Abstract:
A card game and method of playing the card game is disclosed. The card game involves placing cards into pre-defined card positions in the form of grids or matrices. For example, a 3×3 grid is filled with nine cards. Game outcome combinations are defined by three horizontal, three vertical and two diagonal pay lines. Another grid arrangement includes a 3×3 grid with each row and column having an extra card position at each end thereof. Accordingly, after the 3×3 grid is filled with random cards, a player may select one or more pay lines after which the two extra card positions are filled. The player is paid for any winning hands formed of the five card defined by the selected pay lines. Countless grid arrangements and pay lines are conceivable. In other versions, the player may replace one or more initially dealt, displayed or otherwise provided cards. The card game and method disclosed herein may be played through an electronic gaming device, over the Internet or at a live gaming table with a dealer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 60/610,237 filed Sep. 15, 2004. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The embodiments of the present invention relate to card-based casino games facilitated by electronic gaming devices, the Internet and live tables. More particularly, the embodiments relate to methods and systems providing for a card game wherein cards are provided to fill predefined card positions such that a multiplicity of possible outcomes and payouts are available. 
   BACKGROUND 
   There are a vast multitude of casino card games. Some card games, like Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride and 3-5-7 Poker are stud games insofar as the game outcomes are based solely on the originally dealt cards. Other card games, like video poker and variations thereof, are draw games wherein the player has the opportunity to replace at least one originally dealt card in order to improve the game outcome. Depending on the game, the player may be allowed to replace all the original cards, only certain cards, only a certain number of cards, etc. 
   Some casino stud games also involve a dealer hand and/or require the player to make betting decisions before all game cards are revealed or dealt. For example, in Caribbean Stud Poker and Three Card Poker, the player is required to increase his or her wager in order to continue play and for comparison of the player&#39;s revealed hand to the dealer&#39;s revealed hand. 
   Other casino stud games do not involve a dealer hand while still other casino stud games offer the player the ability, but do not require the player, to modify his or her wager. For example, in Let It Ride, the player is offered the ability to reduce his or her wager before all of the game cards have been revealed. In 3-5-7 Poker and some blackjack games, the player is given the opportunity to surrender his or her hand thereby forfeiting one-half of his or her initial wager. 
   There are also casino slot machines which produce outcomes consisting of symbols arranged in a pattern with pay lines identifying certain combinations of symbols in the pattern. A winning outcome occurs when certain symbols align along an active pay line in accordance with the pay table for the game. Slot machines with multiple pay lines are often configured to activate pay lines on which the player has placed a wager. At least one game, Spin Poker, offers a video poker variation which depicts card symbols appearing on spinning reels. 
   In other casino slot machines, like the Bananarama With Bonus slot machine game, the vertical arrangement of symbols is fixed along a video reel where a portion of the reel is randomly selected, usually by a pay line, to generate the game outcome. Typically with such games, one symbol from each reel may align with a pay line. In other casino slot machines, like Vacation USA slot machine each symbol location is independently selected. In such games, any combination of symbols, including multiple symbols from a single reel, may align along a pay line. 
   SUMMARY 
   The embodiments of the present invention include a method and device for conducting a casino card game with the some or all of the following features:
         a play grid for receiving game cards;   one or more pay lines placed on the play grid for defining unique card combinations forming a hand;   ability to accept wager(s) which activate one or more pay lines;   providing an initial card to each grid position;   allowing the player to replace at least one card in an attempt to improve the game outcome; and   evaluating the outcome for each active pay line and for each winning outcome, paying the player a corresponding award.       

   The embodiments of the present invention also include any number of variations of pay line configurations including, but not limited to, configurations wherein:
         each card is subject to one pay line;   some or all cards are subject to two or more pay lines;   all pay lines are in the form of straight lines;   some or all pay lines are in a form other than a straight line;   all pay lines intersect the same number of cards; and   one or more pay lines intersect a different number of cards than at least one other pay line.       

