Card game with auxiliary game

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of playing a card game which includes a main sub-game and an auxiliary sub-game, the method comprising the steps of: providing to the player an option of playing the auxiliary sub-game according to pre-determined auxiliary sub-game rules, said playing including placing a bet on the auxiliary sub-game; dealing cards to the player; allowing the dealer to deal cards to itself; if the total of the point value of the cards dealt to the player equals the total of the point value of the cards dealt to the dealer, determining that a winning outcome has been achieved by the player in the main sub-game; if such a winning outcome has been achieved, awarding the player a prize in accordance with said main sub-game rules based on the cards dealt to the player; if the player's and dealer's cards have the same point value, allowing the player to enter the auxiliary sub-game; and determining if the player has achieved a winning outcome in the auxiliary sub-game based on the player's cards in the main sub-game.

1 . A method of playing a card game which includes a main sub-game and an auxiliary sub-game, the method comprising the steps of:
 inviting at least one player to play the main sub-game according to pre-determined main sub-game rules;   providing, to the player, an option of playing the auxiliary sub-game according to pre-determined auxiliary sub-game rules, said playing including placing a bet on the auxiliary sub-game;   dealing at least one playing card, having a point value, to the player, by way of a dealer;   allowing the dealer to deal at least one playing card, having a point value, to itself;   if the total of the point value of the at least one card dealt to the player equals the total of the point value of the at least one card dealt to the dealer, determining that a potential winning outcome has been achieved by the player in the auxiliary sub-game where the player has elected to play the auxiliary sub-game;   if such a potential winning outcome has been achieved, awarding the player a prize in accordance with said auxiliary sub-game rules based at least partially on the at least one card dealt to the player.   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of dealing at least one playing card is constituted by dealing at least two playing cards, and the step of allowing the dealer to deal at least one playing card is constituted by allowing the dealer to deal at least two playing cards. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said step of awarding the player a prize in accordance with said auxiliary sub-game rules includes determining a ranking of a combination of cards constituting said at least one card dealt to the player according to Poker rules. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the main sub-game is one of Blackjack, Spanish 21, and 21. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 4  including the step of awarding the player a prize in accordance with said main sub-game rules in the event that the point value of the at least one card dealt to the player is closer to 21 than that of the dealer provided that neither the point value relating to the player or dealer exceeds 21. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of inviting at least one player to play the main sub-game includes inviting the player to place a bet on the main sub-game. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of inviting at least one player to play the main sub-game includes inviting the player to place a bet on the main sub-game prior to the step of dealing at least one playing card to the player. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said placing a bet on the auxiliary sub-game is constituted by placing the bet prior to the step of dealing at least one playing card to the player. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , where the card game is played on an electronically operable system, wherein said dealer is a virtual dealer 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein said electronically operable system includes at least one of: a gaming machine, a hand-held gaming device and the Internet.