52 card pot game of chance

A novel game and board or surface is played in combination by at least two players, one being a player and bettor and the other being a dealer or croupier using at least one standard deck of 52 cards. Also used by the croupier are a shuffling machine for cards, a dealing machine for cards and a catch bin for discarded or played cards. The order of play and payoffs for each bet are set by the house or the croupier. The novel game is played by a player first placing a bet in a betting spot using chips, for example. Next, the dealer deals six cards to each player face down onto an area on the table called a pot and designated for that player and afterwards deals six cards to another area on the table called a dealer's pot in a location on the table designated for the dealer's pot. One play in a series of six comprises the dealer turning up a player's top card and turning up the dealer's top card: High wins at even odds of 1 to 1; equal cards are a draw or push and neither wins except if a player has a deuce, the player's deuce is an automatic loss, the player loses; a player's ace wins at odds of 3 to 2. After one play, a player may place a new bet before cards are next turned over. Overturned cards are discarded into a catcher or bin located on the table for discarded or played cards. More than one deck can be used and multiple players can play the game.

BACKGROUND
 1. Field of the Invention.
 The present invention relates to casino games, and more particularly, but
 not by way of limitation, to a wagering game employing a standard deck of
 52 cards, shuffled and then played and dealt in a specific sequence in
 combination with participating players betting against a dealer or the
 house that the participating player has a higher card winning hand. It is
 related to card games that can also be played in non-gambling settings.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 Games of chance employing a deck of 52 cards are as old as the invention of
 cards themselves. The concept of using high cards in which to play and
 wager in card games is also old. Even so, the prior art discloses many
 novel patented card gaming tables and many novel patented card games to be
 played on them.
 Card games generally employ one or more cards which, when dealt upon a
 horizontal surface, determine a score based upon indicia displayed by the
 upwardly facing sides or faces of the resting cards when the cards are
 turned face up.
 Feola in U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,731 which issued on Nov. 24, 1998 describes a
 novel casino game based on a selected card game in which a player wagers
 on one or more of a group of dealt hands, i.e. a random grouping, pile, or
 pot of cards, and where the chances of winning are not enhanced by the
 skills of the player and no discretion in the selection of cards is vested
 in either the player or dealer. A relatively complex card game, such as
 blackjack, baccarat, or stud poker, is selected. A number of hands are
 dealt as lines or arrays on a playing surface and players wager as to
 which hand will win. The playing surface has a dealer position including a
 line or array for each hand dealt to the dealer. Player positions are
 located in a semicircle around the dealer position, each including a
 location at which wagers are placed. Winning wagers are paid a multiple of
 the wager. Optionally, the multiple is based on the odds of obtaining the
 particular winning combination.
 In Somma et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,337 which issued Nov. 25, 1997 a
 relatively complex casino card game is disclosed. Utilized is a single,
 41-card deck of playing cards consisting of a standard, 4-suit playing
 card deck from which all "face" cards have been removed and a single
 "joker" card has been added. Play of the game starts with a first player
 selecting a card value, termed the "dealer number". No bets can be placed
 on the dealer number. Players may then place their wager(s) on any of the
 remaining "live" numbers, and the dealer deals a first playing card, face
 up. If the identified "dealer number" card value is turned over, all
 players having placed a bet on any of the "live" numbers win, and are paid
 off even money. If the card has a value other than the "dealer number",
 the house wins all bets placed on the "value" number of the card that was
 turned over, and that value number is thereafter considered "dead". Play
 continues, with the players given an opportunity to place additional bets
 on the remaining, "live" card values prior to turning over the next card.
 If the "joker" card is dealt by the dealer at any time before the "dealer
 number" has been dealt, the house wins all remaining bets, and the game is
 over.
 Earlier in Boylan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,162 dated Mar. 4, 1997 a
 method of playing another relatively complex matching wagering game is
 provided between players and a dealer whose outcome is determined by
 randomly generated playing cards. After an ante bet is wagered, the dealer
 deals five cards to each player and deals seven cards to himself. A round
 of play is then commenced where the dealer plays a card from his hand to
 present the rank and suit thereof. Next, each player plays a "matching"
 card from his respective hand which is either the same suit or the same
 rank. In this manner, each player reduces the number of cards in his hand
 where a matching card is played during the round. The conducting of a
 round of play is then repeated until each card in the hand of the dealer
 has been played. Seven rounds are thus played each game, so that
 ultimately there are no cards left in the hand of the dealer. The ante bet
 of each respective player is consequently paid off as follows: (a) To each
 player if each player has no card remaining; or (b) to the dealer if each
 player has one or more cards remaining. Preferably, prior to the round of
 play, each player determines whether his respective hand has a hand rank
 in poker exceeding three of a kind. If the player does have such a highly
 ranked hand, the dealer pays off an amount to that player which is a
 multiple of the ante bet.
