Abstract:
A method of playing a wagering card game using playing cards. The method may have steps of:
       a) a player making an Ante wager against the dealer on relative rank of a player 2-card poker hand against a dealer 2-card poker hand;   b) dealing a player one playing card;   c) dealing a dealer one playing card;   d) dealing three community cards   e) after the player views the player single card and three community cards the player elects to make a Play wager in addition to the Ante wager or folds.   f) all wagers made in steps a) through e) are resolved on the basis of two card poker ranks by player and dealer selecting best 2-card hands using his hole card and one of the three community cards.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to gaming and to card games. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method of playing a new type of poker game especially adapted for casino gaming, both in live table and electronic video formats. 
         [0003]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0004]    Gaming establishments continually require new games to offer their players. Casinos seek games that are easy to play and deal and that also create many decisions per hour. In popular casino poker games such as “Three Card Poker,” “Let It Ride® stud poker,” “Four-Card Poker™ games,” “Crazy-4-Poker™ games” and “Caribbean Stud Poker® games” they have found such games that are faster than the traditional poker room type game (which also requires a larger table). 
         [0005]    The problems associated with the above mentioned games are in the speed of the delivery to the customers. Players get bored waiting for the constant shuffling before they get to see a new hand. In each of the above listed popular casino poker games, each game only deals one hand to a player and then there is a shuffle. Therefore there is a constant need for the casino to get more “hands per hour” to increase the casino hold. The game of two card poker solves this problem by dealing more than one round of cards from the same deck (s) thus increasing the speed of the game. Time is saved by not having to shuffle as frequently. The players are happier because they get hands to them more quickly. 
         [0006]    Insofar as the prior art is concerned, the art is particularly void of any disclosures or showings of a two card poker game or of any game that deals more than one round from a single deck (s). The patent to Webb U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,823 discloses a card game which may either be played in either a three card variation, or a five card variation. While the patent mentions a two card version of the game it includes a wild card to make a three card hand. Hence, the wagering system is dependant upon a three card hand and is not dependant upon the best hand with two cards. Webb fails to disclose a two card capability to make a two card straight or flush or the dealing of more than one round of cards from the same single deck, and or more than one round from at least two decks. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,118,112 (Kenny) discloses a poker game variant using two-card poker rules as the basis of competition. The game is played with a dealer and at least one player. The game play includes (a) providing at least one standard deck of 52 playing cards plus at least one joker; (b) providing a published poker ranking of winning hands ranked from highest to lowest; (c) providing a pre-determined pay scale for winning hands; (d) providing a pre-determined minimum hand ranking for a dealer to achieve as a qualifying hand; (e) starting a round of play wherein each player making certain initial wager(s) of the following types of wagers; (i.) a first wager against the dealer, and (ii.) a voluntary wager against a predetermined pay scale, (f) dealing only two cards to each player to form a player&#39;s two card poker hand; (g) dealing only two cards to the dealer to form a dealer&#39;s two card poker hand, wherein the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer are the only two cards dealt during the first round of play; (h) giving the player the option of ending wagering game and forfeiting all initial wagers made in step (e) above if said player does not wish to continue to play the wagering game; (i) giving the player option of proceeding to play the wagering game against the dealer by player placing a third support wager in support of the first wager against the dealer; (j) the game ending if the dealer fails to achieve said qualifying hand in accordance with said pre-determined minimum hand ranking and dealer paying the player&#39;s certain initial wager(s), if wagered, against said predetermined pay scale; (k) the game proceeding if the dealer has achieved said qualifying hand in accordance with said pre-determined minimum hand ranking and the player has not ended game in step (h) above; (l) comparing the player&#39;s two card poker hand against the dealer&#39;s two card poker hand; (m) identifying the outcome of the wagering game by correlating the player&#39;s and dealer&#39;s two card poker hands to the published ranking of winning hands, and paying the winning hand as follows: (i.) if the player&#39;s hand outranks the dealer&#39;s hand according to the published ranking of winning hands, dealer pays the player&#39;s certain initial wager(s) against the dealer and player&#39;s third support wager; (ii.) if the player has achieved a rank at least as high as the first ranking according to the published ranking, dealer pays the player&#39;s separate voluntary wager against said predetermined pay scale; (iii.) if the dealer&#39;s hand outranks the players hand according to the published ranking of winning hands, dealer takes the player&#39;s certain initial wager(s) against the dealer and player&#39;s third support wager; (iv.) if the player fails to achieve at least the minimum ranking according to the published ranking of winning hands, dealer takes the player&#39;s separate voluntary wager against said predetermined pay scale; and (v.) if the player has the same ranking as the dealer according to the published ranking of winning hands, the dealer returns the player&#39;s certain initial wager(s) and player&#39;s third support wager; (n) giving the player option of starting a new round of play by repeating steps (e) through (m) before a shuffle of the standard deck of 52 playing cards plus at least one joker is made and ending the first round of play and new rounds of play by collecting the playing cards and returning the played cards to the at least one standard deck of 52 cards plus at least one joker. 
