Game based on numerical outcomes of one or more hands

Abstract

A game based on a comparison of the numerical outcomes of one or more hands is disclosed. In one embodiment, the game is played on a gaming table having a dealer station and multiple bettor stations. In one embodiment, the method of play comprises bettors placing bets as to the outcome of a comparison between one or more hands in relation to a target value. Thereafter, a dealer deals cards to one or more hands and tracks the point values of each hand in relation to a numeric threshold. Cards are dealt to a hand until the value of the hand meets or exceeds the numeric threshold. Thereafter, a comparison between the value of each hand and the target values occurs to determine which hand is closest to the target value or if a tie has occurred. Awards are made to betters placing wagers or bets on the correct outcomes.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a wagering card game comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a wager by a bettor on any of a bettor's three betting areas associated with a first hand winning over a second hand, the second hand winning over the first hand, and the a tie between the first hand and the second;    dealing two hands, each of the hands comprising two cards dispensed from one or more decks of cards onto two designated areas for the first hand and the second hand;    determining if a numeric total for each of the hands is 16 or less and dealing successive cards until the numeric total of 17 or greater is attained for each hand;    comparing the numeric total of the first hand and the second hand to a target value of 21;    designating a winning bet as a bet on the hand that has a numeric value closest, either over or under, to the target value of 21 or a bet upon a tie between the first hand and the second hand; and    providing an award to a bettor who placed a winning bet.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising collecting all wagers other than winning wagers.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wager is within a range between a minimum bet and a maximum bet.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein awarding a tie bet comprises paying at 3 to 1 odds and collecting a commission.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a tie comprises when the first hand and the second had are equidistant, either over or under, from the target value of 21.  
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a game comprising: 
 receiving wagers from one or more bettors regarding which hand will have a numeric outcome that is closest, either over or under, to a target value;    providing at least one numeric indicator to the one or more hands;    comparing the numeric value of one or more hands to a numeric threshold;    responsive to the comparing, providing additional numeric indicators to a hand that has a numeric value that is less than the numeric threshold; and    providing an award to any bettors that wagered on a winning hand.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the target values comprises a value to which the numerical value of a hand is compared and wherein the numeric threshold is a numeric threshold that determines when numeric indicators must be provided to a hand.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the numeric indicator comprises a card from a standard deck of playing cards.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the prediction of a numeric outcome of a hand in comparison to the numeric outcomes of one or more hands in relation to a target value comprises comparing each hand to the target value to determine which hand is closest, either over or under, to the target value.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the target values comprises 21 and the numeric threshold comprises 17.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising receiving wagers that the one or more hands will tie.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a winning hand comprises the hand that is closest, either over or under, to the target value.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the possible numeric outcomes comprises any one of the one or more hands being the closest hand, either over or under, to the target value or one or more of the one or more hands having the same numeric outcome.  
     
     
         14 . A method for playing a game using cards having numeric values comprising: 
 dealing one or more cards to a first hand until the numeric total of the first hand is at a threshold;    dealing one or more cards to a second hand until the numeric total of the first hand is at a threshold;    comparing the numeric values of the first hand and the second hand to a target value; and    determining which hand has a numeric value that is closest, either over or under, to the target value or if the first hand has a numeric value that is equidistant, either over or under, from the numeric value of the second hand in relation to the target value.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising receiving one or more bets from bettors on any of a first hand, a second hand, or a tie; and 
 providing an award to bettors who bet on the hand that has a numeric value that is closest to the target value or a tie, if the numeric first hand has a numeric value that is equidistant from the numeric value of the second hand in relation to the target value.    
     
     
         16 . The method  claim 15 , wherein the bets further comprise special event wagers.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cards comprise cards from a deck of standard playing cards.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first hand is dealt to a player hand location on a playing table and the second hand is dealt to a dealer hand location on the playing table.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the threshold comprises a numeric value at which cards are no longer dealt.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the numeric threshold comprises 17 and the target value comprises 21.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the numeric threshold comprises 17 and the target value comprises 23.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein an ace card is assigned a numeric value of one.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cards comprises non-standard playing cards labeled with numeric indicators of one through thirteen.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the dealing, comparing, and determining is performed electronically.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the game is offered electronically on a display.  
     
     
         26 . A device for providing a card game comprising: 
 a playing area defined by: 
 one or more betting stations wherein each betting station comprises one or more betting locations configured to receive one or more bets regarding which of one or more hands will be closest to a target value or tie between one or more hands; and  
 a dealer station having one or more hand locations configured to receive cards until the numeric value of each hand reaches the numeric threshold to thereby create one or more hands.  
   
     
     
         27 . The game of  claim 26 , wherein the playing stations and dealer station are located on a gaming table.  
     
     
         28 . The game of  claim 26 , wherein the dealer station comprises a dealer hand location and a player hand location, each of which are configured to received cards to create a hand until the numeric value of the hand reaches a numeric threshold.