 Even Earlier in Moody in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,101 dated Feb. 6, 1996 yet
 another relatively complex game was patented. The object of this game is
 for a player to form a five card poker hand that has the highest poker
 hand ranking. In the house banked version, all players play against the
 house and not against each other. The game is played with a standard
 fifty-two card deck. The game consists of a dealer and from one to seven
 players. Each player makes a bet and a portion of each bet may be
 allocated to a progressive jackpot. The dealer deals five cards to each
 player. The dealer then deals six cards as the community cards which are
 arranged face down in three rows in a triangle pattern on the gaming table
 layout. The players may discard from none to five unwanted cards. The
 dealer turns up the community cards and pre-designated groups of cards
 from the community cards are used for each player to make a complete five
 card poker hand. The dealer determines the best hand each player has made
 according to poker hand rankings. All winning hands will be paid by the
 dealer according to the odds listed in the pay table. When the progressive
 jackpot payout is used, the dealer examines the six community cards to
 determine if one of the predetermined card arrangements has occurred. Any
 winning payoffs from the progressive jackpot are distributed to the
 players at the table. The method may also be played as a player banked
 game or as a pot game.
 And, on Jan. 23, 1996 Neal was granted U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,005 for yet
 another complex novel method and apparatus for playing another poker-like
 game with a deck of fifty-two playing cards wherein each player plays
 against the dealer. After each player makes a wager, the dealer deals four
 initial cards of the deck face up to seven separate hands, places odds on
 each hand according to predetermined guidelines, and selects two of the
 seven hands as a combination field position. Each player then selects
 either one of the hands, the field position, or a no-hand winning position
 which requires that none of the seven hands, after all cards are dealt,
 have two pairs or better. After each player selects a hand or a position,
 the dealer deals three more cards of the deck face up to each of the seven
 separate hands. The dealer then determines the winning hand or position
 and pays each player who selected the winning hand or position according
 to the odds and their wager or collects each player3 s wager who did not
 select the winning hand or position. Additionally, a jackpot wheel may be
 included to permit an added possibility of winning a larger payout.
 In the midst of the prior decade, U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,120 was granted to
 Malek in March of 1995 for another relatively complex poker-like card
 game, in particular, a card game suitable for use in casinos, and for a
 specifically designed table for playing the game. Specifically, this
 invention relates to a method of and apparatus for playing a casino game
 simultaneously against a dealer and against other players. More
 specifically, this invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for
 playing a mixture of draw poker and one of twenty-one and baccarat wherein
 a player can simultaneously play Draw Poker against a dealer and one of
 Twenty-one and Baccarat against other players.
 Virtually all casinos, especially those in the gaming capitals of the
 world, have board games that are played for gambling purposes. Due to the
 complexity involved in playing the popular wagering games employing cards
 such as poker, blackjack, and baccarat, for example, as exemplified by the
 brief summaries given above, there is a need for a simpler game of chance
 that will appease all strata of expertise in the art of card gambling, yet
 remain challenging and enjoyable.
 U.S. Design Pat. No. 263,975, issued to John S. Quiroga, et al. on Apr. 20,
 1982, discloses an ornamental design for a gaming table. By contrast the
 instant invention is not directed to any sort of ornamental appearance of
 a game table although playing considerations dictate certain broad
 geometric relationships between the various play areas on the table. In
 addition, the required geometric relationships of the instant invention,
 the novel game and table, are far removed in appearance and function from
 the black-jack-type table of Ouiroga, et al.
 As evinced above, the game of poker is an extremely popular game currently
 found in most Las Vegas casinos, the rules of which are widely published
 and have numerous variations. This game provides numerous betting options,
 but the game involves complicated increasing or decreasing odds depending
 on the number of decks of cards used. Winning hands may include two pairs,
 three of a kind, four of a kind, and straights. The novel game presented
 here is significantly distinct from poker. This makes the novel game
 attractive to those who enjoy card games but are uncomfortable with the
 rules of poker and the like.
 3. Objects of the Invention
 The complexity of the novel game over the prior art games is substantially
 diminished or eliminated and the novel method enables the game to move
 quickly thereby decreasing the associated operational overhead. An
 advantage of the novel 52 card pot card game invention as with the great
 advantage with roulette, which leads to its popularity, is its simplicity
 and accessibility to the ever-increasing numbers of novice gamblers.