         [0008]    Published U.S. Patent Application Document 20040009082 (Fargano) describes a method and apparatus for playing an only two card per common hand, two hands per common round, and a number of rounds per shuffle baccarat-poker variant wagering-card game for a number of players based on the probable and possible outcomes provided by a master pack consisting essentially an equal number of conventional playing cards. The method has steps of; reducing four-decks of conventional playing cards by removing and excluding from play all the numerically designated Two through Ten spot cards, shuffling the remaining sixty-four alphabetically designated A, K, Q, and J royal card master pack, placing a cut-card limiting dealing penetration of said pack, shifting a number of said cards from the top to the bottom of said pack; players placing opening baccarat-typical wagers to participate in game, and giving said players the option to place an eight symbol bonus wager; dealing an opening card face-up to a common yang player hand; dealing an opening card face-up to a common yin banker hand; giving players a chance to examine the opening, and place an optional poker-like call-wager predicting a combined all four-card outcome involving both said hands expressed as a premium poker-typical hand; examining and accepting appropriate said optional wagers; dealing one closing card face-up to said yin hand; dealing one closing card face-up to said yang hand; rating and identifying all outcomes and resolving all wagers as per pre-determined rating index, rules, and pay-out odds. repeating the steps excluding the shuffle until the cut card emerges on top of said pack. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,002 (Goldman) discloses a poker style casino game which uses a 52 card standard deck plus an additional 5 jokers for a total of 57 cards. The game concludes with the comparison of a five card poker hand between the dealer and the player (s). Goldman reveals that the jokers used are not wild and thus are bad for a player to get because they can not now complete their live card hands. Goldman fails to reveal any capability to make a two card poker hand or deal more than one round from a single deck. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,823 (Webb) describes a card game that combines the play of a Poker-variant card game (e.g., three-, four-, and five-card Poker) with a proposition game (e.g., Pair Plus). Players wagering against a dealer&#39;s hand also wager against a predetermined ranking of winning hands, and may place additional wagers. According to another aspect, players are provided with a wild card which is retained and used repeatedly by each player with each hand. 
         [0011]    Additional technology to play rapid casino table card games is still important to the industry. All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention discloses a hold&#39;em style poker game variation in which one or more players play against the casino and optionally against a paytable in at least a 2-Card poker game. Broadly, the invention is directed to a hold&#39;em poker game variant in which a player has a choice among several wagers among the following; a mandatory wager against a dealer, a second wager against a dealer, a wager against a pre-determined pay scale, a second wager against a pre-determined pay scale, a bad beat wager, a wager on the dealers hand, a wager combining the player and dealer hands, a wager using the dealer and players hole cards with the community cards, or a progressive wager. 
         [0013]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more players initially place at least an Ante wager(s) and then a single card is dealt to the player and a single card is dealt to the dealer face down and a flop of community cards face up. Players inspect their hands to determine their best 2-Card poker hand using one of the community cards with their hole card and decide whether to fold or to continue to play by making a Play wager. If the player was playing a wager against the dealer and wanted to continue to play, they would place the Play wager in support of their first Ante wager in the appropriate betting area. After players decide to remain in the game, the dealer would turn over his hole card completing a 2-Card poker hand using one of the community cards with his hole card. Various betting structures and card delivery structures, up to three community cards are described herein, but may be more or less depending upon designer modifications based on strategies, odds, payouts, and additional game elements added to the underlying game. If the player had also made any side bet wagers against achieving a pre-determined rank, and achieves such a rank, the player would win that side bet wager accordingly. This game preferably uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards and may use up to 2 jokers in variable play. 
         [0014]    It is contemplated that in the game of the present invention, for at least some of the wagers to be active and be resolved, the casino may either require the dealer or the player to achieve a qualifying hand. If the dealer must qualify and he does not, then the initial Ante wagers made by the player against the dealer would be paid if the player had a higher ranked hand, but not the Play wager in that circumstance. Usually side bet wagers against a paytable do not require dealer qualification. If the player was required to qualify and did not, then the player would forfeit their initial wager against the dealer. The game may be played without requiring any of the participants to have a qualifying hand in order to continue with the game. 
         [0015]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a chart indicating winning poker hands and their payouts in one example of a wager against a predetermined pay scale of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, players play against a casino. However, in jurisdictions where such games are not legal, such as in California, one player may be designated “Player-Dealer” and all the other players would play against the Player-Dealer. The option to act as Player-Dealer would be offered to each player in their turn. In this specification, the term “Dealer” is intended to refer to either a casino dealer, or a Player-Dealer, whichever is appropriate for the circumstances under which the game of the present invention is played. 
         [0018]    Underlying play of one embodiment of a game according to the present technology can include the following steps, using either a live dealer and player(s) or a virtual dealer and players, with physical playing cards or virtual playing cards provided by a processor with a random number generator to a display system. At least one player places an Ante wager (live or electronic) for play of an underlying game against a dealer (live or virtual). One card is dealt to each player and to the dealer (the dealer&#39;s card must be dealt face down). The player may at this time be required to make a Play wager to remain in the game or fold. Alternatively, at least one community card towards a total of three community cards is provided before the player must make a decision on the Play wager or fold decision. 
         [0019]    At the beginning of the game each player decides whether to play that particular round of the game by placing an Ante wager against the dealer. Ordinarily the Ante wager is a bet solely in a 2-card poker rank competition against the dealer hand. Variants in the game may have some additional awards based on extremely high-ranking hands, but these types of rewards are usually reserved for any side bets. After placing the Ante wager and any additional side bet wagers (to be described in greater detail later), each player receives a single playing card that may be face down or face up. At the same time or later, the dealer is provided with a single playing card from one or more standard playing card decks (with or without jokers). 
         [0020]    At this point, the game may be susceptible to variations, each of which still resides within the scope of the generic invention. After receiving the first player card, the game may proceed along any of the following paths of play:
       1) The player may be required to make a Play wager after viewing the first card to remain in the continuing game and after any steps in which additional playing cards are provided and after exactly three cards are provided in a single step as community cards for all players and the dealer before the Play wager(s) have been made;   2) The player may be required to make a Play wager after viewing the first card and before receiving any additional playing cards and exactly three playing cards are provided in a single step as community cards for all players and the dealer after the Play wager(s) have been made;   3) The player may be required to make a Play wager after viewing the first card and before receiving any additional playing cards and exactly three playing cards are provided as community cards in multiple steps (e.g., a single card three times, a single card and then two cards, or two cards and then single card) for all players and the dealer after the Play wager(s) have been made. Separate Play wagers may be optional or required after one or more of the individual or groups of community cards are dealt;   4) The player may be allowed to make a Play wager or call (stay in the game without a wager) after viewing the first card and before receiving all additional playing cards ultimately provided as three communal playing cards in multiple steps (e.g., a single card three times, a single card and then two cards, or two cards and then single card) for all players and the dealer after the Play wager(s) have been made. Separate Play wagers may be required after one or more of the individual or groups of community cards are dealt;   5) After single card has been dealt to the player(s), optional side bets may be allowed; or   6) At least one side bet wager may be mandatory before receiving the first card or after receiving the first card but before any community cards are provided.       
 
         [0027]    The following will describe a preferred mode of play for the game of the present technology. To play against the dealer a player makes an ANTE wager by placing an appropriate wager, such as a token or chip, or where permitted, cash, on the section  14  of his/her playing area  30 . The gaming chip may be of any conventional kind and available in a number of denominations such as are well known within the art. The casino will post the house betting limits. To play against a pay table based on the value of a 2 card poker hand formed using the player&#39;s and dealer&#39;s hole cards, the player would place an appropriate token, chip, or cash on the “Pocket Poker Bet” wager in section  12  of his/her playing area  30 . In the present example, the rules of the game provide that payouts will be made according to a displayed payout schedule with “Pocket Poker Bet” payouts starting at a straight or better. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment of the present invention, player vs. dealer hands are ranked according to the following hierarchy, though other rankings may be used: 
       Straight Flush 
     One Pair 
     Straight 
     Flush 
     High Card 
       [0029]    Another version of ranking may include jokers and have the following rankings, although other rankings may be used with decks including jokers: 
       Pair of Jokers 
     Straight Flush 
     One Pair 
     Straight 
     Flush 
     High Card 
       [0030]    One of the wagering options in one embodiment of the present invention is a wager against a payscale or paytable. The bet is called “Pocket Poker Bet” and has the following payscale as one example: 
       Royal Flush 25 to 1, Pair of Aces 20 to 1, Straight Flush 5 to 1, Pair 3 to 1 and Straights 2 to 1 or Royal Flush 10 to 1, Straight Flush 7 to 1, Pairs 3 to 1, and Straights 2 to 1 
       [0031]    Another of the options in a second embodiment of the present invention would be to have a game that did use jokers and an example of a possible payscale for the “Pocket Poker Bet” would be: 
       Pair of Jokers 20 to 1; Straight Flush 7 to 1; One Pair 3 to 1; and Straight 2 to 1 
       [0032]    The payout schedules are preferably displayed in a convenient manner and location, on a physical casino card table or in an accessible screen on a video play system. At times the pay tables for different wagers and any extra ante bonus payouts will be displayed on the playing layout itself and at other times the payouts will be on mobile display material. 
         [0033]    According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the initial two wagering options of an Ante bet against a dealer or a “Pocket Poker Bet” wager against a pay table may be of equal or unequal amounts. 
         [0034]    When the above wagers are in place, the dealer preferably uses shuffled cards (manually or by automatic mechanical shuffler) and then deals a one-card hand to each player and themselves. At the same time or at a later stage, the dealer provides three community cards as a flop, either in a single dealing step or in multiple (2 or 3) steps. Multiple steps allows for multiple wagers. The player and dealer single cards may either be dealt face up or face down depending upon casino policy. 
         [0035]    When the cards have been dealt, any player who has placed an ANTE wager inspects his/her hand and determines whether to fold and forfeit their bet or to stay in by placing a support wager in the PLAY area. The Play wager is preferably the same as the ANTE wager. The PLAY wager is made by placing an appropriate chip on the section  16  marked “PLAY” on the player&#39;s playing area  30 . When the player has made the wager then he/she places the cards in section  18  next to the Play area. 
         [0036]    If a player forfeits his/her ANTE wager, the dealer takes the wager and the player&#39;s card is discarded if there is no side bet wager. If there is a side bet wager the player&#39;s card will remain in play with his/her side bet wager. Pocket Poker Bets that are wagered without an ANTE wager are always in play against a paytable. 
         [0037]    The dealer reveals his/her card and shows their best two card poker hand. The dealer then in turn reveals each other players cards (if they have not already been revealed), compares the players best two card poker hand to that of the dealer&#39;s, and resolves each players wager(s). 
