Card selection

Example methods and devices are set forth for playing a game. In some embodiments, an inventory of game indicia is arranged in a random but established, serial order. In some embodiments, for each hand of play the player makes a wager and game indicia are displayed in order from the inventory to define a winning or losing outcome. In some embodiments, a display, as hands are played, displays the remaining constituency of the inventory and the player, before any game, can order re-shuffling and re-constitute of the inventory. Other embodiments are described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1shows a layout for a screen display for the electronic version before play;

FIG. 2shows a layout for the screen display for the electronic version after the deal of cards;

FIGS. 3A through 3Dshow representations of symbols which may be used for play of the game; and

FIG. 4shows a display for another version of the electronic game.

DESCRIPTION

Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a live and/or electronic wagering and/or lottery game. In some embodiments an inventory of game symbols are arranged in a random order and distributed to define an outcome for the game.

Wagering or casino or lottery games are typically referred to as live games or electronic games. Live games may include those such as Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and the like. Electronic games may include games such as Video Poker and electro-mechanical and video based slot machines. For electronic games, a player inputs a wager which can be money, tokens or fictitious credits. Operation of the device produces an outcome, which can be a winning or a losing outcome.

For Video Poker, virtual cards are dealt and the player, by holding and discarding cards, attempts to construct a winning hand combination. For each hand of play, the cards may be randomly selected from what may be deemed to be a full deck of cards (e.g., by a random number generator). That is, as hands are sequentially played, the virtual deck may not be depleted of the cards that have already been played. After each hand, the game may proceed as though it were being dealt from a freshly shuffled deck.

For slot machines, symbols may be randomly selected and presented along one or more pay lines. The combinations of symbols at an enabled pay line determines whether the player has obtained a winning or a losing outcome.

For live games such as Blackjack, cards may be dealt from a deck or from a shoe containing multiple decks to players. The players assemble a final hand of cards which is the outcome. In Blackjack the final hand is the sum of the values of the cards according to the well known rules of the game. As hands are dealt the deck or shoe is depleted to a point where the cards are reshuffled. Players can keep track of the cards played and thus know which cards remain in the deck or shoe. This may give them an advantage.

It should be recognized that any game may be implemented as a live and/or electronic game. It various embodiments, any game may be played according to various methods and using various apparatus.

Some embodiments may include a game which has the excitement of a slot machine as well as the anticipation accompanying the deal of cards. Some embodiments may include a game where the inventory of symbols is depleted as hands are played, like a deck of cards, until the inventory needs to be re-shuffled. Some embodiments may include an electronic game which permits the player to, after any hand, order re-shuffling of the symbol inventory. Some embodiments may include an electronic game where the remaining inventory of symbols for play can be displayed for the player to see.

Some embodiments of the present invention may include a method and device for a game which randomly arranges game symbols into a serial ordered inventory and displays the same in sequence to define one or more outcomes. In some embodiments, a display displays the constituency of the inventory as symbols are depleted from the inventory during play. In some embodiments, at a prompt by the player or at substantially a predetermined point of exhaustion of the inventory, the inventory is re-constituted and re-shuffled into a random serial order.

In some embodiments, a method includes configuring the game inventory indicia into a random, serial order. In some embodiments, a player makes wagers and plays each of a series of hands. In some embodiments, for each hand of play a predetermined number of game indicia are revealed to define an outcome, said indicia selected in order from the serially arranged inventory. In some embodiments, a method may further include displaying the constituency of the inventory depleted of said revealed indicia for each hand as well as issuing an award to a player obtaining one of a plurality of preselected winning indicia combinations.

In some embodiments, a device for playing a game may include a processor, said processor configured to include means for randomly arranging an inventory of game symbols or indicia into a serial order and a video display. In some embodiments, means may be provided for a player to make a wager and prompt play of the game. In some embodiments, the processor, in response to prompting of play, may be configured to select and display at said display a predetermined number of indicia selected in order from said arranged inventory to define an outcome. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to compare said outcome to a schedule of winning outcomes stored in a data structure and to issue an award for a winning combination. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to display the constituency of the remaining symbol inventory.

