Patent Publication Number: US-2012025466-A1

Title: Card game for standard playing cards

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a game conducted with standard playing cards and more specifically to a wagering game in which participants attempt to reach a count of nine, ten, or eleven, with the cards allotted by a designated dealer. Said game may allow individual participants to win additional automatic payoffs. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Various wagering games involving standard playing cards have been developed in past centuries, such as blackjack (or twenty one), baccarat, gin rummy, seven and a half, etc., in which the object is to reach a given maximum count, depending upon the values assigned to the cards according to the game rules. In theory, a wagering card game is a game in which the participants play for money. In a wagering card game, there is usually a dealer who plays for the house, i.e., usually a casino, and players, usually of a desired number, whose object is to exceed the dealer&#39;s hand in order to win money. 
     The above described genre of wagering games wherein the participant, or player attempts to most closely approach a predetermined value or count with his/her cards, normally rely strictly upon the numerical value of the cards to determine the winning and losing hands. Further, in the above referenced wagering games, exceeding the maximum allowable predetermined count results in a “bust,” in which the player is automatically eliminated from that hand with no further chance to win. In many instances, players are discouraged by such occurrences and thus, games in which players cannot “bust” may provide greater enjoyment for players, as all players are eligible to continue play through the final card of the hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. Illustrated herein is a novel wagering game with the object of beating the dealer through reaching the numerical value of nine, ten or eleven with nine being the least valuable of the three and eleven being the highest of value. 
     The instant game system discloses an embodiment which may be played using a minimum of one deck of standard playing cards or up to as many as six decks of standard playing cards, with numbered cards two through nine being valued at face value, aces being valued at zero or one, and tens and court cards being removed from the deck. Additionally, the present card game system reveals an improved card game in which the object is to reach a total point count of nine, ten, or eleven using the above card values. 
     The instant game system may additionally comprise a competition played with standard playing cards and may comprise a step of placing wagers or bets on the outcome of the hands, wherein the player attempts to reach a predetermined count or value with the cards of each hand, depending upon the numerical values assigned to those cards according to the rules of the game. The game may include rules designed to prevent players or the dealer from going “bust” by exceeding the predetermined total, and moreover should include additional means for players to win other than only considering the relative numerical values of the card hands. The game may also provide payoffs for the occurrence of three of a kind (in which each of the three cards is of the same rank) within a single player&#39;s hand, in order to allow the novice player a means of easily determining a winning hand in addition to the numerical value. 
     Additionally, the present game system may also introduce a game that gives the house an option of playing against the player, who will be playing with cards, a standard die or a spin dial, in order to reach a numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with nine being the least valuable of the three and eleven being the most valuable of the three. 
     Furthermore, the instant game system may also illustrate an improved card game which provides payoffs for three of a kind, flushes, and straights hands having a point count of nine, ten, or eleven. In order for a bonus to be paid to the player(s) the player must place a bet on the bonus circle on the game board and the bonus winning hand must be dealt to the player or reached through switching one of the cards between hands as allowed. 
     Moreover the game system reveals an improved game wherein if both the player and dealer are unable to reach the numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, than the bets are considered pushed and no money is either won or lost. Similarly, if both the player and the dealer reach a numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, whoever&#39;s hand has the higher numerical value will be the winner and if the player&#39;s hand and the dealer&#39;s hand possess equal numerical value, than the bet is pushed. 
     Finally, the instant game system reveals an improved game wherein the dealer plays against the player(s) with a seven panel spin dial. This dial may include seven panels with six panels representing a numerical value of either nine, ten or eleven, and one panel representing zero. Four of the panels may equal nine, one panel will equal ten and one panel will equal eleven. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a plain view of a table layout that can be used in playing the card game in a casino setting; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram or flow chart showing the steps involved in the play of the present card game when the house elects to have the dealer play with standard playing cards; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a block diagram or flow chart showing the steps involved in the play of the present card game when the house elects to have the dealer play with a standard six sided die; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram or flow chart showing the steps involved in the play of the present card game when the house elects to have the dealer play with a seven panel spin dial; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. 
     The card game is played using one or more standard deck of playing cards, also referred to herein simply as cards, with each deck comprising thirty-six cards of four suits. Each suit contains nine cards, from ace through nine. The ace equals zero or one and the two through nine of each suit are counted at face value of two through nine for purposes of determining the score, numerical value of each hand, while the ten, jack, queen and king of each suit are removed from the deck. The final numerical value is the sum total of all the cards in one&#39;s hand. For example, a three card hand of a seven, two and three would equal 12. The house is also given the option of competing against the player(s) with either a standard six sided die or a seven panel spin dial, if the house elects one of these options the player will still be playing with a standard deck of playing cards comprising thirty-six cards of four suits. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a table layout that can be used in playing the card game in a casino setting. A dealer playing for the house, usually a casino, shuffles the deck of cards manually or uses a shuffling machine to do so. A player purchases chips from the dealer and the chips are provided to the player from the chip rack  1 , the official rules to the card game can be found in the rule key  2  on either side of the table, players place their bets  7  in the respective betting boxes  6  in front of his seat. The player thus has an option of placing an additional bet in the bonus circle  3 , bonus payouts  5  are listed below the bonus circle  3 . For the remainder of the application bonuses of three, five and ten times are used, but this is merely an example as the house may determine the final bonus payouts to be used for the game. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart showing the method of play of the present game with the house electing to use a standard deck of playing cards comprising thirty-six cards of four suits to play against the player(s). A starting position  7  is shown in the middle portion of  FIG. 2 , describing the dealing of the cards as above in the description of the table layout in  FIG. 1 . The dealer initially deals  7  two sets of three cards face up to each player and three cards face up to the dealer. As indicated further above, the object of the game is to achieve a total numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with eleven being the superior hand, with the three cards of the hand. After the cards are dealt the player determines the numerical count of each of his hands by adding the value of the three cards together to determine if the player has reached nine, ten or eleven  8 , also referred to as qualifying. 
     If the player has not qualified he has the option of swapping  9  one card between the two hands that he is playing, after the cards have been swapped a numerical value of the players&#39; hands is determined  10 , if the player has qualified either after the initial deal or after swapping he cards he will stand  11 , further if the player has not qualified following the swapping of two his cards the player will stand  12 . Once the final numerical value for the player has been determined the dealer will determine the numerical value of his three card hand  13 , if the dealer has not qualified he may subtract one card from his hand to form a two card hand  14 , at this point the dealer will stand  15  and a final numerical value for the dealer&#39;s hand will be reached. 
     At this point the player&#39;s and dealer&#39;s hands are compared to determine if the player has won, lost or pushed his bet, if the dealer and player have both qualified  16 , a determination is made on who has the superior hand  17 , with eleven being the best and nine being the worst. Thus, for example, if the player has ten and the dealer has nine, the player has won his bet his bet and is paid  19  one to one. If the dealer has a superior qualified hand  17 , for instance dealer has eleven and player has ten, the player loses his bet  18 , if the numerical value for both the dealer&#39;s and player&#39;s qualified hand is equal, for instance player has ten and dealer has ten, the bet is a push  20  and no chips are either won or lost. If neither the player nor the dealer qualifies, regardless of the numerical value of the hands, the player&#39;s bet  20  is pushed. 
     The next step is determining whether the player placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the cards being dealt  21 , if so than determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed entirely of three cards in numerical succession to form a straight hand  22 , determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of the same suit to form a flush  23 , and determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of equal numerical value from three different suits to form three of a kind  24 . If the player has placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the hand being dealt and a straight is formed by the players three cards a payoff of three times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  25  is paid to the player, further a payoff of five times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  26  for three card flush hands, and a payoff of ten times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  27  for three of a kind hands. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart showing the method of play of the present game with the house electing to use a standard six sided die to play against the player(s). The dealer will use a standard six-sided die, four sides of the die will equal the numerical value of nine, one side will equal ten and the last side will equal eleven. As indicated further above, the object of the game is to achieve a total numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with eleven being the superior hand. A starting position  28  is shown in the middle portion of  FIG. 3 , describing the dealing of the cards as above in the description of the table layout  FIG. 1 . The dealer initially deals  28  two sets of three cards face up to each player and the dealers rolls a standard six sided die  28  to reveal his numerical value. As indicated further above, the object of the game is to achieve a total numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with eleven being the superior hand, with the three cards of the hand. After the cards are dealt the player determines the numerical value of each of his hands by adding the value of the three cards together to determine if the player has qualified  29 , if the player has not qualified he has the option of swapping  30  one card between the two hands that he is playing, after the cards have been swapped a numerical value of the players&#39; hands is determined  31 , if the player has qualified either after the initial deal or after swapping he cards he will stand  32 , further if the player has not qualified following the swapping of two his cards the player will stand  33 . Once the final numerical value for the player has been determined the dealer will determine the numerical value of his roll of the six sided die  35 . 
     At this point the player&#39;s and dealer&#39;s hands are compared to determine if the player has won, lost or pushed his bet, if the player has not qualified  33  the player will lose his bet  36 , if the dealer and player have both qualified, a determination is made on who has the superior hand  35  with eleven being the best and nine being the worst, for instance if the player has ten and the dealer has nine the player has won his bet and is paid  38  one to one on his bet. If the dealer has a superior qualified roll, for instance dealer has eleven and player has ten, the player loses his bet  36 , if the numerical value for both the dealer&#39;s and player&#39;s qualified hand is equal, for instance player has ten and dealer has ten, the bet is a push  37  and no chips are either won or lost. 
     The next step is determining whether the player placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the cards being dealt  39 , if so than determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed entirely of three cards in numerical succession to form a straight hand  40 , determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of the same suit to form a flush  41 , and determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of equal numerical value from three different suits to form three of a kind  42 . If the player has placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the hand being dealt and a straight is formed by the players three cards a payoff of three times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  43  is paid to the player, further a payoff of five times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  44  for three card flush hands, and a payoff of ten times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  45  for three of a kind hands. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flow chart showing the method of play of the present game with the house electing to use a seven panel spin dial to play against the player(s). The dealer will use a seven panel spin dial, four panels will equal the numerical value of nine, one panel will equal ten, one panel will equal eleven, and the last panel will be a non-qualify. As indicated further above, the object of the game is to achieve a total numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with eleven being the superior hand. A starting position  46  is shown in the middle portion of  FIG. 4 , describing the dealing of the cards as above in the description of the table layout  FIG. 1 . 
     The dealer initially deals  46  two sets of three cards face up to each player and the dealer spins the dial  46  to reveal his numerical value. As indicated further above, the object of the game is to achieve a total numerical value of nine, ten or eleven, with eleven being the superior hand, with the three cards of the hand. After the cards are dealt the player determines the numerical value of each of his hands by adding the value of the three cards together to determine if the player has qualified  47 , if the player has not qualified he has the option of swapping  48  one card between the two hands that he is playing, after the cards have been swapped a numerical value of the players&#39; hands is determined  49 , if the player has qualified either after the initial deal or after swapping he cards he will stand  50 , further if the player has not qualified following the swapping of two his cards the player will stand  51 . Once the final numerical value for the player has been determined the dealer will determine the numerical value of his spin of the dial  53 . 
     At this point the player&#39;s and dealer&#39;s spin are compared to determine if the player has won, lost or pushed his bet, if the dealer and player have both qualified  58 , a determination is made on who has the superior hand  59  with eleven being the best and nine being the worst, for instance if the player has ten and the dealer has nine the player has won his bet his bet and is paid  60  one to one. If the dealer has a superior qualified spin  59 , for instance dealer has eleven and player has ten, the player loses his bet  54 , if the numerical value for both the dealer&#39;s and player&#39;s qualified hand is equal, for instance player has ten and dealer has ten, the bet is a push  55  and no chips are either won or lost. If neither the player nor the dealer qualifies, regardless of the numerical value of the hands, the player&#39;s bet  55  is pushed. 
     The next step is determining whether the player placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the cards being dealt  57 , if so than determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed entirely of three cards in numerical succession to form a straight hand  61 , determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of the same suit to form a flush  62 , and determining whether any of the players&#39; hands are formed of three cards of equal numerical value from three different suits to form three of a kind  63 . If the player and placed a bet in the bonus circle prior to the hand being dealt and a straight is formed by the players three cards a payoff of three times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  64  is paid to the player, further a payoff of five times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  65  for three card flush hands, and a payoff of ten times the amount wagered in the bonus circle  66  for three of a kind hands.