MODIFED GAME OF TWENTY-ONE HAVING MODIFIED LIMITS AND PAYOUTS AND METHOD OF PLAYING

Abstract

A method of playing a playing card wagering game comprising: placing a first wager within a table limit; dealing a first player card to all players; dealing a first dealer card to a dealer; dealing a second player card to all players, wherein insurance bets need to be made immediately after all players have received their second player card and before any “hits”; dealing a second dealer card, wherein the dealer receive the second dealer card once betting is complete and all players have either busted or stood; and determining a winning hand.

Description

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to a playing card game, and more specifically, to a playing card wagering game that may be played with one or more standard deck of playing cards or by video machine technology that reduces the effectiveness of card counting but and benefits the player by having modified player set beating limits within the table limits and payouts.

Twenty-one or blackjack has been a popular card game for many years. Twenty-one is a standard table game in most casinos. The popularity of this game is due in large part to the fact that it is easy to play, there is very little strategy that needs to be learned, and the players have a better chance of beating the house then in other table games at the casino. The card game twenty-one is described in several U.S. Patents. U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,789 issued to LeVasseur and U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,353 issued to Demarest et al., both disclose how to play the standard method of playing twenty-one.

In most casinos, the player's cards are dealt face down and the playing cards are reshuffled once the blank card used to cut the playing card has been reached. This is done to prevent the players from card counting. Card counting is a strategy used to determine when a player has a probability advantage. In card counting, a player will try and track the ratio of high cards to low cards. The principle behind counting cards in twenty-one is that a deck of cards with a high proportion of high cards (ten-valued cards and aces) to low cards is good for the player, is good for the dealer. A deck rich in tens and aces improves the player's odds because obtaining twenty-one becomes more common, the dealer is more likely to bust a stiff hand, and double-downs are more successful. Card counting is prohibited from casinos since it increases the odds of the player beating the casino.

Another drawback of current twenty-one games is there are limited payouts. Payouts are given when the player beats the dealer and the player reaches 21/blackjack.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a card game and method that overcomes the above problems.

SUMMARY

A method of playing a playing card wagering game comprising: placing a first wager within a table limit; dealing a first player card to all players; dealing a first dealer card to a dealer; dealing a second player card to all players, wherein insurance bets need to be made immediately after all players have received their second player card and before any “hits”; dealing a second dealer card, wherein the dealer receive the second dealer card once betting is complete and all players have either busted or stood; and determining a winning hand.

A method of playing a playing card wagering game comprising: placing a first wager within a table limit; dealing a first player card to all players; dealing a first dealer card to a dealer; dealing a second player card to all players, wherein insurance bets need to be made immediately after all players have received their second player card and before any “hits”; wherein a player may one of double down and receive another player card, to redouble the wager and receive one more player card, unless the player had previously at least one of doubled down or redoubled on a hand of 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 where multiple redoubles are permitted, the player must stand if the player does not redouble; split two player cards of unequal value totaling one of 11 or less, and not including an Ace; surrender a 2 card hand by the player and losing half a wager, unless the dealer is showing an Ace or 10-value card; split a pair of aces by the player, wherein splitting the pair of aces get only 1 card and cannot be resplit, and can only make 21 not Blackjack; dealing a second dealer card, wherein the dealer receive the second dealer card once betting is complete and all players have either busted or stood; and determining a winning hand.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a method of playing a modified version of twenty-one according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the FIGURE, a modified version of the card game twenty-one will be disclosed. The card game is played with a standard deck of playing cards. Any number of decks of playing cards may be used. The playing cards will generally be shuffled. For security purposes in a gambling establishment, the playing cards may be placed in a card dealer shoe.

In the present card game, all the playing cards except the last two card will be dealt before the playing cards will be reshuffled. In current versions of twenty-one, the playing cards are generally cut by a player who places a blank card in the stack of playing cards. Once the blank card is reached, the playing cards are reshuffled at the end of the round. This is done to prevent players from card counting. Since all the playing cards except the last two will be dealt before the playing cards will be reshuffled, the modified version of the card game twenty-one allow skillful players to have a better opportunity to win.

In order to play, each player must place a minimum first wager. The minimum first wager can be any amount of money within the table limits established by the gambling establishment. After each shuffle the player must make at least the table minimum bet. Players may not join the game in the middle of a shoe or increase the number of hands they are playing in the middle of a shoe.

During the round, the player may “double up” his/her bet. The player may double his/her losing wager even if it exceeds the table limit. However, when the wager exceeds 4 times the original wager no doubling down, splitting, 2nd chances are allowed. Also, Blackjack earns even money only, and the 6, 7 card rules do not apply. If a player wins, they must then return to no more than four times their original bet.

For example, the player has a bet set at $200 and loses. The player may then bet $400 the next round. If the player loses, the player may then bet $800. If the player again loses, the player may bet $1600. However, after four times of doubling the minimum bet, if the player wins, he will only win even money, thus the player would only win $1600.

Once each player has placed a first minimum wager, a dealer will deal one playing card to each player. The dealer also deals one playing card to himself. The dealer takes his first card up and does not receive a 2^nd card until betting is complete and all players' hands have either busted or stood. In accordance with one embodiment, the playing cards are dealt face-up. However, the cards may be dealt face down as well, or a combination of cards face-up and face down. Insurance bets must be made immediately after all players have received their initial 2 cards, before any “hits”.

In accordance with one embodiment, the players may take insurance no matter what playing card the dealer is dealt. The player who is taking insurance is betting that the dealer will obtain a specific hand/total. More specifically, the player is taking insurance that the dealer will have a total value of playing cards equal to 21.

After receiving the first card, the player may double down and receive a second card. After doubling down and receiving the card, the player is permitted to redouble his bet and receive 1 more card, unless he had previously doubled down or redoubled on a hand of 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11. Multiple redoubles are permitted, however the player must stand if he does not redouble.

If the player does not double down, play resumes and a second card is dealt to the player. If the player has two cards of unequal value totaling 11 or less (not including an Ace), he is allowed to split these cards just as if they had been of equal value.

The player may continue to “hit” and receive additional cards. If the player has “busted” on a hand which was not doubled, he is permitted to make an additional 1-unit payment to obtain a “2^nd chance hit”. The card that caused the bust is set aside and ignored and a new card is drawn to replace it. Play then proceeds as if the player had not busted. If the player then wins the hand, the 2^nd chance payment is refunded, so that he finishes with a net gain of 1 unit. If the hand is tied, the player's original bet pushes but he loses the 2^nd chance payment.

If the player “hits” multiple times and has 6 cards totaling under 17 the player has two different options. The player may stay and will win 1.5 times the bet and the hand is considered over. However, the player may continue to “hit” and receive another card. In this case, the player will forfeit the 1.5-unit win. If the player “hits” and gets a 7^th card and the total value of the cards is under 17, the player wins 3 times the bet, otherwise play proceeds normally.

A player who has increased his bet (by doubling, splitting, or redoubling) loses the entire bet to a dealer Blackjack (unless he has collected the 6-card-under-17 or 7-card under-17 bonus).

At any time during the game a player may place a $5 check adjacent to his original wager. It should be noted that $5 is given as an example and other amounts may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. All privileges or embodiments of the game are allowed to the player on their original bet just as if there were no side-wager except for two. First, there is no, “2nd-chance,” attempt for the side wager. The original wager is still in action but a win resulting from a, “2nd-chance,” draw does not count towards the side-wager. The side-wager has already lost on the first bust. Therefore a player will have to start the side-wager over on the next hand. Second, if a player decides to split his original wager, even up to four times, as is allowed, he/she must win on all hands in order to remain on the winning track. Any push in a split hand constitutes a, “One tie, all tie,” on the side-wager and winning original bets are paid accordingly. It follows that any loss on a split hand constitutes a total loss on the side-wager and all winning originals are paid. This side-wager initiates a player's consecutive wins. Once the first hand is finished, win, lose, or draw, the dealer shall collect the check. A win results in the check being replaced by a non-denominational chip which is labeled according to the number of consecutive wins (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc). If a player attains 16 consecutive wins he/she will win a prize such as a car or the like. If said player chooses, he/she can risk the prize and go for 21 consecutive wins resulting in a grand prize such as a $1 Million payoff and the car as well. Failure to reach the 21 win-streak results in a total loss. It is at the house's discretion on how the million shall be paid. Example: $3,000/month to a million which is just around two months shy of 28 yrs.

On a final hand, a player may wager an amount equal to his/her total losses for the day. In accordance with one embodiment, this wager may be called a “Hail Mary” wager. For this wager, Blackjack earns even money. Doubling down, splitting, and 2nd chances are not allowed. The 6, 7 card rules do not apply. A player may continue to play if he/she loses this hand although they must start at or below the table limit.

In accordance with one embodiment, the game uses a 6-deck shoe (312 cards) and the dealer deals the entire shoe except the last 2 cards. At this point the cards not in use in the current hand are reshuffled in order to continue play.

The present game offers several house rules that differ from a standard 21 game. Players may surrender a 2-card hand, losing half their wager, unless the dealer is showing an Ace or 10-value card. In this case, the player may elect to take back one-half of the player's first minimum wager amount. The player will then automatically lose the other half of the first minimum wager amount. For example, the player places a first minimum wager of $200 and receives two cards. If the player elects not to play the round, the player may take back $100 and pay the bank $100 to not play the rest of the round. However, the player cannot elect not to play if the dealer has an Ace or 10-value card.

