Method and apparatus for administering a token collecting game
A method and apparatus are set forth for playing a token collecting game based upon Blackjack. Using a card reading device the dealer completes their hand first according to the rules based on Blackjack before the players have to act. The card reading device reads the cards of the dealer's hand and instructs the dealer whether to draw another card for the dealer hand until the dealer's hand is completed. Thereafter the players compete their hands armed with the knowledge of the exposed card of the dealer's initial two-card hand and the number, but not the values of, cards required to complete the dealer's hand. After the players have completed their hands each player's hand is resolved against the dealer according to the rules of Blackjack.
1. A method for playing a token collecting game including features of Blackjack with physical playing cards between one or more physical players and a physical dealer and using a card reading device adapted to read at least the rank of cards, the method comprising:
accepting from each player at a designated player position on a physical game layout a token to indicate participation in the game;
distributing an initial hand of physical playing cards to each participating player at their respective playing position;
distributing and reading by the card reading device a hand of two cards to the dealer, at least one of the dealer's cards dealt face down, the card reading device issuing signals corresponding to the values of the cards of the dealer's hand;
configuring a data processor in communication with the card reading device to receive the signals for (a) summing according to Blackjack the values of the cards of the dealer's hand, (b) determining, based upon the determined sum of the dealer's hand, if an additional card is required to complete the dealer's hand to a final hand value, (c) if an additional card is required generating a dealer perceptible signal and in response thereto (d) the dealer causing distribution of an additional card, the additional card dealt face down, and reading the value of additional card and summing according to Blackjack the values of all cards of the dealer's hand and (d) repeating steps (b)-(d) until the dealer's hand is completed;
for each player dealing none, one or more cards to complete each initial player hand to a player final hand value;
exposing the cards of the dealer final hand and resolving the dealer final hand value against each player final hand value; and
awarding one or more tokens to a player when their final hand value is a winner versus the dealer final hand value.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising configuring the processor to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set and to issue a dealer perceptible signal when the dealer final hand has been completed.
3. The method of claim 2 comprising configuring the processor for to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set of repeating steps (a)-(d) until the dealer hand as a value of ≤a Hard 17 according to the rules of Blackjack.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising configuring the processor to control a video display to display a visual signal to the dealer to deal the additional card to the dealer's hand.
5. Apparatus for facilitating the play of a card game having features of Blackjack where (1) a hand of two playing cards is dealt to each player and a hand of two cards is dealt to a dealer, (2) the dealer completes their hand with unrevealed cards to a dealer final hand before each Player complete their hands to player final hands according to the rules of Blackjack and (3) each player final hand is resolved against the dealer final hand, the apparatus comprising:
a housing for holding an inventory of physical playing cards, the housing including a playing card dispensing chute;
a card reader for reading the values of cards dispensed from the chute;
a display for the dealer;
a computer processor configured to receive signals from the card reader for (a) determining the values of the playing cards dealt to the dealer hand, (b) summing the values of the cards according to the rules of Blackjack and predetermined rules for completing the dealer hand, (c) determining according to (b) whether an additional playing card is required to be dealt to the dealer hand and if so control the display to indicate the requirement for an additional card, (d) determining the value of the additional card dealt face down to the dealer hand, and (e) summing the value of the dealer's hand with one or more additional cards until a dealer final hand is assembled;
whereby the dealer completes their hand to a dealer final hand with none, one or more undisclosed cards before each player completes their hand to a player final hand providing each player with information as to the number of cards required to complete the final dealer hand.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , the computer processor being further configured to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set and to issue a dealer perceptible signal when the dealer final hand has been completed.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , the computer processor being further configured to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set of repeating steps (a)-(d) until the dealer hand as a value of ≤a Hard 17 according to the rules of Blackjack.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , the computer processor being further configured to control a video display to display a visual signal to the dealer to deal the additional card to the dealer's hand.
9. Apparatus for facilitating the play of a card game having features of Blackjack where (1) a hand of two playing cards is dealt to at least a first player and a hand of two cards is dealt to a dealer, (2) the dealer completes their hand with unrevealed cards to form a dealer final hand before the first player completes their hand to form a player final hand according to the rules of Blackjack and (3) each player final hand is resolved against the dealer final hand, the apparatus comprising:
a housing for holding an inventory of physical playing cards, the housing including a playing card dispensing chute;
a card reader for reading the values of cards dispensed from the chute;
a game table associated with the first player for displaying the final dealer hand and the final player hand to the first player;
a computer processor configured to receive signals from the card reader for (a) determining the values of the playing cards dealt to the dealer hand, (b) summing the values of the cards according to the rules of Blackjack and predetermined rules for completing the dealer hand, (c) determining according to (b) whether an additional playing card is required to be dealt to the dealer hand and if so control the display to indicate the requirement for an additional card, (d) determining the value of the additional card dealt face down to the dealer hand, and (e) summing the value of the dealer's hand with one or more additional cards until a dealer final hand is assembled;
whereby the dealer completes their hand to a dealer final hand with none, one or more undisclosed cards before each player completes their hand to a player final hand providing each player with information as to the number of cards required to complete the final dealer hand.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the housing and card reader are located at a different physical location than the game table.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the game table displays virtual cards to the first player, the virtual cards being representations of physical playing cards read by the card reader after being dispensed from the chute.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the game table is in electronic communication with the card reader.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the game table include at least one electronic display device.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , the computer processor being further configured to control a video display to display a visual signal to the dealer to deal the additional card to the dealer's hand and to control the electronic display device to display virtual cards, representing the physical playing cards read by the card reader after being dispensed from the chute, to the first player.
15. The apparatus of claim 9 , the computer processor being further configured to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set and to issue a dealer perceptible signal when the dealer final hand has been completed.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , the computer processor being further configured to include program instructions in accordance to the predetermined rule set of repeating steps (a)-(d) until the dealer hand as a value of ≤a Hard 17 according to the rules of Blackjack.
17. The apparatus of claim 9 , the computer processor being further configured to control a video display to display a visual signal to the dealer to deal the additional card to the dealer's hand.