   With respect to games having pay lines intersecting different numbers of cards, there may be different pay criteria based upon the number of cards intersected. Pay criteria may also include providing special pay awards for game outcomes utilizing all, or a majority, of the cards in the grid. For example, a special pay out may be provided if K or more of the N cards in the grid (where K≦N) are of the same suit. In such a game, a pay table may be configured such that the larger the number of cards of the same suit, wherein the number is at or above the K threshold, the larger the award. Another example is an award corresponding to a pay line intersecting final cards in the grid forming an N-card straight, N-card flush or an N-card straight flush. Such special pays may be available as a general bonus of the game or, in an alternate game configuration, may be in the form of a side bet that the player can place. 
   Alternately, or additionally, a special bonus award may be offered that provides the player an award based upon a combination of outcomes identified by multiple pay lines. For example, if the player obtains a winning outcome on all active pay lines, a bonus award may be defined that awards the player twice the normal amount for each award. Another example comprises a special award in response to the player obtaining a losing outcome identified by all active pay lines. 
   Likewise, the embodiments of the present invention contemplate any and all grid arrangement variations including, but not limited to:
         T-shaped;   X-shaped;   2D square grid;   2D rectangular grid;   2D pyramid;   other 2D arrangements, such as a snowflake pattern; or   3D cube or other 3D arrangements.       

   The embodiments of the present invention contemplate any variation wagering requirements including, but not limited to:
         no minimum wager restrictions;   to activate a pay line, a wager must be placed thereon;   all pay lines must have the same sized wager placed thereon; or   the player places a single wager to activate a group of pay lines       

   In other game variations, the player is allowed to replace more than one card. Players may be required to select and replace all of the cards at once or may be allowed to select and replace cards individually. In the latter case, the game may be configured such that the player may or may not be allowed to replace a card position more than once during the game. 
   The games offered under the embodiments of the present invention may be conducted with one or more decks of cards. Similarly, a deck may or may not include Jokers which may be used as a wild card, or alternately may be used in a manner according to the rules of Pai Gow poker. Alternately or additionally, one or more non-Joker cards may be designated as a wild card. With games having wild cards and grid positions intersected by multiple pay lines, the wild card may be evaluated differently for each pay line in order to optimize the player&#39;s outcome for each pay line. Alternately, the player may be required to select a single value for a wild card that is the single value applied regardless of the subject pay line. With games played with more than one deck of cards and/or wild cards, special payouts may be defined for outcomes where an outcome includes a certain number of the same card and suit. 
   Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a 3×3 grid incorporating eight pay lines and multiple wagering areas; 
       FIG. 2  shows a 3×3 grid incorporating eight pay lines and one global wager area; 
       FIG. 3  shows a 3×3 grid incorporating three vertical pay lines and three horizontal pay lines; 
       FIG. 4  shows a 3×5 grid incorporating five pay lines; 
       FIG. 5  shows a 5×5 grid incorporating ten pay lines; 
       FIG. 6  shows a non-rectangular grid incorporating multiple pay lines; 
       FIG. 7  shows a sample implementation of a game having a 3×3 grid; 
       FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of a game wherein a player may replace cards once; 
       FIG. 9  shows a block diagram of a game wherein players may replace cards sequentially; 
       FIG. 10  shows a block diagram of a game having card replacement and outcome display; 
       FIG. 11  shows a block diagram of a game with a bonus; 
       FIG. 12  shows a sample game state, namely awaiting a start of the game; 
       FIG. 13  shows a sample game state, namely awaiting a player to select a card to be replaced; 
       FIG. 14  shows a sample game state, namely a game completed; 
       FIG. 15  shows a game having selectable pay lines; and 
       FIG. 16  shows a block diagram of a game having selectable pay lines. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
   The embodiments of the present invention are ideal for video-based and Internet-based applications. Therefore, the following description focuses on such applications. However, it should be noted that live applications are conceivable and within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The operation of gaming devices, Internet-based applications and live table games are well known in the art and need not be explained in great detail herein. Necessary details are noted as necessary. 
   Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows an example of a first embodiment of the present invention having a 3×3 square grid comprising card positions  111 - 113 ,  121 - 123  and  131 - 133  intersected by eight straight pay lines  141 - 148 . Specifically, there are three horizontal pay lines  141 - 143 , three vertical pay lines  144 - 146  and two diagonal pay lines  147 ,  148 . As an example of a pay line arrangement, pay line  141  corresponds to the card positions  111 ,  112 , and  113  for receiving cards 1,1, 1,2 and 1,3, respectively. At ends of each pay line  141 - 148  are wager areas  151 - 158  corresponding to that pay line. Game rules may include additional wagering requirements such as requiring a wager in all wager areas  151 - 158  to activate all pay lines  141 - 148 , the same size wager placed in each wager area  151 - 158 , etc. 
     FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  insofar as it also depicts a sample game comprising a 3×3 square grid of card positions  211 - 213 ,  221 - 223  and  231 - 233  and eight straight pay lines  241 - 248 . However,  FIG. 2  incorporates a single wager area  250  for placement of a single wager that activates all of the pay lines  241 - 248 . 
     FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2  insofar as it also depicts a sample game comprising a 3×3 square grid of card positions  311 - 313 ,  321 - 323  and  331 - 333  and a single wagering area  350 . However, the game has a varied arrangement of pay lines. Specifically, the game comprises only three horizontal pay lines  341 - 343  and three vertical pay lines  344 - 346 . That is, there are no diagonal pay lines as set forth in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     FIG. 4  depicts another grid arrangement comprising a 3×5 rectangular grid of card positions  411 - 415 ,  421 - 425  and  431 - 435  intersected by five pay lines  451 - 455 . Each pay line  451 - 455  intersects five card positions which generate a game outcome for which game awards may be paid. First, there are three straight horizontal pay lines  441 - 443 . For example, Pay line  441  intersects card positions  411 ,  412 ,  413 ,  414  and  415  which receive cards 1,1, 1,2, 1,3, 1,4 and 1,5, respectively. There are also two angled pay lines  444  and  445 . Pay line  444  intersects card positions  411 ,  422 ,  433 ,  242  and  415  which receive cards 1,1, 2,2, 3,3, 2,4 and 1,5. Pay line  445  intersect card positions  431 ,  422 ,  413 ,  424  and  435  which receive cards 3,1, 2,2, 1,3, 2,4 and 3,5, respectively. This card position arrangement creates a situation wherein multiple card positions are intersected by multiple pay lines. As shown in  FIG. 4 , card positions  411 ,  413 ,  415 ,  422 ,  424 ,  431 ,  433  and  435  which receive cards 1,1, 1,3, 1,5, 2,2, 2,4, 3,1, 3,3, and 3,5, respectively, are each intersected by multiple pay lines while the other card positions are only intersected by a single pay line. 
     FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4  in that the grid arrangement comprises a 3×5 rectangular grid of card positions  511 - 515 ,  521 - 525  and  531 - 535  intersected by five pay lines  551 - 555 . However, the grid shown in  FIG. 5  further incorporates five vertical pay lines  550 ,  556 - 559  which each intersect three card positions. This card position arrangement creates a situation wherein individual pay lines, in a single game, intersect different numbers of card positions and cards, respectively. 
     FIG. 6  depicts a non-rectangular grid arrangement. The non-rectangular grid comprises three horizontal pay lines  641 - 643 , each intersecting three card positions  611 - 613 ,  621 - 623  and  631 - 633 , respectively, three vertical pay lines  644 - 646 , each intersecting three card positions  611 ,  621 ,  631 ;  612 ,  622 ,  632 ; and  613 ,  623 ,  633 , respectively, and two diagonal pay lines  647  and  648  each intersecting five card positions  661 ,  611 ,  622 ,  633 ,  664  and  662 ,  613 ,  622 ,  631 ,  663 , respectively. 
