Method of conducting a card game

Abstract

A card game includes each player making a game wager and an optional hand wager. An initial hand is dealt to each player and a dealer. Game wagers are immediately resolved for players having an automatic winning hand. Remaining players form final player hands. A final dealer hand is also formed. A hand value is calculated for the final dealer hand and each final player based on the sum modulo ten of the values of the cards. The hand values are compared and game wagers resolved. Hand wagers are resolved by comparing player hands to a pay table. For player hands that form a portion of a hand listed on the pay table, an additional card or card may be dealt that will not affect the hand score but is used in resolving the hand wager.

1 . A method of conducting a game for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards including playing cards two through ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, comprising:
 receiving a game wager from said player;   dealing an initial player hand of playing cards to each player;   dealing an initial dealer hand of playing cards;   each player forming a final player hand by standing on said player's initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;   forming a final dealer hand by standing on said dealer's initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;   determining a hand value said final dealer hand and each said final player hand by summing, modulo ten, the values of the playing cards in each said final hand, wherein the value of a playing card two through nine is its face value, the value of a playing card ten, jack, queen, and king is zero, and the value of an ace playing card is one;   comparing the hand value of each player's final player hand to the hand value of the final dealer hand and a predefined target sum;   if the hand value of a player's final player hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of the final dealer hand, rewarding that player based on the player's game wager; and   if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of a player's final player hand, collecting that player's game wager.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, if the hand value of the final dealer hand is equal to the hand value of a player's final player hand, returning the player's game wager. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining the hand sum of each player's initial player hand; and   restricting a player from receiving any additional playing cards to the player's initial player hand if the hand sum of said player's initial player hand is a predetermined maximum.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining the hand sum of said initial dealer hand and wherein said step of forming said final dealer hand further comprises receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards in said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is less than a predetermined minimum and standing on said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is greater than, or equal to, a predetermined maximum. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs;   receiving a hand wager from at least one player;   for each player placing said hand wager, comparing the player's initial player hand and final player hand to said pay table; and   issuing the greater pay out associated with the hand combination, if any, formed by said player's initial player hand and final player hand according to said pay table.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination having a hand sum unequal to said target value. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination including a quantity of playing cards greater than the quantity of playing cards in a player initial hand. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising, if a player hand includes a predetermined hand combination designated for an envy pay out, issuing an envy pay out to each player not holding said hand combination who placed a hand wager of a predetermined size. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 defining at least one automatic winning hand; and   if a player's initial player hand forms an automatic winning hand, issuing a reward to said player based on said game wager.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs, wherein at least one of said hand combinations includes one of said automatic winning hands plus at least one predefined playing card;   receiving a hand wager from at least one player;   for each player placing said hand wager, comparing the player's initial player hand to said pay table;   issuing the pay out associated with the hand combination formed by said player's initial player hand, if any, according to said pay table;   if said player's initial player hand is an automatic winning hand, receiving at least one additional playing card to said player's initial player hand; and   if said player's initial player hand plus said at least one additional playing card forms a hand combination on said pay table of an automatic winning hand plus said at least one predefined playing card, issuing the pay out associated with the hand combination according to said pay table.   
   
   
       11 . A method of conducting a game for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards including playing cards two through ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, comprising:
 defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs;   defining at least one automatic winning hand;   receiving a game wager from said player;   receiving a hand wager from at least one player;   dealing an initial player hand of playing cards to each player;   dealing an initial dealer hand of playing cards;   if a player's initial player hand forms an automatic winning hand, issuing a reward to said player based on said game wager and terminating participation by said player except for resolution of said player's hand wager, if any;   each player forming a final player hand by standing on said player's initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;   forming a final dealer hand by standing on said dealer's initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;   determining a hand value said final dealer hand and each said final player hand by summing, modulo ten, the values of the playing cards in each said final hand, wherein the value of a playing card two through nine is its face value, the value of a playing card ten, jack, queen, and king is zero, and the value of an ace playing card is one;   comparing the hand value of each player's final player hand to the hand value of the final dealer hand and a predefined target sum;   if the hand value of a player's final player hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of the final dealer hand, rewarding that player based on the player's game wager;   if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of a player's final player hand, collecting that player's game wager; and   for each player placing said hand wager, resolving said player's hand wager comprising:
 comparing the player's initial player hand and final player hand to said pay table; and 
 issuing the greater pay out associated with the hand combination, if any, formed by said player's initial player hand and final player hand according to said pay table. 
   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, if the hand value of the final dealer hand is equal to the hand value of a player's final player hand, returning the player's game wager. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining the hand sum of each player's initial player hand; and   restricting a player from receiving any additional playing cards to the player's initial player hand if the hand sum of said player's initial player hand is a predetermined maximum.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising determining the hand sum of said initial dealer hand and wherein said step of forming said final dealer hand further comprises receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards in said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is less than a predetermined minimum and standing on said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is greater than, or equal to, a predetermined maximum. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination having a hand sum unequal to said target value. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination including a quantity of playing cards greater than the quantity of playing cards in a player initial hand. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, if a player hand includes a predetermined hand combination designated for an envy pay out, issuing an envy pay out to each player not holding said hand combination who placed a hand wager of a predetermined size.