Method of playing a three-part wagering game with bonus for consecutive wins

• US 20030042679A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Application Number:
  US10/277,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20030042679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game is described. The method requires the player to place three wagers to participate in a three-segment game. A fourth bet is played to participate in a bonus event. A first card is dealt to the dealer and each player. The high card wins the first bet. If the player and dealer tie, one-half of the player'"'"'s bet is returned to the player. Additional cards are dealt according to the rules of blackjack, except a maximum of six cards are dealt in any hand. Aces may be split, and doubling down is allowed. The second bet is resolved according to the rules of blackjack, with ties pushing. Additional cards are dealt, if necessary to form a six-card hand. Hands are resolved according to standard poker rankings, and payouts are made according to a predetermined schedule, or pay table payout. If the bonus wager is made, an additional bonus payout is awarded for winning and/or pushing at least two consecutively played game segments.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising:

Providing one or more decks of standard playing cards;

A player placing a first wager on a first game segment against a dealer;

A dealer dealing X number of cards to each player and a same number of cards to the dealer, forming player and dealer hands;

Resolving the first wager by comparing a total point value of the player and dealer hands, and awarding a payout to the player if the player hand beats the dealer hand according to the rules of the first game segment;

A player placing a second wager on a second game segment;

A dealer dealing additional cards to each player hand, a total number of cards held by each player and the dealer when combined with the previously dealt cards not to exceed six to participate in a second game against the dealer, wherein the second game is selected from the group consisting of blackjack and baccarat;

Resolving the second wager using standard rules of the selected second game;

A player placing a third wager on a third game segment;

A dealer dealing each player additional cards, if any, so that all players hold six cards;

Resolving the third wager by comparing each player'"'"'s hand to a pay table;

Awarding a payout to the players holding predetermined winning hands according to the pay table, wherein the third game segment is selected from the group consisting of poker and gin rummy;

A player placing fourth wager on a bonus game segment; and

Resolving the fourth wager by paying the player a payout for at least two wins or pushes on consecutively played game segments.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein all four wagers are placed prior to the dealer dealing any cards.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first three wagers are mandatory, and the fourth bet is optional.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein X is equal to 1, and the dealer deals one card to the player and one card to the dealer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second game segment is 21 or a modified version of 21.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second game segment is a modified version of 21 and the modifications include modifications that are selected from the group consisting of:

A maximum of six cards are dealt to player;

If the player receives 6 cards without reaching 21, and the dealer does not have a 2 card natural, the player wins the blackjack hand; and

Players can split pairs only on Aces.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of collecting one-half of the player'"'"'s wager on the first game segment if the player and dealer tie.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the third segment is poker.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the poker hands are resolved according to payout rates that are at least the rates of one of the following pay tables:

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a tie in a first game is resolved in favor of the house.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein players are not permitted to touch cards during game play.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein a payout is paid on the fourth wager for wins and/or pushes on three consecutively played game segments.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the player is paid odds on the fourth wager.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein a payout is paid on the fourth wager for wins and/or pushes on at least two consecutively played game segments.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the third game segment is poker.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the pay table is one of the following:

15. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising:

Providing a first wagering game segment with a first set of game rules, the first wagering game requiring a first number of cards of at least 1;

Providing a second wagering game segment with a second set of game rules that differ from the first set of game rules such that a losing outcome in the first wagering game does not disadvantage the player in the second game, and providing a second number of cards, wherein the second number of cards required to play the game is greater than or equal to the first number of cards;

Providing a third wagering game segment with a third set of game rules that differ from the second set of game rules such that a losing outcome in the second wagering game does not disadvantage the player in the third game, and providing a third number of cards, wherein a number of cards required to play the third wagering game is greater than or equal to the second number of cards;

Placing a wager on each of the first, second and third game segments;

Placing an optional fourth wager on the occurrence of at least two player wins and/or pushes in at least two consecutively played game segments;

Playing each of the three game segments, wherein each card used in a previous game segment is available to be used in subsequent game play segments;

Scoring the segments whose rules of at least one of the game segments require comparison of the hand with a plurality of predetermined winning outcomes by utilizing only a pay table; and

Paying the player a payout for winning or pushing on at least two consecutively played game segments.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first game segment is high card.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second game segment is 21 or a variant of 21.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second game segment is played according to the rules of 21, modified by at least one rule change selected from the group consisting of:

A maximum of six cards are dealt to player;

If the player receives 6 cards without reaching 21, and the dealer does not have a 2 card natural, the player wins the blackjack hand; and

Players can split pairs only on Aces.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein players are not permitted to touch cards.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein a maximum number of cards dealt to each player is 6 and the poker game uses five cards in determining the rank of the player'"'"'s hand.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second segment games require the players to play against the dealer, and the third segment requires the player to play against a pay table.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein a payout is awarded on the fourth wager when the player wins or pushes on each of three consecutively played game segments.

25. A side bet method for a casino card game, comprising:

placing a wager on a multiple segment wagering game;

placing a side bet on the occurrence of a win and/or push on at least two consecutively played game segments;

resolving each segment of the multiple segment wagering game; and

awarding a payout for winning and/or pushing at least two consecutively played game segments.

26. The side bet method of claim 25, wherein the side bet is optional.

27. The side bet method of claim 25, wherein the wagering game has three segments.

28. The side bet method of claim 27, wherein a payout is made for each player winning and/or pushing all three game segments after the player has placed the side bet.

29. The side bet method of claim 27, wherein the three segments are a) high card, b) 21 or a variation of 21, and c) poker against a pay table.

30. The side bet method of claim 25, wherein the player is paid odds for winning and/or pushing three consecutively played game segments.