Blackjack variants with player hand disqualification

Abstract

A method of playing a blackjack wagering game on a felt table or on a gaming device comprising at least a processer, input device and video monitor screen is disclosed. The method comprises providing player-advantage rules in blackjack games without requiring an extra wager in addition to a base wager. A predetermined set of dealt initial player hands is automatically disqualified, effectively ending the game for the player and forfeiting the player's wager. All dealt initial player hands that are not disqualified are qualified hands. All qualified hands remain in play. The player will receive at least one player-advantage rule on every hand that remains in play.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of playing a wagering playing card game comprising steps to:
 a) establish a first predetermined rules table associated at least with a player's initial two card blackjack hand that determines whether or not the player's initial two card blackjack hand is qualified for continued play;   b) establish a second predetermined rules table that includes at least one rule that provides an advantage to the player;   c) establish a first predetermined payout table associated with a dealer's initial two card blackjack hand based on whether or not the dealer's initial two card blackjack hand is an Ace and 10-point card representing a Blackjack;   d) establish a second predetermined payout table associated with a player's final blackjack hand ranking and a dealer's final blackjack hand ranking;   e) establish an initial deck of playing cards to be used in the play of the blackjack game;   f) enable the player to make one wager on a blackjack hand;   g) display to the player two cards face up representing the player's initial blackjack hand;   h) display to the dealer one card face up and one card face down representing the dealer's initial blackjack hand;   i) prevent the player from continuing play of the player's initial blackjack hand if the player's initial blackjack hand is disqualified according to the first rules table;   j) discard the disqualified player's initial blackjack hand and lose the wager;   k) qualify the player's initial blackjack hand that is not disqualified;   l) allow the player to continue play of the player's initial blackjack hand if the player's initial blackjack hand is qualified;   m) allow the player to make gameplay decisions based on the second rules table until the player's hand if finalized;   n) allow the dealer to make gameplay decisions based on the second rules table until the dealer's hand if finalized;   o) compare the final player's hand to the final dealer's hand; and   p) award the player any wins according to the second paytable.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined rules table provides a predetermined set of disqualifying player initial hands. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined set of disqualifying hands comprises initial player hands that comprise one card whose rank matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose rank matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise one card whose suit matches the suit of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose suit matches the suit of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise a predetermined total value, initial player hands plus the dealer's up card that together provide a straight, a flush, or a 3-of-a-Kind, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value is lower than the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value is higher than the rank of the dealer's up card, or initial player hands that comprise two cards whose color matches the color of the dealer's up card. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein predetermined exceptions can be offered to the predetermined set of disqualifying hands. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein at least the composition of the predetermined set of disqualifying player initial hands determines an additional house advantage not available in traditional blackjack. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein at least the additional house advantage determines the configuration of the second predetermined rules table. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second predetermined rules table at least includes either one or some of the following: dealer loses a dealer blackjack, player wins predetermined ties, player receives an additional award for predetermined initial hands, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands, player receives an additional award for predetermined initial hands in view of dealer initial up card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer initial up card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer initial down card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer final hand, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands if the dealer busts, player may be permitted to double down on any two initially-dealt player cards, player may be permitted to double down on any amount of cards, player may split any hand at least three times including aces, player may double down on any split hand, player may surrender early, or player may surrender late. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system comprising: at least one processor; a gaming apparatus having at least one input device and at least one display device; at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
 a) establish a first predetermined rules table associated at least with a player's initial two card blackjack hand that determines whether or not the player's initial two card blackjack hand is qualified for continued play;   b) establish a second predetermined rules table that includes at least one rule that provides an advantage to the player;   c) establish a first predetermined payout table associated with a dealer's initial two card blackjack hand based on whether or not the dealer's initial two card blackjack hand is an Ace and 10-point card representing a Blackjack;   d) establish a second predetermined payout table associated with a player's final blackjack hand ranking and a dealer's final blackjack hand ranking;   e) establish an initial deck of playing cards to be used in the play of the blackjack game;   f) enable the player to make one wager on a blackjack hand;   g) display to the player two cards face up representing the player's initial blackjack hand;   h) display to the dealer one card face up and one card face down representing the dealer's initial blackjack hand;   i) prevent the player from continuing play of the player's initial blackjack hand if the player's initial blackjack hand is disqualified according to the first rules table;   j) discard the disqualified player's initial blackjack hand and lose the wager;   k) qualify the player's initial blackjack hand that is not disqualified;   l) allow the player to continue play of the player's initial blackjack hand if the player's initial blackjack hand is qualified;   m) allow the player to make gameplay decisions based on the second rules table until the player's hand if finalized;   n) allow the dealer to make gameplay decisions based on the second rules table until the dealer's hand if finalized;   o) compare the final player's hand to the final dealer's hand; and   p) award the player any wins according to the second paytable.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the first predetermined rules table provides a predetermined set of disqualifying player initial hands. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the predetermined set of disqualifying hands comprises initial player hands that comprise one card whose rank matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose rank matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise one card whose suit matches the suit of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose suit matches the suit of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise a predetermined total value, initial player hands plus the dealer's up card that together provide a straight, a flush, or a 3-of-a-Kind, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value matches the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value is lower than the rank of the dealer's up card, initial player hands that comprise two cards whose total value is higher than the rank of the dealer's up card, or initial player hands that comprise two cards whose color matches the color of the dealer's up card. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein predetermined exceptions can be offered to the predetermined set of disqualifying hands. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein at least the composition of the predetermined set of disqualifying player initial hands determines an additional house advantage not available in traditional blackjack. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein at least the additional house advantage determines the configuration of the second predetermined rules table. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the second predetermined rules table at least includes either one or some of the following: dealer loses a dealer blackjack, player wins predetermined ties, player receives an additional award for predetermined initial hands, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands, player receives an additional award for predetermined initial hands in view of dealer initial up card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer initial up card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer initial down card, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands in view of the dealer final hand, player receives an additional award for predetermined final hands if the dealer busts, player may be permitted to double down on any two initially-dealt player cards, player may be permitted to double down on any amount of cards, player may split any hand at least three times including aces, player may double down on any split hand, player may surrender early, or player may surrender late.