Patent Publication Number: US-2011068536-A1

Title: Method of playing an improved blackjack card game

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to corresponding provisional application U.S. Application no. 61244288, filed Sep. 21, 2009, in the name of the applicant of this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to card games and methods therefor and, more particularly, to a method of playing an improved Blackjack card game that provides players with various wagering opportunities, in addition to the standard betting options, to wager that at least one player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The game of Blackjack is a very popular card game, especially at casinos. In the game of Blackjack (also known as “21”), one or more Blackjack players play against a Blackjack dealer. The object of the game is to beat the dealer&#39;s hand by either receiving a cumulative point card total greater than the dealer&#39;s, although not greater than 21, or by receiving a cumulative point card total of 21 or less while the dealer receives a cumulative point card total of greater than 21. In Blackjack, numerical cards (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) have a point card value equal to their face card value. Picture (or “face”) cards (i.e. Jacks, Queens and Kings) have a point card value of 10 points. Aces have a point card value of either or 11 points. Both the Blackjack player and the Blackjack dealer receive an initial two cards. The player is given the option to draw one or more additional cards (known as “hitting” or “taking a hit”) until the player either chooses to stop drawing cards (known as “sticking” or “standing”) or until the cumulative point card total for the player is greater than 21 (known as a “bust” or “busting”). The Blackjack dealer, on the other hand, is required to draw additional cards as long as the dealer&#39;s cumulative point card total is 16 or less. When Blackjack is played for money, players wager that their hand will beat the dealer&#39;s hand. 
     The best possible hand in blackjack is a cumulative point card total of 21. A hand of 21 can be achieved either by hitting a “blackjack” that is an Ace and a card having a value of 10 (i.e., any face card or a 10) or by 3 or more cards that total 21 (e.g., 7, 6, 8). 
     Because of the very slight statistical advantage of the position of the dealer (or “house”), playing Blackjack can be very boring and tedious. Players often get frustrated, either leaving the game or increasing their bets in order to try and cash in on a string of good luck. As a result, Blackjack, in the form most commonly played in casinos, lacks a dynamic component necessary to increase the interest of gamblers. Additionally, Blackjack players are limited in the amount that can be won. The vast majority of winning hands in Blackjack pay a player an amount equal to that player&#39;s initial wager. Only when a player receives a hand of Blackjack can the player win an amount greater than their initial wager and even then the amount paid is only 1.5 times the initial wager. The only other non-standard wagering options involve “splitting” and/or “doubling down” which requires one or more additional wagers. There currently is no “jackpot” component to Blackjack, or any way for a Blackjack player to win an amount that far exceeds that player&#39;s initial wager. 
     Several attempts have been made to alter the game of Blackjack by increasing the number of betting options for a Blackjack player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,575 issued to Keller discloses a Blackjack card game method that offers the player a plurality of betting options, such as receiving a 3 or 6, a 4 or 5, a 10, Jack, Queen, King or Ace for one or both of the initial two cards dealt to the player. U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,570 issued to Karal discloses a Blackjack card game wherein a Blackjack player can wager that the dealer&#39;s hand will be the winning hand. Karal also discloses betting options that allow the player to wager on the identity of the dealer&#39;s down card, third card, etc. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,416 issued to Schorr et al. discloses a Blackjack card game method that allows a player three wagering options: 1) to wager on the player&#39;s own hand; 2) to wager on the dealer&#39;s hand; and 3) to wager that their will be a tie between the dealer&#39;s hand and the player&#39;s hand. U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,579 issued to Griffiths discloses a Blackjack card game method that allows a player to wager that a dealer&#39;s hand will be exactly 21 or that a dealer&#39;s hand will bust. 
     In addition, U.S. Patent application publication 2006/0014577A1 discloses a Blackjack game having side bet options relating to two-card outcomes in which a player achieves, for example, an Ace and a Jack of the same suit, an Ace and a King of the same suit, etc. 
     While all of the prior art disclose Blackjack methods that offer a player increased wagering options, none of disclosed patents offer a player the option to wager that the player or another player will achieve a hand of 21 with exactly 5 cards nor does any of the prior art provide a Blackjack player with the ability to win a “jackpot.” While the prior art discloses additional wagering options to increase player excitement, none of the prior art discloses wagering options that are likely to induce a player to alter the player&#39;s behavior away from an optimum playing strategy. For example, a player who has received 4 cards totaling 19 would always stand pat if the player followed the optimal blackjack strategy. If that player had placed a side bet that the player would achieve a hand of 21 with exactly five cards however (with a sizeable bonus or jackpot to be paid to the player in such an event), the player may be willing to deviate from optimal blackjack strategy in order to risk the standard wager for the possible reward of the greater payout. Inducing a player to deviate from optimal playing strategy has the effect of significantly increasing a casino&#39;s profit margin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that he or she will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that any player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that he/she or another player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 red cards (i.e. hearts or diamonds). 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that he/she or another player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 black cards (i.e., spades or clubs). 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that he/she or another player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 suited cards (e.g., 5 spades, 5 clubs, 5 diamonds or 5 hearts). 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to wager that he/she or another player will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards of a specific suit (e.g., 5 hearts). 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an improved Blackjack card game that provides a Blackjack player with the option to place a progressive wager that is cumulated with other progressive wagers and pays a player a percentage of the cumulative “jackpot” when the player achieves a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards of a predetermined suit and/or color. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing a Blackjack-type card game is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a plurality of playing cards wherein the playing cards have a numerical value equal to the number displayed on the playing card and wherein a Jack, Queen and King have a numerical value of 10 and wherein an Ace has a numerical value of one of 11 or one, permitting a player to wager that the player will receive exactly five cards totaling a numerical value of exactly 21, and paying the player a multiple of the wager when the player receives five cards having a total numerical value of exactly 21. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing a Blackjack-type card game is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a plurality of playing cards wherein the playing cards have a numerical value equal to the number displayed on the playing card and wherein a Jack, Queen and King have a numerical value of 10 and wherein an Ace has a numerical value of one of 11 or one, permitting a player to wager that any player playing the Blackjack-type card game will receive exactly five cards totaling a numerical value of exactly 21, and paying the player a multiple of the wager when any player receives five cards having a total numerical value of exactly 21. 
