Three card blackjack

Abstract

A blackjack variation that can be played in a casino. A player is dealt three initial cards and the player can then choose two out of the three cards as the player's initial hand and the dealer is dealt two cards. The blackjack game can then proceed normally using the chosen two cards. The player must also place a side bet based on a poker hand comprising the three initial cards and the dealer's upcard.

1 . A method to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer for a casino, the method comprising:
 receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager;   dealing the player three initial player cards;   allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand;   revealing a dealer's upcard;   determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards;   resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable;   completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and   resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.   
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the poker hand comprises all of the initial player cards and the dealer's upcard. 
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the poker hand comprises all of the initial player cards and a dealer's card. 
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing. 
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing. 
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the allowing is performed before the revealing. 
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the blackjack wager and the poker wager are equal in value. 
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein a house edge on the poker wager more than offsets a player advantage on the blackjack wager so that the casino has an overall advantage. 
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, placing, by the player, the player's initial blackjack hand in a blackjack box outlined on a playing table and placing, by the player, the discard in a discard box outlined on a playing table. 
   
   
       15 . An apparatus to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer, the method comprising:
 an output device; and   a processing unit using the output device and performing:
 receiving a blackjack wager and a poker wager; 
 dealing the player three initial player cards; 
 allowing the player to select a player's initial blackjack hand comprising two out of the three initial player cards, and allowing the player to also select a discard card which is a card from the three initial player cards not used in the initial blackjack hand; 
 revealing a dealer's upcard; 
 determining a rank of a poker hand comprising some of the initial player cards; 
 resolving the poker wager based on the rank using a paytable; 
 completing a blackjack hand using the player's initial blackjack hand and the dealer's upcard and a dealer's downcard which is revealed; and 
 resolving the blackjack wager based on a result of the completing.