Method and apparatus for providing advice regarding gaming strategies

• US 7,452,273 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantor Index LLC
• Original Assignee: Cantor Index LLC
• Inventors: Asher, Joseph M., Amaitis, Lee M., Johnson, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leiva; Frank M
• Application Number:
  US11/032,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463 12- 13, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42, 463/16, 463/22, 2731381-1382, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/55 Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Methods for providing gaming advice are provided. For example, regarding a blackjack game, one or more first player cards are identified for a first player and one or more second player cards are identified for a second player. The first and second player cards are displayed to the first player. A probability associated with a first one of the plurality of playing options is determined based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards. It is then determined, 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.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

identifying for a first player one or more first player cards associated with a blackjack hand;

identifying for a second player one or more second player cards associated with the blackjack hand;

displaying at a device the one or more identified player cards and the one or more identified second player cards;

determining a probability associated with a first one of a plurality of playing options based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards;

determining a probability associated with a second one of a plurality of playing options based at least on a set of predetermined statistical blackjack data, the one or more first player cards, and the one or more second player cards;

determining, 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;

determining, based at least on the determined probability associated with the second playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the second playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the second playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the second playing option, wherein the first advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player to initiate the first playing option, the second advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player not to initiate the first playing option, and the third advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice that the first playing option is disadvantageous for the first player, but less disadvantageous than a predetermined threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

identifying for a first player one or more first player cards associated with a blackjack hand comprises electronically determining the one or more first player cards for the first player; and

identifying for a second player one or more second player cards associated with the blackjack hand comprises electronically determining the one or more second player cards for the second player.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing the first player to select the one or more first player cards and the one or more second player cards;

wherein identifying for a first player one or more first player cards associated with a blackjack hand comprises receiving from the first player a selection of the one or more first player cards; and

wherein identifying for a second player one or more second player cards associated with the blackjack hand comprises receiving from the first player a selection of the one or more second player cards.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to display the first indication, the second indication or the third indication regarding the first playing option comprises determining whether the probability associated with the first playing option falls within a first range, a second range, or a third range, and one of:

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within the first range, determining to display to the first player a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option;

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within a second range, determining to display to the first player a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option; and

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within a third range, determining to display to the first player a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second player represents a dealer or house entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more identified first player cards comprise a pair of face-up cards for the first player; and

the one or more identified second player cards comprise a face-up card for the second player.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the interface screen is displayed prior to receiving a selection from the first player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of playing options comprises a hit option, a stand option, and at least one other blackjack playing option.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one other blackjack playing option comprises at least one of:

a double-down playing option;

a split-pair playing option;

an insurance playing option; and

a surrender playing option.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first indication corresponding with the first advice comprises a light of a first color;

the second indication corresponding with the second advice comprises a light of a second color; and

the third indication corresponding with the third advice comprises a light of a third color.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first indication corresponding with the first advice comprises a first symbol;

the second indication corresponding with the second advice comprises a second symbol; and

the third indication corresponding with the third advice comprises a third symbol.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability associated with the first playing option comprises the average return on the blackjack hand for the player if the player selects the first playing option.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the average return on the blackjack hand for the player comprises the average return per amount wagered by the player on the blackjack hand.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability associated with the first playing option comprises the probability that selecting the first playing option from the plurality of playing options will maximize the first player'"'"'s average return on the blackjack hand as compared with selecting one or more other playing options.

15. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the first range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player;

the second range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less advantageous for the first player than the first range of probabilities; and

the third range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being less advantageous for the first player than the second range of probabilities.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player comprises the first playing option maximizing the first players odds of winning the blackjack hand with respect to one or more other playing options.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first playing option being statistically advantageous for the first player comprises the first playing option maximizing the first player'"'"'s potential return on the blackjack hand with respect to one or more other playing options.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining a probability associated with the first playing option comprises determining for each of the plurality of playing options an average return associated with that playing option; and

determining whether to display a first indication, a second indication, or a third indication based at least on the determined probability associated with the first playing option comprises;

determining to display a first indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is the highest average return associated with any of the plurality of playing options;

determining to display a second indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is less than a threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return; and

determining to display a third indication if the determined average return associated with the first playing option is more than the threshold amount less than that of the playing option having the highest average return.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

the average return is determined based on a unit stake wagered by the player on the blackjack hand; and

the threshold amount is an amount between 0.05 and 0.40 of the unit stake.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the first range of probabilities comprises a range of probabilities between 50% and 100% that selecting the first playing option would be advantageous for the first player;

the second range of probabilities comprises a range of probabilities between 50% and a threshold percentage below 50% that selecting the first playing option would be advantageous for the first player; and

the third range of probabilities comprises a range of probabilities between 0% and the threshold percentage that selecting the first playing option would be advantageous for the first player.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the threshold percentage is a particular percentage between 40% and 50%.

22. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the second range of probabilities corresponds with the first playing option being statistically disadvantageous for the first player; and

the method further comprises;

allowing the first player to select from the plurality of playing options;

receiving from the first player a selection of the first playing option; and

in response to receiving from the first player selection of the first playing

option being statistically disadvantageous for the first player, automatically displaying to the first player a message requesting the first player to confirm the selection of the first playing option.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the message indicates that the first playing option is statistically disadvantageous for the first player.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving from the first player a selection of a wager amount for the blackjack hand; and

wherein displaying the message to the first player comprises displaying the message to the first player if the selected wager amount exceeds a predetermined wager amount threshold.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying to the first player performance statistics for previously played blackjack hands.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying to the first player mathematical progression wagering information.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the first player a wager associated with the blackjack hand, the wager having an associated wager amount;

determining a result of the blackjack hand;

detennining a first player payout for the blackjack hand based at least on the result of the blackjack hand and the wager amount associated with the blackjack hand; and

managing a balance for the first player based at least on the first player payout; and

monitoring an increase or decrease of the balance for the first player over time.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a first display portion for displaying first player cards;

a second display portion for displaying second player cards;

an advice display operable to display advice regarding a first one, a second one, and a third one of a plurality of playing options;

a memory 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; and

a processor 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;

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;

determine a probability associated with the second 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;

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;

determine, based at least on the determined probability associated with the second playing option, whether to display a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the second playing option, a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the second playing option, or a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the second playing option;

cause the determined first indication, second indication, or third indication regarding the first playing option to be displayed via the advice display; and

cause the determined first indication, second indication, or third indication regarding the second playing option to be displayed via the advice display, wherein the first advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player to initiate the first playing option, the second advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice for the first player not to initiate the first playing option, and the third advice regarding the first playing option comprises advice that the first playing option is disadvantageous for the first player, but less disadvantageous than a predetermined threshold level.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is further operable to determine the one or more first player cards and the one or more second player cards with the blackjack hand.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of option selection interfaces allowing the player to select from the plurality of playing options;

wherein the advice display is associated with a first one of the plurality of option selection interfaces corresponding with the first playing option.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the processor is further operable to determine whether the probability associated with the first playing option falls within a first range, a second range, or a third range;

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within the first range, cause a first indication corresponding with first advice regarding the first playing option to be displayed via the advice display;

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within the second range, cause a second indication corresponding with second advice regarding the first playing option to be displayed via the advice display; and

if the determined probability associated with the first playing option falls within the third range, cause a third indication corresponding with third advice regarding the first playing option to be displayed via the advice display.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the apparatus comprises a hand-held gaming unit comprising the first display portion, the second display portion, the advice display, the memory, and the processor.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a plurality of option selection interfaces allowing the player to select from the plurality of playing options.

34. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

one or more card selection interfaces allowing the player to simulate a blackjack game situation by selecting particular card values for at least one of the first player cards and second player cards; and

an advice request interface allowing the player to initiate the determination of the probability associated with the first playing option.

35. A method, comprising:

identifying for a first player one or more first player cards associated with a blackjack game;

identifying for a second player one or more second player cards associated with the blackjack game;

displaying to the first player the one or more identified first player cards and the one or more identified second player cards;

determining a first probability associated with a first playing option and a second probability associated with a second playing option, wherein the first probability is greater than the second probability; and

prior to receiving a selection of a playing option;

displaying a first advice indicator in association with the first playing option;

if the second probability is within a configurable threshold amount of the first probability, displaying a second advice indicator in association with the second playing option; and

if the second probability is not within the configurable threshold amount of the first probability, displaying a third advice indicator in association with the second playing option.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the configurable threshold amount is ten percent, such that:

if the second probability is within ten percent of the first probability, the second advice indicator is displayed in association with the second playing option; and

if the second probability is not within ten percent of the first probability, the third advice indicator is displayed in association with the second playing option.