     In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a method of playing a Blackjack-type card game is disclosed comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a plurality of playing cards wherein the playing cards have a numerical value equal to the number displayed on the playing card and wherein a Jack, Queen and King have a numerical value of 10 and wherein an Ace has a numerical value of one of 11 or one, permitting a player to wager a first wager that the player will one of receive a hand value of 21 or less that is also greater than a hand value of a dealer or receive a hand value of or less when the dealer receives a hand value of 22 or greater, permitting a player to wager a second wager that one of the player or any player will receive exactly five cards totaling a numerical value of exactly 21, and paying the player a multiple of the wager when one of the player or any player receives five cards having a total numerical value of exactly 21. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the Blackjack table of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the Pay Table of the Blackjack table of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention includes a method of playing an improved Blackjack-type card game. All embodiments of the Blackjack-type card game of the present invention are based on the standard game of Blackjack. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the method of the present invention is preferably played on a Blackjack table, hereinafter referred to as Blackjack table  10 , preferably having customized wagering areas, hereinafter referred to as customized wagering areas  12 . The Blackjack table  10  preferably has additional standard wagering areas  13 , where the Blackjack player (not shown) wagers according to the standard wagering options available in a standard game of Blackjack. While, in the preferred embodiment, the method of playing an improved Blackjack card game of the present invention utilizes customized wagering areas, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which there are no customized wagering areas  12 , so long as a player is permitted to make a separate wager in addition to the standard blackjack wager in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Alternatively, other customized wagering options, not shown, may be added. The Blackjack table  10  preferably further comprises a pay table  14 , shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , which describes the preferred wagering odds of the present invention. However, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which there is no Pay Table  14  located on the table, but instead a progressive jackpot that may or may not be listed digitally at some other location. Furthermore, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which there is no physical table but in which the method of playing an improved Blackjack-type card is represented graphically or by some means other than a physical table. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in the preferred method of the present invention, a Blackjack player is provided with both the standard wagering options and with an additional wagering option to place a wager that he or she will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards. In the preferred embodiment, the player is permitted to wager either that only he will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards (represented within wagering area  12  with the betting circle having the word “me” inside), or that any player at the table will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards (represented within wagering area  12  with the betting circle having the word “any” inside). While, in the preferred embodiment, the player is permitted to place one of two customized wagers (that he or any player will achieve a hand value of 21 with 5 cards) it should be clearly understood that it is within the spirit and scope of the present invention to permit the player to wager only that he will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards, or, in the alternative only that any player at the table will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards (or that any player at any Blackjack table within a designated area will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards). Furthermore, while the words “me” and “any” are used to identify that the wager is based on whether a player&#39;s own hand qualifies or whether any player&#39;s hand at the table qualifies respectively, it should be clearly understood that any words or graphical representations to make that distinction is within the spirit and scope of this invention. If the player makes such a wager, and if the player (or another player at the table) achieves a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards, then the player preferably is paid a multiple of the initial wager. The multiple paid to a player having achieved a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards will preferably depend on whether those 5 cards are of the same suit or of the same color as described in pay table  14  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     While, in the preferred embodiment, a player makes a single wager that he or she will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards, with the player receiving a multiple of that wager depending on what type of 5 cards the player has received (e.g., all hearts, all black cards, etc.), it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the player is permitted to wager individually on each separate outcome listed in the pay table  14 . 
     While, in the preferred embodiment, the pay table  14  establishes a pay schedule of: Any 5 card hand of 21 is paid 25 to 1; a combination of 5 red cards totaling 21 is paid 40 to 1; a combination of 5 black cards totaling 21 is paid 40 to 1; a combination of 5 suited cards totaling 21 is paid 100 to 1; and a combination of 5 hearts totaling 21 is paid 300 to 1, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the odds deviate, even substantially, from the preferred odds shown in Pay Table  14 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, a casino permits a player to make a wager that his or her hand will achieve a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards by placing a single wager (preferably of $1) as a “progressive” or “jackpot” wager that will qualify the player for a percentage of a jackpot (that increases in size as more and more players contribute wagers and resets after a player wins the jackpot). In such an embodiment, if the player achieves a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards then the casino preferably pays the player either a percentage of a jackpot, progressive jackpot, pay table (such as the one shown in  FIG. 2 ) or a combination thereof. For example, a casino may choose to pay a player achieving a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards of more than one color a simple 25 to 1 multiple (or some other multiple) of the player&#39;s progressive (preferably $1) wager, but if the player achieves a hand value of 21 with exactly 5 cards of a same suit or a specific suit (e.g., 5 hearts) the casino may choose to pay a player a percentage of a progressive jackpot (e.g., 10% for a same suit of 5 cards that achieves a hand value of 21 and 100% for 5 hearts that achieve a hand value of 21). Alternatively, a side wager or progressive wager may be exclusively based on a percentage of the progressive jackpot or exclusively based on a pay table. 
     While, in the preferred embodiment, a player may place a wager that he or another player at the table will achieve a hand value of 21 with 5 hearts, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the player is permitted to wager that he or another player at the table will achieve a hand value of 21 with 5 clubs, 5 spades or 5 diamonds. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.