Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-03
2004-01-13
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
C273S236000, C273S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06676128
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to wagering card games, and in particular relates to a method of playing a wagering card game of the Blackjack variety which utilizes and action player and a fast action round. The present invention also relates to a method of playing a wagering card game which can include a house dealer for play where gambling against a casino house is legal, or a player-dealer for play where gambling against a casino house is illegal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Card games of the Blackjack variety are well known in the prior art and are particularly popular as wagering card games in casinos. In such games, the cards have established numerical values, such as ace equals one or eleven, face cards equal ten and all other cards equal their face values (e.g. a two has a numerical value of two, a three has a numerical value of three, etc.). To play these card games, a player tries to reach an established target numerical total by sequentially accumulating cards and summing their numerical values. Typically, two cards initially are dealt, and the player then has the option of either (1) “standing” with the two cards, or (2) requesting and being dealt one or more additional cards (“hits”).
The most common form of these games is the game of “Blackjack” or “21” wherein the established target numerical total is the value 21. A player wins a wager if the numerical total of the player's cards is less than or equal to 21 and is closer to 21 than the numerical total of the dealer's cards. If the numerical total of the player's or dealer's cards exceeds 21, the respective hand is a “bust”, and loses to any hand having a numerical total of 21 or less.
Conventional rules of the card game Blackjack (Twenty-One) are well known in the prior art and can be found in several references including the following: (1) Scarne's New Complete Guide to Gambling, John Scarne, Harper & Row, New York, 1973; (2) Scarne's Encyclopedia of Games, John Scarne, Harper & Row, New York, 1973; (3) Hoyle's Modern Encyclopedia of Card Games, W. Gibson, Doubleday and Company, New York, and (4) Official Rule of Card Games, Albert H. Morehead, Fawcett Crest, New York, 1990.
In many states, such as California, Blackjack is illegal. Therefore, other similar Blackjack-type games have been devised. One such game is “California Blackjack”, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,415 to Wisted, issued Jan. 4, 1994, wherein the established numerical total is the value 22. In “California Blackjack”, a player tries to get closer to 22 than the dealer (usually a “player banker”). If the player's numerical total exceeds 22, the hand is not “bust”. Other established numerical target totals are of course possible. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,300 to Sardarian, issued Aug. 27, 1996, the target numerical sum is 20. In fact, any target numerical sum that is consistent with the established values of the cards may be used.
A method of playing a wagering game is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,452,900 to Skratulia et al., issued Sep. 26, 1995, in which the use of an action player and a fast action bank is developed as an adjunct to numerous existing games, including Pan Nine, Pai Gow Poker, California Blackjack and Blackjack Jokers. In this type of wagering game, the players actively participate against one another by comparing hands and settling wagers in a sequential manner. However, in Skratulia et al., the dealer only deals cards to the several players and otherwise does not participate in the playing of the game.
Despite the development of Blackjack-type card games and methods of wagering, a need still exists for a wagering card game which is of the Blackjack variety and which includes a dealer who can participate in the playing of the game. Such a wagering card game should be adaptable for play against a casino house as well as in other casinos where playing against the house is illegal. Such a wagering card game also should utilize an action player and a fast action round in order to enable players to actively participate against one another. Moreover, such a wagering card game should increase player excitement by providing the opportunity for a single player to win multiple wagers in a single hand by winning against multiple players. Further, such a wagering card game should appeal to Blackjack players as well as encourage new players. In addition, such a wagering card game should increase the revenues of each table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of playing a wagering card game in which a dealer can be a participant in the playing of the game even in jurisdictions where playing against a casino house is illegal.
It is also an object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a wagering card game which can be adapted both for play against a casino house and for play where wagering against a casino house is illegal.
It is another object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a wagering card game which utilizes a fast action player and fast action play.
It is an additional object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a wagering card game which increases player excitement and which creates the opportunity for a player to win multiple wagers in a single hand by winning against several other players.
It is a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a wagering card game which appeals to Blackjack players and which will encourage new players.
It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of playing a wagering card game which increases the revenues of each table.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part of the description which follow, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification and claims or may be learned by practice of the invention.
These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a method of playing a wagering card game in which a dealer and four (4) to eight (8) players participate in a Blackjack-type card game comprising the placing of a wager by each of the players; the selection of an action player; the dealing of a hand to each of the players and the dealer, commencing with the action player; the acting on each hand by each of the players and the dealer, commencing with the dealer; and, initiating the fast action round, commencing between the dealer and the action player.
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Borsari Peter A.
Collins Dolores R.
Layno Benjamin H.
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