Blackjack variation

Abstract

The blackjack variation provides another option for the blackjack player, permitting the purchase of an option to use the single face-up card of the dealer in combination with the initial two cards dealt to the player to form a three-card hand. The player may pay a percentage of the initial wager or some other amount, as determined, to purchase the option. The option is preferably limited to the three cards that include the two cards initially dealt to the player and the single face-up or displayed card of the initial dealer hand. Conventional blackjack rules remain in effect, i.e., the option for the player to double down or split pairs. However, if the player elects one of these other options and/or otherwise elects to add another card(s) to the hand, the option of using the displayed dealer card is revoked. The house may retain the option payment under these conditions.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a blackjack variation, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one blackjack card deck;   (b) determining a dealer and at least one player;   (c) requiring each of the at least one players to place a wager;   (d) permitting the at least one player to make a dealer card option purchase by paying a percentage of the wager of the at least one player;   (e) dealing a plurality of cards to each of the at least one players after steps (c) and (d) are completed;   (f) dealing at least one face-up card to the dealer;   (g) permitting the at least one player the option of combining the values of the plurality of cards of the at least one player hand with the at least one face-up card of the dealer hand for each of the at least one players who made the dealer card option purchase in step (d); and   (h) comparing each of the at least one player hands formed according to step (g) with the cards of the dealer hand, thereby determining at least one winning hand.   
     
     
         2 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) step (e) comprises dealing two cards to the at least one player;   (b) step (f) comprises dealing a single face-up card and a single face-down card to the dealer; and   (c) step (g) comprises permitting the at least one player an option of combining values of the two cards of the at least one player hand with the single face-up card of the dealer hand for each of the at least one players who made the dealer card option purchase.   
     
     
         3 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a blackjack playing surface having a plurality of player positions thereon. 
     
     
         4 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 3 , further comprising the step of providing a dealer card option purchase position on the blackjack playing surface for each of the player positions. 
     
     
         5 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one electronic blackjack variation game station; and   (b) providing a central processing unit communicating electronically with the at least one electronic blackjack variation game station.   
     
     
         6 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) permitting each player to double his or her initial wager;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player doubling his or her initial wager, as elected by the player; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player doubles his or her initial wager.   
     
     
         7 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming two player hands by splitting a pair of identically ranked cards dealt to a single player;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player splitting his or her pair; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player splits his or her pair.   
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a blackjack variation, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one blackjack card deck;   (b) determining a dealer and at least one player;   (c) requiring each of the at least one players to place a wager;   (d) permitting the at least one player to make a dealer card option purchase;   (e) dealing two cards to the at least one player;   (f) dealing a single face-up card and a single face-down card to the dealer;   (g) permitting the at least one player an option of combining values of the two cards of the at least one player's hand with the single face-up card of the dealer hand for each player who made the dealer card option purchase in step (d), thereby forming a three-card player hand for the at least one player exercising the option; and   (h) comparing each player hand formed according to step (g) with the two cards of the dealer hand, thereby determining at least one winning hand.   
     
     
         9 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 8 , wherein step (d) further comprises paying a percentage of the initial wager to make the dealer card option purchase. 
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing a blackjack playing surface having a plurality of player positions thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of providing a dealer card option purchase position on the blackjack playing surface for each of the player positions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one electronic blackjack variation game station; and   (b) providing a central processing unit communicating electronically with the at least one electronic blackjack variation game station.   
     
     
         13 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) permitting the at least one player to double his or her initial wager;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player doubling his or her initial wager, as elected by the player; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player doubles his or her initial wager.   
     
     
         14 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming two player hands by splitting a pair of identically ranked cards dealt to a single player;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player splitting his or her pair; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player splits his or her pair.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for playing a blackjack variation, comprising:
 a blackjack playing surface having a dealer position and a plurality of player positions; and   a dealer card option purchase position adjacent each of the player positions.   
     
     
         16 . A method of playing a blackjack variation using the blackjack playing surface apparatus according to  claim 15 , comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing at least one blackjack card deck;   (b) positioning a dealer at the dealer position of the blackjack playing surface;   (c) positioning at least one player at one of the player positions of the blackjack playing surface;   (d) requiring each of the at least one players to place a wager;   (e) permitting the at least one player to make a dealer card option purchase by paying a percentage of the wager of the at least one player;   (f) placing a dealer card option purchase on the corresponding dealer card option purchase position of the blackjack playing surface, by the at least one player;   (g) dealing a plurality of cards to each of the at least one players after steps (c) through (f) are completed;   (h) dealing at least one face-up card to the dealer;   (i) permitting the at least one player an option of combining values of the plurality of cards of the at least one player hand with the at least one face-up card of the dealer hand for each of the at least one players who made the dealer card option purchase in step (f); and   (j) comparing each of the at least one player hands formed according to step (i) with the cards of the dealer hand, thereby determining at least one winning hand.   
     
     
         17 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 (a) step (g) comprises dealing two cards to the at least one player;   (b) step (h) comprises dealing a single face-up card and a single face-down card to the dealer; and   (c) step (i) comprises permitting the at least one player the option of combining the values of the two cards of the at least one player hand with the single face-up card of the dealer hand for each of the at least one players who made the dealer card option purchase.   
     
     
         18 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 16 , wherein step (f) further comprises paying a percentage of the initial wager to purchase the corresponding dealer card option. 
     
     
         19 . The method of playing a blackjack variation according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) permitting the at least one player to double his or her initial wager;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player doubling his or her initial wager, as elected by the player; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player doubles his or her initial wager.   
     
     
         20 . The method of playing a blackjack variation using the blackjack playing surface apparatus according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 (a) forming two player hands by splitting a pair of identically ranked cards dealt to a single player;   (b) dealing one additional card to the player splitting his or her pair; and   (c) forfeiting the dealer card option purchase when the player splits his or her pair.