2 Bet black jack

Abstract

A gaming method and system, which allows a player to wager varying amounts on whether that player will win or lose a side bet, contingent on the makeup of the player's first two cards dealt in the game of blackjack. The player's first two cards will fall under predetermined, posted category of “Good Hand” or “Bad Hand.” Each category will be made up of numbers that most players would view as good or bad totals in the game of blackjack. The system can be incorporated into a non-electronic table game version of blackjack, and electronic table game version of blackjack with multiple player video screens and/or bet selection devices or a single play blackjack slot machine/video game device. The gaming system can also be applied to the home video, home computer and arcade markets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] There is a constant demand and need for new or improved games of chance to attract gamblers to gaming establishments.

[0005] A technique that can be used to increase the attraction of blackjack (21) is to allow the player to make a side bet in addition to the conventional blackjack bet, whereby the player will win or lose the side bet after the player's first two cards fall in the predetermined category of “Good Hand” or “Bad Hand.”

[0006] What is needed is a gaming system and method whereby the “Good Hand” is only made up of number totals that most players would consider a “Good Hand.” Conversely, the “Bad Hand” would be made up of only numbers that most players would consider a “Bad Hand.”

[0007] The gaming system and method will require that the “Good Hand” is dealt statistically fewer times that the “Bad Hand” in order than an appropriate hold (return) is received by the casino; however, the hold, representing the statistical advantage of the casino over the player, cannot be greater than the maximum percentage allowed by regulators and should not be so large that the player would be discouraged from playing the side bet.

[0008] There is no prior art for such a system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Previous side bets to the game of blackjack or pseudo blackjack games have been limited to exotic payoffs for certain card combinations, large payoffs for consecutive blackjack hands won, the offering of multiple blackjack games played simultaneously and games that trade off more liberal rules for the player, i.e. doubling or surrendering at will, while lowering blackjack payoffs to even money.

[0010] What has been long overdue, is a blackjack side bet that will win or lose approximately at the same ratio as a blackjack conventional bet. The frequency of the side bets payoff as well as the casino's hold approximating a conventional bet hold will increase blackjack volume significantly.

[0011] Previous side bets have resulted in nominal increases in total blackjack volume, largely because of the exotic nature and infrequency of side bet payoffs.

[0012] The player for the first time will make two bets rather than one bet on winning and losing hands. The quality of only the player's hand will determine the result of the side bet while both the quality of the dealer and players hand will determine the result of the conventional bet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0013] Not Applicable

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The system can easily be incorporated within a blackjack table in which each player's seating area at the table is provided with a specific side bet area having marks for receiving the side bet.

[0015] The player may select or bet value for the side bet somewhere between the minimum and maximum bet range for the relevant table. The relevant casino may choose to set different minimum maximum ranges.

[0016] Conventional blackjack bets will continue to be made by placing chips in the conventional betting marks, separate from the side bet marks.

[0017] In the play of each game, the player will make all bets prior to any cards having been dealt face up or face down.

[0018] The following “Good Hands” will be declared as winning hands to be paid by the dealer immediately after the first two cards are dealt to the player and dealer and before any further cards are dealt to the players and/or dealer.

[0019] The following “Bad Hands” will be considered losing hands, with the relevant chips to be removed by the dealer form the side bet mark immediately after the first two cards are dealt to the player and dealer—before further cards are dealt to the players and/or dealer. 1 Good Hand Bad Hand Blackjack Sixteen Two Aces Fifteen Twenty Fourteen Nineteen Thirteen Eighteen Twelve Soft Eighteen *Eight Seventeen **Seven Soft Seventeen Six Eleven Five Ten Four Nine Three *Ace Seven excluded - listed as a soft eighteen (Good Hand) **Ace Six excluded - listed as a soft seventeen (Good Hand)

[0020] In addition to the above, the player will receive a bonus when his first two cards are a blackjack of the same suit and the dealer receives a blackjack of the exact same cards. The amount of the bonus will be determined by the amount bet on the “Good Hand”—“Bad Hand” side bet and/or maximum payoff amount to be established by the relevant casino and/or regulatory agency.

[0021] It should be recognized that the numerous descriptional functions and advantages of the subject invention as set forth herein are illustrative only; therefore, change may be made within the general principles of the invention as indicated by the terms expressed within the appended claims listed below.

Claims

1. A method of playing blackjack comprising the steps of

(a) Providing a conventional bet receiving region and an additional bet chip receiving region for the “Good Hand—Bad Hand” side bet.

(b) The player makes a conventional bet of a denomination within the denomination range permitted by the rules of the game and/or

(c) the player makes a “Good Hand—Bad Hand” side bet by placing the bet in the single betting region for the side bet, the bet being of a denomination permitted by the rules of the game.

(d) Dealing the player and dealer two cards each.

(e) Determining whether the two cards dealt the player represent a winning hand or losing hand according to the posted “Good Hand—Bad Hand” list.

(f) After the initial two cards are dealt to the players and dealer, the dealer pays the player an amount equal to the “Good Hand—Bad Hand” winning bet located in the single betting region for the side bet or removing the losing bet located in the single betting region for the side bet.

(g) Not paying the sidebet, not removing the cards if the dealer's face up card and the player's first two cards reflect the possibility of exact duplicate blackjacks, if the exact duplicate blackjack bonus is in effect, and paying the winning bet or removing the losing bet as listed under claim number 1(f) above after determining whether the dealer and player have exact duplicate blackjacks.

(h) The dealer paying an amount equal to the “Good Hand—Bad Hand” bonus, according to the “Good Hand—Bad Hand” posted list, whenever the players and dealers first two cards are exact duplicate blackjacks.

(i) Dealing the player and dealer additional cards after the “Good Hand—Bad Hand” side bet is completed, in order to complete the result of the conventional bet, unless the player determines not to take additional cards and the dealer is not permitted to take additional cards accorded to the rules of the blackjack game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the players winning hand “Good Hand” is represented by the following two card totals: Blackjack, Two Aces, Twenty, Nineteen, Eighteen, Soft Eighteen (Ace seven), Seventeen, Soft Seventeen (Ace six), Eleven, Ten and Nine.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the players losing hand “Bad Hand” is represented by all other combinations of two cards other than those listed as a winning hand “Good Hand”, as detailed under claim 2.

4. The method of claims 1-3 above, where the game of chance is blackjack and is incorporated in an electronic gaming device with multiple player video screen and bet selections.

5. The method of claims 1-3 where the game of chance is blackjack and is incorporated in a single play slot machine (video game) device.

6. The method of claims 1-5 above, wherein exact duplicate blackjacks, or two other exact duplicate cards with a mathematical probability occurrence of 649,350-1, are dealt to both the player and dealer, thereby resulting in a bonus payoff contingent on the amount of the players side bet and/or bonus amounts to be determine by the relevant casino.