Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3286—Type of games
  • G07F17/3293—Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F1/00—Card games
  • A63F1/06—Card games appurtenances
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F1/00—Card games
  • A63F1/06—Card games appurtenances
  • A63F1/18—Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/55—Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
  • A63F13/80—Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
  • G07F17/3227—Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3225—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
  • G07F17/323—Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/3244—Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
  • G07F17/3258—Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
  • G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
  • G07F17/3272—Games involving multiple players
  • G07F17/3276—Games involving multiple players wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Definitions

• This invention relates in general to gaming systems, more particularly, to systems and apparatuses for providing advice regarding gaining strategies.
• a player's objective in blackjack is to beat the dealer (in other words, the house) with cards totaling equal to or less than 21, without going over 21, which is known as "busting."
• the house has a slight advantage due to the fact that the player must go first and if the player busts, the player automatically loses even if the dealer would have or does subsequently bust.
• the player selects the amount he wishes to wager on that hand.
• the dealer deals two cards to the player, and two to himself - one face up and one face down. Face cards (kings, queens and jacks) count as 10, aces count as one or 11 (as the player chooses) and all other cards are counted at their face value.
• the player Depending on the pair of cards that are dealt to the dealer and the player, various options are available to the player. If the pair of cards dealt to the player equal 21 (i.e., an ace and a 10 or face card), the player has blackjack and wins the hand unless the dealer also has a blackjack, in which case the hand is a tie, also known as a "push.” A winning blackjack typically pays the player 3 to 2 odds on his wager. If the pair of cards dealt to the player do not equal 21, the player may hit or stand, or in certain circumstances, the player may take insurance, split a pair, double down, surrender, or take even money.
• 21 i.e., an ace and a 10 or face card
• the player may "hit” if he wants another card, or "stand” if he is satisfied with the total of his hand and does not want another card.
• the player may typically hit as many times as he wishes before standing, as long as the player's total does not exceed
• the player busts and automatically loses the hand.
• the dealer's face-up card is an ace
• the player is given an option to make an insurance wager, which is a side bet that the dealer's face-down (hole) card will be a ten- value card (i.e., either a 10 or a face card).
• the players can make an insurance bet equal to one half of the player's initial bet on the hand. If the dealer's down card is revealed to be a ten- value card, the player wins the insurance bet at 2 to 1 odds. If the dealer's down card is revealed to be any other card, the player loses the insurance bet.
• an apparatus for managing a blackjack game includes a first display portion, a second display portion, an advice display, a memory, and a processor.
• the first display portion displays first player cards and the second display portion displays second player cards.
• the plurality of option selection interfaces allow a player to select from a plurality of playing options.
• the advice display is operable to display advice regarding a first one of a plurality of playing options.
• the memory is operable to store, at least temporarily, a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, one or more first player cards associated with a blackjack hand for a first player, and one or more second player cards associated with the blackjack hand for a second player.
• the processor is operable to cause the one or more first player cards to be displayed in the first display and the one or more second player cards to be displayed in the second display, and determine a probability associated with the first playing option based at least on the set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards.
• the processor may further determine, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.
• the processor may then cause the determined first indication, second indication, or third indication to be displayed via the advice display.
• the apparatus further includes a plurality of option selection interfaces allowing the player to select from the plurality of playing options.
• an apparatus that enables a player to play a blackjack game against a dealer entity.
• the apparatus automatically determines probabilities associated with particular playing options during a blackjack hand based on predetermined statistical blackjack information, and indicates advice to the player regarding such playing options based on the determined probabilities associated with such playing options.
• the apparatus may indicate at least three different types of advice to a player regarding a particular playing option.
• the apparatus may communicate advice indicating: (a) that the playing option is the most statistically advantageous playing option available to the player, (b) that the playing option is slightly less advantageous (e.g., within a statistical threshold) than the most statistically advantageous available playing option, or (c) that the playing option is significantly less advantageous (e.g., beyond a statistical threshold) than the most statistically advantageous available playing option.
• the player may use such advice in determining which available playing option to select.
• the player may select a playing option and the blackjack hand may continue.
• the player may increase his or her chances of winning blackjack hands and/or his or her average return on blackjack hands.
• an apparatus that enables a player to select cards to be assigned to the player's hand and/or to a dealer hand, and to receive automatically-generated advice regarding various playing options. For example, a player may desire advice for various playing options in a situation in which the player is dealt a "3" and a "6" (for a two-card total of 9) and the dealer has a "4" face-up card. The player may then use player interfaces to select these cards for the player's hand and the dealer's hand, and then request automatically-generated advice regarding various available playing options. The automatically-generated advice may be generated based on analysis of the cards selected by the player and a set of predetermined statistical blackjack information.
• the apparatus may communicate advice indicating: (a) that the playing option is the most statistically advantageous playing option, (b) that the playing option is slightly less advantageous than the most statistically advantageous available playing option, or (c) that the playing option is significantly less advantageous than the most statistically advantageous available playing option.
• the player may use the apparatus while playing a live blackjack game, such as at a casino or while playing online for example, in order to obtain advice regarding situations in the live game.
• the apparatus may perform relatively sophisticated calculations that may not be performed by the player or by a human dealer (such as a casino dealer, for example) in real time or substantially in real time.
• FIGURE IA illustrates an example apparatus for providing players advice regarding possible playing options in a blackjack game in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• FIGURE IB illustrates game management module of the apparatus of FIGURE IA in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
• FIGURES 2A-2B illustrate an example set of predetermined statistical blackjack data based on average return per unit wagered according to one embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 3 illustrates an example method of a player playing a blackjack hand against a virtual dealer via the apparatus of FIGURE IA in accordance with one embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 4 illustrates an example method of using the apparatus of FIGURE IA for selecting a particular game situation and obtaining playing advice regarding the selected game situation in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE IA illustrates an example apparatus 10 for providing players advice regarding possible playing options in a blackjack game in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Such playing options may include, for example, options to hit, stand, double down, split a pair, take insurance and/or surrender.
• apparatus 10 provides advice to a user regarding the probabilities of selecting various playing options during a blackjack hand.
• such advice includes advice regarding a particular playing option, such as how statistically advantageous the particular option is or whether the particular option is statistically the best available option for the player (such as whether the particular option will maximize the player's chances of winning the hand or maximize the player's potential return on the hand, for example).
• advice regarding a particular playing option may include any of the following advice: (a) an indication that the particular playing option is statistically advantageous to the player (e.g., the option that provides the player the highest average return of the available options), (b) an indication that the particular playing option is slightly statistically disadvantageous to the player (e.g., an option that provides the player a slightly lower average return than that of the best available option), or (c) an indication that the particular playing option is substantially statistically disadvantageous to the player (e.g., an option that provides the player a significantly lower average return than that of the best available option).
• Such advice determined by apparatus 10 may be communicated to the player using a variety of colored lights, symbols, or in any other suitable manner.
• apparatus 10 may perform the relatively sophisticated odds calculations for determining advice to communicate to the player in real time or substantially in real time such that the player may use the advice in determining which playing options to select. Such calculations may not similarly be performed by a human player or dealer (such as a casino player or dealer, for example) in real time.
• apparatus 10 may offer a variety of functions - including providing real time or substantially real time playing advice - that could not previously be offered in a casino or other noncomputerized system.
• apparatus 10 provides gaming functionality that enables a player to play a blackjack game against a dealer entity.
• Apparatus 10 automatically determines probabilities associated with particular playing options during a blackjack hand based on predetermined statistical blackjack information, and indicates advice to the player regarding such playing options based on the determined probabilities associated with such playing options.
• apparatus 10 may allow a player to select particular cards for the player's hand and a dealer's hand such that the player may simulate live game situations to obtain advice regarding various playing options in various game situations.
• apparatus 10 may provide both types of functionality.
• apparatus 10 may be used by a player for (a) playing blackjack games against a dealer entity via apparatus 10, and (b) obtaining playing advice regarding game situations entered by a player.
• apparatus 10 is a portable, handheld device that includes a first display portion 12, a second display portion 14, a plurality of option selection interfaces 16, a plurality of advice indicators 18, a deal/advice interface device 20, a player balance display 22, an amount wagered display 24, an amount wagered adjustment device 26, a card selection device 30, a next card device 32, an enter selection device 34, and a game management module 38.
• First display portion 12 may be operable to display representations of one or more first player cards 50 determined for a first player
• second display portion 16 may be operable to display representations of one or more second player cards 52 determined for a second player.
• the first player may be the human player using apparatus 10, while the second player may be a human or computerized player representing a dealer or house entity.
• First display portion 12 and second display portion 16 may comprise any suitable device or devices for displaying representations of first player cards 50 and second player cards 52, such as one or more bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma devices, digital light processing (DLP) devices, or cathode ray tube (CRT) devices, for example.
• Representations of first player cards 50 and second player cards 52 may comprise any suitable indications of the value and/or the suit of each first player card 50 and second player card 52.
• Example representations of a first player card 50 or a second player card 52 may include a photo image of a card, a representational image of a card, or a representation of a number value (e.g., 1-11) or card value (e.g., 1-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace) and/or a representation of a card suit (e.g., diamonds, hearts, clubs or spades).
• a photo image of a card e.g., 1-11
• card value e.g., 1-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace
• a representation of a card suit e.g., diamonds, hearts, clubs or spades.
• first display portion 12 and/or second display portion 16 each comprise a single display operable to display a number of cards.
• first display portion 12 and/or second display portion 16 include a number of distinct displays 54, each operable to display a single card.
• first display portion 12 includes six distinct displays 54 such that up to six cards may be displayed for the first player's hand
• second display portion 14 includes six distinct displays 54 such that up to six cards may be displayed for the second player's hand.
• a particular distinct display 54 of second display portion 16, indicated in FIGURE IA as 54a, may be used for displaying a face-down (or "hole") card dealt to the second player's hand (i.e., the dealer or house entity's hand). Any number of distinct displays 54 may be used.
• Option selection interfaces 16 may comprise any one or more suitable interface devices for allowing a human player to select from a plurality of playing options.
• option selection interfaces 16 may comprise buttons, switches or touch pads that may be manipulated by a human player.
• An option selection interface 16 may correspond with one or more particular playing options.
• one or more option selection interfaces 16 may have an associated label identifying a corresponding playing option and/or include a display operable to display multiple playing options for a particular option selection interface 16.
• option selection interfaces 16 include three buttons 16a, 16b and 16c.
• the first button 16a corresponds with a "Hit” playing option and is labeled as “Hit.”
• the second button 16b corresponds with a "Stand” playing option and is labeled as “Stand.”
• the third button 16c corresponds with a variety of other playing options, such as "Double down,” “Split” and/or “Take insurance,” for example, and has an associated display 56 operable to display any of such various playing options, depending on which of such options may be available and/or have the greatest associated odds or average return at particular times during a blackjack hand.
• apparatus 10 may determine that of the options corresponding with third button 16c, the "double down” option has the greatest associated odds or average return for the player, and thus display 56 may display "Double” to indicate that pressing button 16c will initiate a "double down” option for the player.
• apparatus 10 may determine that of the options corresponding with third button 16c, the "split” option has the greatest associated odds or average return for the player, and thus display 56 may display "Split" to indicate that pressing button 16c will initiate a
• apparatus 10 may have any suitable number of option selection interfaces 16 (such as buttons, for example), and that each of such option selection interfaces 16 may correspond to any number of playing options.
• apparatus 10 includes a separate button 16 for each possible playing option.
• Advice indicators 18 may comprise any suitable device(s) for indicating various types of advice to a player. Particular advice indicators 18 may correspond to particular playing interfaces 16 such that advice indicators 18 may indicate advice regarding the particular playing options associated with such playing interfaces 16. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE IA, apparatus 10 includes three advice indicators 18a, 18b and 18c corresponding to option selection interfaces 16a, 16b and 16c, respectively. Thus, advice indicators 18a, 18b and 18c may communicate advice regarding the playing options corresponding with option selection interfaces 16a, 16b and 16c.
• Advice indicators 18 may comprise devices operable to display or produce one or more lights, symbols, sounds, or any other output which may be used to communicate various types of advice to a player. Advice indicators 18 may be located on, adjacent to, or otherwise associated with their corresponding option selection interfaces 16. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE IA, each advice indicator 18a, 18b and 18c is a device (such as a bulb or LCD, for example) that may light either green, red, or yellow to indicate one of three types of advice.
• indicator 18a which corresponds to the "Hit” button 16a, may (a) light green to indicate that "hitting” is statistically the best available option for the player, (b) light yellow to indicate that "hitting” would be slightly statistically disadvantageous for the player, or (c) light red to indicate that "hitting” would be substantially statistically disadvantageous for the player.
• indicators 18b and 18c may use green, yellow, and red lights to provide advice regarding corresponding options provided by selection interfaces 16 and 16c. Any suitable color of lights may be used.
• Deal/advice interface device 20 may comprise any one or more suitable interface devices for allowing a human player to select a "Deal" command to initiate a new hand to be dealt and/or to request advice from apparatus 10 regarding various playing options for a particular game situation.
• deal interface device 20 may comprise a button, switch, or touch pad that may be manipulated by a human player.
• Player balance display 22 is operable to display a player's current balance, which may be defined in any suitable manner (such as in dollars, chips, or units, for example). The current balance may be automatically updated at various times, such as after a bet is placed and/or after a payout for a hand, for example.
• Amount wagered display 24 is operable to display the amount that a player is wagering on a particular hand (such as the previous hand, the current hand, or the next hand), and may also be defined in any suitable manner (such as in dollars, chips, or units, for example).
• player balance display 22 and amount wagered display 24 may comprise any suitable device or devices for displaying representations of the player's current balance and the amount that the player is wagering on the current hand, respectively.
• player balance display 22 and amount wagered display 24 may comprise one or more bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma devices, digital light processing (DLP) devices, or cathode ray tube (CRT) devices.
• LEDs light emitting diodes
• LCDs liquid crystal displays
• DLP digital light processing
• CRT cathode ray tube
• Amount wagered adjustment device 26 may comprise any one or more suitable interface devices for allowing a human player to increase or decrease the amount that the player wishes to wager on a particular hand.
• amount wagered adjustment device 26 may comprise one or more buttons, switches, or touch pads that may be manipulated by a human player. The selected wager amount may be displayed in amount wagered display 24.
• Card selection device 30, next card device 32, and enter selection device 34 are generally operable to allow a player to select one or more first player cards 50 and second player cards 52 for the player's hand and/or the dealer's (or house's) hand in order to simulate a particular game situation to obtain advice for the particular game situation regarding various playing options.
• card selection device 30 may comprise any one or more suitable interface devices for allowing a human player to select the number value (e.g., 1-11) or card value (e.g., 1-10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace) for a particular first player card 50 or second player card 52.
• card selection device 30 may allow a player to scroll through a series of different card values until the player has identified the appropriate value for the particular first or second player card 50, 52. The player may then use the "enter selection" device 34 to enter or submit the selected value for the particular first or second player card 50, 52.
• Next card device 32 may comprise any one or more suitable interface devices for allowing a human player to move to another first or second player card 50, 52, which may then be selected using card selection device 30. For example, after selecting the card value for a particular first or second player card 50, 52 and pressing enter selection burton 34 to submit the selected card value, the player may then press next card button 32 to move to another particular first or second player card 50, 52.
• card selection device 30 and next card device 32 may comprise one or more buttons, switches or touch pads that may be manipulated by a human player.
• game management module 38 may include a processor 40 coupled to a memory 42 to manage blackjack gaming for a player regarding various playing options.
• Processor 40 may be operable to execute various algorithms or instructions to provide various functions related to managing blackjack gaming for a player, such as for example, determining first and second player cards 50 and 52, determining which playing options are available to the player, dete ⁇ nining probabilities associated with various playing options, determining advice associated with such playing options based on the determined probabilities, causing such advice to be communicated to the player via advice indicators 18, receiving playing options selected by the player via option selection interfaces 16, causing such selected playing options to be implemented, determining the result of blackjack hands, and determining payouts for blackjack hands.
• Processor 40 may comprise any suitable processor that executes a blackjack software application or other computer instructions, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or other microprocessor, and may include any suitable number of processors working together.
• Memory 42 may comprise one or more memory devices suitable to facilitate execution of the computer instructions, such as one or more random access memories (RAMs), read-only memories (ROMs), dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), fast cycle RAMs (FCRAMs), static RAM (SRAMs), field-programmable gate arrays
• RAMs random access memories
• ROMs read-only memories
• DRAMs dynamic random access memories
• FCRAMs fast cycle RAMs
• SRAMs static RAM
• FPGAs erasable programmable read-only memories
• EPROMs erasable programmable read-only memories
• EEPROMs electrically erasable programmable read-only memories
• Memory 42 is generally operable to store various information that may be used by processor 40 in performing any functions related to managing blackjack gaming, such as any of the various functions discussed above. Memory 42 may store this information in any suitable number of databases, which may be co-located or physically and/or geographically distributed.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may comprise predetermined probabilities regarding the effect of various playing options in a variety of situations in a blackjack hand.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may comprise the predetermined average return on a bet (per unit wagered) if each of a variety of playing options is selected by the player. For instance, it may be predetermined that if the dealer has a "7" up-card and the player has a two-card total of 11, the predetermined average return for the player per $1 initial bet for each of the following playing options may be as follows:
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 based on average return per unit wagered is discussed in greater detail below with reference to FIGURES 2A-2B.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may comprise the likelihood of a player winning a hand if each of a variety of playing options is selected by the player.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may comprise predetermined probabilities of each of a variety of playing options being advantageous to the player as compared to other playing options. Whether a particular playing option is "advantageous" to the player may be defined according to one or more criteria, such as (a) whether selecting the particular playing option would increase or maximize the first player's odds of winning the blackjack hand as compared to selected other available playing option(s) and/or (b) whether selecting the particular playing option from the available playing options would increase or maximize the first player's average return on the blackjack hand as compared to selected other available playing option(s).
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may comprise odds, probabilities, average returns, or any other statistical information, in any suitable format, regarding the advantageousness of particular playing options.
• certain predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may be based in part upon assumptions regarding which playing options will be selected by the player.
• certain predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 regarding the statistical effect of a player selecting various playing options at a particular point in a hand may be based in part upon an assumption that the player's subsequent playing decisions in that same hand (if any) will be the statistically optimal decisions for the relevant situation in the hand (in other words, it may be assumed that the player will play the rest of the hand "by the book").
• FIGURES 2A-2B illustrate an example set of predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 based on average return (or profit) per unit wagered according to one embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 2A is a table 100 illustrating predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 regarding various playing options for a variety of player hands in a situation in which the up-card for the dealer's hand is a "5" after the initial pair of cards are dealt to each of the player and the dealer (and displayed in first display portion 12 and second display portion 14, respectively, of apparatus 10).
• Column 102 lists each possible player hand; column 104 indicates the average return on the hand per $1 initial bet if the player selects the "hit” option at this point in the hand; column 106 indicates the average return on the hand per $1 initial bet if the player selects the "stand” option at this point in the hand; column 108 indicates the average return on the hand per $1 initial bet if the player selects the "double” option at this point in the hand; and column 110 indicates the average return on the hand per $1 initial bet if the player selects the "split” option at this point in the hand.
• buttons 16c and “split” are shared by the same button 16c on apparatus 10, and thus only the one with the highest average return in a particular situation is made available to the player via button 16c in that situation. For example, if the player's hand is a pair of 5's, the average return associated with the "double” option are higher than the average return associated with the "split” option, and thus the option to "double” is made available to the player via button 16c, and the option to
• the "split" is not made available to the player, as indicated by the abbreviation "N/A” in chart 100.
• the "double” option is not made available to the player in certain circumstances, such as where the player has a hard 13 through a hard 19, for example, as indicated by the abbreviation "N/A” in table 100.
• the odds stored in table 100 are based on the assumption that the player's subsequent playing decisions in the hand (if any) will be the statistically optimal decisions (in other words, it is assumed that the player will play the rest of the hand "by the book”).
• FIGURE 2B is a table 120 corresponding with table 100 of FIGURE 2A and illustrating the advice to be given to the player regarding the various playing options available to the player for a variety of player hands in the situation in which the dealer's up-card is a "5.”
• Column 122 lists each possible player hand;
• column 124 indicates the advice to be communicated to the player regarding the "Hit” option;
• column 126 indicates the advice to be communicated to the player regarding the
• each advice indicator 18 indicates the advice to be communicated to the player regarding the "Double” and "Split” options.
• the following rules apply for determining the advice displayed by each advice indicator 18: (a) if the average return for a particular playing option is the highest of any available playing option, the advice indicator 18 corresponding to that playing option is a green light;
• a threshold value of $0.20 is used, such that if the average return for a particular playing option is within $0.20 of the average return for the playing option having the highest average return, the advice indicator 18 corresponding to that playing option is a yellow light.
• a green light is displayed for the most statistically advantageous playing option available to the player
• a yellow light is displayed for playing options that are slightly less advantageous than (i.e., having an average return within $0.20 of) the most statistically advantageous playing option
• a red light is displayed for playing options that are substantially less advantageous than (i.e., having an average return of at least $0.20 less than) the most statistically advantageous playing option.
• the threshold value may be any suitable value and determined in any suitable manner.
• the threshold value may be a particular amount per unit stake wagered.
• the threshold value may be a particular value between 0.05 and 0.40 of the unit stake wagered.
• the threshold value may be a particular value between 0.10 and 0.25 of the unit stake wagered.
• supposing the threshold value is 0.15
• the average return for a first playing option is 0.37
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may include similar average return (or profit) data for each possible dealer up- card.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may include a variety of sets of average return (or profit) data corresponding to various different criteria, such as different average return data for various blackjack rules (for example, average return data for a game in which the dealer must stand on soft 17 and average return data for a game in which the dealer must hit on soft 17), various average return data based on various assumptions (for example, assumptions regarding subsequent playing decisions made by the player), and average return data corresponding to different numbers of virtual decks involved in the game, for example.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may include odds, probabilities, average returns, or any other statistical information, in any suitable format, regarding the advantageousness of particular playing options.
• predetermined statistical blackjack data 60 may include, for various game situations, probability data regarding the likelihood of a player winning a blackjack hand if the player selects particular playing options and/or probability data regarding whether selecting particular playing options would increase or maximize a player's odds of winning a blackjack hand as compared to selected other available playing option(s).
• FIGURE 3 illustrates an example method of a player playing a blackjack hand against a virtual dealer via apparatus 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• a player presses the "Deal/Advice" button 20, which causes game management module 38 to determine a pair of cards for the player and a pair of cards (one up-card and one down-card) for the dealer.
• the player's cards and the dealer's cards are displayed in first and second display portions 12 and 14, respectively.
• game management module 38 determines (a) which playing options are available to the user, and (b) the probabilities associated with each of such available playing options, hi this particular embodiment, the probabilities associated with each of such available playing options comprise the average return per unit wager for each of the available playing options, as defined by table 100 shown in FIGURE 2A.
• Game management module 38 may determine based on row 114 of table 100 (see FIGURE 2A) that the playing options of "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double,” but not “Split” are available to the player. Thus, at step 204, management module 38 may cause the display 56 associated with third button 16c to display the word “Double,” thus indicating to the player that the "Double” option is available to the player via third button 16c.
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Hit” would be +$0.0912
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Stand” would be -$0.0449
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Double” would be +$0.1824.
• game management module 38 may determine based on table 120 (see FIGURE 2B) the appropriate advice indications to communicate to the player regarding each of the available playing options: "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double.”
• table 120 see FIGURE 2B
• the appropriate advice for the "Hit” option is a yellow light
• the appropriate advice for the "Stand” option is a red light
• the appropriate advice for the "Double” option is a green light.
• the "Double” option warrants a green light because it has the highest average return (+$0.1824) of the options available to the player.
• the "Hit” option warrants a yellow light because its average return (+$0.0912) is within the relevant threshold (in this example embodiment, the threshold is $0.15) of the average return (+$0.1824) of the option having the highest average return (i.e., the "Double” option).
• the "Stand” option warrants a red light because its average return (-$0.0449) is more than the threshold ($0.15) less than the average return (+$0.1824) of the option having the highest average return (i.e., the "Double” option).
• the advice indications determined at step 206 are communicated to the player via advice indicators 18a, 18b and 18c associated with buttons 16a, 16b and 16c for the "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double” playing options, respectively.
• advice indicator 18a lights up yellow
• advice indicator 18b lights up red
• advice indicator 18c lights up green.
• the player selects one of the available playing options: "Hit,” “Stand,” or “Double” by pressing buttons 16a, 16b or 16c.
• the player may take into consideration the advice regarding such options as displayed by advice indicator 18a, 18b and 18c. If the player selects the "Double” option at step 210 by pressing button 16c, the "Double" command is received and initiated by game management module
• game management module 38 may communicate a warning message to the player at step 214, such as by displaying a pop-up message and requiring the player to press button 16a again in order to initiate the "Hit" command.
• the warning message may be a text message warning the player that the player has selected a "Yellow” (i.e., slightly statistically disadvantageous) option. If the player confirms his selection of the "Hit” option at step 216, the "Hit" command is received and initiated by game management module 38. Alternatively, the player may change his selection in response to receiving the warning message, such as by pressing button
• game management module 38 may communicate a warning message to the player at step 220, such as by displaying a pop-up message and requiring the player to press button 16b again in order to initiate the "Stand” command.
• the warning message may be a text message warning the player that the player has selected a "Red” (i.e., substantially statistically disadvantageous) option.
• the warning message may be the same as, or different from, the warning message displayed in response to the player selecting a "Red” option, as discussed above regarding step 214. If the player confirms his selection of the "Stand" option at step
• FIGURE 4 illustrates an example method of using the apparatus 10 to select a particular game situation and obtain playing advice regarding the selected game situation in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
• a player selects card values one or more first player cards 50 and/or second player cards 52 using card selection device 30, next card device 32 and/or enter selection input device 34.
• the selected card values may correspond with cards that have been dealt in a live blackjack game in which the player is participating, such as at a casino or online, for example. For example, suppose the player is playing a physical blackjack hand and the original deal results in the player having a "2" card and a "6" card, and the dealer having a "5" card face-up.
• the player may use card selection device 30, next card device 32 and/or enter selection device 34 to enter a "2" card and a "6" card as first player cards 50 displayed in first display portion 12, and a "5" card as a face-up second player card 52 displayed in first second portion 14.
• game management module 38 determines (a) which playing options are available to the player, and (b) the probabilities associated with each of such available playing options.
• the probabilities associated with each of such available playing options comprise the average return per unit wager for each of the available playing options, as defined by table 100 shown in FIGURE 2A. For example, since player's cards are a "2" and a
• game management module 38 may determine based on row 116 of table 100 (see FIGURE 2A) that the playing options of "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double,” but not “Split” are available to the player.
• management module 38 may cause the display 56 associated with third button 16c to display the word "Double,” thus indicating to the player that the "Double” option is available to the player via third button 16c.
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Hit” would be +$0.0708
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Stand” would be -$0.1672
• the average return for the player if the player chooses to "Double” would be +$0.0035.
• game management module 38 may determine based on table 120 (see FIGURE 2B) the appropriate advice indications to communicate to the player regarding each of the available playing options: "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double.”
• table 120 see FIGURE 2B
• the appropriate advice for the "Hit” option is a green light
• the appropriate advice for the "Stand” option is a red light
• the appropriate advice for the "Double” option is a yellow light.
• the "Hit” option warrants a green light because it has the highest average return (+$0.0708) of the options available to the player.
• the "Double” option warrants a yellow light because its average return (+$0.0035) is within the relevant threshold (in this example embodiment, the threshold is $0.10) of the average return (+$0.0708) of the option having the highest average return (i.e., the "Hit” option).
• the "Stand” option warrants a red light because its average return (-$0.1672) is more than the threshold ($0.10) less than the average return (+$0.0708) of the option having the highest average return (i.e., the "Hit” option).
• the advice indications determined at step 308 are communicated to the player via advice indicators 18a, 18b and 18c associated with buttons 16a, 16b and 16c for the "Hit,” “Stand,” and “Double” playing options, respectively.
• advice indicator 18a lights up green
• advice indicator 18b lights up red
• advice indicator 18c lights up yellow.
• the player may then use the advice communicated at step 310 in determining which playing option to initiate in the blackjack game that the player simulated at step 300.
• the player may use apparatus 10 to obtain advice regarding additional situations during the same hand, such as after taking one or more hit cards, for example.
• apparatus 10 may support one or more various other types of games, such as other types of card games, craps, roulette, poker, or a virtual slot machine, for example.
• apparatus 10 may include various displays operable to display relevant data for such games and/or player interfaces operable to allow a player to make various selections, such as selecting from multiple available playing options.
• apparatus 10 may be operable to (a) automatically determine, or receive from a player selections of, one or more game inputs regarding a game; (b) display to the first player the one or more game inputs; (c) automatically determine a probability associated with one or more available playing options based at least on a set of predetermined odds regarding the game and at least one of the one or more game inputs; and (d) automatically determine, based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.
• Apparatus 10 may further include a plurality of option selection interfaces allowing the player to select from the plurality of playing options.
• the various functionalities provided by apparatus 10 may be alternatively provided via a computer network, such as via the Internet, for instance.
• game management module 38 may be hosted and/or maintained by a gaming system platform operable to be accessed by multiple players via a communications network such as the Internet.
• a player may access the gaming system via one or more web pages associated with the betting system platform.
• Advice regarding playing options that is generated by game management module 38 may be communicated to the player via such web pages.
• a web page may indicate each playing option available to the player and indicate the advice determined for each of such available playing options in any suitable manner.

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