Patent Application
20080012224
A table construction and a method of playing a wagering game comprises an underlying game of blackjack in which at least one player plays against a dealer hand. The at least one player places at least three separate wagers on a single round of the wagering game. A first of the three wagers is committed to a first hand wagering position. A second of the at least three wagers is committed to a second hand wagering position. A third wager is committed to the game that is not committed to specifically either the first or second wagering position. From a first set of playing cards, the player receives a separate hand at each of the first hand wagering position and the second hand wagering position. After viewing the cards, the player allocates the third wager to either the first hand wagering position or the second hand wagering position. The allocation may be completely at the direction of the player or may be controlled or partially controlled by rules associated with the game. Assuming a minimum required wager in blackjack, this game will require as much as three minimum wagers to play the game.
An attractive feature that would appear to justify the third wager is the ability of the player to redistribute committed wagers after a partial view of at least one of the dealer's partial hand and a complete view of both player hands. The advantages of this option can seem very attractive to a player, giving the player an opportunity to increase the distribution of wagers towards better hands.
In the play of the game, a dealer hand is provided from the first set of playing cards (typically a 52 card standard deck), and at least one of the first hand and the second hand is played against the dealer hand to determine an outcome to resolve at least one of the at least three wagers. Usually both hands may be played, although a surrender option might be available on either or both player hands. The at least three wagers may be equal wagers. The player may have absolute discretion on where the third wager is to be placed as between the first and second hands. When the wagers are not equal, certain restrictions may apply as to where the larger wager is to be distributed between the first wagering position and the second wagering position. The rules may also put restrictions on placing the press bet even when the bets are all equal in amount. For example, when there is a blackjack in one of the two player hands, the rules may require that the third wager be shifted to the non-blackjack hand or withdrawn by the player, or even declared an automatic loss.
It might be desirable in some instances to increase the house advantage in the underlying game. The first set of playing cards may comprise or consist of one or more decks of playing cards from which cards have been removed or to which cards have been added to provide an increased advantage to the dealer hand in competition against at least one of the first hand and the second hand. For example, some or all tens (or cards of value of 10, may be removed from the first set of playing cards. Similarly, 9-value cards or other cards favoring the player when rich in the cards may be removed. Also, cards that favor the dealer, such as 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s, may be added to the first set of cards. Such cards favor the dealer because the dealer cannot bust when receiving any of these cards. The dealer may take hits up to a maximum of 16 points in the dealer hand, and the highest card from this series providing a final count of 21.
Another preferred method of increasing the house advantage is to place conditions on winning the press bet and conditions on when the bet must be pressed.
In one example of the invention, the player must receive four cards of at least two different colors to qualify to press the bet. If the player receives 4 cards of the same color, the press bet is automatically lost to the house. In other forms of the game, if the player receives 4 cards of the same suit, all three bets are lost to the house. If the player receives four cards of the same suit in order (a straight flush), or other conventional poker hand, the player may lose the press bet but win an automatic bonus.
Each of the rules that place restrictions on keeping the press bet in play, will increase the house advantage.
Another mechanism for increasing house advantage is to reduce the payout odds on certain winning hands. For example, the house may pay 1:1 odds on player blackjacks rather than the conventional 3:2 payout odds.
In another example, a dealer's hand final count of 22 may be declared an automatic push. The rule that all hands where the dealer's final count in a hand of blackjack is 22 is a push in the wagering game is a preferred embodiment. The following descriptions, using actual examples of play of the game, will help further describe the scope of the technology and the rules of play.
In these examples, two-deck, four-deck, six-deck or eight-deck sets of playing cards are used in the play of the underlying blackjack game, those being the generally preferred numbers of decks used by casinos, but the game described herein not necessarily being to those specific numbers.
Before any playing cards are dealt, each player must place three distinct wagers on the gaming table. A typical design for a gaming table 2 to be used with the present system is shown in
In this example, all wagers must be equal and standard rules of blackjack control the game play. Six decks of standard 52-cards each are used.
Player 1 receives two hands of 3 7
and J♡ 6♦.
Player 2 received two hands of 10 9♡ and 9♦ 8
.
Player 3 (the right hand player) received cards of 2 6
and 10♡ 3♦.
The dealer shows an 8.
Player 1 would likely shift the $5.00 press wager to the 3 7
, (even if he chooses to double down on the next card), putting a total of $10.00 at risk on that hand. Player 2 would shift the press wager to the 10
9♡ and stay on that hand, placing $10.00 at risk on that hand. Player 3 would likely shift the press wager to the 2
6
and take hits on that hand, having $10.00 at risk on the 2
6
hand. Each of the two player hands would be played to their conclusion against the single dealer hand according to accepted rules for Twenty-One.
In this example, the player must make the Press wager equal to twice the minimum wager of one of the two hand position wagers made by the player.
Player 1 has wagered $5.00 on each hand and a $10.00 Press wager and receives two hands of Q 7
and J♡ 6♦. Player 1 would shift the Press wager to the Q-7 hand, which has the highest likelihood of success.
Player 2 has wagered $5.00 on the left hand, $10.00 on the right hand and a $10.00 Press wager and received two hands of 10 Ace♡ and 9♦ 8
. In this example, the house rules prohibit pressing the wager to a blackjack hand, so the press wager is assigned to the 17 value hand.
Player 3 (the right hand player) has placed wagers of $10.00 on the left hand and $5.00 on the right hand and a $10.00 Press wager and has received cards of 5 6
and K♡ 10♦. A conservative player would shift the Press wager to the K-10 hand, assuming a highly probable win, and an aggressive player would shift the Press wager to the 5-6 hand with a count of 11, and double down on the hand because of the displayed dealer's card. (The dealer shows a 6
).
In this example, all wagers must be equal and the standard rules of blackjack are modified in control the game play such that a dealer final count of twenty-two (22) forces a tie on all player hands except for a blackjack or a bust. The same hands and dealer cards as in Example 1 are dealt again.
Player 1 receives two hands of a) 3 7
and b) J♡ 6♦.
Player 2 received two hands of c) 10 9♡ and d) 9♦ 8
.
Player 3 (the right hand player) received cards of e) 2 6
and f) 10♡ 3♦.
The dealer shows an 8.
Hand 1a) is hit to reach a final count of 20 and hand 1b) busts. Hand 2c) stands pat at 19 and hand 2d) stands pat at 17. Hand 3e) hits to 18 and hand 3f) hits to a bust. The dealer takes 2 hit cards for a total count of 22. As a result of this play, hands 1a), 2c), 2d) and 3e) push, while hands 1b) and 3f) lose, because they busted before the dealer hand reached twenty-two.
In this example, an original set of four 52-card decks has had all 10s removed from the deck to increase the house advantage. In addition, according to the rules of the game variant, the Press wager must be shifted to a pat hand (a hand with a value of 17 or more, and if there are two hands with values of 17 or more, the rules may require the Press wager to be committed to the higher or the lower value). This is done to limit double downs with an increased wager (because of the shift of the Press wager).
In this form of the game, players lose their press wager when the first four cards are of the same color. Four standard decks of cards are used. The first player receives the following 4 cards, face up: A♡, 5♡ and K♦, J♡. The player makes three equal $5.00 bets. The press bet is automatically lost because the player received four red cards, “coloring out”.
The second player makes three equal $5.00 wagers and receives the following hand: 2♡, 3, 4
, and 5♦. He has not colored out, but has achieved a “straight” poker hand. The player is paid a bonus of 1:1 on his press bet. The player then presses his bet to the 4-5 hand and play continues.
The third player makes three equal bets of $10.00 each. He receives the following four cards: 9, 10♡, Q
and 3♦. He presses his bet to the 9-10 hand and $20.00 remains at risk on the 9-10 hand, and $10.00 remains at risk on the Q-3 hand.
In this example, player 1 is required to press his wager early if the first 2 or 3 cards dealt to the player are the same color. For instance, the player places three equal $5.00 wagers and received an A♡ and 4♦ as the first card going to each hand. Since the cards are of the same color (red), the player is forced to press the third bet without the benefit of seeing his extra card or the dealer card. The player presses to the A♡ hand.
Player 2 receives a 4/6
and 8♡ in the first two hands. Before receiving a fourth card, player 2 is required to press his press wager. He presses to the 4/6 hoping for an Ace or face card. Play then continues.
Although the game has been emphasized as a casino table game, it may be played as a video game, as a multiplayer platform or on the internet. Other variations, equivalents or alternatives may be used within the generic concepts of the described game technology. The underlying game may be blackjack, baccarat, acey-deucy, poker, Hold 'Em poker, or other games in which there tends to be even money wagers on a hand (e.g., with a maximum payout at 2:1 odds). This is desirable to avoid transfer of wagers to hands where large odds may be paid as a guarantee on a hand (e.g., Three-Card Poker® games) and would greatly alter the house hold.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60807609 | Jul 2006 | US | |
| 60821808 | Aug 2006 | US | |
| 60821955 | Aug 2006 | US |
