CASINO BLACKJACK BONUS POKER BET TRIGGERED BY DEALER HAND

Abstract

A method of combining an optional bonus poker hand side bet with a casino Blackjack card game that requires the dealer's hand to have a qualifying event to trigger a payout of the optional bonus side bet designated poker hand against a payout table. Normal casino Blackjack play regulations are followed. If no dealer trigger hand occurs the optional bonus side bet loses. A progressive poker bonus bet jackpot may be accumulated by portions of the bets at all casino Blackjack tables.

Claims

1. A method of administering a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card game at a gaming table the method comprising: providing a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card playing table comprising a playing surface defining a dealer layout area and a plurality of player layout areas, each player layout area of the plurality of player layout areas defining a Blackjack ante betting location, a four-card poker bonus betting location, and a four-card poker bonus bet payout table showing payout odds for paying out a four-card poker hand comprising a royal straight flush having Ace, King, Queen, Jack all of a same specified suit; a three of a kind; a straight; a flush; two pair; a pair; or any other wagered four-card poker hand not meeting any of the previous qualifications; providing at least one standard 52-card deck of physical playing cards where the physical playing cards are randomized; receiving a Blackjack ante bet in the form of at least one physical monetary token placed in the Blackjack ante betting location of one player layout area of the plurality of player layout areas; receiving an optional four-card poker bonus bet in the form of at least one physical monetary token placed in the four-card poker bonus betting location of the one player layout area; distributing onto the surface of the playing table from the at least one randomized 52-card deck of physical playing cards an initial two-card dealer hand comprising one physical face-down card and one physical face-up card on the dealer layout area and a player hand comprising two physical face-up cards on the one player layout area; analyzing the initial dealt two-card dealer hand to determine whether the initial two-card dealer hand comprises a two-card blackjack, wherein: when the initial two-card dealer hand comprises the two-card blackjack, forming the four-card poker hand using the cards of the initial dealt two-card dealer hand and the cards of the player hand associated with the one player layout area on which the optional four-card poker bonus bet was received; and resolving the four-card poker bonus bet by paying out each four-card poker bonus bet according to the four-card poker bonus bet payout table; and when the initial two-card dealer hand does not comprise the two-card blackjack, collecting all the four-card poker bonus bets; and resuming play of the Blackjack casino card game and resolving the Blackjack ante bets of the Blackjack casino card game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein paying out each four-card poker bonus bet according to the four-card poker bonus bet payout table comprises paying out indicated table odds for the combination of the player hand and the initial dealt two-card dealer hand with the two-card Blackjack cards forming the four-card poker hand.

3. The method of claim 3 wherein providing a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card playing table comprises providing a plurality of Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card playing tables, and wherein the method further comprises taking a predetermined portion of each received bet from each of the plurality of playing tables to provide progressive jackpot payout funds reported in a progressive meter, and paying out at least a portion of the progressive jackpot funds shown in the progressive meter for at least one of the four-card poker hands.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein paying out the optional bonus four-card poker hand bet according to the optional bonus bet four-card poker hand payout table comprises paying out according to the following set of odds: TABLE-US-00003 Royal Straight Flush (Spades) 25000 to 1 Royal Straight Flush 5000 to 1 Three of a Kind 200 to 1 Straight 100 to 1 Flush 75 to 1 Two Pair 50 to 1 Pair 15 to 1

5. The method of claim 2 wherein paying out the optional bonus four-card poker hand bet and the paying out of the at least a portion of the progressive jackpot funds shown in the progressive meter according to the optional bonus bet four-card poker hand payout table comprises paying out according to the following set of odds: TABLE-US-00004 Royal Straight Flush (Spades) 10000+ to 1 (Progressive Jackpot) Royal Straight Flush 10000 to 1 Three of a Kind 100 to 1 Straight 75 to 1 Flush 50 to 1 Two Pair 40 to 1 Pair 10 to 1 Nothing 5 to 1

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the optional four-card poker bonus bet is an amount equal to the ante bet.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing at least one standard deck of playing cards comprises providing any of the numbers of standard decks of playing cards taken from the list of decks including one deck, two decks. four decks, six decks, and eight decks.

