Blackjack game with side wager on displayed cards

• US 6,874,786 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Russell, Weldon L. III, Bruno, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US10/622,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20050012273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273303-306, 273/274, 273/309, 463/12
• US Class Current: 273/306
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

An underlying game of Blackjack or a variant of Blackjack is played with an initial wager by a player on the underlying game and an optional wager on a side game can be made. The side wager is made before any cards are displayed. Specially marked cards with count values replace standard cards having the same count value and the side wager is paid on the appearance of the specially marked cards in the play of the game. The number of specially marked cards may vary over time.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering card game comprising an underlying card game and an auxiliary card game comprising:

providing a standard set of cards in which some cards, but less than all cards, of at least one certain count value are replaced with replacement cards of equal count value, but the replacement cards have identifying markings that differentiate replacement cards from standard spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs suits;

placing at least one wager on the underlying card game;

optionally placing a wager on the auxiliary card game;

dealing a first number of cards to a player;

dealing cards as needed in the play of the player'"'"'s hand, in common cards, the dealer'"'"'s hand or combinations thereof to complete the underlying card game;

displaying all of the player'"'"'s cards;

wherein if at least one of the displayed player'"'"'s cards is a replacement card, paying a player who has placed the optional wager for the presence of the at least one replacement card in either the player'"'"'s hand or the dealer'"'"'s hand; and

paying a player according to the rules of the underlying game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the count of cards is fundamental and suit appearance is fundamentally unimportant in the play of the underlying game.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a second number of cards is dealt to the dealer as part of the underlying game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the optional wager is for the presence of the at least one replacement card in the player'"'"'s and/or dealer'"'"'s hand.

5. A method of playing a wagering card game comprising an underlying card game and an auxiliary card game comprising:

providing a standard set of cards in which some cards, but less than all cards, of at least one certain count value are replaced with replacement cards of equal count value, but the replacement cards have identifying markings that differentiate replacement cards from standard spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs suits;

placing at least one wager on the underlying card game;

optionally placing a wager on the auxiliary card game;

dealing a first number of cards to a player;

dealing cards as needed in the play of the player'"'"'s hand, in common cards, the dealer'"'"'s hand or combinations thereof to complete the underlying card game;

displaying all of the player'"'"'s cards;

wherein if at least one of the displayed player'"'"'s cards is a replacement card, paying a player who has placed the optional wager for the presence of the at least one replacement card in either the player'"'"'s hand or the dealer'"'"'s hand; and

paying a player according to the rules of the underlying game,

wherein the underlying game is a variant of Blackjack.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein only one single value of card count is replaced with replacement cards.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein at least three sevens are replaced with replacement cards and the optional wager pays for the presence of 1, 2 or 3 sevens being present in a hand with a total count of twenty-one or less.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the optional wager is for the presence of the at least one replacement card in the player'"'"'s and/or dealer'"'"'s hand.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein awards are provided to players making side bet wagers when a dealers hand has at least one replacement card present.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein a paytable for side bet payouts on replacement cards appearing in a player'"'"'s hand comprises:

3 SPECIAL 7'"'"'sat least $20,0002 SPECIAL 7'"'"'sat least $5001 SPECIAL 7at least $5.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the optional wager is for the presence of the at least one replacement card in the player'"'"'s and/or dealer'"'"'s hand.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein the optional wager is for the presence of the at least one replacement card in the player'"'"'s and/or dealer'"'"'s hand.

13. A method of playing a wagering card game comprising an underlying card game and an auxiliary card game comprising:

providing a standard set of cards in which some cards, but less than all cards, of at least one certain count value are replaced with replacement cards of equal count value, but the replacement cards have identifying markings that differentiate replacement cards from standard spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs suits;

placing at least one wager on the underlying card game;

optionally placing a wager on the auxiliary card game;

dealing a first number of cards to a player;

dealing cards as needed in the play of the player'"'"'s hand, in common cards, the dealer'"'"'s hand or combinations thereof to complete the underlying card game;

displaying all of the player'"'"'s cards;

wherein if at least one of the displayed player'"'"'s cards is a replacement card, paying a player who has placed the optional wager for the presence of the at least one replacement card in either the player'"'"'s hand or the dealer'"'"'s hand; and

paying a player according to the rules of the underlying game,

wherein at least some of the replacement cards have a count value of seven.

14. A method of providing a wagering game over at least two time periods comprising:

playing over a first time period a casino table wagering game using symbols in the play of the wagering game wherein a first payout table is used with a payout bonus provided for players having at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game, the first time period using a first number of specially marked symbols in the play of the game, and

subsequently to playing the table wagering game over the first time period, playing the casino table wagering game over a second time period with a second number of specially marked symbols that display standard count value in the play of the game, the second number being different from the first number.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the wagering game is a card game.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the wagering game is a variant of Twenty-one.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein after expiration of the second time period, a third time period of play occurs in which the number of specially marked symbols is larger in the third time period then in the second time period and the first time period.

18. A method of providing a wagering game over at least two time periods comprising:

playing over a first time period a casino table wagering game using symbols in the play of the wagering game wherein a first payout table is used with a bonus provided for players having at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game, the first time period using a first number of specially marked symbols in the play of the game, and

subsequently to playing the table wagering game over the first time period, playing the casino table wagering same over a second time period with a second number of specially marked symbols that display standard count value in the play of the game, the second number being different from the first number,

wherein over the second time period, at least one payout for the presence of at least one specially marked symbol in a hand is different for the payout for the presence of at least one specially marked symbol in a hand in the first time period.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein after expiration of the second time period, a third time period of play occurs in which the number of specially marked symbols is larger in the third time period then in the second time period and the first time period.

20. A method of providing a wagering game over at least two time periods comprising:

playing over a first time period a casino table wagering game using symbols in the play of the wagering game wherein a first payout table is used with a bonus provided for players having at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game, the first time period using a first number of specially marked symbols in the play of the game, and

subsequently to playing the table wagering game over the first time period, playing the casino table wagering game over a second time period with a second number of specially marked symbols that display standard count value in the play of the game, the second number being different from the first number,

wherein paytables used for the bonus in the first time period and the second time period are different.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein at least a highest payout in the paytable for the first time period and second the second time period are the same while other payouts in the paytable for the first time period and second the second time period are different.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game consists of some but not all cards having a count value of seven.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein after expiration of the second time period, a third time period of play occurs in which the number of specially marked symbols is larger in the third time period then in the second time period and the first time period.

24. The method of claim 20 where a lowest payout in paytables for the first time period and second the second time period are lower in the time period where a greater number of specially marked symbols are present.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game consists of some but not all cards having a count value of seven.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein after expiration of the second time period, a third time period of play occurs in which the number of specially marked symbols is larger in the third time period then in the second time period and the first time period.

27. A method of providing a wagering game over at least two time periods comprising:

playing over a first time period a casino table wagering game using symbols in the play of the wagering game wherein a first payout table is used with a bonus provided for players having at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game, the first time period using a first number of specially marked symbols in the play of the game, and

subsequently to playing the table wagering game over the first time period, playing the casino table wagering game over a second time period with a second number of specially marked symbols that display standard count value in the play of the game, the second number being different from the first number, wherein the game is a card game variant of Twenty-One and at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game comprises at least some cards with a count value of seven or less.

28. A method of providing a wagering game over at least two time periods comprising:

playing over a first time period a casino table wagering game using symbols in the play of the wagering game wherein a first payout table is used with a bonus provided for players having at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game, the first time period using a first number of specially marked symbols in the play of the game, and

subsequently to playing the table wagering game over the first time period, playing the casino table wagering game over a second time period with a second number of specially marked symbols that display standard count value in the play of the game, the second number being different from the first number, wherein the name is a card game variant of Twenty-One and at least one specially marked symbol that displays standard count value in the casino table wagering game consists of some but not all cards having a count value of seven.