Patent Publication Number: US-2013234389-A1

Title: Optional blackjack bet and table for making the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application number 61/607,940, filed Mar. 7, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to blackjack tables and play and more particularly, to an optional blackjack bet that wins if all of a certain card is dealt prior to a shuffle card. 
     Conventional optional blackjack bets are short in duration and thus, low on suspense due both to the fact that they only last one hand and also to the fact that they rarely get close to winning. Such conventional, one-hand side bets include matching suits, double sevens, cards adding to ten, two queen of hearts, and the like. 
     These conventional bets only benefit the casino in terms of revenue, as these side bets often do not entice players to play a particular game. These side bets, because they only last for one hand, do not build suspense and only offer occasional excitement. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a blackjack game that includes an optional side bet that can last an entire shoe, build suspense during the game, and entice players to play at that particular table. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a method for wagering in a blackjack game comprises placing an optional side bet during a side bet open period; placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards; dealing blackjack hands to players; tracking a certain valued card whenever the certain valued card is dealt; paying players that placed the optional side bet if all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt; and keeping the optional side bet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method for wagering in a blackjack game comprises placing an optional side bet during a side bet open period prior to dealing a first blackjack hand; placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards; dealing blackjack hands to players; tracking a low valued card whenever the low valued card is dealt; paying players that placed the optional side bet if all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt; keeping the optional side bet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt; and starting a new shoe of cards if all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt, regardless of whether the cushion card has or has not been dealt. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a blackjack table comprises a traditional betting area for players to place a bet for each blackjack hand; an optional bet area for players to place an optional bet during an open bet period; a bet holding area for holding the optional bet until the optional bet is won or the house wins the optional bet; and a card tracking area providing one spot for each card having a given value in a shoe, where lammer markers are placed over each spot in the card tracking area each time the given value card is dealt. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an exemplary blackjack table for playing blackjack with an optional side bet according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart describing the play of a shoe, with the optional side bet of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for playing blackjack and a table adapted for playing a blackjack game. The blackjack game can include an optional side bet. This side bet lasts from the start to the end of a shoe and, if all of a certain card value are dealt prior to a shuffle, or cushion card is dealt, then the side bet pays off. If the shuffle card is dealt prior to all of a certain value of card being dealt, then the house keeps the side bets. For example, with a two deck shoe, there are eight 5-value cards (two five of clubs, two five of spades, two five of hearts, and two five of diamonds). If these eight cards are dealt before the shuffle card is dealt, the players win the side bet. The position of the shuffle card can vary the odds. Typically, in a two deck shoe, the shuffle card can be placed about twenty-six cards from the bottom of the shoe. 
     The method, game play and table design of the present invention provides an additional gaming experience at a blackjack game. In addition, as discussed below, the method of the present invention can cause an early shuffle in situations where the cards are imbalanced and the casino/house advantage is likely diminished. Moreover, the method of the present invention also provides a reason for a player to play until the end of a shoe, rather than leave early. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a blackjack table  10  can be designed with a traditional betting area  12  and an optional side bet betting area. Like conventional tables, the table  10  can include a peek area  16  for checking whether the dealer&#39;s hidden card is a  10 , a face card or an ace, as appropriate. The table  10  can also include a dealer bankroll  18 . 
     During play of a shoe, the dealing of a certain tracked card is monitored. An area  20  can be provided on the table for the dealer to place a lammer button each time the tracked card is dealt. For exemplary purposes, this card will be a five card, but any card can be tracked. For house advantage, as discussed below, this card is typically a low value card, such as a 3, 4, 5 or 6, for example. The table  10  can also include a bet holding area  22 , where each players optional bet is held during the dealing of a shoe. 
     The table  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is set up for a two-deck shoe blackjack game. The method of the present invention could apply to various shoe sizes, including 1-deck, 4-deck or the like. With a 4-deck shoe, for example, there would be 16 marked areas 20 for lammer buttons to track when each of the tracked cards is dealt. Also, while the table  10  shows places for 5 players, the number of player seats can vary depending on the size of the table, for example. With more or less player seats, the number of bet holding areas  22  will be adjusted. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , during the start of a shoe, a dealer will provide each player the chance to make a “5-bet”. The term 5-bet refers to an optional bet that all of the fives will be dealt before the shuffle card. As described above, this can be a 4-bet, or a 3-bet, or the like, and typically, is based on a low value card. Typically, the chance to make a 5-bet is limited to before any hands are dealt, however, in some variations, players may have an option to make the bet after one or more hands are dealt. Typically, the dealer can move any optional bets to the bet holding area  22  when the betting period is closed. 
     Typically, a player is required to make a standard bet for every hand in the shoe to keep their 5-bet active. However, in some embodiments, the player may be allowed to sit out one or more hands for their standard bet, while their 5-bet stands until the end of the shoe. 
     The shuffle card can be placed at various locations in the shoe. Typically, the shuffle card is placed at one-quarter of the number of cards. Therefore, in a 2-deck shoe, the shuffle card is placed after 26 cards from the bottom. 
     As the game of blackjack is played, the dealer will place a lammer button each time a five-value card is dealt. At the end of each hand, the dealer will look to see if all the five-value cards have been dealt. If not, and if the cushion card has not yet been dealt, another hand is played. If not, and the cushion card was dealt during that hand, the optional bets are taken by the house and the cards are shuffled for a new shoe. If the cushion card and the last five-value card are dealt in the same hand, typically it would depend on which card was dealt first to determine if the players win their optional side bet. 
     If all of the five-value cards have been dealt before the cushion card, then, at the end of that hand (or at the end of that shoe, depending on house rules), the optional bet is paid to the players. The payout can vary for winners of this optional bet. For example, a 5-1 payout may be determined by the house as a bet that attracts players but still provides a house advantage. 
     If the optional bet wins (all the five-value cards are dealt before the cushion card), and the cushion card has not been dealt yet, typically the winning of the optional bet will trigger a shuffle and a new shoe being used for the next hand (which can also opening up a new round of optional bet opportunities for the players). This feature can help prevent a house-unfavorable card situation. Typically, when the percentage of high value cards (such as 10&#39;s and face cards) increases, the player&#39;s odds of winning also increases. Therefore, if all of the fives, for example, are dealt and there are still hands remaining in the shoe before the cushion card, this could indicate the possibility that the remaining cards may be against the house. Therefore, by shuffling at the point where the optional bet is won by the players, this possible house disadvantage is avoided. 
     The optional side bet, as described above, lasts the length of the blackjack shoe. With a two-deck show and the cushion card placed after 26 cards from the bottom, the odds to win are at a probability of about 0.09103. However, the probability that seven five-cards will be dealt is about 0.26668. These odds can result in excitement building, especially if seven of the five-cards are dealt, but still favoring the house that the eighth five-card will not be dealt before the cushion card. 
     Variations to the game may be provided by specific house rules. For example, mid-shoe entry may be forbidden, as a player could realize a player advantage (because, essentially, the house is partially “card counting”) and desire to join in mid-shoe. A further variation may be provided with the first card dealt from a new shoe (a “burn” card that is typically not revealed to the players). This card could be used as a card that the players don&#39;t see and is not counted, to help increase house odds. Or, in some embodiments, this card could be used, for example, as a played card in that, when the cushion card is encountered and seven five-cards are out, the dealer can reveal the burn card and, if it is the eighth five, a certain action can take place (such as the players being returned their bet, or the players get to keep their optional bet for the next shoe (but can only add to it, and not take it away), or the like). 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.