CARD GAME

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and device for conducting a game using playing cards. Specifically, the present invention is a method and device for conducting a Blackjack-type card game in which a player is afforded an opportunity to place a wager and/or supplement a wager after a portion of the dealer's hand is revealed.

Background of the Invention

Many casino games include players playing against the house to obtain a player hand having a value closer to a target value than the house hand is. For example, Baccarat, Blackjack, Spanish Twenty-One®, and the like all fit this pattern.

Blackjack is a well known card game played hi casinos. The object of the game is to have a final hand sum closer to twenty-one than the dealer's final hand sum is to twenty-one without exceeding twenty-one. For purposes of calculating a hand total, each card has a value equal to its face value except face cards, which have a value often, and Aces, which may have a value of eleven or one as the player selects.

The form of Blackjack played in casinos is house banked. This means that the house is represented by a dealer who deals cards, pays winning player wagers, and collects losing player wagers. Similarly, in a Blackjack game machine, the machine controls a house hand and handles collection and payment of wagers, while a player controls the player hand.

In a typical Blackjack game, each player makes a wager. The dealer, whether live or represented by a game machine, deals two cards to each player and two cards, one card face up and the other face down, to the dealer. Any player receiving a natural twenty-one or Blackjack, i.e. a total of twenty-one in the initial dealt hand, is immediately rewarded, typically at a rate of 2: 1 or 3 :2, and play is terminated as to that player. Each remaining player examines the player's hand and forms a final player hand. In forming the final player hand, the player may hit, i.e. receive another card, or stand, i.e. stop receiving additional cards and make final the current hand. A player may hit as many times as the player wishes as long as the player does not bust, i.e. have a cumulative total greater than twenty-one. When a player busts, the player's wager is immediately collected and play is terminated as to that player.

A player may also have additional options available depending on the initial hand dealt. If the player receives a pair, i.e. two cards having the same face value, the player may split the pair and use each card as a basis for a separate hand. For example, if a player were to be dealt a pair of eights, the player may choose to split the pair and continue play with two hands each having an eight and an additional dealt card. Each of those individual hands is then played independently.

A player may also have the option to double down. The availability of the double down option will vary from casino to casino. However, in all cases, the option allows a player to double the player's wager in exchange for a single additional card. For example, if a player has a initial hand total of eleven, the player may wish to double down, betting that the single additional card dealt is a ten. However, because of the nature of the double down wager, even if the next card is a three, for example, the player cannot receive any additional cards.

After all the players have played their hands, the dealer reveals the face¬ down card in the dealer's hand. The dealer plays the dealer's hand according to established house rules. That is, the house uses established "house rules" to eliminate the dealer's discretion, so that the dealer hits or stands as the house rules dictate. The dealer then resolves the wagers. In resolving the wagers, players with a final hand total closer to twenty-one than the dealer's final hand total are rewarded at even money. Conversely, wagers are collected from players with a final hand total further from twenty-one than the dealer's final hand total. If the dealer busts, all players who did not bust or receive a Blackjack are rewarded. If the player and dealer push, i.e. have the same final hand total, the player's wager is returned.

Blackjack is a well established and, to some, routine game. It is known that players are drawn to new features on conventional games, especially when those features can lead to higher or more frequent pay outs. One method for a player to increase the excitement and potential win for the player is for the player to make an additional wager to participate in a bonus feature. For example, U.S. Pat. No.

5,839,730, issued to Pike, discloses a side wager for Blackjack in which players are immediately rewarded for obtaining card sequences independent and separate from the Blackjack game. The winning bonus sequence may include only two cards, such as a pair of cards or adjacent cards, or it may include multiple cards. The player may earn a bonus reward even if he or she loses the Blackjack game itself.

However, the game of Pike has drawbacks. First, the pay outs are cumulative in that a reward is issued when the player receives the first and second card of the sequence and separate rewards are issued as the player "hits" and receives the other cards of the sequence. That is, a player may be issued a first reward for receiving two aces. If the player hits and receives a third ace, he is rewarded again, and so forth. This can create a burden on the casino because the

dealer must examine each player's hand after each hit to determine whether a bonus hand has been obtained and issue a reward accordingly.

Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 5,288,077, to Jones, discloses a side wager for Blackjack in which players receive a progressive jackpot reward for receiving a variety of hands including straights, suited combinations, and the like. U.S. Patent

No. 5,577,731, also to Jones, likewise discloses a side wager for Blackjack in which players receive a progressive jackpot reward for receiving three aces during the play of the player's hand. The drawbacks to Jones '077 and Jones '731 are that the progressive pay outs must be tracked by the dealer and carried over to each successive game. Again, this can be a burden on the dealer and reduce his or her efficiency and number of games dealt per time period.

Griffiths, U.S. Patent No. 5,174,579, is directed to a game in which a side wager is placed on a dealer Blackjack or bust on three or more playing cards. The drawback of the side wager of Griffiths is that there is no provision for the player to be paid more than even money. That is, a player has no opportunity to receive a higher pay, even though certain outcomes would be less likely to occur. Additionally, the wager of Griffiths is, in some sense, difficult to accurately predict because a player is paid without regard to the quantity of cards dealt in the dealer's hand when the dealer busts. Lofink, U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,888, also discloses a game in which abonus is paid for receiving various combinations of cards that add to twenty-one, such as three sevens, three suited sevens, six-seven-eight, and so forth. However, bonus payouts will be infrequent in such a bonus scheme because the only bonus combinations disclosed add to twenty-one. Also, there is no added excitement for the player because a sum of twenty-one already guarantees the player at least a push.

An additional drawback to all of these games is that the bonus is paid on a separate basis from the base wager and the wager must be made at the beginning of the game, prior to receiving any information about the game. Thus, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a method of conducting a card game in which the player receives some information about the dealer's hand prior to electing whether to place a supplemental wager resolved along with an initial wager.

Summary of the Invention A method and device for conducting a card game between a dealer and a player. While the constitution of the deck of cards could take many different forms, in an optional embodiment, a modified deck consisting essentially of four cards each of Ace, deuce, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, Jack, Queen, and King is used.

The present invention may be considered an improved method for conducting a card game according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. In such an embodiment, the game includes the player making an initial wager. After the player makes an initial wager and prior to dealing any cards to the player, one card is dealt face-up to the dealer. The player then has the option to supplement the initial wager, such as by placing a supplemental wager, prior to dealing any cards to the player. At some point, although not necessarily immediately following the placement of a supplemental wager, if any, an additional card is dealt to the dealer to form an initial dealer hand and two cards are dealt to the player to form an initial player hand. The player forms a final player hand and the dealer forms a final dealer hand according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. Optionally, the dealer acts according to a predetermined set of house rules. Similarly, in an optional embodiment, the player may have the additional option of splitting or doubling

down according to the conventional rules of Blackjack in forming the player's final hand or hands. In an optional embodiment, if the player splits or doubles down, the player places an additional split wager or double down wager up to the amount of the initial wager plus the supplemental wager, if any. A reward is issued to the player on the player's initial wager and supplemental wager, if any, if the final player hand outranks the final dealer hand according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. Conversely, the player's initial wager and supplemental wager, if any, are collected if the final dealer hand outranks the final player hand according to the conventional rules of Blackjack. In an optional embodiment according to the present invention, an optional bust wager may be offered. In such an optional embodiment, the player may opt to place a bust wager prior to the dealing of any playing cards. If the dealer busts according to the conventional rales of Blackjack, and the final dealer hand includes three playing cards, a reward is issued to the player based on the bust wager. Optionally, the reward based on the bust wager varies according to the value of the playing card causing the dealer to bust.

More broadly, the present invention may be considered a method of conducting a playing card game in which the object of the game for the player is to obtain a final hand sum closer to a predetermined target value than the dealer's final hand sum is. As above, the game may be played using a modified deck of playing cards. According to the method, the player makes an initial wager. After the player makes the initial wager and prior to dealing any cards to the player, one card is dealt face-up to the dealer. Prior to dealing any cards to the player, the player has the option of supplementing the player's initial wager, such as by placing a supplemental wager.

An initial player hand is formed by dealing two cards to the player. If the initial player hand forms an automatic winning outcome, such as by matching the predetermined target value, the player is rewarded and play by the player is terminated. Otherwise, the player forms a final player hand by opting to receive additional cards or stand on the initial player hand.

An initial dealer hand is formed by dealing an additional card to the dealer. The initial dealer hand is revealed after the player forms the final player hand and a final dealer hand is formed. Optionally, the final dealer hand is formed according to predetermined house rules. Wagers are resolved by issuing a reward to the player on the player's initial wager plus any supplement if the final player hand is closer to a predetermined target value than the final dealer hand is and collecting the player's initial wager plus any supplement if the final dealer hand is closer to a predetermined target value than the final player hand is. As above, an optional bust wager may also be placed and the player may have the option to split or double down after the initial player hand is dealt.

The present invention may also be embodied in a device, such as a gaming machine or general purpose computer executing software instructions. Such a device includes a data processor communicating with a display, an input device, a wager receiver, and a data structure. The data structure stores data representing playing cards, optionally a modified deck of playing cards, a set of house rules, and instructions executable by the data processor for conducting a game method.

The game method executed by the data processor includes receiving a signal from the wager receiver in response to receipt of an initial wager from the player. In response to the signal, a card is dealt to a dealer hand and displayed the card face-up at the display. After the face-up card is dealt to the dealer and prior to any cards being dealt to the player, the player is given the option of placing a supplemental

wager. That is, the data processor receives a signal from the wager device indicating receipt of a supplemental wager to the initial wager or receives a signal from the player through the input device declining to place a supplemental wager.

Two cards are dealt to the player to form an initial player hand. If the initial player hand forms an automatic winning outcome, a reward is issued to the player and play by the player is terminated. Otherwise the player forms a final player hand by opting through the input device to receive additional cards or stand on the initial player hand. Optionally, the player may have to option to split or double down when forming the final player hand or, in the case of one or more splits, final player hands.

Similarly, an additional card is dealt to the dealer to form an initial dealer hand. The initial dealer hand is revealed at the display and a final dealer hand is formed according to the house rules. Wagers are resolved by issuing a reward to the player on the player's initial wager and supplemental wager, if any, if the final player hand is closer to a predetermined target value than the final dealer hand is or collecting the player's initial wager and supplemental wager, if any, if the final dealer hand is closer to a predetermined target value than the final player hand is.

Optionally, the method may include receiving a bust wager from the player at the wager receiver prior to the dealing of any playing cards. In such an embodiment, if the dealer exceeds the predetermined target value, and the final dealer hand includes three playing cards, a reward is issued to the player based on the bust wager. In an optional embodiment, the size of the reward varies according to the value of the playing card causing the dealer to bust. Conversely, if the dealer does not exceed the predetermined target value, or the dealer exceeds the predetermined target value with a final dealer hand including four or more playing cards, the bust wager is collected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a method 10 and device 38 for conducting a game. It is noted that the present game may be conducted in a live version, using physical playing cards and a live dealer, in an electronic version, using electronic playing cards and a computer- controlled dealer, or in a hybrid version using some live aspects and some electronic aspects. The game of the present invention utilizes playing cards or electronic representations thereof. In conducting the present game, any quantity of playing cards could be used. For example, the present game could be dealt from a single deck, or from multiple decks. Additionally, each deck may have a conventional constitution of fifty-two cards, a supplemented constitution of more than fifty-two cards, or a modified constitution of fewer than fifty-two cards. For example, in one optional embodiment, the present invention is conducted using a modified deck consisting essentially of forty-eight cards: four Aces, four deuces, four threes, four fours, four fives, four sixes, four sevens, four eights, four nines, four Jacks, four Queens, and four Kings. In such an optional embodiment, as previously noted, one or more such modified decks may be used. It is noted that the deck could also be

modified in other manners, such as by eliminating other ten-value cards in addition to, or in place of, the ten spot cards.

One or more players play against a house dealer. In the case of a gaming machine, the gaming machine usually acts as the dealer. In the case of a live table game, the dealer is typically a person. In either event, the dealer typically, although not necessarily, plays according to a predetermined set of house rules dictating the formation of the final dealer hand as discussed in greater detail below.

As shown in FIG. 1, according to the present invention, each player places 12 an initial wager. In a table embodiment, the initial wager may be subject to table limits; in a machine embodiment, the initial wager may also be subject to certain game limits. After the initial wager is placed, at least one card is dealt 14 to the dealer and exposed to the player. The player then has the option 16 to supplement the initial wager, such as by placing a supplemental wager. That is, the player is allowed to stake additional amounts based on the exposed card dealt to the dealer. It is noted that the point in the game method at which a player may make the supplemental wager need not necessarily be identical to the point shown in the optional embodiment of the figures. For example, in one optional embodiment, a player is permitted to supplement the initial wager after one face-up card is dealt to the dealer but before any cards are dealt to the player. However, this sequence could vary. For example, in another optional embodiment, the player may be dealt one or more cards, but the cards may not be exposed to the player until after the player has opted whether or not to supplement his initial wager. Such an embodiment may be particularly suited for a gaming machine in which cards could be dealt to a player hand, but not displayed until after the player decides whether to supplement the initial wager.

At some point, an additional playing card is dealt 18 to the dealer. The initial dealer hand includes the card dealt face-up and the additional playing card. Similarly, at some point, an initial player hand is dealt 18 to the player. Again, in one optional embodiment, the sequence of these events would proceed from each player opting whether to supplement his or her initial wager, to dealing an initial player hand to each player, to dealing an additional playing card to the dealer to form the initial dealer hand. However, this sequence could vary. As noted above, in an optional embodiment, a portion or all of the player hand could be dealt prior to the player opting to supplement his or her initial wager. Similarly, the dealer's initial hand could be completed before or after the player opts to make a supplemental wager and/or before or after the initial player hand is dealt. In short, the sequence of events of the embodiment of FIG. 1 should be taken as illustrative rather than restricting.

After the player has obtained his or her initial player hand, in an optional embodiment, the player determines 22 whether the player has an automatic winning holding. For example, if the present invention is applied to Blackjack, the player automatically wins if the initial player hand is a natural twenty-one, i.e. a ten-value card, such as a ten, Jack, Queen, or King, in combination with an Ace. It is noted that in an optional embodiment, the dealer and player may push if both have a natural twenty-one. Nonetheless, in an embodiment providing for such an outcome, a player obtaining an automatic winning holding may be rewarded 26 and play may be terminated for that player. While the pay outs for an automatic winning holding could vary according to house rule, in an optional embodiment applied to Blackjack, the player is rewarded at even money for obtaining a natural twenty-one. In an optional embodiment, an insurance wager may be provided. In such an optional embodiment, a player may be eligible to place an insurance wager,

optionally limited to an amount less than or equal to the player's initial wager, when the dealer's face-up card is a certain value. In an optional embodiment of the present invention applied to conventional Blackjack, insurance is available when the face-up card dealt to the dealer is an Ace or, under certain house rules, an Ace or ten-value card. In such an optional embodiment, a dealer having 20 a natural twenty-one, i.e. an Ace plus a ten-value card in his initial dealer hand, collects 24 initial wagers from each player who does not also have a natural twenty-one, but pays each player placing an insurance wager. Optionally, the insurance wager is paid at greater than even money, such as, for example, 5:2. If the player does not have an automatically winning hand, the player forms

28 a final player hand by hitting, i.e. receiving additional playing cards, or standing, i.e. making final the cards held by the player at that time. In an optional embodiment of the invention, the goal of the game is to obtain a hand closer to a predetermined target value than the dealer's hand is. For example, in an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a conventional Blackjack game, the goal for the player is to obtain a hand sum closer to twenty-one than the dealer's hand sum is, without exceeding twenty-one. Thus, a player with a hand of KO 90 would likely stand, whereas a player with a hand of 7& 20 would likely hit. In an optional embodiment applied to Blackjack, the player may also have the option of splitting the player's hand or doubling down when forming 28 the final player hand or, in the case of one or more splits, final player hands. Splitting involves the player holding a pair in his initial player hand placing an additional split wager, in this case an amount up to the initial wager plus any supplemental wager, and playing each of the cards of the pair as a separate hand. In an optional embodiment, the player is required to place an additional split wager equal to the initial wager plus any supplement. For example, suppose a player who wagered an

initial bet of 10 units and supplemented the wager with an additional 10 units is dealt 8<S> 8V. If the player wishes wish to split the pair, the player places a split wager of 20 units and is then allowed to use the 8<2? and 89 as the bases for separate hands. In a further optional embodiment, the player may be permitted to re-split a player hand a limited number of times or indefinitely if the player again obtains a pair after a split.

A double down wager may also be allowed. Moreover, in an optional embodiment, the double down wager may be combined with the split wager in that a player may be permitted to double down on one or both new hands after splitting a hand. Additionally, unlike conventional double down wagers, in an optional embodiment, the player may be permitted to place a double down wager on any quantity of playing cards with any hand sum. In a double down, the player places a double down wager less than or equal to the initial wager plus any supplemental wager. For example, in such an embodiment, assuming the initial wager is 10 units and a supplemental wager is 10 units, a player could place a double down wager of

20 or fewer units. In exchange for such a double down wager, the player is dealt one, and only one, additional card.

After each player has formed 28 a final player hand, the dealer forms 30 a final dealer hand. In an optional embodiment, the dealer may form 30 his final dealer hand according to house rules that leave the dealer no discretion in forming the final dealer hand. Nonetheless, the dealer hits or stands and, eventually, forms 30 a final dealer hand.

The final dealer hand and final player hand are compared 32 to the target value. The player is rewarded 34 based on the player's initial wager plus any supplemental wager if the final player hand is closer to the target value than the final dealer hand is. Similarly, the player may be rewarded 34 if the dealer exceeded the

target value and the player did not. For example, in an optional embodiment applied to Blackjack, a player with a final player hand sum of 19 would be rewarded if the dealer had a final dealer hand sum of 18 or less, or 22 or more. Optionally, the player would push if the dealer and player have the same hand sum and the player's initial wager plus any supplement would be collected 36 if the final dealer hand is closer to the target value than the final player hand is. Thus, in the example above in which the final player hand sum is 19, a push occurs if the final dealer hand sum is 19 and the player's initial wager plus any supplement would be collected if the final dealer hand sum is 20 or 21. In the event of a player win, the player is rewarded 30 based on the initial wager and any supplement. For example, if a player places a 10 unit initial wager and supplements with a 5 unit supplemental wager, a winning player hand results in a payout on the total wager of 15 units. Optionally, the payout is even money; thus, in the example, a winning player would be paid 15 units. In one optional embodiment, an optional side wager may be placed 12 prior to the dealing of any playing cards. Such a side wager would be a proposition wager that the dealer hand would bust, i.e. exceed a hand total of 21, on the third card dealt to the dealer. For example, suppose a dealer has an initial hand of 80 7ώ and hits to obtain a JV, the dealer has busted in three cards. Any player placing the side wager in such an example game would be rewarded 34 on the side wager amount. While the payout could be a constant value or multiplier, in an optional embodiment, the payout for the side wager may optionally depend upon the value of the third card, i.e. the card causing the dealer to bust. For example, one optional pay table is shown in Table 1:

Table 1

Third Card Drawn Payout

Face Card 3 to l

Nine 6 to l

Eight 8 to l

Seven lO to l

Six 15 to l

Bonus for 8 8 8 of Same Color 50 to l

Bonus for 8 8 8 Suited 200 to 1

The present method could also be applied to a device 38 for conducting a game for a player. As discussed above, in such an embodiment, the dealer may be live or represented by the game device. It is further noted that the game device could be a specific use game device, such as a video card machine, or could be a general purpose computer programmed to conduct the present game. A device according to the present invention includes a data processor 40.

The data processor 40 could take any form. The data processor 40 communicates with a display 44, optionally through a display controller. The display 44 could be any form including cathode ray tube ("CRT"), liquid crystal display ("LCD"), plasma, or the like. The data processor 40 also communicates with a wager receiver 48. The wager receiver 48 could be any means for receiving a wager or wager data.

For example, the wager receiver 48 could receive coins; bills; tokens; encoded vouchers, tickets, or script; account data, such as banking or credit card data; or any other form of data or media representing a wager. The data processor 40 also communicates with an input device 46. The input device 46 could include any device usable by the player to input information or make selections, such as buttons, a keypad or keyboard, a touchscreen, or any other input device.

A data structure 42 communicating with the data processor 40 stores electronic representations of playing cards (optionally with a full or modified deck constitution as discussed above), a set of house rules including pay outs, and instructions executable by the data processor for conducting a game method. The data structure 42 could be any structure storing data including any type of optical, magnetic, flash, electrical, or electronic memory, in any form, such as random access memory ("RAM"), read-only memory ("ROM"), or any of the many variations thereon. It is also noted that each of these elements, i.e. the data processor 40, data structure 42, display 44, input device 46, and wager receiver 48, need not be physically proximate but may be remote from one another and, in such an embodiment, could communicate via computer network, telephone line, wireless communication, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in conducting the game method, the data processor receives a signal from the wager receiver 48 indicating the placing 12 of an initial wager by the player. In response to this signal, the data processor 40 randomly selects a playing card and "deals" 14 or assigns that playing card to a dealer hand. The playing card is exposed at the display 44 and the player is presented with the option 16 of supplementing the initial wager, such as by placing a supplemental wager. In an optional embodiment, the player could signal his or her intention to decline to place any additional wager through the input device 46.

Similarly, in such an optional embodiment, the player could place a supplemental wager at the wager receiver 48 which, in turn, would transmit a signal to the data processor 40 indicating the receipt of the supplemental wager.

An initial player hand is dealt 18 and revealed to the player at the display 44. Again, as above, the initial player hand could be dealt at any time. However, the initial player hand is only fully revealed after the player has opted whether or not to

place a supplemental wager. As above, if a player has an automatic winning hand 22, in the case of Blackjack such a hand would be a natural twenty-one, the player is rewarded 26, optionally at even money, and play by the player is terminated. If the dealer has an automatic winning hand 20, the player's initial wager plus any supplement is collected 24 and play by the player is terminated.

Otherwise, a final player hand is formed 28 by inputting the player's selection to hit or stand through the input device 46. Additionally, in an optional embodiment, the player may additionally have the option to split or double down by placing at the wager receiver 48 a wager equal, or less than or equal, respectively, to the initial wager plus any supplement. In an optional embodiment based on

Blackjack, play by a player is terminated and the player loses his initial wager plus any supplement if the player busts.

The final dealer hand is formed 30 by the data processor 40 according to the stored house rules. The final dealer hand and final player hand are compared 32 to the predetermined target value, 21 in the case of Blackjack, and the player is rewarded 34 on his initial wager plus any supplement if the player's hand sum is closer to the target than the dealer's hand sum is, or if the dealer busts. Conversely, if the dealer's hand sum is closer to the target than the player's hand sum is, or, as discussed above, the player busts, the player loses 36 his initial wager plus any supplement.

In an optional embodiment, the side wager or bust wager, as previously described, may be available to a player. In such a bust wager, the player may place an additional amount at the wager receiver 48 before any cards are dealt. The player is rewarded 34 on the side wager if the dealer busts in exactly three cards. Conversely, the side wager is collected by the house when the dealer does not bust or when the dealer busts in four or more cards. As above, while the pay out could be

constant, it is also contemplated that the reward on the side wager may vary with the value of the third playing card causing the dealer to bust. These pay outs could optionally vary according to Table 1 given above.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein.