Modified blackjack game and method

Abstract

A modified Blackjack game incorporates at least one side bet available to each player. The side bet provides a wagering opportunity based on the card ranking of the player's first card and the player's second card. The player may only make this side bet if the player is dealt an ace on his first card. Thereafter, the player places a side wager to wager that his second card will be a ten, jack (J), queen (Q), or king (K)—i.e., that his second card will result in a Blackjack. If the player bets successfully, the player is awarded a payout based on the side wager. If the player bets unsuccessfully, the player loses the side wager. After either a winning or losing side wager, the modified Blackjack game continues according to traditional Blackjack rules based on an initial wager and the player's first and second card.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a modified Blackjack game between a dealer and a player comprising:
 receiving an initial wager from a player;   dealing a first player's card to the player from a deck of playing cards;   determining if the first player's card is an ace; and   allowing the player to place a side wager independent of the initial wager and in response to the first player's card being an ace to wager that a second player's card will be a ten, jack (J), queen (Q), or king (K).   
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the side wager from the player; 
 dealing a second player's card to the player from the deck of playing cards; and 
 determining if the second player's card is a ten, jack (J), queen (Q), or king (K). 
 
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising:
 awarding the player a predetermined payout on the side bet in response to the player's second card being a ten, jack (J), queen (Q), or king (K). 
 
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the predetermined payout is 2:1 based on the side bet. 
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the predetermined payout is 1:1 based on the side bet. 
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising:
 continuing a traditional Blackjack game according to traditional Blackjack rules based on the initial wager and the player's first and second card. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising:
 taking the side bet from the player in response to the player's second card not being a ten, jack (J), queen (Q), or king (K). 
 
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7  further comprising:
 continuing a traditional Blackjack game according to traditional Blackjack rules based on the initial wager and the player's first and second card. 
 
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the initial wager is received in a Blackjack betting window of a gaming table and the side wager is received in a side betting window of the gaming table. 
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the side betting window is labeled with the indicia “10”, “J”, “Q”, and “K”.