Blackjack Game with Additional Player Flexibility

Abstract

A variation of casino blackjack. The player can have the option to split any two cards whether they are identical or not. The player can also double down and receive a double down card, and if the player does not like his or her double down card, then the player can discard the double down card and receive a second double down card

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer for a casino, the method comprising:
 providing one or more physical decks of cards;   receiving an initial wager from a player;   dealing, from the one or more decks, a player's initial two cards and a dealer's hand;   allowing the player to split the two initial cards even if they are not of equal rank; and   continuing the blackjack game using predefined rules.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the allowing is permitted when the initial cards are not of equal rank only if the initial two cards meet a predefined condition. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the predefined condition comprises whether a point total of the player's initial two cards fall within a range. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the range is between 14 and 16. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the range is between 15 and 16. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the blackjack variation contains a compensating feature which is favorable to the house. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the player does not split on the initial two cards, then before the continuing, performing:   
       permitting the player to double on the initial two cards by receiving a double wager from the player and dealing to the player a double card face up; and
 letting the player to replace the double card, and if the player wishes to replace the double card, then replacing the double card with a replacement double card, 
 wherein the continuing the blackjack game uses a sum of the initial two cards and the replacement double card as the player's point total. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the letting is offered to the player only if the player's initial two cards meet a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined condition is a based on a point total of the initial two cards. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the blackjack variation contains a compensating feature which is favorable to the house. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus to play a blackjack variation between a player and a dealer for a casino, the apparatus comprising:
 an electronic processing unit, configured to:   receive an initial wager from a player;   deal, from the one or more decks, a player's initial two cards and a dealer's hand;   allow the player to split the two initial cards even if they are not of equal rank; and   continue the blackjack game using predefined rules.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the allowing is permitted when the initial cards are not of equal rank only if the initial two cards meet a predefined condition. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the predefined condition comprises whether a point total of the player's initial two cards fall within a range. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the range is between 14 and 16. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the range is between 15 and 16. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the blackjack variation contains a compensating feature which is favorable to the house. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 if the player does not split on the initial two cards, then before the continuing, performing:   permitting the player to double on the initial two cards by receiving a double wager from the player and dealing to the player a double card face up; and   letting the player to replace the double card, and if the player wishes to replace the double card, then replacing the double card with a replacement double card,   wherein the continuing the blackjack game uses a sum of the initial two cards and the replacement double card as the player's point total.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the letting is offered to the player only if the player's initial two cards meet a predetermined condition. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the predetermined condition is a based on a point total of the initial two cards. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the blackjack variation contains a compensating feature which is favorable to the house.