tie are 9-to-1 while wagers on the "Player 
Hand" are 1-to-1 or even money. These percentages or formulations may vary 
of course. 
As mentioned above, before the onset of Gambler's Choice Blackjack, the 
Customers must determine whom to place their First wager on: the "Dealer 
Hand"; the common "Player Hand"; a tie between the "Dealer Hand" and the 
common "Player Hand"; or a combination thereof. Once the Customer has 
wagered his first bet, the Dealer may deal an "Initial Player Hand" and an 
"Initial Dealer Hand" to their respective placement areas 28 and 30. 
Briefly, the playing cards may comprise standard playing cards and 
Gambler's Choice Blackjack may be played with a single deck or multiple 
decks. Moreover, a card shoe may be employed if desired. Many of the 
typical Casino Blackjack rules apply to Gambler's Choice Blackjack. For 
instance, being initially dealt, in any order and in any suit, an Ace and 
either a 10 or a Face Card constitutes a "Blackjack" which includes a 
payout of 3-to-2 on the Player side only. "Dealer Hands" receiving a 
Blackjack are paid 1-to-1. 
After the initial hands have been dealt, the Dealer may only "hit" or 
"stand" with respect to either the "Dealer Hand" or the "Player Hand", in 
accordance with the following predetermined rules to be discussed below. 
Thus, the inexperienced Blackjack gambler may wager on the outcome of the 
game without the fear or intimidation of making an improper play or 
strategic move. Moreover, these rules may act as training guidelines which 
teach an inexperienced Player the basic underlying rules which increase 
their probability of successful play. Because the Customer makes no 
decisions, other than deciding where to wager their bet and whether to 
split or double down as will be discussed below, they do not have to 
strategically think and may merely observe while still participating. 
Moreover, the tempo of the Gambler's Choice Blackjack game, in accordance 
with the present invention, may be substantially increased as compared to 
the typical Casino Blackjack game. The number of hands may be minimized to 
a "Dealer Hand" and a single "Player Hand" as opposed to multiple "Player 
Hands". Because, all "hit" and "stay" decisions are to be executed by the 
Dealer in accordance with predetermined rules, individual Player 
indecision and misplay do not become a factor in slowing the pace of the 
game. More importantly, although only one "Player Hand" is dealt, as many 
as seven bettors, preferably, may still participate in the game. 
Accordingly, this increased pace may substantially increase potential 
revenue for both the House and the individual Customers. 
In order to uniformly play Gambler's Choice Blackjack, the Dealer must 
abide by certain predetermined guidelines or set of rules which aid or 
control the game. As with normal Casino Blackjack, the "Dealer Hand" is to 
have one card facing up while the remaining card is facing down. Hence, 
the direction of the game will be dictated by the value of the Dealer's 
upcard. Because the "Player Hand" does not control the initial direction 
of the game, both these cards are preferably dealt face up. 
In accordance with the method of the present invention, the following 
predetermined Player "hit" and "stand" rules are to apply to the "Player 
Hand". These predetermined rules, as set forth in TABLE 1, are dictated by 
the Dealer's upcard and are to be executed by the Dealer only. 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Dealer's Up Card Player will "hit" to: 
______________________________________ 
2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Hard 12 
7, 8, 9, 10, Face card and Ace 
Hard 17 or Soft 18 
______________________________________ 
Briefly, the terms "hard" and "soft" are derived from the Casino Blackjack 
game and are to retain their original meaning. In Casino Blackjack, an Ace 
may have a card value of either "one" or "eleven". The term "soft" hand 
refers to card hands including at least one Ace, where: the Ace may have a 
card value of either "one" or "eleven"; and the cumulative hand value does 
not surpass "twenty-one". A "hard" hand, by comparison, is a hand which 
either: does not include an Ace; or includes at least one Ace but should 
the Ace retain a value of "eleven", the cumulative hand value would exceed 
twenty-one. For instance, a hand dealt an Ace, 2, 4 would be a "soft" hand 
because the hand would have a cumulative value of either seven or 
seventeen. In contrast, a hand composing a 10, 6, Ace is a "hard" hand 
because should the Ace equal "eleven", the cumulative hand value would 
surpass "twenty-one". 
Referring back to TABLE 1, the Dealer's actions, with respect to the 
"Player Hand", are dictated by the Dealer's upcard. If the Dealer's upcard 
shows a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, then the "Player Hand" will not receive a 
successive card in addition to the Player's initially dealt hand unless 
the "sum" of the initial card values is less than a "hard" twelve. 