     FIG. 7  depicts a screen shot from an electronic embodiment of the present invention implemented as a video game or Internet-based game. The screen displays a 3×3 grid  700 , pay table  710  and game rules  720 . Furthermore, the grid  700  displayed in  FIG. 7  is synonymous with an arrangement that may be implemented as a live table game using an electronic display or physical cards. Indeed, the embodiments of the present invention include depicting the grid on a table felt in a conventional manner using ink. Alternately, or additionally, the card positions may be defined by raised partitions and/or depressions in the table such that the cards are retained in place. Furthermore, with such partitions, it is possible to incorporate a card collector into which the cards drop when the game ends and that may optionally funnel the cards into a card shuffler. 
     FIG. 8  shows a block diagram detailing one embodiment of the present invention, namely a game where the replacement cards are selected by the player one at a time. The block diagram shows acceptance of player wager  810  and the activation the game  812  which triggers random cards being dealt, displayed or otherwise provided  814  to fill each card position of the game&#39;s card grid. The player then decides whether to hold all the initial cards  816  or to discard certain card(s)  818  to be replaced with new random card(s) from the deck. At  820  replacement or draw card(s) are dealt, displayed or otherwise provided to each position selected by the player. Once all requested draw cards have been dealt, displayed or otherwise provided, the game outcome along each active pay line is examined  822  and for each winning outcome, the player is paid an award  824  relative to a pay table which defines the award amount for the given outcome and wager amount. 
   It should be noted that other embodiments cover a game including all of the steps shown in  FIG. 8  except the step of rendering the card draw  816  optional. In such an implementation, the player must always select the card(s) to be replaced. The actual number of possible replacement cards is defined by the game and includes games wherein only one card may be replaced. 
     FIG. 9  shows a block diagram detailing a second embodiment of the present invention, namely a game incorporating means for a player to replace sequentially one or more cards. As with  FIG. 8 , a player wager is accepted  910 , the game is activated  912  and the initial random cards are dealt, displayed or otherwise provided to their respective card positions  914  on the game grid. The player may hold  916  his or her initial set of cards or may select  918  a single card to be replaced  920  with a new card from the deck. For a second time, the player is able to select  918  a single card to be replaced  920  with a new card from the deck. Depending on the game, the player may be able to continue replacing cards until the no more replacement cards are available  922 . Further, game rules may or may not be defined to restrict the card selection. For example, game rules may be defined to allow a player to select each card position for card replacement only once during a game. As with  FIG. 8 , after all draw cards have been dealt, displayed or otherwise provided, each pay line is examined  924  and winning outcomes are paid  926  before the game is ends  928 . 
     FIG. 10  shows a block diagram detailing a third embodiment of the present invention, namely the steps of the block diagram shown in  FIG. 8  but with the addition of new outcome display steps. Specifically, after the cards are dealt, displayed or otherwise provided  1014 , intermediate game results are displayed  1015 . Game results can include, but are not limited to, identification of any winning outcomes, indication of the value of any winning outcomes, indication of which cards, if any, are essential to a winning outcome, indication of which pay lines might become winning outcomes with the replacement of the remaining available card(s), etc. Displaying the intermediate game results makes it easier for the player to decide which card(s) to select for replacement. For example, indicating which cards are essential to a winning outcome helps the player more quickly identify which cards are suitable candidates for replacement. The block diagram of  FIG. 10  also includes a similar results display step  1023  during the outcome evaluation  1022  and award payment  1024  phase of the game, whereby the type and award amounts, for example, may be displayed. This embodiment of the invention may be more readily implemented as a video game or Internet-based game. However, a programmed electromechanical device, having knowledge of the card values in each card position, implemented with a live table game may likewise display similar data. 
