Blackjack Game with Associated Wagering Game

Abstract

Providing and conducting a wagering game associated with a Blackjack game, configured for receiving a wager relating to the associated wagering game; generating player and dealer initial Blackjack hands; determining the value of the initial player hand; comparing the initial player hand value with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial player hand includes a card having more than one possible value in the Blackjack game, wherein the qualifying preset criteria includes at least one specific value; providing a payout if the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards of the same value which combine to equal the at least one specific value or the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards of different values which combine to equal the at least one specific value and the final Blackjack outcome is a player win.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game associated with the underlying game of Blackjack, comprising the steps of:
 a) receiving a wager relating to the associated wagering game;   b) generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game for a player and a dealer;   c) determining the value of the initial player hand of playing cards, wherein the value is based on combining the value of each card in the initial hand according to the rules of the underlying game;   d) comparing the value of the initial player hand with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial player hand includes a card having more than one possible value according to the rules of the underlying game, wherein the qualifying preset criteria includes at least one specific value which may be achieved by the initial hand according to the rules of the underlying game;   e) determining the final outcome of the underlying game according its rules, wherein the final outcome may be a player win, a player loss or push;   f) providing a payout corresponding with the wager received if (i) the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards of the same value which combine to equal the at least one specific value according to the rules of the underlying game or (ii) the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards of different values which combine to equal the at least one specific value according to the rules of the underlying game and the final outcome is a player win; and   g) collecting the wager if the qualifying preset criteria is not satisfied.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one specific value includes 12, 14 and 16. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one specific value includes 13 and 15. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one specific value includes 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a payout corresponding with the wager received if the qualifying preset criteria is not satisfied and the initial player hand is a natural Blackjack. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing a payout corresponding to the same amount as the wager received if the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards of different values which combine to equal the at least one specific value according to the rules of the underlying game and the final outcome of the underlying game is a push. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a random initial hand of playing cards for a player and a dealer in the underlying game further includes generating an initial hand of two cards for the player and an initial hand of two cards for the dealer. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of comparing the value of the initial player hand with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial hand includes a card having more than one possible value according to the rules of the underlying game card further comprises comparing the value of the initial player hand with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial player hand includes an Ace. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a payout corresponding with the wager received if the qualifying preset criteria are not satisfied and the initial player hand and initial dealer hand are both natural Blackjacks. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game further comprises using a program with a random number generator configured for simulating Blackjack games. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game further comprises using at least one randomly ordered deck of physical playing cards. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving a wager that is resolvable based on the outcome of the underlying wagering game. 
     
     
         13 . A system for conducting a wagering game associated with the underlying game of Blackjack, comprising:
 a) means for generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game for a player and a dealer;   b) a processor configured for:
 (ii) determining the value of the initial player hand of playing cards, wherein the value is based on combining the value of each card in the initial hand according to the rules of the underlying game; 
 (iii) comparing the value of the initial player hand with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial player hand includes a card having more than one possible value according to the rules of the underlying game, wherein the qualifying preset criteria includes at least one specific value which may be achieved by the initial hand according to the rules of the underlying game; 
 (iv) determining the final outcome of the underlying game according its rules, wherein the final outcome may be a player win, a player loss or push; 
   c) a player interface configured for:
 (i) receiving a wager relating to the associated wagering game; and 
 (ii) providing a payout corresponding with the wager received if it is determined that the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied and the initial player hand is composed of individual cards having the same value which combine to equal the at least one specific value according to the rules of the underlying game or the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied and the initial player hand is composed of individual cards having different values which combine to equal the at least one specific value according to the rules of the underlying game and the final outcome is a player win. 
   
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein means for generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game for a player and a dealer is a processor. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein means for generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game for a player and a dealer is at least one deck of randomly ordered playing cards. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a display configured for displaying the outcome of the underlying game and results of the associated wagering game. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the player interface and processor are mounted in a unitary housing. 
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 13 , wherein the processor is remotely located from the player interface. 
     
     
         19 . A wagering game method associated with an underlying game of Blackjack, comprising the steps of:
 a) receiving a wager relating to the associated wagering game;   b) generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game for a player and a dealer;   c) determining the value of the initial player hand of playing cards, wherein the value is based on combining the value of each card in the initial hand according to the rules of the underlying game;   d) comparing the value of the initial player hand with a qualifying preset criteria unless the initial player hand includes an Ace, wherein the qualifying preset criteria includes an initial hand with a value of 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 as determined according to the rules of the underlying game;   e) determining the final outcome of the underlying game according its rules, wherein the final outcome may be a player win, a player loss or push;   f) providing a payout corresponding with the wager received if (i) the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards having the same value or (ii) the qualifying preset criteria is satisfied by an initial player hand composed of individual cards having different values and the final outcome is a player win; and   g) collecting the wager if the qualifying preset criteria is not satisfied.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the individual cards having the same value include two sixes, two sevens and two eights.