Casino wagering system with conditional replacement

Abstract

A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement a variation of a blackjack game. A dealer's upcard can be automatically replaced if it is in a predetermined set of of up-cards. A player can also be permitted to replace a second card dealt to the player if the player's hand is in a predetermined set. A side wager can be offered which wins if the dealer busts, the payout being determined based on a final dealer's total.

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 configured to:   receive a wager from a player;   deal an initial player's hand and an initial dealer's hand comprising a dealer's up-card;   determining if the dealer's up-card is in a predetermined set of cards, and if so, then replacing the dealer's up-card with a newly dealt card; and   completing the blackjack game.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that predetermined set of cards is only all cards with ranks from 2 through 7. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that if the initial player's hand is in a predetermined set of hands, then the player is offered an option to place a double wager and replace the player's second dealt card with a newly dealt card. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that if the player exercises the option to place the double wager and replace the player's second dealt card then the player is prohibited from further doubling and splitting. 
     
     
         5 . 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 configured to:   receive a main wager from a player;   deal an initial player's hand comprising a first dealt card and a second dealt card and an initial dealer's hand;   determine if the initial player's hand is in a predetermined set of hands, and if so, then offer the player an option to place a double wager and replace the player's second dealt card with a newly dealt card; and   completing the blackjack game.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that if the player exercises the option to place the double wager then the player is further prohibited from doubling and splitting. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that the predetermined set of hands is only hands that have a point total of 13 to 16. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further configured such that if a dealer's up-card in the initial dealer's hand is in a predetermined set of cards then replacing the dealer's up-card with a newly dealt card. 
     
     
         9 . 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 configured to:   receive a main wager and a side wager from a player;   deal an initial player's hand and an initial dealer's hand;   determine if the dealer busts, and if so, then paying the side wager amount of the side wager multiplied by a payout, the payout being determined based on the dealer's final point total.   completing the blackjack game.