     FIG. 11  shows a block diagram detailing a fourth embodiment of the present invention, namely the steps of the block diagram shown in  FIG. 8  but with the addition of bonus pay steps. Specifically, in addition to evaluating  1122  and paying awards  1124  based on each pay line outcome, a bonus-triggering outcome may be evaluated  1126  and, if present, a bonus is paid  1128 . An example of such a bonus is referenced in  FIG. 7  which describes a “9 Card Bonus/Straight Flush 100,000/Flush 10,000.” Consequently, there is a bonus paid in response to all nine cards forming a flush or straight flush. 
   Game rules may require certain wagering requirements for a player to be eligible for a bonus. For example, the player may be required to place a wager equivalent to, or exceeding a minimum amount. An alternate embodiment may involve a variable sized award and/or the playing of a secondary bonus event to produce the bonus payment. For example, a bonus-triggering event may cause additional cards to be dealt according to some additional rules that determine the size of the bonus award. In another example, a bonus-triggering event may cause a bonus event to occur that uses a different mechanism than main game cards to determine the bonus award to be paid. 
   Similar to  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 12  depicts a screen shot from an example of the game implemented as a video game or Internet-based game. It consists of a 3×3 grid of card positions  1200 , pay table information  1210  and certain game rules  1220 . Unlike  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 12  depicts a pure video game implementation.  FIG. 12  shows the state of the game with the player being prompted to initiate play. 
     FIG. 13  is another screen shot similar to  FIG. 12  but depicting a different game state, namely the state after initial cards have been displayed, intermediate results have been displayed  1300  and the player is prompted to select a replacement card or forgo such a replacement and hold all cards. This state corresponds to steps  1016  and  1018  from  FIG. 10 . As with  FIG. 10 , the screen shot depicts the display of intermediate results including the award amounts associated with each pay line that currently define a winning outcome and the highlighting of cards  1320  that currently form a winning outcome. An alternate implementation may, in addition to the payout, indicate the type of winning outcome, such as “Straight” or “High Pair” for each appropriate pay line. 
     FIG. 14  is another screen shot similar to  FIG. 13  but depicting a different game state, namely the state after the draw card has been displayed and the outcome finalized. Specifically, the center card (2           )  1330  from  FIG. 13  has been selected and replaced with a new center card (9♥)  1400 . Replacing the 2          with the 9♥ increases the number of winning pay lines and corresponding payout.
     FIG. 15  shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention wherein the card positions into which the draw cards are to be displayed are empty after the initial deal. The initial cards are dealt, displayed or otherwise provided to the center 3×3 grid comprising card positions  1511 - 1513 ,  1521 - 1523 ,  1531 - 1533 . Eight pay lines, including three horizontal pay lines  1541 - 1543 , three vertical pay lines  1544 - 1546  and two diagonal pay lines  1547 - 1548  intersect the card positions  1511 - 1513 ,  1521 - 1523 ,  1531 - 1533 . Also, associated with each pay line  1541 - 1548  are two separate draw card positions  1551 - 1564 . For example, pay line  1541  has draw card positions  1552  and  1562  for receiving draw cards 2,1 and 2,5, respectively. At an end of each pay line  1541 - 1548  is a selector spot  1581 - 1588  which the player uses after the initial display of cards to indicate the pay line(s) he wishes to select. The draw cards are then displayed to the draw card positions  1551 - 1564  associated with the selected pay line. A game can be defined such that the player only selects one pay line or multiple pay lines 
     FIG. 16  shows a block diagram of the fifth embodiment of the present invention corresponding to the game shown in  FIG. 15 . Player wagers are accepted  1610 , the game is started  1612  and the initial cards are displayed  1614  into card positions. The player then selects K pay lines  1616 , where K is defined by the games rules to be an integer value between one and number less than the number of total pay lines. For each selected pay line, the corresponding draw card positions are filled  1618  with card(s) dealt from the deck. For each selected pay line, the corresponding intersected cards are evaluated to determine whether they correspond to a winning outcome  1620  and for each winning outcome, the player is paid  1622  based on the rules of the game. 
   Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.