Abstract:
A wagering game which utilizes a playing surface, such as a table, at which there is a single dealer and up to six players. The playing surface includes indicia similar to the indicia utilized in a casino crap table A dealer draws from a deck of cards which only includes an equal plurality of aces through six. Preferably, each deck contain fifty-two of each type of card making a total of three-hundred and twelve cards. A pair of cards is drawn the face value of which determines the number accomplished by the draw. This number is the equivalent of the number that would result from the throw of a pair of dice. Rules similar to that of a casino crap game determine the play of the game and the winning and losing numbers. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic continuous shuffling machine includes the cards that have been drawn so that the ultimate playing odds are not affected by a diminution of the deck through discarded drawn cards.

Description:
[0001]    This is a continuation-in-part of our patent application Ser. No. 09/572,134 filed May 16, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The field of this invention relates to games of chance and more particularly to a wagering game which is similar to the game of craps as played in casino environments except that playing cards are used in lieu of dice.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Over the last decade, the gaming industry has expanded dramatically throughout the entire world. The most commonly utilized games in the gaming industry are slot machines and video games with these games being responsible for the bulk of revenue. Primary responsibility for the lead of video games and slot machines is that these games have been designed to be intriguing to play and also to make available large payouts or jackpots which normally piques the interest of most players.  
           [0006]    Table games have remained quite basic with common casino table games being blackjack, craps, roulette, poker and baccarat. There have been some attempts at variations of table games, but, because such variations are complicated, the average gaming person cannot quickly understand the game and therefore ignores these games in favor of the more familiar games. However, there are have been a few successes in such games as Pai Gow Poker, Double Down Stud, Let it Ride, Fast Action Hold Them and Caribbean Stud poker. These games tend to he fairly simple to understand and some offer progressive jackpots that can grow to impressive amounts which also piques the interest of the players.  
           [0007]    Many casinos are prevented from playing certain types of games. For example, the games of chance that are permitted on American Indian Reservations, for some reason, are not permitted to utilize dice. This means that Indian Reservations cannot offer the dice game colloquially known as “craps”. Craps is an exceedingly common wagering game throughout the world. A typical craps game can have as many as fifteen to twenty players in which players bet against each other unless a “book” exists which functions as a banker who holds all stakes and collects a fee for the service.  
           [0008]    Because of the prejudice that exists against dice based games and, especially the unstructured street game of craps, it is reported in Scarne&#39;s Encyclopedia of Card Games, believed to have been first published in 1972, that in 1945, a variation of the crap game developed in which cards ranging from the ace to the six were used instead of dice. In that game, all players started with an equal stake and the winner was the player with the most winnings. Each player, in turn, became the “shooter” and dealt the cards necessary for play. As in the street game, either individual players covered the bets of the “shooter” or a “book” was used The betting opportunities were limited because of the difficulty of keeping track of the betting action.  
           [0009]    In casinos, the crap game evolved to include a dedicated table with a distinctive layout and a “dealer” who supervises the betting and collects all losses and pays all winnings. However, the play was still the province of the individual player who “shot” the dice to determine the outcome. The distinctive layout permitted not only bets on whether or not the shooter made his point or won outright, but provision was made for secondary points to be bet upon, either by the shooter or the other players. In this game, any number of players could participate and could bet with or against the shooter. Further, odds could be given for variations in play such as “hard ways” or making a point with two dice of the same value. However, the disadvantage to a typical casino crap game is that in order to keep track of all the different bets within a conventional table, as many as four different dealers may be needed. This means the labor expense in operating a crap table is significantly high.  
           [0010]    A different table game that has a minimal amount of labor expense is a table game known as blackjack or “21”. There can be as many as six different players, all playing simultaneously at the table with a single dealer. This is definitely a preferred arrangement for a table game in order to minimize labor expense. Also, this arrangement is normally preferred by the players since with from ten to twenty players around a crap table, play can tend to get confusing even to the players. It becomes difficult to place bets and difficult to know which player placed which bet.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The wagering game of the present invention utilizes a playing surface which will normally comprise a table covered by an imprinted fabric, usually felt. Imprinted on the felt is a layout that includes the several playing areas common to the crap table layout. These playing areas include a “pass” line, a “come” line, a “field” line and a place bets area all of which are normally found in a crap table layout. Also included is a “hard ways” area. A special deck of cards is prepared which includes only aces, deuces, threes, fours, fives and sixes in each of the four suits, hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. Typically, the deck of cards will utilize 13 cards in each suit or fifty-two of each value of card, for a total of three hundred and twelve cards in the deck. The use of such a large number of cards minimizes the possibility of any player “counting the cards.” The dealer either manually shuffles the cards with a player “cutting” the cards or an automatic continuous shuffler may be used.  
           [0012]    Unlike the dice based game or the “card craps” game (described above), the dealer, in all instances, is the only one to handle the cards and may be considered the “shooter”. Moreover, all of the other players are in the situation of the “shooter” and their bets are “with” the shooter/dealer. To begin the game, the dealer draws a first pair of cards with each card corresponding to the face of a die as in traditional craps. The total value of the first pair of cards then becomes the equivalent of the first roll of the dice. If the number value is seven or eleven, then pass line bets win. If the number is two, three or twelve (craps), the pass line bets lose. Any other number now becomes the point that is required to be obtained by successive draws of a pair of cards before a seven is drawn for the pass line players to win. If the total value of the second pair of cards matches the value of the first pair of cards, then the pass line players win. If the total value of the second pair of cards is seven, then the pass line players for that draw, lose. Subsequent pairs of cards are dealt until either a point from the group of (4,5,6,8,9 or 10) is made or a 7 is dealt. Players at the table, have the right to play on all playing areas of the table and, unlike casino dice based games, may all be considered “shooters” even though the dealer handles the cards and may not bet.  
           [0013]    A primary objective of the present invention is to play a game with many of the risks and rewards of craps but without the use of dice. By using cards instead of dice, the game becomes playable in casinos that heretofore have restricted from offering games requiring dice. The selected number values are realized within the game of the present invention through the use of a deck of playing cards.  
           [0014]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide for a new type of table game for use within the gaming industry.  
           [0015]    A further objective of the present invention is to devise a card game which has the interesting and challenging attributes of a casino crap game where the game plays equally well with different numbers of players and all the players are playing against the “house” or casino.  
           [0016]    A further objective of the present invention is to eliminate the use of dice in order to obtain one&#39;s point, there is no need for the player to make any contact with the creating structure which, in the present invention, constitutes cards that are handled only by the dealer, thus minimizing the possibility of cheating.  
           [0017]    A further objective of the present invention is to create a game that has the risk and reward potential comparable to a casino dice table crap game. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0018]    For a better understanding of the invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawing. It should be understood that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawing. The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying top plan view of a playing surface that is to be utilized in conjunction with the game of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    The wagering game of the present invention is played on a playing surface  10 . The playing surface  10  can be part of a table that is essentially the same size as a conventional blackjack table and is also of the same configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the playing surface  10  is a felt or baize cloth that covers the top of the table. The playing surface  10  has a rear peripheral edge  12  that is lineal which includes an indentation  14 . A dealer (not shown) will be located within the indentation  14 . The front edge  16  of the playing surface  10  is arcuate which generally comprises approximately a one-half circle. Mounted exteriorly of the front edge  16  are a series of chairs  18  to accommodate a series of players. Therefore, the game of the present invention is capable of accommodating from one to six players at a sitting.  
         [0020]    The playing surface  10  has a series of indicia located thereon familiar to those accustomed to the casino craps table. There is a pass line  20 , a come line  22  and a field line  24 . The pass line  20  is concentric to and abuts the come line  22 . The come line  22  is concentric to and abuts the field line  24 . The length of the pass line  20 , the come line  22  and the field line  24  are such that they extend almost the entire length of the front surface  16  and are readily available by being directly forward of each player that is sitting in a chair  18 . In between the pass line and the front edge  16  at each location for a player is a circle  26 . The circle  26  can be used for an “odds” bet on the pass line bets.  
         [0021]    In between the field line  24  and the edge  12  is a hard ways area for “hard ways” bets. Hard way is a term which is applied to a total that is reached by identical valued cards. In the context of the present invention, a hard way bet can be placed in a double ace section  28 , a double two section  30 , a double three section  32 , a double four section  34 , a double five section  36  and a double six section  38 . Located between the hard ways section and the edge of the indentation  14  is a “place” bet section  40  which, as shown includes the representation of the numbers four, five, six, eight, nine and ten.  
         [0022]    Also included within the playing surface  10  is a played card section  42  and shuffled card section  44  for the shuffled deck  46  of cards. While the cards could be shuffled manually, mechanical shufflers are available. In the preferred embodiment, a continuous card shuffler  45  is provided. The use of a continuous shuffler avoids the need for recalculating the odds because of the fewer cards available in subsequent deals. By using an automatic shuffle mechanism, all of the cards are “in play” and the odds are unchanged from the comparable dice game. The played card section  42  is for the two cards  48  and  50  that are being played. After playing cards  48  and  50 , are returned to the shuffler  45  so that the odds are unaffected. Alternatively, the played cards  48 ,  50  are passed to a discard area  51 .  
         [0023]    In the preferred embodiment a card deck  46  will be include fifty-two aces, fifty-two deuces, fifty-two threes, fifty-two fours, fifty-two fives and fifty-two sixes, each in the four suits spades, hearts, diamonds and clubs. Any desired number of cards could be utilized, but there has been selected fifty-two of each number within the deck  44  for a total of three hundred and twelve cards. The use of this number of cards substantially reduces the possibility of any player counting cards in the embodiments that do not employ an automatic shuffling machine.  
         [0024]    In the alternative embodiment in which a shuffling machine is not uses, the three hundred and twelve cards that make up the deck  46  are shuffled by the dealer. One player cuts the cards of the deck  46  and the dealer inserts a blank colored marker card within the deck  46  at approximately the midpoint of the deck and then inserts all of the cards into a shoe (which is not shown) which is to be located at the area  44 . Each of the players then places a bet. A player could place a bet on the pass line  20 , the field line  24 , the hard ways areas  30 , and the snake eyes and boxcars areas  28  and  38 , respectively. To start play, the dealer draws two cards cards  48 ,  50  which make up the first pair of cards and places them, face up in the played card area  42 .  
         [0025]    PASS LINE  
         [0026]    While a pass line bet can be made at any time, it is recommended and probably customary for a pass line bet to be made after the previous point has been made (repeated) or the previous draw totaled seven after a point had been established.  
         [0027]    The first such draw is called the “come out” draw. Players make their own pass line bets directly on the layout in the area marked “Pass”. Winning pass line bets are paid even money.  
         [0028]    Players win pass line bets as follows:  
         [0029]    1. When the “come out” draw totals 7 or 11  
         [0030]    2. When the “come out” draw totals 4,5,6,8,9 or 10, (the number becoming the point) and is drawn again before a 7 is drawn.  
         [0031]    Players lose pass line bets as follows:  
         [0032]    1. When the “come out” draw totals 2,3 or 12  
         [0033]    2. When a 7 is drawn before the point number is repeated  
         [0034]    PASS LINE-ODDS  
         [0035]    When a point number (4,5,6,8,9,10) is drawn on the “come out” draw, any player having a bet on the pass line may make an additional bet that the point will be drawn before a 7 is drawn. Each casino (house) may elect to offer single or double (or any other multiple for the odds bets). The odds bet is made by the player by placing chips behind the original pass line bet in a circle  26 . The payoff is the correct odds on the point showing as follows:  
         [0036]    points 4 or 10 are paid 2 to 1;  
         [0037]    points 5 or 9 are paid 3 to 2;  
         [0038]    points 6 or 8 are paid 6 to 5  
         [0039]    Odds bets may be removed at any time before a draw and can be made any time after a point has been established. The original pass line bet must remain in play to until either a 7 or the point is drawn.  
