Pai gow blackjack

Abstract

The present invention provides a game for play between a player and a dealer. The player places a wager. Three player cards are distributed and arranged into a two-card player hand and a one-card player hand. A player total is calculated by summing the values of the cards in the two-card player hand. Three dealer cards are similarly distributed to the dealer, which the dealer arranges into a two-card dealer hand and a one-card dealer hand. A dealer total is then calculated by summing the values of the cards in the two-card dealer hand. A payout is awarded to the player based on the wager when the player total exceeds the dealer total and the one-card player hand has a higher value than the one-card dealer hand. Preferably, the cards are arranged such that neither the player total nor the dealer total exceeds twenty-one.

1 . A game for play between a player and a dealer using a deck of cards, wherein each of said cards has a value associated therewith, said game comprising:
 a first wager placed by said player;   a set of player cards, said player arranging said set of player cards into a first player hand and a second player hand;   a first player total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said first player hand;   a second player total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said second player hand;   a set of dealer cards, said dealer arranging said set of dealer cards into a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand;   a first dealer total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said first dealer hand; and   a second dealer total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said second dealer hand;   wherein said player receives a payout based on said first wager when said first player total exceeds said first dealer total and said second player total exceeds said second dealer total.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said first wager is returned to said player when only one of said first player total exceeds said first dealer total and said second player total exceeds said second dealer total. 
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said first wager is remitted when said first player total is less than or equal to said first dealer total and said second player total is less than or equal to said second dealer total. 
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 1 , further including a second wager, said second wager being resolved following play of a secondary game. 
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein at least two cards from said set of player cards are a starting hand for said secondary game. 
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 5 , wherein said first player hand is said starting hand. 
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein said second wager is placed prior to distribution of said set of player cards. 
   
   
       8 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein said secondary game is blackjack. 
   
   
       9 . The game of  claim 4 , wherein said secondary game is three-card poker. 
   
   
       10 . The game of  claim 9 , wherein three cards from said set of player cards becomes are used for said three-card poker game. 
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a game between a player and a dealer using a deck of cards, wherein each of said cards has a value associated therewith, said method comprising:
 wagering of a first wager by said player;   distributing a set of player cards to said player and a set of dealer cards to said dealer;   arranging said set of player cards into a first player hand and a second player hand;   arranging said set of dealer cards into a first dealer hand and a second dealer hand;   calculating a first player total by summing the values of the cards included in said first player hand, a second player total by summing the values of the cards included in the second player hand, a first dealer total by summing the values of the cards included in the first dealer hand, and a second dealer total by summing the values of the cards included in the second dealer hand; and   awarding a payout to said player based on said first wager when said first player total exceeds said first dealer total and said second player total exceeds said second dealer total.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first wager is returned to said player when only one of said first player total exceeds said first dealer total and said second player total exceeds said second dealer total. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said first wager is remitted when said first player total is less than or equal to said first dealer total and said second player total is less than or equal to said second dealer total. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including:
 wagering a second wager;   playing a secondary game; and   resolving said second wager based on the result of said secondary game.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said secondary game is blackjack. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said first player hand is a starting hand for said secondary game. 
   
   
       17 . A game for play between a player and a dealer using a deck of cards, wherein each of said cards has a value associated therewith, said game comprising:
 a wager placed by said player;   a set of three player cards distributed to said player, said player arranging said set of player cards into a two-card player hand and a one-card player hand;   a player total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said two-card player hand;   a set of three dealer cards distributed to said dealer, said dealer arranging said set of dealer cards into a two-card dealer hand and a one-card dealer hand;   a dealer total calculated by summing the values of the cards included in said two-card dealer hand; and   a payout awarded to said player based on said wager when said player total exceeds said dealer total and said one-card player hand has a higher value than said one-card dealer hand;   wherein said player cards and said dealer cards are arranged such that neither said player total nor said dealer total exceeds a predetermined value.   
   
   
       18 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined value is twenty-one. 
   
   
       19 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein said wager is returned to said player when only one of said player total exceeds said dealer total and said one-card player hand has a higher value than said one-card dealer hand. 
   
   
       20 . The game of  claim 17 , wherein said wager is remitted when said player total is less than or equal to said dealer total and said one-card player hand has a value less than or equal to the value of said one-card dealer hand.