Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-17
2003-07-29
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598879
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of playing a Blackjack game. More specifically it relates to a modification of the method of playing a Blackjack game. The modification to the game involves the placing of a side bet to the traditional Blackjack game. The side bet wagers that the player's hand will total over 21 after the player has been hit.
The conventional casino Blackjack table is a half-circle with one curved side for the players to stand or sit and a straight side where the dealer stands or sits. Most conventional Blackjack tables have five, six or seven player positions. Each player position has a single “21” wager box.
As used in this patent application the terms “conventional Blackjack” and “the conventional manner of play of Blackjack” means the game of Blackjack as described on pages 276-282 of Scarne's Encyclopedia of Games by John Scarne, Harper & Row publishers and as described and incorporated herein by reference.
In conventional Blackjack, at least one standard deck of 52 playing cards is used and each card counts its face value. The only exceptions are Aces which have a value of one or eleven as is most beneficial to the count of the player's hand and face cards which have a value of ten. The player's object of the game is to get a higher count (total value of cards in hand) than the dealer's hand, but not over 21.
In the conventional or traditional game of Blackjack, a “21” wager is made by each player before the start of the deal. When the dealer's final hand is closer to 21, but not over, or the player busts, the player loses that wager. When the player wins that wager, the dealer pays the player an amount equal to the player's “21” wager. However, if the player gets a “natural” blackjack hand, the dealer pays the player one and one-half times the amount of the player's wager. Those skilled in the art know that individual casinos pay larger odds and/or various bonuses in addition to the conventional payoffs.
The sequence of play is shown by the flowchart in FIG.
1
. As indicated by step
10
, the player makes the Blackjack wager. The dealer then deals the cards in step
12
. In the dealing procedure, each player initially receives two cards. The dealer also receives two cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face-down and the other face-up. In some casinos, the dealer receives his two cards at the same time that each player is dealt his two cards. In other casinos, the dealer initially only receives one card which becomes the dealer's face-up card. The dealer receives his second card after each player has taken additional cards.
There are three situations to be considered after the hands are dealt. The first situation is when the dealer's face card is an ace. This situation is shown in step
14
. The second situation is when the dealer's face card has a value of 2 through 9. This situation is shown in step
16
. Finally, the third situation is when the dealer's face card is a 10 or a picture card whose value is also 10. This situation is shown in step
18
. Depending on the above three situations, various outcomes are possible as described below.
Referring now to step
14
, if the dealer has an Ace as an upcard, the player is given the option of placing a side bet known as Blackjack insurance that the dealer's second card will result in the dealer having a Blackjack. A description of the Blackjack insurance is given below. The actions pertaining to the Blackjack insurance are shown in steps
20
and
22
. Step
20
indicates that the player has not placed the Blackjack insurance bet. Step
22
indicates that the player has placed the Blackjack insurance bet. After the player has or has not placed the Blackjack insurance bet in boxes
20
and
22
, the dealer shows his hand as indicated in steps
24
,
26
,
28
, and
30
. In step
24
, the dealer is represented to have a Blackjack after the player has not taken Blackjack insurance. In this case, the player loses the regular bet as indicated in step
32
and the game is over.
Alternatively, the player pushes the bet if he too has a Blackjack. In step
28
, the dealer is represented to have a Blackjack after the player has taken Blackjack insurance. In this case, the player loses the regular bet and wins on the Blackjack insurance as indicated in result circle
34
and the game is over. Alternately, in step
26
, the dealer is represented to not have a Blackjack after the player has not taken Blackjack insurance. In this case, neither the dealer nor the player wins or loses and the game proceeds to the next stage where the player either stands on his hand as indicated in step
46
or requests hit cards as indicated in step
44
. In step
30
, the dealer is represented to not have a Blackjack after the player has taken Blackjack insurance. In this case, the player keeps the regular bet and loses on the Blackjack insurance as indicated in step
36
and the game proceeds to the next stage where the player either stands on his hand as indicated in step
46
or requests hit cards as indicated in step
44
.
Returning now to the second situation shown in step
16
where the dealer has a 2-9 as an upcard, the game proceeds to the next stage where the player either stands on his hand as indicated in step
46
or requests hit cards as indicated in step
44
.
Returning now to the third situation shown in step
18
where the dealer has a 10 as an upcard, the dealer then checks his hole card. If the dealer does not have a Blackjack as shown in step
38
, the game proceeds to the next stage where the player either stands on his hand as indicated in step
46
or requests hit cards as indicated in step
44
. If the dealer has a Blackjack as shown in step
40
, the player loses the regular bet as indicated by step
42
. Alternately, the player pushes the bet if he too has a Blackjack.
At the next stage of the game, as noted above, the player starts by either standing on his hand as indicated in step
46
or by requesting one or more cards (hit/hits) as indicated by step
44
. The dealer can also take additional cards to make his hand. This aspect is not shown in the flowchart, but is well known as being a part of the game. After the dealer has taken his additional cards, the dealer shows his hand as indicated by step
50
. If the dealer breaks as shown in step
54
, the player wins the regular bet as shown in step
62
. If the dealer does not break but instead makes a hand as shown in step
52
, the player's and the dealer's hands are compared as shown in step
56
. If the player's hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, the player wins as shown in step
62
. If both the dealer and the player have equal hand, the result is a push as indicated by step
60
. If the dealer's hand is closer to 21 than the player's hand, the player loses as shown in step
58
.
Returning now to the situation where the player requests additional cards as shown in step
44
, two outcomes are possible. If the additional cards result in the player getting a hand with a total greater than 21, the player breaks as shown in step
48
. In this case, the player loses as shown in step
58
. After the player stops requesting additional cards in step
44
, the dealer may take his additional cards to make his hand. After the dealer has taken his additional cards, the dealer shows his hand as indicated by step
50
. If the dealer breaks as shown in box
54
, the player wins the regular bet as shown in step
62
. If the dealer does not break but instead makes a hand as shown in step
52
, the player's and the dealer's hands are compared as shown in step
56
. If the player's hand is closer to 21 than the dealer's hand, the player wins as shown in step
62
. If both the dealer and the player have equal hand, the result is a push as indicated by step
60
. If the dealer's hand is closer to 21 than the player's hand, the player loses as shown in step
58
.
There are other procedures to the abo
Foster Brian Keith
Spur Mark John
Layno Benjamin H.
Multishift, Inc.
Skinner, Watson & Rounds
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