 Therefore, despite the popularity of both craps and roulette, the novel
 game presents several disadvantages to the casinos and players alike.
 Although there have been attempts to improve upon existing games and to
 develop new games of chance, none of the prior art games have been able to
 overcome the complexity disadvantages described herein. Thus, a need
 exists for a wagering game employing a standard deck of cards that is
 intended to be played in gambling casinos, that is simple to learn and
 play, and that results in more wagering decisions per hour and increased
 revenues for the casino.
 For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for simplicity of betting
 wherein a winning bet is easily recognized. It would be a benefit,
 therefore, to have a card game allowing players to compete against the
 house with virtually even odds based on a variations of high card wins,
 like cards draw or push, and players' deuces and aces provide an advantage
 to the player.
 The gaming method disclosed is designed to quickly build excitement and
 anticipation with only two successive turnovers of top cards per game, and
 as such is intended as a quick paced and an unusually exciting game to
 play and/or observe. Even more particularly, the instant invention is
 intended to give a novel and new look and feel to the currently popular
 card games, yet have simplified rules and procedures designed both to
 encourage use by novice gamblers and to increase the betting decisions per
 hour to maximize casino profit.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a novel
 game and board surface in combination to be played in combination by at
 least two players, one being a player and bettor and the other being a
 dealer or croupier using at least one standard deck of 52 cards. Also used
 by the croupier are a shuffling machine for cards, a dealing machine for
 cards and a catch bin for discarded or played cards. The order of play and
 payoffs for each bet are set by the house or the croupier. The novel game
 is played by a player first placing a bet in a betting spot using chips,
 for example. Next, the dealer deals six cards to each player face down
 onto an area on the table called a pot and designated for that player and
 afterwards deals six cards to another area on the table called a dealer's
 pot in a location on the table designated for the dealer's pot, One play
 in a series of six comprises the dealer turning up a player's top card and
 turning up the dealer's top card: High wins at even odds of 1 to 1; equal
 cards are a draw or push and neither wins except if a player has a deuce
 in which case the player3 s deuce loses 1 to 1 odds; a player's ace wins
 at odds of 3 to 2. After one play, a player may place a new bet before
 cards are next turned over.
 The present card game, while exhibiting many valuable gaming features, as
 explained below in more detail, also can be inexpensively manufactured and
 incurs minimal operational overhead expenses. While the present invention
 may, in one embodiment, comprise a separate, approximately five-foot
 semi-circular table, the present playing surface may be formed as a thin
 overlay to be placed atop existing casino game table equipment such as
 craps tables. In addition, if there are an insufficient number of players
 to warrant operating a full table, the table may be split in half, with
 one half of the table unoccupied, and the other half utilized for playing
 the game. Advantageously, the operational expenses associated with the
 present game are low. To operate the present game, the casino need only
 employ one dealer or croupier. Moreover, the game can easily be played
 with artificial money or chips at home as a family recreation.
 The game has a minimal number of rules, and the rules are readily apparent
 to the novice gambler after very little observation.
 In the preferred embodiment of the present game of chance, every wager is
 effective until each set of two cards, the top one from each player and
 the top one from a dealer is turned up and compared. A wager on a game is
 over after only two cards are compared. Therefore, in contrast to the
 prior art games, such as blackjack, the present game produces more
 wagering decisions, successes or failures, per hour. This results in more
 overall revenue for the casino. Thus the present invention represents a
 substantial improvement over casino games of the prior art because it
 simplifies play and encourages wagering, which in turn leads to increased
 entertainment and increased revenue for the casino.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 The present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the
 accompanying drawing, specifically FIG. 1, and the rules of the novel game
 printed herein which illustrate an embodiment and the method of the
 invention.
 The method of the invention incorporates the following rules, to wit:
 RULES OF THE NOVEL GAME
 1. The improved game is played on a casino-type card table. There are eight
 spaces for the pots to be placed on the table (see FIG.1). A circular
 space is located near each pot except to pot designated for the banker,
 dealer, croupier, or house. A pot is defined herein as a pile of cards
 initially placed face down. The circular space is adapted to receive bets
 or wagers via chips or tokens. In the novel game there are a maximum of
 eight pots inclusive of a pot for the banker or dealer of cards during the
 play of the novel game. The last pot shall always be assigned to the
 banker or dealer.
 2. To play the game, all initial bets are made before the cards are dealt.
 All of the dealt cards are dealt face down into the eight pots after the
 initial bets or wagers are placed in the circular spaces. The cards or
 pots (piles of cards) are dealt only to those spots where bets have been
 put down on the table. However, the dealer always receives a pot. The
 dealer may be either a person or a mechanized card dealer operated by a
 croupier.
