CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to card games and particularly to an optional side bet made in a standard casino blackjack (or twenty-one) game which allows a player to make an optional side wager that the dealer's up card falls in between the player's first two dealt up cards, according to the â€œrank orderâ€ 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, and is lost otherwise; the only exception to this rule being if the player is initially dealt two cards of the same rank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank, which results in a triple match payout.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

One of the most popular gambling card games is Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or â€œ21â€ , wherein a player plays against a dealer and the objective is to beat the dealer's hand by reaching a total point value closest to 21, without exceeding twenty-one and/or by having the dealer's point count go over twenty-one.

In-Between, Acey-Deucy or Red Dog is an old gambling game wherein each player places a wager, and then two cards are dealt. The player has an option to place a further wager and a third card is dealt. If the rank value of the third card is between the rank values of the first two cards, the player wins both wagers.

Gamblers enjoy side betting in games to double the opportunity of winning and just to have another opportunity to gamble. But there is also a need to preserve the integrity of the game being played to maintain the original unadulterated use of cards and play so that the original game, in this case blackjack is not altered by the side bet. None of the prior art provides a combined optional in between side betting game within a normally played blackjack game with no alteration to the play and card dealing of the blackjack game.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,969, issued Feb. 6, 2001 to Green, illustrates a blackjack wagering game in which an order card is dealt to determine the order of play. If the order card is a predetermined card, the dealer's hand is played before each player's hand, thereby giving an advantage to the players. In the preferred embodiment, the order card is a card that is dealt face up in the dealer's hand and the predetermined card is the ace of spades. A side wager is also disclosed in which a deck of cards used in the game has a plurality of card types. The card types are given a relative ranking. A side wager card is dealt during the game. If the side wager card is between two cards in a player's hand, then the player will win the side wager. In the preferred embodiment, the side wager card is the same card as the order card. The Green game relies on a play order determining card (preferably the ace of spades), which play order card determines whether the player or players play first (if the play order card is the ace) or the dealer plays first. Only after that is the in-between bet evaluated. The play order card may be a card dealt face-up to the dealer and may be the same as the dealer card used to determine whether or not the play order card has a value in-between the value of a player's two up cards. Alternately, a separate in-between card as a separate combined play order card and in-between card may be a separate card not dealt to a player or the dealer. The patent does not claim a blackjack game which uses just the normally dealt blackjack cards as a side bet wherein a player wins if the value of the dealer's up blackjack card is between the value of the player's two up blackjack cards. Furthermore, the patent does not provide for a player's two cards matching a dealer's up card or for any payout dependent on the variance in value of the dealer's up card (used as the in-between card) from the two player's up cards.

U.S. Patent Application #20060014577, published Jan. 19, 2006 by Snow, illustrates a Blackjack game with an award modifying feature. In preferred embodiments of the invention, an optional or mandatory side bet wager is made and the bonus award may be won on the basis of any defined event occurring in the play of the blackjack game, including, but not limited to, any of events in the player's 2-card hand, the dealer's up-card, the combination of the player's 2-card hand and the dealer's up-card, combinations of less than all the player's 2-card hand and the dealer's up-card, player's final hand, dealer's final hand, comparisons between player's initial 2-card hand and the dealer's initial 2-card hand (usually determined at the end of play or when the dealer's hand is revealed), differences between the player's final hand and the dealer's final hand (e.g., final point spread) and the like.

Two U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,251 issued Oct. 2, 2001 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,301 issued Dec. 10, 2002 to Webb, are for a method and apparatus for playing a card game including a variable payoff. A payout scheme for a card game is based on a numerical difference between a player's hand and a dealer's hand. The method is suited for card games wherein the numerical value of a player's hand affects the outcome of the game. Preferably, the game is a Blackjack derivative, wherein the payout based on the original wager is determined in accordance with an amount by which the player's hand exceeds the dealer's hand, without exceeding an upper limit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,946, issued Oct. 22, 1996 to Parker, provides a Blackjack type game which is played with one or more conventional 52 card packs, with a dealer and one or more players, and with scoring according to the usual Blackjack conventions. But players have two kinds of bets, an Ante to place before play commences, and a Play bet to place after the first deal. The Ante bet remains fixed, but the Play bet may be increased during the course of play. All bets are forfeit to the dealer if a player loses, but if he wins different odds may be payable on the Ante and Play bets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,778, issued Jan. 29, 2002 to Lee, shows a method for playing pointspread blackjack. The invention comprises a method for increasing the payout for the main wager of the game of blackjack or Twenty-One and/or for providing a side bet opportunity during the game of blackjack or Twenty-One which are based upon the point-spread between the players hand and the dealers hand. In one embodiment, a pointspread of 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in 1.times., 1.5.times., 2.times., or 10.times. payout, respectively, of the side wager. In another embodiment, a pointspread of 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in 1.times., 2.times., 3.times., or 5.times. payout, respectively, of a side bet. In another embodiment, a pointspread of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 would result in 0.5.times., 1.times., 1.5.times., 3.times., or 5.times. payout, respectively, of a side bet. The game allows for variations in the rules and for other types of side-betting opportunities while maintaining the excitement of a multiple pointspread payout at the resolution of the hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,416, issued Aug. 17, 2004 to Jackson, claims a no-bust blackjack-type game wherein odds or bonuses may be paid according to the relative difference between of the player's hand and the dealer's hand, or between point counts of the player's hand and the dealer's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,465, issued Jun. 27, 2006 to Daines, indicates a side bet which may be implemented in any blackjack-style card game method which provides an opportunity to win a bet based on combinations of three cards which may be the player's first two cards and the dealer's first card. The player may win the side bet with certain combinations of cards having different winning payouts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,879, issued Jul. 29, 2003 to Spur et al, provides a method of playing Blackjack wherein the player can wager that his hand will be broken by placing a side bet which is referred to as â€œHit Insuranceâ€ . Two aspects of the invention are disclosed. The first aspect allows the player to place the side bet after he has seen his initial hand. If the player has 12 through 16 and the dealer has seven through ace as the upcard, the player is given the option of placing the side bet that he will be broken when he receives the hit card. In a first variation, the player places a side bet against a single hit and can renew the bet if he loses on the hit. In a second variation, the player places a side bet against multiple hits. In a second aspect of the invention, the player places a side bet before he is dealt any cards. In a first variation, the side bet loses if the dealer has 2 through 6 as the face card. In a second variation, the side bet pushes if the dealer has 2 through 6 as the up card. The second aspect of the invention may or may not have Blackjack insurance included in the side bet.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,246, issued Apr. 15, 2003 to Webb, puts forth a casino card game wherein a player makes a first elective wager and is provided with an opportunity to make a proposition wager. A dealer deals two cards, and the players can then wager whether a third card will fall between (MID) the first two cards or above (HI) or below (LOW) at least one of the first two cards. Preferably, the player betting the HI option or the LOW option will win if the third card is higher or lower, respectively, and of a same suit as at least one of the cards. The subsequent electing wager serves to direct the application of the first elective wager. With the proposition wager, the player wins if at least two of the three cards have a predetermined composite relationship based on suit and/or rank or three-card poker rankings.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,111, issued Oct. 10, 2006 to Altomare, concerns a method for playing a casino card game which utilize a standard deck of playing cards containing numbered cards 2-10 and face cards; jack, queen, king and ace, ace being high. A playing surface is used for multiple players and a dealer. Each player position has three card receiving dock areas and corresponding wager playing areas thereon and a bonus wagering area. Three wagers are placed and a first card is dealt face down to each player. A second card is dealt to each player face up and wherein one of the equal wagers can be withdrawn by the player. Each player has their face down card turned over by the dealer and is dealt a last card face up. If the last card ranks or falls between the displayed cards in the player's hand is then a winner and a pay-off is made depending on card spread sequence. A double down doubling of wager option is also available during card play in which all wagers still remaining on the playing surface are doubled and the player receives a replacement card for the first card dealt.

U.S. Patent Application #20070290443, published Dec. 20, 2007 by Lemberg et al, shows a wagering game involving card ranks wherein a player is dealt a card and the dealer is dealt a card, and a player wins if a player's card and the dealer's card are of equal rank, or if a player is dealt a second card that falls in rank between a player's card and a dealer's card. The player is given an option to exchange his or her initial card. The player is also given an option to double his or her wager before his second card is dealt. A bonus round can also be offered wherein a bonus card is dealt and the player wins a bonus if the bonus card falls between the dealer's card and the player's second card.

U.S. Patent Application #20050054411, published Mar. 10, 2005 by Hughs-Baird et al, concerns a gaming device having a high-low game wherein the game generates a masked target number or symbol that is formed from a plurality of component numbers or symbols. As the game is played, the gaming device generates and displays a first prediction number that relates to a first component number of the target number. If the generated first prediction number matches (i.e., is the same number as) the first component number of the target number, the first component number of the target number is revealed to the player and the player is provided an award based on the displayed first component number of the target number and at least one modifier. If the generated first prediction number does not match the first component number of the target number, the gaming device enables the player to input a prediction regarding the first component number wherein the prediction is based on the generated first prediction number. If the player's prediction is correct, the gaming device reveals the first component number of the target number and the player is provided an award based on the first component number of the target number. If the player's prediction is not correct, the gaming device reveals the first component number of the target number and proceeds as described above, to the next unrevealed component number, if any until each component number is revealed wherein a greater modifier is used for each provided award. The gaming device can incorporate any suitable wagering primary or base game. The gaming machine or device of the invention may include some or all of the features of conventional gaming machines or devices. The primary or base game may comprise any suitable reel-type game, card game, number game or other game of chance susceptible to representation in an electronic or electromechanical form which produces a random outcome based on probability data upon activation of the game from a wager made by the player. That is, different primary wagering games, such as video poker games, video blackjack games, video keno, video bingo or any other suitable primary or base game may be implemented into the invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,309,065, issued Dec. 18, 2007 to Yoseloff et al, describes a multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table baccarat-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to Baccarat, Mini Baccarat or alternately Blackjack, with an optional side bet on a point spread between the player and bank hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,801, issued Sep. 14, 2004 to Snow, discloses a casino game that can be played on a gaming table with a base game wager and an optional side bet bonus wager. The game is preferably a Baccarat derivative or Mini-Baccarat derivative, or alternately Blackjack, wherein there is at least one potential payout on the side bet bonus wager in addition to normal play of the game. One payoff for wagering on a winning hand in the side bet bonus wager (either the player's hand or a banker's hand) is based upon the hand that is wagered upon having a natural (two-card) 8-count or 9-count. A second potential payout on the side bet bonus wager is based upon the size of the difference between player hand point count and dealer hand point counts. Alternatively, the bonus hand pays only for the highest payout.

What is needed is a combination in between and blackjack game wherein the in between game is an optional side bet choice of a player using the same cards used in the game of blackjack and does not affect the play of the blackjack game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a combination in between and blackjack game wherein the in between game is an optional side bet choice of a player using the same cards and play used in a standard casino blackjack game and does not affect the play of the blackjack game.

In brief, the present invention is used in a standard casino blackjack or twenty-one game and allows a player to make an optional side wager that the dealer's first upcard falls in between the player's first two dealt up cards (cards dealt in the standard casino blackjack game), according to the â€œrank orderâ€ 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, and is lost otherwise. The only exception to this rule is if the player is initially dealt two up cards of the same rank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank, which results in a triple match payout. The blackjack bet and the optional in between side bet are separate and do not affect the play of the standard casino blackjack game.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides an optional side bet for a player during the play of a standard casino blackjack game using the cards normally dealt in the blackjack game and without affecting the play of the black jack game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Not applicable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of playing a combined game of standard casino blackjack and an optional game of in between in a side bet using the same blackjack cards as dealt for the blackjack game and conventional play for the game of blackjack.

The method of the present invention comprises:

A first step wherein players place bets on the game of blackjack positioning the bets in a first location in front of each player and a number of the players placing optional bets on a simultaneous game of in between played using the same cards dealt in the game of blackjack positioning the bets in a second location in front of each of the number of players betting the optional game of in between.

A second step wherein a dealer deals two up cards to each player and a down card and an up card to the dealer from at least one deck of playing cards.

