Casino wagering system with additional options for pairs

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement a variation of a blackjack game with an improved splitting mechanism. In an embodiment, the player cannot split unless the player is dealt a qualifying pair. If the player is dealt a qualifying pair, then one (or both) of the initial player's cards is replaced and then the two cards are split and played out as separate hands.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for implementing a blackjack game, the apparatus comprising:
 an electronic input device;   an electronic output device;   an electronic processing unit connected to the input device and the output device, the processing unit programmed to:   receive a wager from a player;   deal a player's initial two card hand;   determine whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair;   upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues using the player's initial two card hand as a single hand;   upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced in the player's initial two card hand, and each remaining card is played out separately as two separate hands.   complete the blackjack game; and   resolve the wager.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that only one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced with a replacement card. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that both cards in the player's initial two card hand are replaced. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that as long as the replacement card is a same rank as the at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand then the replacement card is replaced with a newly dealt card. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further programmed such that when each remaining card is played out separately, no additional wager is received from the player. 
     
     
         6 . A method to implement a blackjack game, the method comprising:
 executing instructions on an electronic processing unit to perform:   receiving a wager from a player;   dealing a player's initial two card hand;   determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair;   upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues using the player's initial two card hand as a single hand;   upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced in the player's initial two card hand, and each remaining card is played out separately as two separate hands.   completing the blackjack game; and   resolving the wager.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein only one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand is replaced with a replacement card. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , both cards in the player's initial two card hand are replaced. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein as long as the replacement card is a same rank as the at least one of the cards in the player's initial two card hand then the replacement card is replaced with a newly dealt card. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein when each remaining card is played out separately, no additional wager is received from the player. 
     
     
         11 . A method to implement a blackjack game, the method comprising:
 executing instructions on an electronic processing unit to perform:   receiving a wager from a player;   dealing a player's initial two card hand;   determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a qualifying pair;   upon the player's initial two card hand not being a qualifying pair, then the player cannot split and the blackjack game continues;   upon the player's initial two card hand being a qualifying pair, then providing the player with a choice out of both 1) discarding one card in the player's initial two card and continuing the blackjack game with a remaining card in the initial two card hand, and 2) receiving an additional wager and splitting the player's initial two card hand into two separate hands;   completing the blackjack game; and   resolving the wager.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 after the dealing and before the determining, determining whether the player's initial two card hand is a play-option pair;   only if the player's initial two card hand is a play-option pair, then providing the player with a choice out of both 1) playing out the player's initial two card hand as a single hand; and 2) receiving an additional wager and splitting the player's initial two card hand into two separate hands.