Black-jack type wagering game method

Claim 1

A method of playing a card game for at least two players, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one deck of cards having four suits, wherein each suit includes seven spot cards with point values from one through seven and three court cards with a point value of one half point each; designating one player as a dealer to deal cards to each of the players; allowing each player to place a wager; beginning play of a hand of the game with the dealer providing each of the players and the dealer with a first card with the face of each first card exposed to each of the players, whereby each of the players and the dealer may determine the point value of each first card; allowing each player a surrender option of surrendering one half of their wager and terminating the play after receiving the first card; allowing each player a doubling down option of doubling their wager after receipt of the first card, and requiring the player to accept a second card upon selection of the doubling down option by the player, wherein the player cannot receive additional cards; continuing play of the hand by providing each of the players and the dealer with a second card according to the wishes of each of the players and the dealer, with the face of the second card for each of the players being played face down so that the value of each second card is known only to each of the respective players receiving each respective card; allowing each player a splitting option of forming an additional playing hand based upon the receipt of subsequent cards having point values equal to the first card received for the game; wherein the point values for the first card and the subsequent card are each less than four; and continuing in the above manner with each of the players attempting to approach a total point value of seven and one half points for each player's respective hand by each player's respective provided cards without exceeding seven and one half points, with any player exceeding seven and one half points being eliminated from play, and declaring a player most closely approaching a total of seven and one half points the winner of the hand of the game.

Claim 2

A method of playing a card game for at least two players, said method comprising the steps of: providing at least one deck of cards having four suits, wherein each suit includes seven spot cards with point values from one through seven and three court cards with a point value of one half point each; designating one player as a dealer to deal cards to each of the players; allowing each player to place a wager; beginning play of a hand of the game with the dealer providing each of the players and the dealer with a first card with the face of each first card exposed to each of the players, whereby each of the players and the dealer may determine the point value of each first card; allowing each player a surrender option of surrendering one half of their wager and terminating the play after receiving the first card; allowing each player a doubling down option of doubling their wager after receipt of the first card, and requiring the player to accept a second card upon selection of the doubling down option by the player, wherein the player cannot receive additional cards; continuing play of the hand by providing each of the players and the dealer with a second card according to the wishes of each of the players and the dealer, with the face of the second card for each of the players being played face down so that the value of each second card is known only to each of the respective players receiving each respective card; allowing each player a splitting option of forming an additional playing hand based upon the receipt of subsequent cards having point values equal to the first card received for the game; wherein the point values for the first card and the subsequent card are each less than four; and continuing in the above manner with each of the players attempting to approach a total point value of seven and one half points for each player's respective hand by each player's respective provided cards without exceeding seven and one half points, with any player exceeding seven and one half points being eliminated from play, and declaring a player most closely approaching a total of seven and one half points the winner of the hand of the game.