Patent Publication Number: US-5632489-A

Title: Method of playing a seven and a half card game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention relates generally to card games and more specifically it relates to a seven and a half card game. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous card games have been provided in prior art that are adapted to use a standard deck of playing cards containing indicia representing certain values and requiring the players to obtain combinations of such cards in order to triumph and win over their opponents. While these units may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a seven and a half card game that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices. 
     Another object is to provide a seven and a half card game in which each player is to be dealt no more than two cards having a higher count than the dealer, but not exceeding seven and a half points. 
     An additional object is to provide a seven and a half card game that can be made in two forms being a casino version and a home version that are played in slightly different ways, whereby they both utilize a modified deck of playing cards, but the home version includes a set of chips to represent betting money. 
     A further object is to provide a seven and a half card game that is simple and easy to use. 
     A still further object is to provide a seven and a half card game that is economical in cost to manufacture. 
     Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein; 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the instant invention being played on a table by five players. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view typically representing some of the modified cards used in the deck of playing cards for the game. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a seven and a half card game 10 comprising a deck of modified playing cards 12 for distribution of cards 14 to each player 16 and a dealer 18. The cards 14 bear indicia representing a count value from between a half a point to seven and a half points that will be accumulated by each player 16 and the dealer 18. The object of the game is for each player 16 to have a higher point count than the dealer 18, but not exceeding seven and a half points. 
     The deck of modified playing cards 12 has all of the eight, nine and ten cards removed therefrom, thereby reducing the total amount of the cards 14 in the deck 12 from fifty two to forty in number. The deck of modified playing cards 12 include heart, diamond, club and spade suits located upon the face of the cards 14. 
     The deck of modified playing cards 12 include a first set of four cards, each with an ace designation 20, being an ace of hearts, an ace of diamonds, an ace of clubs and an ace of spades, having indicia indications 22 representing a numeric count of one point. The ace of diamonds is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A second set of four cards are provided, each with a two designation 24, being a two of hearts, a two of diamonds, a two of clubs and a two of spades, having indicia indications 26 representing a numeric count of two points. The two of diamonds is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A third set of four cards are provided, each with a three designation 28, being a three of hearts, a three of diamonds, a thereof clubs and a three of spades, having indicia indications 30 representing a numeric count of three points. The three of spades is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A fourth set of four cards are provided, each with a four designation 32, being a four of hearts, a four of diamonds, a four of clubs and a four of spades, having indicia indications 34 representing a numeric count of four points. The four of spades is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A fifth set of four cards are provided, each with a five designation 36, being a five of hearts, a five of diamonds, a five of clubs and a five of spades, having indicia indications 38 representing a numeric count of five points. The five of hearts is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A sixth set of four cards are provided, each with a six designation 40, being a six of hearts, a six of diamonds, a six of clubs and a six of spades, having indicia indications 42 representing a numeric count of six points. The six of clubs is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A seventh set of four cards are provided, each with a seven designation 44, being a seven of hearts, a seven of diamonds, a seven of clubs and a seven of spades, having indicia indications 46 representing a number count of seven points. The seven of diamonds is shown in FIG. 2. 
     An eighth set of four cards are provided, each with a jack designation 48, being a jack of hearts, a jack of diamonds, a jack of clubs and a jack of spades, having indicia indications 50 representing a numeric count of a half point. The jack of spades is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A ninth set of four cards are provided, each with a queen designation 52, being a queen of hearts, a queen of diamonds, a queen of clubs and a queen of spades, having indicia indications 54 representing a numeric count of a half point. The queen of clubs is shown in FIG. 2. 
     A tenth set of four cards are provided, each with a king designation 56, being a kind of hearts, a king of diamonds, a king of clubs and a king of spades, having indicia indications 58 representing a numeric count of a half point. The king of spades is shown in FIG. 2. The king of diamonds also shown in FIG. 2, has an numeric count of seven and a half points when first dealt to one of the players 16 and the dealer 18 and a numeric count of a half point when dealt out at other times. The seven and a half card game 10 can further include a plurality of playing chips 60, being small round flat disks 62 used to represent money for betting during the play of the game. 
     THE RULES FOR PLAYING THE PRESENT GAME AS A CASINO VERSION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
     THE OBJECT OF THE GAME: 
     1. A player attempts to beat the dealer by obtaining two cards or less whose face value(s) are greater than that of the dealer&#39;s two cards or less hand. 
     2. The total(s) of the one to two card hand must be seven and a half or less. Scoring greater than seven and a half is an automatic loss (or busting). 
     NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 
     There will be one to seven players plus the dealer. 
     NUMBER OF CARD DECKS: 
     1. One deck of cards. 
     2. The deck of cards contains forty cards with the eights, nines and ten omitted. 
     3. The deck is reshuffled after each hand. 
     CARD VALUES; 
     The king of diamonds is worth 71/2 points, if dealt as the first card. 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
A&#39;s = 1 point       6&#39;s = 6 points                                        
2&#39;s = 2 points      7&#39;s = 7 points                                        
3&#39;s = 3 points      J&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
4&#39;s = 4 points      Q&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
5&#39;s = 5 points      K&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     THE DEAL: 
     PLAYER(S): 
     1. Each player places an ante bet on the table. 
     2. Each player is dealt one card face down on the table, while the dealer&#39;s card is face up on the table. 
     3. The player(s), after looking at their card, can either stand or draw(hit) one additional card after placing a final bet. 
     4. The player can elect to fold by not placing the final bet and will lose the ante bet. 
     DEALER: 
     1. The dealer can draw one additional card. If the dealer has a five or less he must hit. If he has a six he must stand. 
     2. When the king of diamonds is dealt as the first card to a player, he must immediately turn the card face up and he or she wins triple the amount bet. 
     3. When the dealer draws the king of diamonds as his first card he immediately wins and all cards and bet are collected. 
     TIES: 
     If the player and the dealer have the same total, the hand is a tie(push). There is no winner or loser. The player&#39;s bets are not collected. 
     PROBABLE OUTCOMES ON A ONE OR TWO CARD DRAW: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
THE 780 TWO CARD COUNTS IN THE GAME:                                      
COUNT (POINTS)     WAYS IT CAN BE MADE                                    
______________________________________                                    
14                 6                                                      
13                 16                                                     
12                 22                                                     
11                 32                                                     
10                 38                                                     
9                  48                                                     
8                  54                                                     
71/2               48                                                     
7                  48                                                     
61/2               48                                                     
6                  38                                                     
51/2               48                                                     
5                  32                                                     
41/2               48                                                     
4                  22                                                     
31/2               48                                                     
3                  16                                                     
21/2               48                                                     
2                  6                                                      
11/2               48                                                     
1                  66                                                     
NUMBER OF TWO CARD 780                                                    
WAYS                                                                      
NUMBER OF ONE CARD +40                                                    
WAYS                                                                      
TOTAL NUMBER OF WAYS                                                      
                   820                                                    
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         __________________________________________________________________________
DEALER&#39;S HAND ON A ONE OR TWO CARD DRAW:                                  
CARD CARD                                                                 
TOTAL                                                                     
     COMBINATION(S)                                                       
                 WIN %          TIE %  LOSS %                             
__________________________________________________________________________
1    TWO FACE CARDS                                                       
                 27.69**                                                  
                      (player bust %)                                     
                                5.98 (49/820)                             
                                       66.33                              
11/2 ACE-FACE CARD                                                        
                 34.76                                                    
                      (58/820) + (pb %)                                   
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       61.23                              
2    TWO ACES    38.91                                                    
                      (92/820) + (pb %)                                   
                                0.61 (5/820)                              
                                       60.48                              
21/2 TWO-FACED CARD                                                       
                 41.35                                                    
                      (112/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       54.63                              
3    ACE-TWO     45.62                                                    
                      (147/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                1.58 (13/820)                             
                                       52.80                              
31/2 THREE-FACE CARD                                                      
                 49.15                                                    
                      (176/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       46.83                              
4    ACE-THREE   53.54                                                    
                      (212/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                2.32 (19/820)                             
                                       44.14                              
4    TWO TWOS    53.30                                                    
                      (210/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                2.56 (21.820)                             
                                       44.14                              
41/2 FOUR-FACE CARD                                                       
                 57.69                                                    
                      (246/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       38.29                              
5    ACE-FOUR    61.96                                                    
                      (281/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                3.54 (29/820)                             
                                       34.50                              
5    TWO-THREE   61.96                                                    
                      (281/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                3.54 (29/820)                             
                                       34.50                              
51/2 FIVE-FACE CARD                                                       
                 67.45                                                    
                      (326/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       28.53                              
6    ACE-FIVE    71.71                                                    
                      (361/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.27 (35/820)                             
                                       24.02                              
6    TWO-FOUR    71.71                                                    
                      (361/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.27 (35/820)                             
                                       24.01                              
6    THREE-THREE 71.47                                                    
                      (359/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.51 (37/820)                             
                                       24.02                              
6    SIX         76.71                                                    
                      (402/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                5.00 (41/820)                             
                                       18.29                              
61/2 SIX-FACE CARD                                                        
                 77.93                                                    
                      (412/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.02 (33/820)                             
                                       18.05                              
7    ACE-SIX     83.18                                                    
                      (455/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                5.49 (45/820)                             
                                       11.33                              
7    TWO-FIVE    82.20                                                    
                      (447/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                5.49 (45/820)                             
                                       12.31                              
7    THREE-FOUR  82.20                                                    
                      (447/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                5.49 (45/820)                             
                                       12.31                              
7    SEVEN       87.69                                                    
                      (492/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                6.22 (51/821)                             
                                       6.09                               
71/2 SEVEN-FACE CARD                                                      
                 89.64                                                    
                      (508/820) + (pb %)                                  
                                4.15 (34/820)                             
                                       2.5                                
KING OF DIAMONDS 100  ***************                                     
                                **********                                
                                       *****                              
__________________________________________________________________________
 PLAYER WILL BUST (holding two card totals of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14):  
 27.69% (216/780)                                                         
 PLAYER WILL BUST (holding two card totals of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12): 24.87%   
 (194/780)                                                                
 
    
     SCHEDULE OF PAY OUT: 
     1. The player&#39;s ante bet will equal $3, $5, $10 or $25 (casino&#39;s discretion). 
     2. The player&#39;s final bet will equal up to double the ante bet. 
     3. The house will match the winning player&#39;s ante bet plus the final bet. 
     4. A player receiving the king of diamonds as the first card dealt to that player will win triple the ante bet. 
     5. A player electing to fold following the first down card dealt to that player will lose the ante bet. 
     6. A dealer/player tie score will have no winner or loser and no money exchanged. 
     THE RULES FOR PLAYING THE PRESENT GAME AS A HOME VERSION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
     THE OBJECT OF THE GAME: 
     1. A player attempts to beat the dealer by obtaining card(s) whose face value(s) are greater than that of the card(s) held by the dealer. 
     2. The total must be seven and a half or less. Scoring greater than seven and a half is an automatic loss(or busting). 
     NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 
     There will be one to seven players plus the dealer. 
     BETTING CHIPS AND CARD DECK: 
     1. The chips and cards can have a 71/2 logo on them. 
     2. The deck of cards contains forty cards. There are no eights, nines, and tens in the deck. 
     CARDS AND THEIR VALUES: 
     The king of diamonds card is worth 71/2 points if dealt as the first card, otherwise the face value is 1/2 point. 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
A&#39;s = 1 point       6&#39;s = 6 points                                        
2&#39;s = 2 points      7&#39;s = 7 points                                        
3&#39;s = 3 points      J&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
4&#39;s = 4 points      Q&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
5&#39;s = 5 points      K&#39;s = 1/2 point                                       
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     THE SET UP AND DEAL: 
     1. A dealer is chosen among the players by a draw of a card from the deck. High card wins the deal. If there is a tie, draw another card to break the tie. 
     2. Each player and the dealer are given betting chips. 
     3. Each player now places an ante chip on the table. The cards are shuffled and the dealer deals in a clockwise fashion, one card face down on the table to each player. 
     4. The dealer&#39;s card is dealt face up on the table. At this time, if anyone has the king of diamonds, they must reveal the card and state that they have a win. A player having this win automatically beats the dealer and also becomes the new dealer. The player is paid by the dealer double their bet. After the hand is completed between the remaining players, the dealer surrenders the deck of cards to the player who drew the king of diamonds and that player now becomes the dealer. 
     5. If the dealer has the king of diamonds as his first card, he automatically wins collecting all bets and cards on the table. The cards are reshuffled and the next hand begins. 
     6. If no one has the king of diamonds as the first card dealt, play continues. The player(s) upon examining their first card and the card the dealer has showing face up on the table now must decide whether to stand or draw another card. Remember, in order to beat the dealer the face value(s) of the player&#39;s card(s) must be greater than that of the dealer and be under 71/2 points. 
     7. Also, the dealer is the last to play his hand. The dealer&#39;s first card (unless he deals himself the king of diamonds will not be his last and his score will change. The dealer must draw a card as long as the face values of his cards total six points or less. When the dealers score is six points, he can draw no more cards. Dealer and player(s) now match hands to see who won. 
     8. If a player in the course of play draws a card that makes his score go over 71/2 points, he loses and pays the dealer his ante bet. 
     9. If the dealer in the course of play draws a card that makes his score go over 71/2 points, he or she loses and must pay the player(s) that remain in the game their ante bet. 
     10. If the dealer and player end up with the same score, it is a tie. No one wins or loses and no bets are exchanged. 
     THE DECK OF CARDS: 
     The backs of the cards can have the 71/2 logo. There are forty cards, as described above, in the deck. Each card has the point value marked on the face of the card. The king of diamonds has 71/2 located in the middle of the card. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     10 seven and a half card game 
     12 deck of modified playing cards 
     14 card 
     16 player 
     18 dealer 
     20 ace designation on 14 
     22 indicia indication of one point on 14 
     24 two designation on 14 
     26 indicia indication of two points on 14 
     28 three designation on 14 
     30 indicia indication of three points on 14 
     32 four designation on 14 
     34 indicia indication of four points on 14 
     36 five designation on 14 
     38 indicia indication of five points on 14 
     40 six designation on 14 
     42 indicia indication of six points on 14 
     44 seven designation on 14 
     46 indicia indication of seven points on 14 
     48 jack designation on 14 
     50 indicia indication of a half point on 14 
     52 queen designation on 14 
     54 indicia indication of a half point on 14 
     56 king designation on 14 
     58 indicia indication of a half point on 14 
     60 playing chip 
     62 small round flat disk for 60 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.