Amusement devices: games – Board games – pieces – or boards therefor – Betting or wagering board
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-28
2001-09-04
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Board games, pieces, or boards therefor
Betting or wagering board
C273S292000, C463S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283474
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods for playing casino games using playing cards. More particularly it relates to Blackjack and Blackjack-like games.
BACKGROUND
Blackjack, also known as “
21
” is popular and has been played in casinos for many years. The rules of the game of Blackjack are well known to those skilled in the art.
The rules, with a few exceptions, are fairly universal. Some alternate rules of the basic Blackjack game require the dealer to hit a soft
17
(a hand count according to the rules of Blackjack of
17
including an Ace which counts as one or eleven), limit the hand counts to which a player can double down to ten or eleven, and limit the number of times a hand can be split are but a few examples. These alternate or modified rules are well known as well.
Recently, Blackjack-like games such as SPANISH
21
® described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,888 issued Apr. 1, 1997 to Lofink et al the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, have been created. Some of these games include the feature of an additional or side wager to fund and participate in a jackpot feature for the game based upon the player's hand. In these games the side wager is optional and is not mandatory
As hereinafter used, the term Blackjack or Blackjack-like or Blackjack-style game refers not only to the basic Blackjack game with its variations but also the aforementioned and other games which are like Blackjack.
Other variations include that described in Le Vasseur U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,789 where a player can play a single hand against multiple dealer's hands and String U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,705 where a player can elect to wager upon whether the player or dealer will obtain a winning hand.
These Blackjack games are banked by the house (e.g. casino). This means that the player is playing against the dealer who represents the house. Wagers are paid to a player having a winning outcome by the dealer (the “house”) and losing wagers are collected by the dealer for the house. Further nearly all winning outcomes are paid at even money, i.e. 1:1, except for a Blackjack (an Ace with a ten value card) which typically pays 3:2.
In contrast to Blackjack, the game of Poker and its variations is a contest between the players with the highest ranking hand winning the pooled wagers (often referred to as the “pot”), less a levy or “rake” taken by the house dealer for hosting the game. Unlike Blackjack the game of Poker generates social interplay in the form of friendly or not so friendly rivalry, humor, banter and by play between the players which contributes to the excitement of the game.
It is an object of the method of the present invention to inject the excitement associated with Poker into the game of Blackjack.
It is a further object of the method of the present invention to increase the revenue received by the casino for Blackjack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is provided, therefore, according to the present invention an improved method for the play of Blackjack or a Blackjack-style game where the players, in addition to their normal first or ante wager to play a hand of Blackjack, each make a second wager. The second wagers are aggregated to form a pot. At the conclusion of the Blackjack hand resolved according to the rules thereof, the dealer compares, for all players remaining in the hand, all players' hand outcomes to determine which players' outcome hand(s) are closest to 21. If all players have previously “busted” by exceeding 21 the pot is carried over. For the player having a final outcome hand count at or closest to 21, he/she is awarded the pot. If two or more players tie for the pot, the pot is shared pro rata.
To provide additional revenue to the casino the casino may exact a rake on the pot such as 1%, one dollar or the like.
As but a further feature a portion of each pot may be allocated to form a progressive jackpot awarded to a player having a predetermined final hand outcome.
As can be appreciated, by providing for the making of a second wager, the element of competition of Poker is injected into a Blackjack game. Further a player may lose their Blackjack hand but win the pot or vice versa, also increasing the excitement of the game. Also the pot can be used to increase the revenue for the table by exacting a levy or rake on each pot and by using the pot to fund a progressive jackpot. Where a jackpot is used, a player may win and lose any combination of the Blackjack game, the pot or the jackpot. This increases the excitement for the game.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5265882 (1993-11-01), Malek
patent: 5288077 (1994-02-01), Jones
patent: 5364105 (1994-11-01), Jones
patent: 5377973 (1995-01-01), Jones
patent: 5395120 (1995-03-01), Malek
patent: 5417430 (1995-05-01), Breeding
patent: 5482289 (1996-01-01), Weingardt
patent: 5577731 (1996-11-01), Jones
Anderson Philip J.
Anderson & Morishita
Layno Benjamin H.
Mendiratta V K
LandOfFree
Method for playing a casino game does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for playing a casino game, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for playing a casino game will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2541179