Another change to the House rules is that split aces get only 1 card, cannot be re-split, and can only make 21 not blackjack. Further, Players may not double down after a split. Players may split up to 4 times.

Blackjack pays 3:2 only on the first 2 cards; if both player and dealer have Blackjack the hand is pushed.

Dealer hits on soft 17 and below, stands on hard 17 and up. Compared to standard Blackjack, the changes which favor the player are the additional options provided above regarding re-double, uneven split, 2^nd chance on a bust, and 6- and 7-card bonus.

While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a playing card wagering game comprising:

placing a first wager within a table limit;

dealing a first player card to all players;

dealing a first dealer card to a dealer;

dealing a second player card to all players, wherein insurance bets need to be made immediately after all players have received their second player card and before any “hits”;

dealing a second dealer card, wherein the dealer receive the second dealer card once betting is complete and all players have either busted or stood; and

determining a winning hand.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising permitting a player after doubling down and receiving a card, to redouble the wager and receive one more player card, unless the player had previously at least one of doubled down or redoubled on a hand of 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11.

3. The method of claim 2 where multiple redoubles are permitted, the player must stand if the player does not redouble.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a player to split two player cards of unequal value totaling one of 11 or less.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing a player to split two player cards of unequal value totaling one of 11 or less, and not including an Ace.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a player may make an additional 1-unit wager to obtain a “2nd chance hit” if the player has “busted” on a hand which that was not doubled, the player card that caused the bust is set aside and a new player card is drawn.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein play proceeds as if the player had not busted, the additional 1-unit wager to obtain a “2nd chance hit” is refunded if the player wins.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein if a player gets 6 player cards totaling under 17 the player wins a multiple of the wager.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising continuing play and receiving a 7th player card, the player wins if the player has 7 player cards totaling under 17.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein all the playing cards except a last two playing cards are to be dealt prior to reshuffling the playing cards.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein increasing a wager by one of doubling, splitting, or redoubling, the player loses the entire wager to a dealer Blackjack unless the player has one of a 6 player card hand under 17 or a 7 player card hand under 17.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising surrendering a 2 card hand by the player and losing half a wager, unless the dealer is showing an Ace or 10-value card.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising splitting a pair of aces by a player, wherein splitting the pair of aces get only 1 card and cannot be resplit, and can only make 21 not Blackjack.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising doubling the initial wager of a next hand when a player loses a current hand even if the doubling exceeds table limits, when the doubling exceeds 4 times the initial wager no doubling down, splitting, 2nd chances allowed, Blackjack wins even money only.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising wagering an amount equal to total losses for the day, wherein Blackjack earns even money.

16. A method of playing a playing card wagering game comprising:

placing a first wager within a table limit;

dealing a first player card to all players;

dealing a first dealer card to a dealer;

dealing a second player card to all players, wherein insurance bets need to be made immediately after all players have received their second player card and before any “hits”;

wherein a player may one of double down and receive another player card, to redouble the wager and receive one more player card, unless the player had previously at least one of doubled down or redoubled on a hand of 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 where multiple redoubles are permitted, the player must stand if the player does not redouble; split two player cards of unequal value totaling one of 11 or less, and not including an Ace; surrender a 2 card hand by the player and losing half a wager, unless the dealer is showing an Ace or 10-value card; split a pair of aces by the player, wherein splitting the pair of aces get only 1 card and cannot be resplit, and can only make 21 not Blackjack;

dealing a second dealer card, wherein the dealer receive the second dealer card once betting is complete and all players have either busted or stood; and

determining a winning hand.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a player may make an additional 1-unit wager to obtain a “2nd chance hit” if the player has “busted” on a hand which that was not doubled, the player card that caused the bust is set aside and a new player card is drawn, wherein play proceeds as if the player had not busted, the additional 1-unit wager to obtain a “2nd chance hit” is refunded if the player wins.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein if a player gets 6 player cards totaling under 17 the player wins a multiple of the wager.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising continuing play and receiving a 7th player card, the player wins if the player has 7 player cards totaling under 17.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein increasing a wager by one of doubling, splitting, or redoubling, the player loses the entire wager to a dealer Blackjack unless the player has one of a 6 player card hand under 17 or a 7 player card hand under 17.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising doubling the initial wager of a next hand when a player loses a current hand even if the doubling exceeds table limits, when the doubling exceeds 4 times the initial wager no doubling down, splitting, 2nd chances allowed, Blackjack wins even money only.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising wagering an amount equal to total losses for the day, wherein Blackjack earns even money.