BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method of playing a blackjack game, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a method of playing a modified blackjack game in which an additional wager is permitted, the outcome of the additional wager determined by whether the player, another player, or the dealer achieves exactly a count of 21 using only the first two cards dealt to the dealer or a player.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
Twenty-One (also called Blackjack) is a staple of most casinos. Conventional Blackjack involves a game of chance between a dealer and one or more players. The object is for the player to achieve a card count closer to 21 than the count of the hand of the dealer, but if the count of the player's hand goes over 21 then the player loses regardless of the final count of the dealer's hand. A standard deck of playing cards is used and each card counts its face value, except Aces which have a value of one or eleven as is most beneficial to the count of the hand. Both the dealer and the player initially receive two cards. One of the dealer's cards is dealt face down and the other of the dealer's cards is dealt face up. The player may draw additional cards (take “hits”) in order to try and beat the count of the dealer's hand. If the player's count exceeds 21, the player “busts.” After all of the players have taken hits or have stood on their hand, the dealer “stands” or “hits” based on pre-established rules for the game. Typically, if the dealer has less than 17, the dealer must take a hit. If the dealer has 17 or more, the dealer stands. The closest to a 21 count, without going over, wins; tie hands are a “push.”
One modification that is often permitted in a conventional Blackjack game is what is known as “Insurance.” The player has the opportunity to make an “insurance” bet when the dealer's face up card is an Ace. These insurance bets are made after each player and the dealer receives their first two cards and before any additional cards are dealt. When the dealer's face up card is an Ace, each player can wager one-half of the amount of his original wager as insurance against the dealer having a Blackjack, i.e., a two-card 21 count (an Ace and a 10 count card such as a King, Queen, Jack, or Ten).
If the dealer has a two-card 21 count, the player loses on his original wager unless the player also has a two-card 21 in which case there is a tie on the original wager, but wins two-to-one odds on his second “insurance” bet. Also if the dealer has a two-card 21 count, the round of the game is over and all players lose except those who also have two-card 21 counts. If the dealer does not have a two-card 21 count, the player loses on his “insurance” bet and the round of the game continues.
Blackjack has remained remarkably unchanged over the years. There have been a few other modifications proposed to the basic game, but none of these modifications have achieved universal popularity. For example, in the conventional Blackjack game, the dealer shows one (the “up” card) of his first two cards and the other card (the “hole” card) is kept hidden until all the players have drawn to their hands. One modification includes the dealer showing both of his cards face up before the players draw. This improves the player's odds of winning and the payout odds have been modified to adjust for this change so that the house's advantage remains.
In the conventional Blackjack game once the player draws his cards and exceeds a count of 21 (i.e., the player “busts”), the player has no further interest in what occurs during the remainder of the round.
As in any game of chance, if the gaming establishment can present an attractive and fun modification to a typical game and thereby increase the amounts bet by the player, the gaming establishment can generate more betting and increase the return on their investments. This invention creates a method of playing a modified Blackjack game in which an additional wager is permitted with the outcome of the additional wager determined by whether the player, another player, or the dealer achieves exactly a count of 21 with the first two cards. This invention achieves the objective of presenting an attractive and fun modification to the typical 21 or Blackjack game to increase the wagering and thus a greater return on the gaming establishment's investment.
To initiate the modified game of Blackjack a player makes a first wager to be eligible to participate in the standard Blackjack game. The player also has the option to make an additional separate wager, or side wager. It will be understood that the establishment may or may not require that the player participate in the standard Blackjack game to be eligible to participate in the side wager. The side wager allows the player to bet on whether the player, an additional player, and/or the dealer will achieve a card count of exactly 21 with the first two cards dealt. The player may also make any number of additional insurance bets or any other types of bets that would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art with the present disclosure before them.
It will be understood that the establishment may require that the player designate the individual (e.g., the player, an additional player, the dealer, or all) that is expected to receive a Blackjack as a condition to winning the side wager. For example, the player may place the side wager based upon the condition that the dealer will receive a two card count of 21, or Blackjack.
The standard Blackjack game is then played out according to the conventional method of play of the game by dealing each of the players two cards face up. More specifically, two cards are dealt to each of the players and the dealer receives one card face up and one card face down. Each of the players is allowed to hit or stand until they receive a card count of their choosing, preferably 21 without going over unless the dealer has 21 or Blackjack with the dealer's first two cards. If the dealer has a two card count of 21, the dealer wins or ties if a player also has a two card count of 21. If the player has placed a side wager upon the condition that the dealer, the player or an additional player will receive a two card count of 21, and if the dealer, the player or the additional player does receive a two card count of 21, the player is compensated at a given amount set by the establishment. If the dealer, the player or the additional player does not receive a two card count of 21, the dealer takes the side wager and the side wager is lost. The side wager may payout at a rate of 10:1 to 30:1 and still have a good profit margin for the establishment. It will be understood that the amount of the payout rate can be determined by the establishment and may be any number of different payout rates. For a player that does not make the side wager, the dealer plays according to the standard rules and the standard game of Blackjack is completed such that the normal winning and losing hands are paid or collected by the dealer.
As stated previously, the establishment may impose limits on the amount of the separate side wagers in any of the above described embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the additional side wager does not interfere with the regular play of the standard Blackjack game. Players may still split pairs, double down, and/or take insurance according to established game rules provided by the establishment.
From the above description it is clear that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and as defined in the appended claims.