Method, system, and device for conducting a game

1. A method for conducting a game utilizing an electronic device having a data processor in communication with a display, a player interface, and a memory device, wherein said memory device is configured to store electronic representations of playing cards and program instructions executable by said data processor to conduct steps comprising:

receiving a blackjack base wager and a war base wager through said player interface;

dealing a player war hand consisting of a single playing card by said data processor;

dealing a dealer war hand consisting of a single playing card by said data processor;

resolving said war base wager by said data processor by comparing said player war hand to said dealer war hand and issuing a war payout based on said war base wager when said player war hand outranks said dealer war hand;

receiving an election through said player interface to supplement said blackjack base wager with at least a portion of said war payout, if any, while said dealer war hand is exposed;

dealing an initial player blackjack hand by said data processor, wherein said initial player blackjack hand includes said player war hand;

dealing an initial dealer blackjack hand by said data processor, wherein said initial dealer blackjack hand includes said dealer war hand such that said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager is received while said dealer war hand is exposed;

forming a final player blackjack hand from said initial player blackjack hand by standing on said initial player blackjack hand or receiving at least one additional playing card dealt to said initial player blackjack hand by said data processor, wherein if the sum of the playing cards in said final player blackjack hand exceeds a target value, said blackjack base wager, including any supplemental amount added to said blackjack base wager from said war payout, is collected by said data processor and play is terminated by said data processor for said final player hand;

forming a final dealer blackjack hand from said initial dealer blackjack hand by said data processor by standing on said initial dealer blackjack hand or receiving at least one additional playing card dealt to said initial dealer blackjack hand, wherein said blackjack base wager is rewarded by said data processor by issuing a blackjack payout and play is terminated by said data processor when the sum of the playing cards in said final dealer blackjack hand exceeds a target value;

comparing said final player blackjack hand to said final dealer blackjack hand and said target value by said data processor when the sum of the playing cards in said final dealer blackjack hand is less than or equal to said target value and the sum of the playing cards in said final player blackjack hand is less than or equal to said target value; and

resolving said blackjack base wager by said data processor by issuing a blackjack payout when said final player blackjack hand is closer to said target value than said final dealer blackjack hand is, or collecting said blackjack base wager, including any supplemental amount added to said blackjack base wager from said war payout, when said final dealer blackjack hand is closer to said target value than said final player blackjack hand is.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager comprises supplementing said blackjack base wager with all of said war payout, if any.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager comprises supplementing said blackjack base wager with a predefined portion of said war payout, if any.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager comprises supplementing said blackjack base wager with a player-selected portion of said war payout, if any.

5. A device for conducting a game utilizing playing cards comprising:

a data processor;

a display in communication with said data processor;

a player interface in communication with said data processor; and

a memory device in communication with said data processor, wherein said memory device is configured to store electronic representations of playing cards and program instructions executable by said data processor to conduct the steps of:

receiving a blackjack base wager and a war base wager through said player interface;

dealing a player war hand by said data processor consisting of a single playing card and displaying said player war hand at said display;

dealing a dealer war hand by said data processor consisting of a single playing card and displaying said dealer war hand at said display;

resolving said war base wager by said data processor comparing said player war hand to said dealer war hand and issuing a war payout based on said war base wager when said player war hand outranks said dealer war hand;

receiving an election through said player interface to supplement said blackjack base wager with at least a portion of said war payout, if any, while said dealer war hand is exposed at said display;

dealing an initial player blackjack hand by said data processor, wherein said initial player blackjack hand includes said player war hand;

dealing an initial dealer blackjack hand by said data processor, wherein said initial dealer blackjack hand includes said dealer war hand such that said step of receiving an election through said player interface to supplement said blackjack base wager is received while said dealer war hand is exposed at said display;

forming a final player blackjack hand from said initial player blackjack hand by receiving an election through said player interface to stand on said initial player blackjack hand or receive at least one additional playing card dealt to said initial player blackjack hand, wherein if the sum of the playing cards in said final player blackjack hand exceeds a target value, said blackjack base wager, including any supplemental amount added to said blackjack base wager from said war payout, is collected and play is terminated for said final player hand by said data processor;

forming a final dealer blackjack hand from said initial dealer blackjack hand by said data processor standing on said initial dealer blackjack hand or receiving at least one additional playing card dealt to said initial dealer blackjack hand, wherein said blackjack base wager is rewarded by issuing a blackjack payout and play is terminated by said data processor when the sum of the playing cards in said final dealer blackjack hand exceeds a target value;

comparing said final player blackjack hand to said final dealer blackjack hand and said target value by said data processor when the sum of the playing cards in said final dealer blackjack hand is less than or equal to said target value and the sum of the playing cards in said final player blackjack hand is less than or equal to said target value; and

resolving said blackjack base wager by said data processor issuing a blackjack payout when said final player blackjack hand is closer to said target value than said final dealer blackjack hand is, or collecting said blackjack base wager, including any supplemental amount added to said blackjack base wager from said war payout, when said final dealer blackjack hand is closer to said target value than said final player blackjack hand is.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager comprises supplementing said blackjack base wager with all of said war payout, if any.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said step of receiving an election to supplement said blackjack base wager comprises supplementing said blackjack base wager with a player-selected portion of said war payout, if any.