Moreover, the Dealer will continue to "hit" until the sum of the "Player 
Hand" is a "hard" twelve or higher. In contrast, if the upcard of the 
"Dealer Hand" shows a 7, 8, 9, 10, Face Card, or an Ace, then the "Player 
Hand" will not receive a successive card in addition to the Player's 
initially dealt hand unless the "sum" of the initial card values is less 
than a "hard"seventeen or a "soft" eighteen. Further, the Dealer will 
continue to "hit" until the sum of the "Player Hand" is a "hard" seventeen 
or higher, or a "soft" eighteen or higher. Incidently, a "Face Card" 
refers to any suit "Jack", "Queen" or "King". 
Should the "Player Hand" be a "soft" hand, as set forth above, the Dealer 
must continue to "hit" the "Player Hand" until the sum of the "Player 
Hand" card values totals at least a soft eighteen. This is true regardless 
of the "Dealer Hand" upcard. However, in accordance with the predetermined 
rules of the present invention, should the "soft" hand become "hard" in 
the course of "hitting" the "Player Hand", the "hard" rules mentioned 
above apply. 
It will be appreciated that the "hit" and "stand" predetermined rules 
pertaining to the "Player Hand" may constitute other values as well 
without departing from the true spirit and nature of the present 
invention. 
To further encourage betting, several secondary betting schemes, similar to 
the typical secondary betting schemes of Casino Blackjack may apply to 
Gambler's Choice Blackjack. In the preferred embodiment, the common 
Player's initially dealt hand or "Player Initial Hand" may be "split" if 
it comprises a particular predetermined "pair" of cards. Preferably all 
pairs of Aces and 8's are to be automatically split by the Dealer. 
Subsequently, a first and a second split hand will be formed. All 
predetermined rules set forth above will similarly apply to the split 
pair, except that split aces will receive one card only. In the event of a 
"split", all Customers may increase their wager, in a secondary bet, by a 
preselected amount based on the primary bet should they choose to do so. 
In the preferred form, the preselected secondary "split" bet is to be 
equal to the primary wager. If a Customer wagering on the "Player Hand" 
decides not to secondarily bet, his primary wager will be based on the 
first split hand. Accordingly, in the event of a "split" situation, the 
Customer wagering on the "Dealer Hand" will have two options: (1) Keep the 
same bet, or; (2) Double their bet. 
Alternatively, to compensate the "House" for Customers betting on the 
"Dealer Hand", it may be desireable to have the Customer to assume the 
risks associated with the Dealer. Accordingly, should the "Player Hand" be 
confronted with a "split" situation, the Customer wagering on the "Dealer 
Hand" may either secondarily wage that the "Player Hand" will lose, or 
surrender one-half their primary wager. Such a surrender will be termed a 
"reverse surrender". The surrender value may vary of course. 
Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, a Customer may have 
the option of "doubling down" if the Player Initial Hand sums to a 
predetermined card value. Preferably, this predetermined value is equal to 
ten or eleven. In the event of this situation, the "Player Hand" will 
receive only one subsequent card, similar to casino Blackjack. All 
Customers will be given the option to increase their wager, in a secondary 
bet, by a preselected amount based on the primary bet should they choose 
to do so. In the preferred form, the preselected "double down" wager is to 
be equal to the primary wager. However, all Player Initial Hands of ten or 
eleven will receive only one subsequent card regardless of whether any 
individual Player doubles their bet. Similar to the "split" situation, a 
Customer betting the "Dealer Hand" may either keep their same bet or 
double their bet. 
In an alternative embodiment in the "double down" situation, a Customer 
betting the "Dealer Hand" may secondarily bet or take the "reverse 
surrender" option. 
The "Dealer Hand" is also played in accordance with a predetermined set of 
rules. Preferably, these rules correspond to the Northern Nevada Rules 
mentioned above. Accordingly, the Dealer must "hit" a Dealer's "hard" hand 
until the sum of the hand is a "hard" seventeen or greater. Should the 
"Dealer Hand" be "soft", they must "hit" the "Dealer Hand" until the sum 
of the hand is eighteen or greater. 
A tie or a draw occurs when the sum of the "Player Hand" is equal to the 
sum of the "Dealer Hand". Should this event occur, those Customers 
wagering on either the "Dealer Hand" or the "Player Hand" will draw with 
the House while those Customers wagering on a tie will be paid according 
to the predetermined payout odds, preferably 9-to-1. Alternatively, those 
bettors wagering on either the "Dealer Hand" or the "Player Hand" would 
lose their wager in the event of a tie. 
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently 
considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be 
understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment 
but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and 
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the 
appended claims. 
Therefore, persons of ordinary skill in this field are to understand that 
all such equivalent structures are to be included within the scope of the 
following claims: