Three card blackjack
A blackjack variation that can be played in a casino. A player is dealt three initial cards and the player can then choose two out of the three cards as the player's initial hand and the dealer is dealt two cards. The blackjack game can then proceed normally using the chosen two cards. The player must also place a side bet based on a poker hand comprising the three initial cards and the dealer's upcard.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present inventive concept relates to a casino table game, and more particularly, to a variation of casino blackjack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Casino games are currently a billion dollar industry. Blackjack is currently a popular table game, although its popularity has been recently decreasing.
What is needed is a new game which can provide players with a more exciting game than a standard blackjack game.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an aspect of the present invention to provide exciting variations of blackjack that can be played in casinos.
The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a) receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; (b) dealing the player three initial player cards; (c) allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand; (d) revealing a dealer's upcard; (e) determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards; (f) resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable; (g) completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and (h) resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.
The above aspects can also be obtained by an apparatus that includes (a) an output device; and (b) a processing unit using the output device and performing: (i) receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; (ii) dealing the player three initial player cards; (iii) allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand; (iv) revealing a dealer's upcard; (v) determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards; (vi) resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable; (vii) completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and (viii) resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.
These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, and computer readable storage which allows a casino to offer to player(s) a blackjack game which can provide a player with more excitement than a standard game.
This can be accomplished by a blackjack variation in which the player must make two mandatory and equal bets, a blackjack wager and a poker wager. The player is dealt three initial cards, upon which the player can select two out of the three cards as the player's initial blackjack hand. This would give the player a large advantage, so the poker wager would typically have a house advantage to offset the player advantage on the blackjack wager. Once the player has chosen his initial blackjack hand (two cards of the three initial cards), the dealer's upcard can then be revealed. The poker wager pays based on a rank of a poker hand made from dealt cards, such as the players initial three cards and the dealer's upcard. Then the blackjack game can continue as a normal blackjack game, using the blackjack hand (two cards) the player has chosen as the player's starting cards. The player can then proceed as normal, e.g., hit, stand, double, split, etc., after the dealer's upcard has been revealed. When the player (and other players at the table) have finished playing his or her hand, the dealer can then play out the dealer's hand according to house rules (e.g., the dealer can hit until the dealer has a point total of 17 or more, with the optional exception that the dealer may also hit soft 17). The player may also have the option to take insurance when the dealer's upcard is an ace.
Thus, the game described herein provides excitement to the player in that the player can select two cards out of three in order to improve his or her hand. Thus, the player will typically do well on the blackjack portion of the game, typically providing the player with a feeling of success and excitement.
The method can begin with operation 100, which receives, from the player, a blackjack wager, and a poker wager. The blackjack wager and the poker wager should be equal amounts, although in a alternate embodiment these wagers may not be equal (e.g. one could be a multiple of the other).
From operation 100, the method can proceed to operation 102, which deals three initial player cards face down to each player and deals a dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard, both face down. Note the upcard will be revealed later but is dealt face down initially (although in an alternative embodiment the upcard can be initially dealt face up).
From operation 102, the method can proceed to operation 104, which allows the player to examine his or her three initial player cards and select two out of these three cards as the initial blackjack hand. Typically, this is done without the player knowing what the dealer's upcard is, although in an alternate embodiment, the player may see the dealer's upcard before making this decision.
From operation 104, the method can proceed to operation 106, wherein the dealer's upcard is revealed (turned face up).
From operation 106, the method can proceed to operation 108, which determines a rank of a poker hand formed from the three initial player cards and the dealer's upcard, and resolves the poker wager. Alternatively, other combinations of cards can be used form the poker hand, such as only the player's initial three cards, the player's initial three cards and the dealer's downcard, the player's initial three cards and both the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard, the player's initial blackjack hand, the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's downcard, the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard, the player's initial blackjack hand and both the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard, the player's discard and the dealer's upcard, the player's discard and the dealer's downcard, the player's discard and both the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downcard, etc.
After the rank is determined, if it is a winning rank according to the paytable being used, then the player is paid according to the paytable's multiple based on the player's poker wager. If the rank is a losing rank (e.g. nothing), then the player's poker wager is taken by the dealer.
From operation 108, the method can proceed to operation 110, which continues the blackjack game using the initial blackjack hand (two cards) for the player and the dealer's upcard and the dealer's downward for the dealer. The player, after seeing the dealer's upcard, can decide how to play his or her hand, such as hit, stand, double, split, etc.
From operation 110, the method can proceed to operation 112, which takes or pays the blackjack wager based on a result of the blackjack game.
It is noted that the order of operations described above can be performed in any sensible order. For example, the poker wager can be resolved after the blackjack wager is resolved, or at any other time.
Table I illustrates an exemplary set of rules for an embodiment of a blackjack variation game.
Note that Table I illustrates one exemplary set of rules, but other modifications to these rules, as known in the art, could be employed as well. For example, any number of decks can be used (e.g. 1-8 or more). The dealer may stand on soft 17. The player may be allowed to split/resplit a particular number of times (e.g. 1-6, etc.) Any known set of blackjack rules can be used for the blackjack component of the game described herein.
Table II below illustrates different types of poker hands.
Table III below illustrates three different exemplary payout schedules (paytables), for the poker wager each with their own house edge. Table III assumes the poker hand is made of four cards. Table III is based on the rules enumerated in Table I.
Table IV below illustrates a net house edge for each of the three paytables illustrated in Table III. Note that the net house edge is the sum of the poker hand house edge and the blackjack wager house edge. Thus, for example, using paytable 1 (“payout 1”), the house edge on the game is 3.4894% taking into consideration both the two wagers. Thus assumes optimal strategy by the player on the blackjack wager, and typically players will not play using perfect optimal strategy.
A dealer's cards area 200 is used to place the dealer's cards (e.g. the dealer's upcard, the dealer's downcard, and any cards the dealer may draw). A player blackjack wager betting circle 204 is used by the player to place chips for the blackjack wager, and a poker wager betting circle 208 is used by the player to place chips for the poker wager. A blackjack box 202 is used by the player (or dealer after the player makes his or her selections known) to set the cards the player has selected for the initial blackjack hand, and a discard box 206 is used by the player (or dealer) to set the discard. The other five players can use their respective elements similarly. Of course,
An example of a game will now be presented. Of course, the following example is merely just one example of an almost infinite number of game sequences which can occur. Assume the player wagers $1 on the blackjack wager and $1 on the poker wager.
Now that the upcard is revealed, all the cards are known to form a four card poker hand comprised of the player's three initial cards and the dealer's upcard. Note that these cards are: ten of clubs, nine of hearts, eight of spades, jack of spades. Note that this hand is considered a straight. Thus, for example, using payout I from Table III, a straight pays 8:1, thus the player would win $8 (and his original $1 wager would also be returned to him for a total of $9 in chips). This corresponds to operation 108 from
When the player is done playing out his or her hand, the dealer then turns of the dealer's downcard 320. In this case, the downcard is revealed which is a five of clubs. This occurs during operation 110 from
It is noted that the operations described above can be performed in numerous orders. For example, the poker wager can be resolved at any point in the game when all of the cards that are needed in the poker hand are known (e.g. if the poker hand uses the dealer's upcard, when the upcard is revealed). Thus, the poker wager can be resolved after the blackjack hand is resolved, or just before it is resolved, or at any other point.
In a further embodiment, a game as described herein can be played on an electronic device, such as an electronic gaming machine (EGM). The game can also be played over a computer communications network, such as the Internet, and can also be offered at online casinos.
A processing unit 404 can be connected to an output unit 400 (e.g. a CRT, LCD, etc.), an input unit 402 (e.g. a touch screen, keyboard, buttons, etc.), a network connection 406 (e.g. connection to a casino server or the Internet or other communication network), a ROM 408, a RAM 410, and a cash acceptance unit 412 (which can accept cash or other methods of payment to place wagers).
Any embodiments described herein can be played with a standard deck of cards or any type of special deck (e.g. a Spanish deck, etc.) The game can also be played with a single deck or multiple decks (e.g. 1-8 decks or more). Standard rules of blackjack can be used as well as any known variation of blackjack. Further, the order of any of the operations described herein can be performed in any order and wagers can be placed/resolved in any order. Any embodiments herein can also be played in electronic form and programs and/or data for such can be stored on any type of computer readable storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, disk, etc.)
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer for a casino, the method comprising:
- receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager;
- dealing the player three initial player cards;
- allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand;
- revealing a dealer's upcard;
- determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards;
- resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable;
- completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and
- resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.
2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the poker hand comprises all of the initial player cards and the dealer's upcard.
3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the poker hand comprises all of the initial player cards and a dealer's card.
4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing.
5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing.
6. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing.
7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the blackjack wager and the poker wager are equal in value.
8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
9. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
10. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
11. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
12. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
13. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage.
14. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, placing, by the player, the player's initial blackjack hand in a blackjack box outlined on a playing table and placing, by the player, the discard in a discard box outlined on a playing table.
15. An apparatus to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer, the method comprising:
- an output device; and
- a processing unit using the output device and performing: receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; dealing the player three initial player cards; allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand; revealing a dealer's upcard; determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards; resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable; completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: Lawrence Lambert (Las Vegas, NV), Thomas Gallagher (Goleta, CA)
Application Number: 11/394,930
International Classification: A63F 1/00 (20060101);