Turning toFIG. 1, a layout10for the game according to the present invention is shown for play as displayed for the electronic version of a game according to some embodiments. According to this embodiment, the display includes three areas,12athrough12c, which, as described below, receive game cards as dealt to produce an outcome for the game. The display may also show a pay schedule14as well as a credit meter16which reflects the number of credits are available for wagering, the amount wagered on a hand of play and the amount won. There also may be provided various buttons embodied as buttons on the machine or as areas on the display touch screen. These buttons include a help button18for the player to receive assistance concerning play, a cash out button20to cash out accumulated credits, a bet one credit button22, max bet button24and play button26. Also provided according to some embodiments of the present invention may be a shuffle button28the purposes of which will hereinafter become evident.

In some embodiments, to play a device, the player makes a wager by inserting coins or tokens or by depressing the bet one credit button22or max bet button24. The placing of a maximum bet will automatically prompt play of the hand, otherwise the player may depress the play button26to start play. Upon the start of play, the processor for the machine, from stored data representing an ordered deck or inventory of game cards, selects and displays three cards in areas12athrough12c. In some embodiments, the game includes cards. Certain game cards are as illustrated inFIGS. 3A through 3D. In some embodiments, a virtual deck includes sixty three game cards according to the following distribution:

The three cards as selected and displayed represent the outcome for the game. The player wins a payback based preferably based upon the following pay schedule in some embodiments.

Other pay schedules, symbols and distributions of symbols can be adopted.

As shown inFIG. 2, the player has not obtained a winning combination since the combination is “7”, “BAR-BAR” and “BAR”. Thus the player would lose their wager.

In some embodiments, to play the next hand, the player inputs another wager and prompts play whereupon the processor would select and display the next three symbols in the ordered data structure representing the deck of game cards.

Some embodiments may include a data structure of game cards that may be stored in serial order as determined by a virtual shuffle of game cards. For example, the processor for the game may randomly arrange the cards in a serial order 1 through X, where, for the game described herein, X equals 63. In some embodiments, as hands are played one after another, the game cards are selected and displayed in the serial order in which they are positioned in the deck. For example, for the first hand cards in positions 1 through 3 would be displayed and removed from the arranged deck. For example, for the next hand the cards would be selected from positions 4 through 6 and so forth until the deck is depleted or reaches a predetermined location in the arrangement proximate the last sequential card. In some such embodiments, the serial play of hands thus depletes the virtual deck of cards in serial order as cards are selected. In some embodiments, when the deck is depleted to, for example, three remaining game cards, the processor reshuffles the deck and places the cards in a new, random serial order. By random serial order in this embodiments, what is meant is that, like an actual deck, the cards would be randomized and placed in sequence, 1 through X. In other embodiments, such random serialization, reshuffling, reordering, and/or finite decks may not be used and/or any other methods and/or elements may be used.

A feature of some embodiments of the present invention is that prior to entering a wager, the player can depress the help button18which controls the game processor to display a deck balance area30the constituency of the cards remaining in the deck. For example, if forty cards have been dealt for preceding hands, the balance area would display, for the remaining twenty-three cards, how many Blanks, BARs, BAR-BARs, and 7s remain in the deck. If, for example, all of the Blue 7s have been played thus depriving the player of the ability to have a 3 Blue 7s outcome, the player can depress the shuffle button28and the processor will reshuffle and randomize the deck. The ability to see the balance of the deck remaining for play may lead the player to increase their wagers based upon the perception that the probabilities for obtaining a favorable outcome are increased. Further, the ability to reshuffle in some embodiments may also convince the player that the game is fair.

In some embodiments, a game can be played with a single virtual deck or multiple virtual decks. Further the game may be played as a video lottery where it is guaranteed that in any particular cycle of hands, that each series of prizes will be awarded. For example, if the cycle is selected as 238,266 hands, the pay outs and frequencies are as set forth below:

Thus, it is seen that for some embodiments of a lottery based game, the game presents a 7.18% hold. This hold can be increased or decreased by altering the pays for one or more winning combinations or by adding more, or deleting, winning combinations.

In some embodiments, for a table game version, a table is provided much like a Blackjack table having, for example, six player positions. At each player position there may be provided the areas12athrough12cfor the players game cards. Each player may make a wager, the minimums and maximums of which may be dictated by house rules. After each player has made their desired wager, a dealer from a single deck of shuffled game cards or a shoe containing multiple, e.g. four, shuffled decks, may deal three game cards to each of the player's areas12athrough12c. Depending upon the combination of cards, as discussed above, the player wins or loses. After paying each winning player and collecting losing wagers, the players make new wagers and new hands are dealt.

In some embodiments, before the start of dealing from a newly shuffled deck the dealer may discard, i.e. burn, three cards. Alternatively, the dealer may deal until there are three cards left in the deck, and then reshuffle. In some embodiments, dealing from the deck or shoe continues until reshuffling is warranted by there being insufficient cards left in the deck to deal hands of three cards to each player.

In some embodiments of an electronic version of the game, the players have the benefit of having displayed the deck balance and ordering reshuffling.

FIG. 4illustrates a further example version of an electronic game. InFIG. 4there is shown and electronic game display100controlled by a computer processor101to define a three-by-three matrix102in the form of a three reel slot machine. Thus the matrix102shows three reels104athrough104ceach having three rows for the display of selected game symbols. The matrix102also defines a plurality of pay lines106athrough106h, shown as eight which embrace the horizontal rows, the vertical columns formed by the reels104athrough104c, and the diagonals. As hereinafter described, game indicia are displayed in the matrix102to define outcome for each pay line106athrough106h.

In this example embodiment, the processor also controls the display100to display other features for the game. At108the display100shows the total win for the game or spin whereas at110the total amount of credits for gaming are displayed. The total wagered for the last game played is displayed at112. For a current game, before the spin, the total game wager is displayed at114.

In this example embodiment, in regards to game wagers, each pay line106athrough106hincludes a banner116to indicate the amount being wagered on each corresponding pay line106athrough106h. For example, if the player wagers three per pay line, each banner116would show “3” and the total game wager would be displayed at114as “24” (3.times.8 pay lines).

The display100also, in this example embodiment of the present invention, displays at118the inventory of symbols remaining for play. For example, where there are 63 symbols, after the initial shuffle the inventory of display may display the following:

In some embodiments, as hands or games are played, the inventory display118would be depleted based upon the depletion of the symbols from the serial inventory. For example, and with reference toFIG. 4, the inventory may be now shown to be the following (all 7s inFIG. 4assumed to be Red 7s):

In some embodiments, as games are played the player can assess the constituency of the remaining inventory. This feature may alter the wagering decisions of the player, e.g. to increase or decrease the wagers. It should be recognized that some embodiments may not include serial inventories, such depletion of symbols, and/or any other elements.

In some embodiments, in the event the player is dissatisfied with the remaining constituency of the inventory, the player can order the inventory to be re-shuffled by, for example, touching a touch screen button120. In some embodiments, for re-shuffling the inventory is returned to its full symbol inventory, e.g. 63 symbols, and the symbols are randomly shuffled and placed in serial order. In some embodiments, the inventory display118may show a reconstituted, full, inventory. It should be recognized that some embodiments may not include such reshuffling, such touch screen buttons, and/or any other elements.

In some embodiments, the display100, which again may be a touch screen display, includes other features. At122a button is presented, the touching of which applies a maximum wager to the game, e.g. 24 units. The wager, as with all wagers, may deplete the credit inventory displayed at110. A help button124controls the game processor to display game information to the player. Finally, at126there is a deal button126which prompts play of a hand.

In some embodiments, at128the display100shows a pay table for winning pay line combinations. The winning combinations would be preselected and stored in a data structure for the processor101.

In some embodiments, to play the example game ofFIG. 4, the player wagers on one or more pay lines106athrough106h. For purposes of this description it shall be assumed that the player has depressed the maximum wager button122to wager 3 units on each pay line106athrough106h. The processor is prompted to select nine symbols from the beginning of the serial, random inventory and displays the same in the rows and columns of the game matrix102as shown. Based upon the symbols selected and displayed the player has obtained certain winning outcomes as tabulated below (all 7s are Red 7s):

In some embodiments, the award is displayed at108and may be issued at130in the form of credits, tokens, printed ticket or as otherwise known in the art.

In some embodiments, the inventory display118may show the displayed symbols removed from the inventory as tabulated above. In some embodiments, the player would enter wagers to play the next game. In some embodiments, based upon the displayed inventory, the player may choose before any play to re-shuffle and re-constitute the inventory by touching the re-shuffle button120. In some embodiments, for example, if all of the Red and Blues 7s have been depleted from the inventory, the player would re-shuffle so that the higher award pay outs would be possible.

According to a further embodiment, the game may include “Wild” symbols which are wild to complete any winning outcome. Further the game symbols may be representations of playing cards. In some embodiments, a displayed, fully constituted inventory would be, for example, as follows:

Further the pay table for the example game may be as follows:

Thus the game may use any suitable symbols if desired. Further the game matrix102may be expanded to four, five or more reels and may include more or less pay lines.

In some embodiments, the game can also be played as a live game where the indicia are put on cards which are dealt to each player from the deck including the card distribution as set forth above. In some embodiments, each player makes a wager and is dealt three cards from the deck which define the outcome. In some embodiments, at a predetermined point of penetration into the deck, e.g. 5 rounds of play, the deck is reconstituted and re-shuffled. In some embodiments, the player based upon the known distribution of symbols, may also be permitted to order reconstituting and re-shuffling of the deck for the next hand.

In some embodiments, selecting a game indicia and/or card may include selecting a value for the card and a suit for the card. In some implementations, the value and suit may be selected separately. The value may include, for example, a face value (e.g., a two, a three, an ace, a king, a queen, etc.) The suit may include, for example, a heart, a spade, a diamond, or a club.

In some embodiments, a value may e selected with reference to an inventory of available game indicia/card or other card data. The value may be selected based on the available game indicia. For example, the value may be selected from the inventory depleted of values that have previously been selected. For example, an inventory may begin with 4 tens, but after a ten has been dealt, the inventory may have only 3 tens. Selecting a value may include using a random number generator to select a value from the remaining inventory of values, and/or any other method of selecting a value from a remaining inventory of values.

In some embodiments, the selected value, may correspond to a generic card without a suit. Unlike embodiments discussed above in which a selected card and/or indicia includes both a value and a suit, in this embodiments, the selected value does not include a suit.

In some embodiments, a suit may be selected from the four possible suits. Accordingly, in a deck, all cards of a value may have the same suit. In some implementations, a game played in this method may have outcomes that are not determined by a suit of a card. Such a game may include blackjack. The suit may be selected by a random number generator or any other method. The suit may be selected without reference to an inventory and/or card data. The suit may be selected separately from the value.

In some embodiments, the inventory or other information about card values remaining in an inventory may be displayed.

In some embodiments, after a value is selected, a number of indicia in an inventory that have the same value may be reduced and/or depleted to reflect the selection of the value. No specific card may be eliminated by such reduction in some examples, because the suit of the cards remaining is determined separately from the value. Accordingly, in some such embodiments, a deck may end up having multiple cards of the same suit even though a standard deck may not have such duplicates.

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.