 3. Next, the dealer or croupier shall count out six (6) cards for each pot
 sequentially, first with six cards face down for the first pot, etc. If
 seven bets have been placed at each of the seven spots then eight piles of
 six cards each are dealt onto the table for each of the seven pots plus
 one for the dealer or banker. The only pots are those dealt to players.
 The pots are located in front of players who have placed wagers.
 4. After the wagers are placed on the table by the players (the game is
 limited to up to seven players and one dealer or banker) and the pots are
 in place on the table, the dealer turns over the top card from each pot or
 pile of cards. In the novel game, all deuces are nullities and players
 with deuces lose the respective round.
 5. The dealer or banker pot card at the top is turned up last. All pot
 cards are turned up from the dealer's left to the dealer's right. If a
 dealer's card matches a player's upturned card these rules designate this
 event as a push or draw and neither the player nor the dealer wins or
 loses except if the player's upturned card is either an ace or a deuce and
 the dealer's upturned card is also an ace or a deuce, respectively, the
 players ace wins his wager at odds of 3 to 2; the players deuce loses.
 Otherwise, when a players upturned card matches a dealer's upturned card
 the player wins at even odds of 1 to 1.
 6. The dealer or house shall be able to set limits on wagers at all times
 during the game and before a play. A play is defined as the act of up
 turning the top card of each pot. After a play resulting in win or a lost
 a new wager can be placed by the player.
 7. The cards shall only be handled and touched by the dealer. At the option
 of the dealer or house, if a player touches a pot, that pot may be
 discarded.
 8. After a dealer announces "no more bets", new bets cannot be added to the
 table or removed from the table. The dealer shall announce and declare
 that wagering is closed before the first pot is dealt and for each player
 before a next card is upturned for a player.
 9. At the option of the dealer, a plurality of card decks may be used to
 play the game.
 Note: These rules define a game that is virtually a head to head play
 against the dealer or house with almost even odds. The house or dealer can
 change and/or set the minimum and maximum wagering limits at any time
 during play.
 The novel method specified by the above rules is best described by
 referring again to FIG. 1. There is shown a top of a table 10 with a
 specific and preferred layout on the surface 12. In the novel method a
 combination card deck 14 and shuffling machine 16 is used to deal cards
 from the card deck 14 onto the surface 12 by a dealer or croupier 18. A
 receptacle means 20 or space is designated on the table 10 for receiving
 cards discarded during play of the game.
 Shown in FIG. 1 are seven playing areas or pots 22, 24,26, 28, 30, 32, and
 34. Also shown is an eighth pot 40, designated a "dealer's pot". In front
 of each of the pots 22, 24,26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 are betting spots 42,
 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54, respectively, where players (not shown)
 located about an edge 56 of the table 10 make put down bets made either
 with money or chips, for example.
 The seven playing areas or pots 22, 24,26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 are visibly
 and distinguishably marked with a designation such as a different numeral
 proximate to each of same, i.e., Arabic numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6, and 7 as
 shown in FIG. 1. The dealer3 s pot 40 is similarly distinguished and
 marked with an Arabic numeral 8 proximate thereto, for example.
 The novel method is enabled by providing a planar game playing surface, the
 surface 12 marked as shown in FIG. 1, for example. The surface 12 has a
 plurality of areas designated for bets. There is shown at least seven
 separately delineated areas adapted for the placement of bets, namely,
 betting spots 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54.
 A first area of the table 10, as shown in FIG. 1, has the seven betting
 spots 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 arrayed in a semi-circle. A second
 area is shown with seven rectangular polygonal areas or playing areas or
 pots 22, 24,26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 arrayed thereon, each with a betting
 spot nearby.
 A third area wherein the dealer's pot 40, rectangular in configuration, for
 example, is shown near a straight edge 58 of the table 10.
 Any odds may be assigned or established by the house for payout of winning
 bets placed in any of the aforesaid seven separately delineated areas,
 playing areas or pots 22, 24,26, 28, 30, 32, and 34, for example. Payout
 ratios may be from 2 to 1 for the most likely to win a bet in integer
 increments up to 10 to 1, for example, for the least likely to win a bet
 and depend upon the number of decks used, for example. The house may
 establish an initial order of play including which players are designated
 as first player, second player, and so on to a last player.
 The game described herein is capable of play at a casino, on the Internet,
 on cruise ships, and it is contemplated that it may also be adapted for
 slot machine play by one of ordinary skill in this art. It is to be
 understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments
 described herein, but in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents,
 including equivalents as to functions as combined with appearance,
 encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following
 claims, to wit: