Optional blackjack bet and table for making the same

Abstract

A method for playing blackjack and a table adapted for playing a blackjack game includes an optional side bet. This side bet lasts from the start to the end of a shoe and, if all of a certain card value are dealt prior to a shuffle, or cushion card is dealt, then the side bet pays off. If the shuffle card is dealt prior to all of a certain value of card being dealt, then the house keeps the side bets. For example, with a two deck shoe, there are eight 5-value cards (two five of clubs, two five of spades, two five of hearts, and two five of diamonds). If these eight cards are dealt before the shuffle card is dealt, the players win the side bet. The position of the shuffle card can vary the odds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wagering in a blackjack game, comprising:
 placing an optional side bet during a side bet open period;   placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards;   dealing blackjack hands to players;   tracking a certain valued card whenever the certain valued card is dealt;   paying players that placed the optional side bet if all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt; and   keeping the optional side bet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bet open period is before dealing a first blackjack hand to players from the shoe of cards. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion card is placed about 25% from the bottom of the shoe of cards. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the certain valued card has a low card value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the certain valued card is a five-card. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising starting a new shoe of cards if all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt, regardless of whether the cushion card has or has not been dealt. 
     
     
         7 . A method for wagering in a blackjack game, comprising:
 placing an optional side bet during a side bet open period prior to dealing a first blackjack hand;   placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards;   dealing blackjack hands to players;   tracking a low valued card whenever the low valued card is dealt;   paying players that placed the optional side bet if all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt;   keeping the optional side bet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt; and   starting a new shoe of cards if all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt, regardless of whether the cushion card has or has not been dealt.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cushion card is placed about 25% from the bottom of the shoe of cards. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the low valued card is a five-value card. 
     
     
         10 . A blackjack table comprising:
 a traditional betting area for players to place a bet for each blackjack hand;   an optional bet area for players to place an optional bet during an open bet period;   a bet holding area for holding the optional bet until the optional bet is won or the house wins the optional bet; and   a card tracking area providing one spot for each card having a given value in a shoe, where lammer markers are placed over each spot in the card tracking area each time the given value card is dealt.