A third step wherein the dealer cashes out each of the number of players placing optional bets on the game of in between according to the following payout: each of the number of players placing bets in the optional game of in between lose if a face value of the first up card of the dealer is not in between face values of the first two up cards of the player and the first up card of the dealer does not match a pair of matching first two up cards of the player, so that the dealer takes in the bets from the losing hands in the optional in between bets; and each of the number of players placing bets in the optional game of in between has a winning in between hand if the face value of the first up card of the dealer is in between the face values of the first two up cards of the player and alternately if the first two up cards of the player are matching cards and the first up card of the dealer matches the pair of cards of the player for a triple match, so that the dealer pays out to the winning hands in the optional in between game according to a set of odds established for the in between optional side betting steps of the blackjack game.

A fourth step wherein the blackjack hand already dealt is played out using the same two up cards for each player and the same two dealer cards from step two, playing out the blackjack hand according to conventional play for a standard casino blackjack game, thereby playing a combined standard casino blackjack game and an optional side betting game of in between using the same blackjack cards as dealt for the blackjack game and conventional play for the standard casino blackjack game.

The method set of odds for payout of the in between optional game preferably comprises thirty to one for a triple match, twelve to one for a one card spread, six to one for a two card spread, four to one for a three card spread, and one to one for all other spreads.

The number of decks of playing cards used in the combined casino game of the present invention may comprise any of the numbers of decks of playing cards taken from the list of decks comprising one deck, two decks, four decks, six decks, and eight decks. The odds of winning using different numbers of decks changes and the payout odds may be adjusted accordingly.

The face value of the cards used in the optional in between game side bet is according to the rank order 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A.

The method of the present invention may be used in a wide variety of modes including a live, in person situation, wherein a player sits at a gaming table with other players and a dealer or a variety of simulation situations wherein a player uses a simulation device to play the game using the method of the present invention.

The player may play the game using the method of the present invention using a mechanical device, an electronic device, a handheld electronic device, an electronic device having a wired or wireless connection to a remote network, an electronic communication device having a connection to a remote network, or any other electronic device having a connection to a remote network 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.

In use, the method of the present invention is a variation of standard casino blackjack. It incorporates an optional side bet wherein a player may place a single bet on whether the dealer's upcard falls in between the player's first two dealt up cards.

The game of the present invention may be played with 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 decks. To begin each round, the players must place their standard blackjack bets in one location on the table and the optional in between side bet as desired in another location on the table. The dealer deals two cards face up to each player and two cards to himself, with one of the dealer's cards exposed as the up card and the non-exposed card as the dealer's down card.

The optional in between wager is a wager that the dealer's upcard falls in between the player's first two dealt up cards, according to the â€œRank orderâ€ 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, and is lost otherwise. The only exception to this rule is if the player is initially dealt two up cards of the same rank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank to create a triple match.

The player is paid according to the payout table depending on their card spread (how many ranks fall in between the two player up cards). A one card spread (for example, player cards 4 and 6) is when the player only wins if the dealer up card is 5. A two card spread (for example: players cards 4 and 7) is when the player only wins if the dealer up card is 5 or 6. A three card spread (for example, players cards are 4 and 8) is when the player only wins if the dealer up card is 5, 6, or 7.

The in between bet is won if the Dealer's face up card falls in between the player's first two dealt cards, according to the â€œrank orderâ€ 2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K-A, and is lost otherwise. The only exception to this rule is if the player is initially dealt two up cards of the same rank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank. The player is paid according to the house odds depending on their card spread (how many ranks fall in between the two player card ranks). A one card spread will pay 12 to 1; a two card spread will pay 6 to 1; a three card spread will pay 4 to 1; and all others pay 1 to 1. In a â€œtriple matchâ€ situation where the player is initially dealt two up cards of the same rank and the dealer's dealt face up card is also of the same rank, the payout is 30 to 1. After the in between bet is reconciled, play continues according to regular Blackjack rules.

It is understood that the method of the present invention may be used in a live situation with actual players and a dealer sitting around a table or may be played with a player using an electronic or mechanical device to play the game using the method of the present invention.

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.