8. A method of administering a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card game on an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising: providing an electronic simulation device programmed for administering a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card game, the device comprising a screen configured to display a virtual representation of a Bonus Poker Bet Blackjack casino card game playing surface illustrated to define a dealer layout area and a player layout area, and a four-card poker bonus bet payout table location showing payout odds for paying out a four-card poker hand comprising a royal straight flush, three of a kind, a straight, a flush. two pair, a pair, or any other wagered four-card poker hand not meeting any of the previous qualifications, the electronic simulation device configured with at least one input device to receive commands inputted by a player to place a bet, hit, stand, surrender, double down, split, even money, and cash in at the electronic simulation device; providing at least one standard 52-card deck of virtual playing cards where the virtual playing cards are randomized; receiving a Blackjack ante bet via the at least one input device in the form of at least one virtual monetary token; receiving an optional four-card poker bonus bet via the at least one input device in the form of at least one virtual monetary token; dealing from the at least one randomized 52-card deck of virtual playing cards, an initial two-card dealer hand displaying one virtual card face-down and one virtual card face-up on the dealer layout area and a player hand displaying two virtual cards face-up on the player layout area; analyzing the initial dealt two-card dealer band to determine whether the initial two-card dealer hand comprises a two-card blackjack, wherein: when the initial two-card dealer hand comprises the two-card blackjack, forming a four-card poker hand using the initial two-card dealer hand comprising the two-card blackjack and the player hand, and resolving the four-card poker bonus bet by paying out the four-card poker bonus bet according to the four-card poker bonus bet payout table; and when the initial two-card dealer hand does not comprise the two-card blackjack, collecting the four-card poker bonus bet; and resuming play of the Blackjack casino card game and resolving the Blackjack ante bets of the Blackjack casino card game.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein providing an electronic simulation device comprises providing an electronic simulation device having a connection to a remote network.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein providing an electronic simulation device comprises providing at least one of a computer, a handheld device, a telephonic device, an entertainment device, a gaming device, and a television device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the electronic simulation device having a connection to a remote network comprises providing an electronic simulation device having a wired connection to the remote network.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the electronic simulation device having a connection to a remote network comprises providing an electronic simulation device having a wireless connection to the remote network.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the electronic simulation device having a connection to a remote network comprises providing a communication electronic simulation device having the connection to the remote network.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein providing an electronic simulation device comprises providing a handheld electronic simulation device, the screen of the electronic simulation device configured as a touch screen of the handheld electronic simulation device.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein providing an electronic simulation device comprises providing a plurality of electronic simulation devices, wherein the method further comprises taking a predetermined portion of each received bet from each of the plurality of electronic simulation devices to provide progressive jackpot payout funds reported in a progressive meter, and paying out at least a portion of the progressive jackpot funds accrued shown in the progressive meter for at least one of the four-card poker hands

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] These and other details of the present invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in which drawings:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a casino card game playing table layout for a standard casino blackjack card game played in combination with an optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet showing the player layouts, standard Blackjack payouts, and four-card poker hand bonus side bet payout tables facing the players and the dealer layout and payout table facing the dealer on the other side of the playing table from the players;

[0034] FIG. 2 is an exploded plan view showing the Blackjack payout, dealer play limits, insurance bet with odds, and indication of the four-card poker hand cards shown in empty elongated curved boxes facing the players on the layout of FIG. 1 for the standard casino blackjack card game played in combination with an optional four-card poker hand bonus bet of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view showing a player layout with demarked player betting locations for the Blackjack bets and the optional four-card poker hand bonus bets and the four-card poker bonus bet payout table on the casino card table of FIG. 1 for the standard casino blackjack card game played in combination with an optional four-card poker hand bonus bet of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a simulation of the playing table layout of the standard casino Blackjack card game played in combination an optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet of the present invention shown on a screen of an electronic simulation device showing a simulation of the player layouts and payout tables and the dealer layout and pay table, a dealer card layout and a player card layout showing the Blackjack cards used for the Blackjack game and demarking which of the four Blackjack cards are used for the optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet, and the control areas for the player to activate in making choices during the play of the Blackjack game;

[0037] FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a simulation of the playing table layout of the standard casino Blackjack card game played in combination with an optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet of the present invention shown on a screen of a computer device showing a simulation of the player layouts and the optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet payout table, and the dealer layout and pay table, a dealer card layout and a player card layout showing the Blackjack cards used for the Blackjack game and demarking which of the four Blackjack cards are used for the optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet, and the control areas for the player to activate in making choices during the play of the Blackjack game;

[0038] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a simulation of a player layout for the playing table layout of the standard casino Blackjack card game played in combination with an optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet of the present invention, shown on a touch screen of a wireless device showing a simulation of a player casino table layout and pay table and showing a dealer card layout and a player card layout showing the Blackjack cards used for the Blackjack game and demarking which of the four Blackjack cards are used for the optional four-card poker hand bonus side bet, and the control areas for the player to activate in making choices during the play of the Blackjack game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In FIGS. 1-6, the present invention comprises a method of playing a standard casino Blackjack game in combination with an optional bonus side bet for a poker hand comprising at least the two player dealt cards without affecting the play of the standard casino Blackjack game provides a payout of the optional bonus side bet triggered by a dealer's hand comprising a predetermined qualifying event for triggering the optional bonus poker hand bet. The player optional bonus bet poker hand paid out according to a bonus poker bet payout table for a poker hand comprising one of a number of payout table options only if the dealer's hand has a predetermined qualifying event and the bonus poker bet will lose if the dealer's hand does not have the predetermined qualifying event. The Blackjack game is played out according to standard casino Blackjack rules of play.

[0040] The method of the present invention may further comprise a step of paying out at least one of the payout table options based on a result that meets the criteria to win the funds accrued in a progressive meter based on accumulation of an amount taking a predetermined rate of increment of each wager.

[0041] In the preferred method of the present invention, the dealer's hand predetermined qualifying event comprises a dealer's two dealt cards forming a two-card Blackjack comprising an Ace and any 10 value card to trigger a payout of the optional bonus poker hand side bet, the optional bonus side bet comprising a bet on a four-card poker hand formed by a combination of a player's two dealt cards with the dealer's dealt two-card Blackjack hand, having an Ace and any one of a Ten, a Jack, a Queen, or a King, to form a four-card poker hand paid out against a bonus bet four-card poker payout table; the optional bonus poker hand side bet being automatically lost if a dealer's two dealt cards do not form a two-card Blackjack.

[0042] In FIGS. 1-6, a method of playing a standard casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus side bet for a four-card poker hand formed using the same cards used in the Blackjack game without affecting the play of the standard casino Blackjack game. A payout of the optional bonus side bet is triggered by a dealer's dealt hand comprising a two-card Blackjack hand comprising an Ace and any 10 point value card. The optional bonus side bet comprises a bet on a four-card poker hand formed by a combination of a player's two dealt cards with the dealer's dealt two-card Blackjack hand, formed by an Ace and any one of a Ten, Jack, Queen, or King, to form a four-card poker hand paid out against a bonus bet four-card poker payout table; the optional bonus side bet being automatically lost if a dealer's two dealt cards do not form a two-card Blackjack hand.

[0043] The method comprises the following steps: [0044] a) a first step of providing at least one standard deck of playing cards used for playing a standard casino Blackjack card game; [0045] b) a second step of providing a casino Blackjack card game playing layout 10 comprising: a dealer location 30 showing a Blackjack payout 33, dealer play limits 34, insurance bet with odds 35, and a card indication 36 of the four-card poker hand cards; at least one player position 20 comprising a first betting location 25 for standard Blackjack bets for a player; at least one second betting location 26 for four-card poker optional bonus side bets for the player; and at least one four-card poker optional bonus side bet payout table 27, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3; [0046] c) a third step of placing at least one standard bet on the casino Blackjack card game layout in the at least one first betting location 25; [0047] d) a fourth step of placing an optional four-card poker bonus side bet on the casino Blackjack card game layout in the at least one second betting location 26; [0048] e) a fifth step of dealing two cards to each player and two cards to the dealer for playing the standard casino Blackjack card game; [0049] f) if the dealer's two card dealt hand comprises a two-card Blackjack hand 31, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, having an Ace and one ten count card, a sixth step of turning all cards face up and paying out to each player making the optional bonus four-card poker side bet, a payout on a four-card poker hand formed by a combination of a player's two dealt cards 31 with the dealer's dealt two-card Blackjack hand 31 having an Ace and a ten count card to form a four-card poker hand paid out against an optional bonus side bet four-card poker payout table 27; if the dealer's hand does not comprise a two-card Blackjack hand, an alternate sixth step of collecting the optional bonus four-card poker side bet from each player making the optional bonus side bet; [0050] g) a seventh step of proceeding with the play of the standard casino Blackjack card game, including paying out or collecting player Blackjack bets according to standard casino Blackjack rules.

[0051] The sixth step of paying out the optional four card poker side bet according to the four card poker payout table comprises using the following set of odds for payout of the optional four card poker side bet:

TABLE-US-00001 Royal Straight Flush (Spades) 25000 to 1 Royal Straight Flush 5000 to 1 Three of a Kind 200 to 1 Straight 100 to 1 Flush 75 to 1 Two Pair 50 to 1 Pair 15 to 1 Nothing 5 to 1

[0052] The method may further comprise a step of providing a progressive bet meter funded by a predetermined rate of increment of each wager, wherein the sixth step comprises paying out a progressive jackpot if the four-card poker hand formed by the player's two dealt cards and the dealer's two card Blackjack dealt cards result in a royal straight flush in a predetermined suit, and wherein the sixth step of paying out the optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the four card poker payout table including a progressive bet further comprises using the following set of odds for payout of the optional bonus four-card poker side bet:

