US20070290442A1

US20070290442A1 - Method for Wagering in Blackjack

Info

Publication number: US20070290442A1
Application number: US11/468,754
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph E. Lemberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-19
Filing date: 2006-08-30
Publication date: 2007-12-20

Abstract

A side wager for a standard blackjack game. After a player is dealt his initial two cards, if the two cards comprise a straight, the player is paid. Different ranks of straights can have different payouts. Suited straights can pay more than non-suited straights. Lower ranking straights can have higher payoffs than higher ranking straights.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of provisional application 60/805,091, filed on Jun. 19, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present inventive concept relates to a wagering game, and more particularly to a game which adds a side wager to a regular game of blackjack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games. Optional side bets to blackjack have been developed which can increase player entertainment and generate additional revenue for the casino. However, most side bets have not been very popular with players.
What is needed is new side bet for blackjack that players will be eager to play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an exciting side bet for the game of blackjack.
The above aspects can be obtained by a method that includes (a) receiving a main wager and a side wager; (b) dealing a player two cards; (c) determining if the two cards comprise a straight; (d) if the two cards comprise a straight, then paying the player an award, (e) wherein if the straight is unsuited then the award is a first amount, if the straight is suited, then the award is a second amount, the second amount being higher than the first amount; and (f) continuing the blackjack game.
The above aspects can also be obtained by a method that includes (a) receiving a main wager and a side wager; (b) dealing a player two cards; (c) determining if the two cards comprise a straight; (d) if the two cards comprise a straight, then paying the player an award based on the side wager, (e) wherein if the straight is a first rank then the award is a first amount, if the straight is a second rank, then the award is a second amount, the second amount being different than the first amount; and (f) continuing the blackjack game.
These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing a side wager, according to an embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The present general inventive concept relates to a method, system, and computer readable storage which allows a casino to offer to players a side bet in conjunction with a typical (or non-standard) blackjack game. The side bet is simple to learn and does not interfere with the standard dealing of a blackjack game.
A player can place an optional side wager alongside a standard blackjack wager, as known in the art. For example, a main betting circle is used to receive a player's main wager and a smaller betting circle alongside the main betting circle can be used to receive a player's optional side wager (or other methods of receiving side wagers, such as using square betting areas, etc.) A blackjack table may be able to accommodate multiple players (e.g. 7) and thus would have 2 betting circles per player (one for the main wager and one for the side wager), for a total of 14 betting circles (of course any reasonable number of players can be accommodated). The dealer then deals the players' cards (of course typically blackjack tables can accommodate many players such as 7). The dealer can then inspect the player's cards, and the dealer can then instantly resolve any side wager(s) placed. Alternatively, the dealer can resolve the side wagers at any other point in the game (e.g. after the player has decided hit/stand and after the dealer has played out his or her hand).
A straight is well known in poker and comprises a hand with consecutive cards (e.g. a 2 spades 3 clubs 4 clubs 5 hearts 6 diamonds is a non-suited straight).
In an embodiment, if the player's two initial cards comprise a straight (both cards have ranks that are consecutive), then the player wins a payout. An ace can form a straight with both a 2 and a King (in other words the ace is both low and high). Certain two card straights may pay more than others. For example, if the straight is suited, then it can pay more than if the same card ranks were non-suited. Also, some straight ranks may pay more than others. For example, lower ranking straights can pay more than higher ranking straights (although in an alternate embodiment, the opposite can be true).
Table I illustrates five sample paytables (any one of these five can be chosen by the house according to their preferences) of two card combinations and their payouts. Of course, this table is just one example of potential payouts, and other combinations and/or payouts can be used as well. For example, if the player is initially dealt an unsuited 2 and 3, then according to paytable II, the player would get paid 6 times the player's initial bet. Thus, if the player bet $1 on the side wager, and got an unsuited 2 and 3, then the player would win $6 and would also receive back his or her original $1 wager. As another example, if the player bet $2 on the side wager, and the casino was using paytable V, and if the player was dealt a 4 hearts/5 hearts, then the player would win $40 ($2 times 20). If the player does not get a “lucky straight” (a winning hand such as those listed in Table I), then the player loses the side bet and the dealer collects the bet.
Players would typically be required to make the main blackjack wager in order to play the side wager. The main blackjack wager would be resolved according to known rules of blackjack.

TABLE I

					paytable
Unsuited	paytable I	paytable II	paytable III	paytable IV	V

2–3	7	6	10	9	8
4–5 or 5–6	4	4	5	5	5
All others	2	2	2	2	2

Suited	5x	5x	4x	4x	4x

2–3	35	30	40	36	32
4–5 or 5–6	20	20	20	20	20
All others	10	10	8	8	8

Note that the suited straight pays more than the non-suited hand of the same rank, because the probability of getting a suited straight is of course lower. Straights can be ranked by their high card, for example a 2/3 straight can be considered to have a rank of 3. Also note that certain straights (e.g. 2/3) pay more than others. This adds more excitement to the game since players can win a varied amount.
It is also noted that a card counter would have difficulty trying to beat this side bet. Card counters typically raise their bet when the remaining deck is rich in large cards (e.g. 10 valued cards). However, in the side wager described herein, smaller cards such as 5 are favorable to the side wager, since 5 is involved in two high paying hands (4/5 and 5/6). Thus a card counter would not be betting high when the deck was rich in 5's, yet this would favor the side wager. The house may require the player to bet no more on the side wager than the player bets on the standard blackjack wager. Thus, the player would have difficulty beating the side wager by card counting, since to bet more on the side wager would mean to bet more on the main game which would be to the player's disadvantage. The high and highest payoffs are for those hands using 2-6, and these payoffs would be more likely in a deck rich in low cards which is precisely the deck unfavorable to the main blackjack wager. Thus, some players may wish to play this side bet in order to “hedge” their main blackjack wager, since when the remaining deck composition contains a high proportion of small cards, it will put the main blackjack wager at a disadvantage but will favor the side wager.
Players who like to pay attention to the cards dealt may also enjoy trying to keep track of whether more high cards or low cards have been played (either through card counting or casual observation). Such players may then try to make the side bet when they feel the deck would be rich in low cards.
In a further embodiment, optional payouts can be provided to players for consecutive winning hands. For example, if the player gets two or three consecutive winning side wagers in a row, the player may win a bonus. For example, if the player gets two (or three) consecutive 2/3 (suited or nonsuited) hands, the player wins a bonus. For three consecutive suited 2/3 hands, the player can win a progressive jackpot.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method of implementing a side wager, according to an embodiment.
The method can start with operation 100, which receives the main blackjack wager and an optional side wager from the player. The side wager can be placed in a side wager betting circle alongside a main betting circle for the standard blackjack bet. The side wager is typically optional although it can also be required. Typically, the house may require that the side wager be an amount less than the standard blackjack wager, although in an alternative embodiment this may not be required.
The method can proceed to operation 102, which deals the player's two initial cards and the dealer's two cards.
The method can proceed to operation 104, which resolves the side wager based on the player's two initial two cards. A paytable such as those illustrated in Table V can be used to determine if a hand is a winner and how much it should pay. Winning wagers can be paid and losing wagers can be collected.
The method can then proceed to operation 106, which continues the blackjack game normally.
It is noted that these operations can be performed in any sensible order. For example, the resolving of the side wager (operation 104) can also occur after operation 106 (when the entire game is resolved).
A three card version can also be implemented on a blackjack game which uses the dealer's upcard (or downcard) as the third card. A three card version would have winning payouts similar to the two card payouts, but three card straights would win (e.g. suited would be pay than non suited, certain ranks would pay more, etc., similar to Table I).
The method described herein can also be applied to other games besides blackjack in which two or more cards are displayed.
Also the side wager described herein can also be implemented in an electronic format, such as on an electronic gaming device (EGD) or online.
Any embodiments described herein can be played with a standard deck of cards or any type of special deck (e.g. a Spanish deck, etc.) The game can also be played with a single deck or multiple decks (e.g. 1-8 decks or more). Standard rules of blackjack can be used as well as any known variation of blackjack. Further, the order of any of the operations described herein can be performed in any order and wagers can be placed/resolved in any order. Any embodiments herein can also be played in electronic form and programs and/or data for such can be stored on any type of computer readable storage medium (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD, disk, etc.)
The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method to resolve a side wager for a blackjack game, the method comprising:

receiving a main wager and a side wager;

dealing a player two cards;

determining if the two cards comprise a straight;

if the two cards comprise a straight, then paying the player an award based on the side wager,

wherein if the straight is unsuited then the award is a first amount, if the straight is suited, then the award is a second amount, the second amount being higher than the first amount; and

continuing the blackjack game.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second amount is a multiple of the first amount.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the award varies depending on a rank of the straight.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein winning two card combinations comprise the following:

non suited straights comprising non suited A/2; non suited 2/3; non suited 3/4; non suited 4/5; non suited 5/6; non suited 6/7; non suited 7/8; non suited 8/9; non suited 9/10; non suited 10/J; non suited J/Q; non suited Q/K; non suited K/A; and

suited straights comprising suited A/2; suited 2/3; suited 3/4; suited 4/5; suited 5/6; suited 6/7; suited 7/8; suited 8/9; suited 9/10; suited 10/J; suited J/Q; suited Q/K; suited K/A, wherein the award is higher for all of the suited straights than the same ranking nonsuited straights.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the award for non suited 4/5 is higher than the award for non suited 9/10.

6. A method to resolve a side wager for a blackjack game, the method comprising:

receiving a main wager and a side wager;

dealing a player two cards;

determining if the two cards comprise a straight;

wherein if the straight is a first rank then the award is a first amount, if the straight is a second rank, then the award is a second amount, the second amount being different than the first amount; and

continuing the blackjack game.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein if the straight is suited, then the award pays more than if the straight is not suited.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein if the straight is suited, then the award pays a multiple of a corresponding award of the straight were not suited.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein the award for non suited 4/5 is higher than the award for non suited 9/10.

10. A method to resolve a side wager for a blackjack game, the method comprising:

receiving a main wager and a side wager;

dealing a player two cards;

determining if the two cards comprise a two card straight;

if the two cards comprise a two card straight, then paying the player an award based on the side wager; and

continuing the blackjack game.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining determines whether the two cards are one of: 2/3; 3/4; 4/5; 5/6; 6/7; 7/8; 8/9; 9/10; 10/J; J/Q; Q/K, and if so then the player wins the side wager otherwise the player loses.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining determines whether the two cards are one of: A/2; 2/3; 3/4; 4/5; 5/6; 6/7; 7/8; 8/9; 9/10; 10/J; J/Q; Q/K, and if so then the player wins the side wager otherwise the player loses.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining determines whether the two cards are one of: 2/3; 3/4; 4/5; 5/6; 6/7; 7/8; 8/9; 9/10; 10/J; J/Q; Q/K; K/A; and if so then the player wins the side wager otherwise the player loses.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the determining determines whether the two cards are one of: A/2; 2/3; 3/4; 4/5; 5/6; 6/7; 7/8; 8/9; 9/10; 10/J; J/Q; Q/K; K/A, and if so then the player wins the side wager otherwise the player loses.

15. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein if the two cards are suited then the player wins a higher award than if the two cards were not suited.

16. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein if the two cards are suited then the player wins a higher award than if the two cards were not suited.

17. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein if the two cards are suited then the player wins a higher award than if the two cards were not suited.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein if the two cards are suited then the player wins a higher award than if the two cards were not suited.