         [0040]    COME BETS  
         [0041]    A come bet is exactly the same as a pass line bet. This bet is made by the player in the space provided in the come area  22 , after the “come out” draw and a point has been established. It is a game within a game, akin to starting over. The next draw acts as a new come out draw, either resulting in 7 or 11 which win, 2,3 or 12 which lose or a new point from the numbers 4,5,6,8,9,10. When a new point number is established for the come bet, the dealer moves the come bet to the corresponding numbered box in the come area  40  on the table to await a decision for that point only. Winning come bets are paid off in the come section  22  adjacent the player making the bet as the dealer moves the bet out of the point number box  40 . If the player does not pick up the bet, the bet is in action on the next draw for a “come out” decision or another new point. A come bet may be placed on every draw of the cards.  
         [0042]    COME BETS-ODDS  
         [0043]    As with pass line bets, odds can be taken with come bets. Assume that a player already has a pass line point. The player makes a come bet in the come section  22 . If the next draw is 2,3 or 12, the original pass line bet is unaffected, but the come bet loses. If an 11 is drawn, the pass line bet is unaffected, but the come bet wins and is paid off at 1 to 1. Should 7 be drawn, the pass line bet loses, but the come bet wins. If 4,5,6,8,9 or 10 is drawn, the come bet is moved by the dealer to the corresponding number box  40  to await a decision. At this time, the player may make an odds bet for the come bet. The player announces that intention and gives the dealer the correct amount of chips for the odds bet (depending on whether the casino allows single, double or multiple odds). Odds bets on come bets may be removed at any time before a draw and can be made any time after a come bet point has been established. The original come bet must remain in play until a decision has been made. It is assumed that odds bets are not working on “come out” draws. If the come out draw is 7, the underlying come bet loses, but the odds bet would he returned to the player.  
         [0044]    PLACE BETS  
         [0045]    Place bets may be made after a “come out” draw and can be made on any or all of the numbers 4,5,6,8,9 or 10. The player announces his or her intention to make a place bet(s) and gives the chips to the dealer who will put the chips on the table in the corresponding number box. Place bets can be added, reduced or removed at any time. Place bets win if the corresponding number is drawn before a 7 is drawn. Place bets pay as follows:  
         [0046]    4 and 10 pay 9 to 5;  
         [0047]    5 and 9 pay 7 to 5  
         [0048]    6 and 8 pay 7 to 6  
         [0049]    HARD WAYS  
         [0050]    Drawing 4,6,8,10 the hard way is a draw of 2-2 ,3-3, 4-4 and 5-5. Hard way bets may be made at any time by telling the dealer who will put the chips on the table for the player. Players win hard way bets when the number drawn to make the point is a double number.  
         [0051]    Example: a hard way bet on 4 wins if 2-2 is drawn before a 1-3, 3-1 or any 7.  
         [0052]    The same thing applies to 6,8 and 10. Hard ways pay as follows:  
         [0053]    hard way 4 or 10 pays 7 to 1;  
         [0054]    hard way 6 or 8 pays 9 to 1;  
         [0055]    A/A (SNAKE EYES) and 6/6 (BOXCARS)  
         [0056]    Both A/A area  28  and 6/6 area  38  are one draw bets. The player announces his or her intention to the dealer who will put the players chip(s) in either the snake eye or boxcar area  28 ,  38  (respectively) (or both). The next draw determines the outcome.  
         [0057]    Let it be assumed that a player bets that the next draw will be A/A (snake eyes). The player wins if the next draw is A/A even if the player loses on any other draw. The same thing applies to boxcars area  38  where the player is betting that the next draw will be 6/6.  
         [0058]    FIELD BETS  
         [0059]    A field bet is a bet that the number 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 will be drawn, regardless of the point. This bet is always working, even on the come-out draw. The next draw of the cards immediately determines whether this bet wins or loses. Bets on: numbers 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 pay even money. Numbers 2 or 12 win 2 to 1, and numbers 5, 6, 7, or 8 lose.  
         [0060]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the central attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than the foregoing specification, for the scope of this invention.