US20010040344A1

US20010040344A1 - Card game and method of play

Info

Publication number: US20010040344A1
Application number: US09/757,225
Authority: US
Inventors: Fardin Zahedi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-06
Filing date: 2001-01-05
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: CA2330356A1

Abstract

The invention is a card game played with a deck of 53 cards. This is a multi-bonus wagering game. The method of playing includes playing a regular wager at the beginning of the game, and an optional first bonus wager and second bonus wager. The dealer deals cards, two face down to the player at the beginning of the game and one face up to the Dealer. The players shall have an option to receive more cards. Each player attempts to achieve a higher total point value per hand than the dealer without exceeding a value of 21, or each player attempts to achieve the best possible bonus combination in the single hand with out exceeding the total value of the 21. Preferably, the Player's hand can beat the Dealer, and/or win the bonuses in eight ways: (1) Achieve a higher total point value than the Dealer's hand without exceeding a value of 21; (2) Achieve a total point value of 21 or less with the Dealer's hand exceeding a value of 21; (3) Achieve a Blackjack (total point value of 21 with the first two cards); (4) Achieve a total value of 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 with Joker being part of their hand and the Joker bonus bet made; (5) Poker bonus: Placing the bet on the Poker bonus spot, and attempt to achieve a pair or better with out exceeding total value of 21 with or with out the Joker, and other bonus hands as defined in a table of payouts; or (6) Joker and Poker Bonus: Placing the bet on both bonus spots, and attempting to achieve a poker hand without exceeding a total value of 21 with the Joker as part of their hand, such hands defined in a bonus table of payouts

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to card games, and more particularly to card games based on twenty-one (also known as Blackjack) that incorporate elements of the card game known as Poker.

2. Description of the Related Art

twenty-one is a card game commonly available in casinos. The thematic object of the game is for a player to obtain a hand of cards having a value closer to 21 than the value of the dealer's hand. If the value of the player's hand exceeds 21, however, the player loses (no matter what the value of the dealer's hand).

twenty-one is normally played is as follows: each card has a value equal to its face value, with the exception of aces (which have a value of one or eleven, depending which is most useful to the holder of the card), and the face cards jack, queen and king) which all have a value of ten. Each player is initially dealt two cards. The dealer is then dealt a card face up (a common variation is to deal the dealer two cards—one of which is face down).

A player may request additional cards (request a “hit”) to increase the value of the player's hand. If the value of the player's hand is becomes greater than 21, the player loses, or “busts.” The player may cease taking cards, or “stand” when he has a hand with a value of 21 or less. If a player busts, the wager is lost regardless if the dealer also busts.

After all of the players have busted or elect to stand, the dealer “stands” or takes “hits” based on pre-established rules. Commonly, such rules situate that the dealer must take a hit if the value of the dealer's hand is less than 17, or must stand if the value is 17 or greater. Further variations may be in place depending on whether the dealer's hand includes an ace.

After the value of the dealer's hand has been established, such value is compared to that of the player. If the player has busted, the player loses, if the player has not busted and the dealer has, the player wins. If neither the player nor the dealer has busted, the hand having the highest value wins, and in the case of a tie (known as a “push”) there is no winner.

Another feature commonly present in twenty-one is “Doubling Down.” If the player's first two cards have a total value of 10 or 11, the player may “double down”. The player then turns both of his cards face-up and makes a second wager equal to the amount of his initial wager. The dealer then deals the player an additional card and the resulting three-card hand establishes the value of the player's hand. Most “Doubling Down” rules permit the player to “double down” only on hands having a value of 10 or 11. Variations include allowing players to “double down” on hands having a value of 9, 10 or 11; only on 11; or on any two cards.

Another variation is called “Splitting Pairs.” If the player's first two cards are a pair, the player may “split” such cards into two separate hands. The player's original wager is applied to one of the hands and an additional wager is made for the other hand. The player then is dealt a new second card for each hand. Each of the split hands is played separately and the player proceeds normally. If a player splits a pair of Aces, the player is dealt only one card for each hand; unless the new card dealt to the player is another Ace, in which case the player may again split the Aces and repeat the process.

This variation may be combined with “doubling down” so that the player may “double down” on either or both of his split hands if he is eligible to do so. In many gaming establishments, a player may also split his hand if both of the initial cards dealt are ten count cards (Tens, Jacks, Queens or Kings).

A further variation is “Insurance” in which if the dealer's visible card is an Ace, the player may make an additional “insurance” wager. The insurance wagers are made after each player is dealt his first two cards and the dealer reveals a card and before any additional cards are dealt. “Insurance” allows each player to wager one-half of the amount of the original wager as insurance against the dealer having a Blackjack, (a two-card 21 count, for example an Ace and a 10 count card such as a King, Queen, Jack or Ten). If the dealer has a Blackjack, the player loses his original wager but wins two-to-one odds on the “insurance” wager, and that round of the game ends and all players lose except those who also have a Blackjack (in which case such players tie or “push”). If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, the player loses the “insurance” wager and the other hand is played normally.

In yet another variation of twenty-one, the dealer shows both of his cards face-up before the players draw. This improves the player's odds of winning and the payout odds are modified to adjust for this change so that the house's advantage remains.

As used in this disclosure and the accompanying claims, the term “twenty-one” means the game of twenty-one or Blackjack as previously described and including known variations. A difficulty with conventional twenty-one is that there is no opportunity for a player to win a large amount (by having a high odd payback). Instead a player will win only a small amount (typically at 2-1 odds) each hand and to win a larger amount he or she must play many hands.

Poker is another well established card game. In a typical game of poke, players make an initial wager, and are dealt a number of cards (typically 5). A second round of betting follows, after which the players exchange cards held for new cards, or in some variations, draw new cards. Typically a final round of betting is held, and then the players reveal their cards, and the highest ranking hand wins the entire amount wagered.

Frequently when poker is played in a gaming establishment, (for example on a video terminal), the player makes a wager, and attempts to obtain the highest ranking hand possible through the initial deal and one or more card exchanges. The player wins (or loses) an amount based on the odds of obtaining a certain hand (for example a four of a kind would pay the player at greater odds than two pairs).

There have been several other variations to twenty-one and poker games in an attempt to provide a game that provides more fun for the players, and may allow them to win larger prizes.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,300 to Saunders discloses a method of playing a blackjack game wherein wild cards jokers) are used and the face cards (including aces) are removed. What is not present is the ability to offer players larger payouts at greater odds than is found in conventional blackjack, and jokers function as aces do in standard twenty-one.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,888 to Lofink et al. discloses a Spanish twenty-one card game method of play in which the “Tens” are removed from the deck, and a bonus is paid to the player if the player's first two cards are a Blackjack. The bonus payout is still limited, however, and is based on card combinations in the players hand (which still cannot exceed a value of 21).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,821 to Hedman discloses a method of playing a combination poker-like and blackjack-like wagering card game wherein each player receives 5 cards to form two blackjack hands and a single poker hand and a complex system is employed to determine a winner. The disclosed methods provides minimal choice for players as little decision making with respect to the cards held is employed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,574 to Hughes discloses a card game method combining elements of Blackjack and poker in which each player gets three cards (and may discard one for a new card) to form a poker or blackjack hand. As the player can hold no more than three cards, many proper poker hands (e.g. full house, two pair) cannot be formed by the player's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,719 to Webb discloses a method of playing blackjack with a three card poker wager. If the player has selected a poker wager prior to playing, the player's three card hand wins or loses in conjunction with a preset odds table, and the player continues on with a standard blackjack game. The player has no decision making with respect to the poker hand, and given the three card hand, large payouts are not possible as many proper poker hands cannot be created.

There is a need for a modified method of play of conventional twenty-one with elements of poker, restoring fun and excitement to the game by using liberal payouts, and play options that are normally not available under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of play of the present invention will maintain a specified house advantage on the order of the house advantage enjoyed in conventional twenty-one and, at the same time, the method of play is unfavorable to professional card players who using card counting methods to tip the advantage of the game to their favor.

These goals are achieved by the elimination number of tens cards from a conventional 52 card deck of playing cards by revaluing cards as follows: Jacks (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades) count as 2; Queens (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades) count as 3; and Kings (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades) count as 4; and by adding a Joker: The Joker is a wild card, has no value and is used to determine the bonus hands. For the purposes of this application, the term “Joker” shall mean a joker conventionally included with a deck of playing cards or any other card marked to differentiate itself from the other cards in the deck.

The resulting deck includes Fifty-three cards comprising the Aces through the tens and the Jacks, Queens, Kings, and Joker. The elimination of the twelve ten-value cards (Jack, Queen, King count as 10 in a conventional Twenty-One/Blackjack) makes card counting difficult for the professional card player.

The elimination of the twelve ten-Value cards also improves the odds of the game toward the house. To offset this change in the odds, the method of play is modified to provide liberal game rules and bonus payouts on the original hand. Preferably a player may select one or both Bonus bets available at the table, referred to as the Joker bonus and the Poker bonus. The result of these modifications to the method of play results in a player receiving some form of an advantage approximately once every five hands of play.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rule modifications from standard Twenty One take the form of:

1 Paying all Blackjacks (a two-card combination equaling a numerical count of 21) at two-to-one odds, including those occurring even if the dealer also has a Blackjack, if the player has selected as least one of the bonus bets. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push if both the player and the dealer had a Blackjack.

2 Paying the player's original bet at three-to-one odds if the player's hand has a value of 21 including Joker and the player has selected the Joker bonus even if the dealer also has a hand having a numerical count of 21 or Blackjack. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push if both the player and the dealer each had a hand having a numerical count of 21.

3 Paying the player's original bet at two-to-one odds if the player's hand has a value of 19 or 20 including Joker and the player has selected the Joker bonus even if the dealer also has a hand having a numerical count of 21 or Blackjack. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push or a lost if the player had total value of 19 or 20 and the dealer had a hand having a numerical count of 20 or over.

4 Paying the player's original bet at one-to-one odds if the player's hand has a numerical count of 17 or 18 including Joker and the player has selected the Joker bonus even if the dealer also has a hand with a higher value. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push if the player and the dealer had hands with the same value or a loss if the player had a hand value of less than that of the dealer.

5 Allowing the player to double down on any two or more cards and receiving as many cards as they want. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player may only double down on his first two cards (and some gaming establishments only allow doubling down if the first two cards have a numerical count of 10 or 11). This doubling down would be permitted even after the player has split pairs, up to a maximum of one hand.

6 Allowing the player to Surrender—Once the player has received their original two cards, prior to any action taking place and even if the dealer has an Ace showing the player has the option to “Surrender”. The Player loses one-half of the original bet. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player may only Surrender on his first two cards if and only if the dealer card is not a Ten or an Ace.

7 Allowing the player to Insurance: If the Dealer's first card is an ace before any players draw a card, the Players are offered the option of insuring their bets against the possibility of the Dealer's final hand being a natural Blackjack. If a player insures their initial bet, they shall place one half of their original bet on the insurance line displayed on the table layout as an insurance bet. If the Dealer's hand is a Blackjack, insurance bets shall then be paid at 2 to 1 odds. Players do not need to insure against the bonuses. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player may insure against a Blackjack and there are no bonus hands to insure against.

8 Bonus payouts are added to the method of play based on poker hands. If the player achieves one of a group of pre-designated card combinations (“Combinations”) during the play of his hand and has made a Poker bonus wager, they receive the associated bonus payout on the bonus wager based on a pre-established payout schedule (“Payouts”)

9 The method of the present invention still includes the conventional manner of play of twenty-one with regard to Insurance wagers being allowed and the dealer hitting any hand that has a numerical count of a soft 17 or lower. Alternatively, the method can also include the conventional manner of play of Twenty-one in those gaming establishments that mandate that the dealer stand on 17 or higher. The conventional “Surrender” option is also available in which the player may reclaim half of his original wager by surrendering his hand after the dealer checks to see if the dealer's hand is a Blackjack.

The present invention offers advantages to both the player and the house. The player will receive more entertainment value for his wager and will have the possibility of receiving large bonus payouts. The player will also enjoy having the additional wagering opportunities offered by the liberalized doubling down and splitting rules.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a particular table layout and sign are used to state the Payouts and other bonuses. Under conventional twenty-one the layout is standard and is not designed for such bonuses.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top view of a layout of a Blackjack table according to the invention.[0041]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

General Description: [0042]
The invention is a card game played with one standard deck of 53 cards preferably dealt from an automatic single deck card shuffler or a shoe by a Dealer. Each player attempts to achieve a higher total point value per hand than the dealer without exceeding a value of 21, and/or each player attempts to achieve get the best possible poker hand combination in the single hand with out exceeding the total value of the 21. [0043]

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a table for use in a gaming establishment to practice the invention. In the description the reference characters refer to:

TABLE 1


1	Mega Max Blackjack
2	Table Frame where the dealer stands
3	Table Frame where the player stands
4	Actual Frame
5	Tray
6	Slots for value chips
7	Blackjack spot
8	Bonus spot
9	Poker spot
10	Insurance line

Object of the Game: [0045]
The Player's hand can beat the Dealer, and/or win the bonuses in many ways, preferably including: [0046]
1 Achieve a higher total point value than the Dealer's hand without exceeding a value of 21; [0047]
2 Achieve a total point value of 21 or less with the Dealer's hand exceeding a value of 21; [0048]
3 Achieve a Blackjack (total point value of 21 with the first two cards). [0049]
4 Achieve a total value of 17 through 21 with Joker as part of their hand and the Joker bonus wager made. [0050]
5 Poker bonus: Placing the bet on the Poker bonus spot, (this is an independent bet), as seen in FIG. 1, and [0051]
5.1 Achieve a poker hand without exceeding total value of 21 with or without the Joker; [0052]
5.2 achieve bonus hands as defined in the table of Payouts [0053]
5.3 Both bonuses: Placing the bet on both the Joker bonus and the Poker bonus spots, this is an independent bet (see the diagram) in which case: [0054]
5.3.1 This bet empowers the poker bet and the black jack hand [0055]
5.3.2 By betting this bonus, the following rule changes apply: [0056]
5.3.2.a Regardless of the dealer's total point value, the player wins if the joker is a part of player's hand (superior hand) and total point value of its card is 17, 18, 19, 20, or 21. [0057]
5.3.2.b Blackjack pays 3 to 1 [0058]
5.3.2.c Blackjack win automatically [0059]
5.3.2.d Joker counts as a wild card in the poker hand. Players can use the joker to complete their poker hands. [0060]
5.3.2.e Preferably give the player the chance to win up to 1000,000.00. [0061]
5.3.3 These bonus hands are defined in the table of Payouts [0062]
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a Fifty-three-card deck of cards comprising the Aces through Kings and a Joker is used. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a single deck of this Fifty-three-card deck is shuffled together and used to deal the hands to the players and the dealer. Optionally, up to eight decks of cards can be used, although the method of the present invention can be practiced using as few as a single deck. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a maximum of one deck should be used for the bonus payouts as described herein. [0063]
The method of the present invention preferably uses this modified deck of playing cards and the conventional manner of play of Blackjack as modified with one or more of the following changes to the rules. As in conventional Blackjack, each player makes a wager to be eligible to participate in the game. Conventional dealing procedures are used which result in each player having two cards and the dealer having an up card. [0064]
In a preferred embodiment, no more than seven Players shall participate in the same game, and optionally, a Player is permitted to play more than one betting position in any round of play. The player make bets prior to receiving cards. The player must make an ordinary twenty-one wager, and may make bets on either or both of the Bonus selections. [0065]
Player Options [0066]
After the initial two cards are dealt, and the player has the player has the following options: [0067]
1 Hit—Using a hand signal the Player draws one or more cards, or uses their cards and scratches the layout. A Player may not hit on a Blackjack or Hard 21, but may hit on a soft 21. [0068]
2 Stand or Stay—The Player uses a hand signal to indicate their hand is complete and that they do not want additional cards, or places the cards on the layout behind their bet. [0069]
3 Pair Splitting—When the first two cards dealt to a Player are of equal point value, the Player may split them to form a second hand. Preferably, the rules for Pair Splitting are as follows: [0070]
3.1 Maximums of one split hand are allowed. Aces may only be split once also. [0071]
3.2 The Player may receive as many hits as they wish on a split hand without exceeding 21. [0072]
3.3 If the Dealer's first card is an ace or 10, any losing bets and cards shall remain on the table with the Dealer placing the corresponding bet on top of the cards. If the Dealer makes Blackjack, only the original bet on a split hand is lost. [0073]
3.4 A two-card 21 on a split hand is not a Blackjack and is paid at one to one (only the original two cards dealt are considered a Blackjack). [0074]
3.5 Split hands are exempt from the Poker and Joker bonuses. [0075]
4 Double Down: A Player may place an additional bet equal to the original bet on any number of card total, (with the exception of Blackjack). Rules for Double Down bets are as follows: [0076]
4.1 Player places an additional, separate bet, equal to the original bet in value. The bet shall be placed in such a way that surveillance in the gaming establishment can differentiate between a Double Down option and a Split option (the split bet shall be place on the right side of the original bet, and the double down bet shall place right behind the original bet). The Player receives one additional card. [0077]
4.2 A Player may double down on any number of hands and receive as many hits as they wish, including hands that are the result of a split. [0078]
4.3 If the Player's hand exceeds 21, and if the Dealer's first card is an ace or 10, the losing bets and cards shall remain on the table with the Dealer placing the corresponding bet on top of the cards. If the Dealer receives a Blackjack, the Player loses only the original bet. Otherwise, the Player loses all bets. [0079]
4.4 A 21 with a Joker on a Double Down hand is not a Joker bonus and is paid one to one (only the original cards dealt are to be considered for the Joker bonus). [0080]
4.5 Double down hands are exempt from both bonuses (both Joker and Poker). [0081]
5 Surrender—Once the player has received their original two cards, prior to any action taking place and if the dealer does not have an Ace showing the player has the option of “Surrender”. The Player loses one-half of the original bet should they “Surrender”. [0082]
5.1 Bonuses: All Bonus bets are considered as losing bets, once a player requests surrender. [0083]
6 Insurance: If the Dealer's first card is an ace before any players draw a card, the Players are offered the option of insuring their bets against the possibility of the Dealer's final hand being a natural Blackjack. If a player wishes to insure their initial bet, they place one half of their original bet on the insurance line displayed on the table layout as an insurance bet. If the Dealer's hand is a Blackjack, Insurance bets are then paid at 2 to 1 odds. [0084]
Play Proceeds: Sequence of Play [0085]
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Sequence of play of each hand is as follows: [0086]
1 Play commences with each player optionally placing two optional wagers in the designated betting circles for the bonus games. [0087]
2 Upon completion of the hand sweep, the Dealer announces no more bets. Players may not alter their bonus bets after the dealer announces no more bets. [0088]
3 The Dealer verifies that all bets are placed and that they are within the betting spots provided. [0089]
4 The Dealer places the deck into the shuffling position of the shuffling device. [0090]
5 Once automatic shuffler finishes shuffling the cards, the dealer withdraws the deck from the shuffler and places it on the cut cards. [0091]
6 Once the first card of the hand has been drawn from the deck, no new bets are permitted and no chips may be added to or taken away from existing bets, with the exception of splitting, doubling down, surrender and insurance. [0092]
7 The Dealer ensures that all the bets are in the proper spot allocated in front of the player for each Player wagering on the Poker bonus or the Joker Bonus. [0093]
8 The Dealer checks Bonus wager/bets, and verifies that the bonus wagers correspond to the player's original wager. [0094]
9 The Dealer discards the first card from a new shoe. [0095]
10 Starting with the Player to the Dealer's left and proceeding clockwise, the Dealer deals each player one card, face up or down (depending on the house rules), in front of the betting space. [0096]
11 The Dealer deals one card for him/herself and places it on the table layout, face up, to the front (and in the center of) the chip tray. [0097]
12 The Dealer deals a second card, face up or down (depending on house rules), to each player, again from left to right. [0098]
13 Players are permitted to touch their cards after the dealer finishes distributing the initial distribution of cards. [0099]
14 Players may pick up their cards and decide if they wish to take any action. [0100]
15 If the Dealer shows an ace, the Dealer announces “insurance” and Players who wish to do so, place one half of their original bet on the insurance line displayed in the table layout. A Player with a natural Blackjack may insure their hand against a Dealer's Blackjack by asking for “Even Money”. The Dealer shall immediately pay the Player's Blackjack bet with even money or 1 to 1 odds, and place the Player's cards in the discard rack before continuing with the game. After giving the Players sufficient time to place insurance bets, the Dealer shall announce “insurance closed” and check that the insurance bets do not exceed more than one half of the original amount bet. [0101]
16 Once the Player has received the first two cards, prior to any action taking place, and if the Dealer does not have an ace showing, the Player will have the option of Surrender. The Dealer shall push the Player's hand together in a pile, place their bet on top of their cards and place a surrender button on top of the chips. If the Dealer has an ace, Surrender is not permitted. [0102]
17 The Players, at their option, and if they have the appropriate cards, may choose to Split and/or Double Down at this time by placing the appropriate bet in the proper position. [0103]
18 The Dealer then deals all additional cards left to right to Players who signal for a hit by scratching the layout toward themselves with their cards (or by otherwise signaling). Players wishing to stand shall place their cards on the table behind the bet. [0104]
19 Where a “bust” hand occurs during play the player notifies the dealer by showing their hand to the dealer, and the Player's bets and cards in the bust hand are immediately picked up and placed in the chip tray and discard rack, respectively. [0105]
20 A Blackjack appearing during play is paid only when the Dealer reaches that hand during the course of play and not before the Dealer's hand has been played. [0106]
21 When a Player Surrenders, the Dealer takes one half of the Player's bet when the Dealer reaches that hand during the course of play. [0107]
22 After all the Players' hands are complete, the Dealer shall not play out the Dealer's hand if: [0108]
22.1 All Players have busted; [0109]
22.2 If the remaining players all have Blackjack and the Dealer's first card is neither an ace or 10 value card, [0110]
23 Otherwise the Dealer takes additional cards face-up, one at a time, up to and including a hand having a value of a “soft” 17. [0111]
24 Dealer Stands if the hand is a “hard” 17 or more, including hard or soft totals of 18, 19, 20, or 21. [0112]
25 If the Dealer does not have a natural Blackjack after having dealt him/herself second cards, they shall immediately collect any insurance bets in order from right to left. The rest of their hand shall then be dealt and regular bets paid, taken or pushed. [0113]
26 If the Dealer's hand is a natural Blackjack, the regular losing bets shall immediately be collected in order starting from the right and continuing counter clockwise to the left. Insurance bets shall then be paid at 2 to 1 odds, in order from right to left, only after pushing the Player's regular/original bet, as applicable. Bonus hands may beat a Blackjack [0114]
27 All subsequent Dealer's cards are dealt to the Dealer's left of the first two cards and shall not overlap. Should the Dealer need more space, they may move their cards slightly to the left or right in order to avoid encroachment with the last Player's hand. The Dealer shall not pre-slide the cards. [0115]
Because the revaluation of the face cards (Jacks, Queens, and Kings) from each conventional fifty-two card deck changes the mathematical odds of the game in favor of the house, the method of the present invention modifies the conventional manner of play of twenty-one in order to move these mathematical odds closer to those present in conventional twenty-one. These rule modifications may take various forms, including one or more of the following: [0116]
Form 1: [0117]
All player Blackjacks (a two card combination equally a numerical count of 21) are paid at two-to-one odds, including those occurring even if the dealer also has a Blackjack. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push if both the player and the dealer had a Blackjack. [0118]
Form 2: [0119]
The player's original bet is paid at three-to-one odds if the player's hand has a numerical count of 21 even including a Joker and has selected the Joker bonus, even if the dealer also has a hand having a numerical count of 21 or Blackjack. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player's hand would be a push if both the player and the dealer each had a hand having a numerical count of 21 and loss if the dealer has Blackjack [0120]
Form 3: [0121]
A player is allowed to double down on any two or more cards and to receive as many “hits” as they like. Under the conventional manner of play of twenty-one, the player may only double down on his first two cards (and some gaming establishments only allow doubling down if the first two cards have a numerical count of 10 or 11). This doubling down would be permitted even after the player has split pairs. [0122]
Form 4: [0123]
Bonus payouts are added to the method of play. If the player achieves any of the following card combinations (Bonus Combination) during the play of his hand, they receive the associated bonus payout shown in Table 1: [0124]
1 Bonuses: [0125]
1.1 All Players who place a bet before the cards are dealt, have the option of placing a $1.00 Chip or up to maximum house bet (depending on house rules) on the Joker bonus spot or the Poker bonus spot allocated to their betting position in order to participate in the Bonus game. [0126]
1.2 Players can multiply the bonuses by betting on both the Joker and Poker bonus spots. (E.g. Bonuses are paid according to the table of Payouts) [0127]
1.2.1 There is preferably an aggregate amount of maximum bonus Payout for a particular bonus spot, [0128]
1.3 A Player must make a bet on the basic game in order to qualify to make a bonus bet on that round of play. [0129]
1.4 A Player choosing to play bonus bets shall be responsible for ensuring their wager has been accepted and placed prior the dealing commences. [0130]
1.5 Neither the house hand nor a Dealer bet is eligible for bonuses. [0131]
1.6 A Player who has placed a wager on a bonus and receives a hand, which qualifies for a bonus prize, shall win irrespective of whether, the Dealers hand wins. [0132]
1.7 Any Bonus Payouts made to a Player shall be independent from and in addition to any payment made for a bet by the Player on the basic game and shall be paid according to the Payout table. [0133]
1.8 If two or more Player's hands qualify for Bonuses in the same round of play, the payout shall disbursed according to the order of the play. [0134]
2 Payouts. A preferable schedule of Payouts could be as follows: [0135]
2.1 A Winning hand is paid even money or 1 to 1 of the original bet accordingly. [0136]
2.2 A Blackjack hand is paid two to one of the original bet accordingly. [0137]
2.3 A Joker bonus blackjack hand is paid one to one of the original bet accordingly [0138]
2.4 Two cards totaling 21 on a split is not a Blackjack and is paid even money. [0139]
2.5 Total value of 21 including a Joker on the split and double down is not a bonus and is paid even money. [0140]
2.6 If Player and a Dealer have equal value hands, it is a tie or “push” and neither party wins or loses. The Player's bet is left on the table and the cards are picked up. This excludes the instance if players purchase the bonus bets. [0141]
2.7 A player wins on push if the player wagers either bonus. [0142]
2.8 If the value of a hand exceeds 21, it is a “bust” and the bet is automatically lost, except as prescribed in the Double Down and Split options. [0143]
2.9 All suits have the same rank. [0144]

A representative table of Payouts could be as follows (for hands received face up or:



Welcome to Bonus Blackjack
Note: Kings, Queans, Jacks are Valued as 4, 3, 2

i) Poker Hands (requiring a Poker
bonus bet) Including or Excluding
the Joker (Players	Poker	Poker
must bet the Joker bonus bet in order	Bet Payout	Bet Payout
to use the joker)	Face-up	Facedown

5 Card Royal Flush Plus the Joker	100,000	250,000
5 Card Royal Flush	20,000	25,000
5 Card Straight Flush	150 to 1	200 to 1
4 of a Kind	25 to 1	50 to 1
5 Card Full House	15 to 1	20 to 1
5 Card Flush	10 to 1	15 to 1
5 Card Straight	6 to 1	10 to 1
3 of a Kind	4 to 1	4 to 1
2 Pairs	2 to 1	2 to 1
Pair	1 to 1	1 to 1

ii) Basic Game Winning Hands
(Players must bet the Joker bonus to receive
the Bonus Blackjack or hands including a	Basic	Basic bet
Joker)	bet Payout	Payout

Bonus Blackjack
	3 to 1	3 to 1
Blackjack	2 to 1	2 to 1
Total of 21 Including Joke	2 to 1	2 to 1
Total of 17 through 20 Including Joker	1 to 1	1 to 1

Tests to calculate the revenue stream and the hold percentage of the game playing face down with the odds given in the table result in a hold percentage of 7.36% for the poker bet, and 100% hold for the one dollar bonus. A simulation to calculate the revenue stream and the hold percentage of the game playing face up with the odds given in the table above sees the hold percentage of 8.39% for the poker bet, and 100% hold for the one dollar bonus. [0146]
2.10 A winning bet shall always be paid even money or at 1 to 1 odds. [0147]
2.10.1 Blackjack pays 2 to 1. [0148]
2.10.2 Blackjack with Joker (with Joker bonus selected) pays 3 to 1. [0149]
Aces are accepted as either a high card or a low card for the purposes of constructing either a straight or a straight flush hand. A Tie hand is considered as a push. When all hands, including the Dealer's, have been played, winning bets are paid and losing bets taken, on a Player by Player basis, from the Dealer's right to left. The Dealer pays the winning bets of all hands which are greater than the total of the Dealer's hand and which do not exceed 21 and collects losing bets from all hands which are less than their hand. Should the Dealer's hand exceed 21, all remaining bets are paid off. [0150]
The method of the present invention still includes the conventional manner of play of twenty-one with regard to Insurance wagers being allowed and the dealer hitting any hand that has a numerical count of a soft 17 or lower. [0151]
For additional amusement for the gaming establishment patrons and publicity for the gaming establishment, the largest bonus available (the royal flush with joker being made with both the Poker bonus and Joker bonus selected) may be insured by the casino. [0152]
While the invention has been illustrated with respect to several specific embodiments thereof, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. Various modifications and additions may be made and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular the method may employ some or all of the rule variations and Payouts described herein. Payouts in particular are easily modified to suit the circumstances. [0153]
The method of the present invention is not limited to live table game versions of twenty-one. Any of the methods described above can be applied to a twenty-one game that is programmed to operate on an electronic video gaming machine that displays twenty-one to a player and the player effects the play of the game using control buttons or the like. Each of the features discussed above can be easily included in any electronic version of twenty-one and the claims of the present invention are intended to include both the live table game version, the electronic video gaming machine version, computer software versions, internet gaming, slot machines and other electronic devices incorporating the method of the present invention. [0154]
Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but rather should be defined only by the following claims. [0155]

Claims

1. A method of playing a modified version of Twenty One with a house and at least a player, which uses the conventional manner of play of twenty-one with rule modifications comprising:

(a) providing a 53 card playing deck comprising:

(i) a standard 52 card playing deck wherein the kings, queens, and jacks have been revalued; and

(ii) a wild card.

2. The method of

claim 1

wherein said jacks are valued as 2.

3. The method of

claim 2

wherein said queens are valued as 3.

4. The method of

claim 3

wherein said kings are valued as 4.

5. The method of claims 4 wherein said wild card is a joker.

6. The method of

claim 2

further comprising:

(b) accepting a wager from said player;

(c) providing said player a hand; and

(d) paying said player winnings at increased odds in relation to said wager should said hand include said wild card and a predetermined value.

7. The method of

claim 6

further comprising the steps of:

(b.1) accepting a second wager from said player;

(d.1) paying said player winnings at predetermined odds in relation to said second wager if said hand includes specified elements of a poker hand.

8. The method of

claim 7

wherein an additional deck of cards is provided.

9. The method of

claim 7

wherein said second wager is optional to said player.

10. The method of

claim 9

wherein said cards are dealt to said dealer face down.

11. The method of

claim 9

wherein said player may win as a maximum winning an amount greater than $500,000.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein said maximum winning is insured by a gaming establishment.

13. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said revalued cards are printed to indicate said revaluation.

14. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said cards are represented electronically.