TABLE-US-00002 Royal Straight Flush (Spades) 10000+ to 1 (Progressive Jackpot) Royal Straight Flush 10000 to 1 Three of a Kind 100 to 1 Straight 75 to 1 Flush 50 to 1 Two Pair 40 to 1 Pair 10 to 1 Nothing 5 to 1

[0053] In FIGS. 1-3, the second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet comprises providing the playing layout 10 on a casino Blackjack gaming table having at least one player layout 20 for at least one player sitting at the casino Blackjack gaming table and having a dealer layout 30 for a dealer at the casino Blackjack gaming table to play the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0054] The second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet may comprise providing the casino Blackjack playing layout on a simulation device, resembling the casino table layout 10 of FIG. 1, for at least one player to play the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0055] The second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet may comprise providing the playing layout on a mechanical simulation device, resembling the casino table layout 10 of FIG. 1, for at least one player to play the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0056] In FIGS. 3-6, the second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet comprises providing the playing layout on an electronic simulation device 50, 60, or 70 having an electronic viewing screen 51, 61, or 71 of the playing layout for at least one player and further comprises providing a plurality of control areas 40 on the electronic viewing screen for the player to activate in making choices during the play of the Blackjack game, including Hit 41, Stand 42, Surrender 43, Double Down 44, Split 45, Even Money 46, and Cash In 47 to be selected electronically by the player for communication with the electronic device about the player choices during the play of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0057] In FIG. 6, the second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet comprises providing the playing layout on a handheld electronic simulation device 70, the handheld electronic simulation device comprising a touch screen 71 means for interacting with the handheld electronic simulation device, the at least one player touching the screen 71 to control the electronic simulation device in making player choices during the play of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0058] In FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four card poker side bet comprises providing the playing layout on an electronic device 50, 60, and 70 having a connection to a remote network to play the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention.

[0059] The second step of the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four card poker side bet may comprise providing the playing layout on an electronic device having a connection to a remote network to play the casino Blackjack card game in combination with an optional bonus four-card poker side bet according to the method of the present invention on an electronic device taken from the list of electronic devices including a computer, a handheld device, a telephonic device, an entertainment device, a gaming device, and a television device.

[0060] The first step of providing at least one standard deck of playing cards comprises providing any of the numbers of standard decks of playing cards taken from the list of decks including one deck, two decks, four decks, six decks, and eight decks.

[0061] An alternate method of a casino Blackjack game combined with an optional poker hand bonus side bet comprises a dealer's hand predetermined qualifying event comprising a dealer's Blackjack hand exceeding a total of 21 points to trigger a payout of the optional poker hand bonus side bet, the optional poker hand bonus side bet comprising a bet on a poker hand paid out against an optional bonus bet poker payout table; the optional bonus side bet being automatically lost if a dealer's Blackjack hand does not exceed a total of 21.

[0062] The alternate method may comprise a step that when the optional bet placing player hands that still have cards that meet the standards to be involved in the Blackjack game at the time the dealer's hand reached the predetermined total greater than 21, the step comprises combining the player cards and the dealer cards to form a five-card poker hand that will be compared with an optional bonus five-card poker side bet payout table.

[0063] A second alternate method may comprise a step that when the dealer's dealt hand is a two-card Blackjack having a total of 21, the step comprises combining an optional betting player's two dealt cards with a predetermined number of cards that are introduced to the game from a subset of previously unexposed cards to form a poker hand to be compared with an optional bonus side bet payout table; if the dealer's hand is not a Blackjack, the wager will lose.

[0064] The second alternate method comprises the step of the dealer issuing each player that initiated the optional bonus side bet one additional card combining with the players two dealt cards forming a three-card poker hand paid against a predetermined optional bonus side bet three-card poker payout table.

[0065] The second alternate method may alternately comprise a step of the dealer issuing each player that initiated the optional bonus side bet two additional cards combining with the players two dealt cards forming a four-card poker hand paid against a predetermined optional bonus four-card poker side bet payout table.

[0066] In use, according to the present method of playing a standard casino Blackjack card game combined with an optional poker hand bonus side bet, the standard casino Blackjack card game is played out until a dealer hand trigger event occurs and the optional poker hand bonus side bet is paid out against a designated poker hand and the Blackjack card game played to completion according to standard casino Blackjack regulations. If a dealer hand trigger event does not occur any optional poker hand bonus side bets are lost.

[0067] The progressive jackpot may be accrued from portions of wagers at all Blackjack tables in a casino accumulated together.

[0068] It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.