         [0038]    Each player&#39;s hand is compared with that of the dealer. If the dealer does qualify with a nine high flush hand or better and the player&#39;s hand is higher ranked, then the player is paid even money on the ANTE and PLAY wagers. If the player&#39;s hand is of a lower rank then that of the dealer, the player loses both the ANTE and PLAY wagers. If the dealer&#39;s hand doesn&#39;t qualify with a nine high flush or higher and the player&#39;s hand is higher ranked, then the player is paid even money on the ANTE only and the PLAY wager is a push. If the dealer and the player have exactly the same hand, then the hand is a push and the player may either withdraw his/her/wager, leave it or adjust it for the next round of play of the game. 
         [0039]    The present game may also provide for an additional payout to be made by the dealer, to the player who has made an ANTE wager and a PLAY wager, if the player achieves a predetermined hand ranking. The extra payout would be called the ANTE KICKER and would be paid regardless of the player beating the dealers hand or not. One preferred payout schedule would be: 
       Ante Kicker 
     TABLE-US-00004 2 Jokers 5 to 1 Straight Flush 2 to 1 
       [0040]    Players who have wagered on the value of the Pocket Poker hand win if the hand is at least a Straight and are paid by the dealer according to the posted pay scale. These payouts are independent of the results of the game against the dealer. 
         [0041]    This procedure completes a single round of play of the game. Play then continues in another round of the game, with players commencing to make wagers on the Ante and/or the Pocket Poker Bet. 
         [0042]    This novel method of playing a game may be utilized with playing cards or as an electrical or electro-mechanical device such as a slot machine. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that suitable controls can be provided for receiving the necessary input and therefore is within the scope of the present invention to provide a multi-unit video format wherein a plurality of players may play against each other and/or against a dealer. 
         [0043]    From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made without departure from the scope of the present invention. For example, the naming of the different wagers, the naming and/or ranking of any hand, the changing of the necessity or value of qualifying hands for both the dealer and/or the player, the payout schedule, and predetermined winning or losing ranks may be varied in accordance with the rules of the game or the requirements of the casino. 
         [0044]    The table game layout may be varied from that which is described and shown. The rules may be varied, or additional rules imposed, within the scope of the invention. Additional optional or mandatory wagers may be incorporated into the game with a view toward enhancing the players interest and ability to win additional wagers. 
         [0045]    One such bet is a “Bad Beat Wager”. If allowed the player may place a “Bad Beat Wager” before the cards are dealt out. The player would be wagering that they would achieve a hand of at least a certain published rank and that this hand would be beaten by the dealer&#39;s hand of a higher rank. The player would lose this optional bet if the hand did not achieve the posted minimum ranking and did not get beaten by the dealer&#39;s hand. 
         [0046]    Another such bet is a five card stud poker side wager. It may be played using all five cards, the player&#39;s hole card, the dealer&#39;s hole card and the three community cards to form a five card stud poker hand paid from a paytable. A bonus of 2× to 5× the paytable may be paid if player and dealer&#39;s hole cards are a pair or higher with a winning five card stud hand. Bonus payouts are not limited to using the dealer and players cards to qualify for bonus. 
         [0047]    It will be appreciated that additional marked zones may be provided to accommodate any additional optional side bets. The marking of the betting zones would be noted accordingly so that the player would know where to place their wager. 
         [0048]    The precise wagering requirements may vary depending upon the casino rules but the nature of the game will stay the same, that is, a two card hold&#39;em style poker game dealt with multiple rounds from at least one deck. The precise wagering system can be varied in that any number of additional and/or optional bets may be incorporated into the game, or additional mandatory bets may be incorporated by different house rules. These changes are not deemed to be a critical part of the present invention rather the criticality is in the playing of a two card poker game with multiple rounds of hands. 
         [0049]    The method of the present technology may be performed in a physical real state format using physical playing cards or may be performed in a virtual or electronic environment with a processor, memory, random number generator (which may be part of the processor or a separate module), a video monitor for display of the gaming events (e.g., virtual playing cards, wagers, outcomes, and ancillary game information). 
         [0050]    In a live casino table game with physical playing cards, the playing cards are randomized or shuffled by manual operation or by a mechanical shuffling device such as the Ace® shuffler (Shuffle Master, Inc.), One-2-Six® shuffler (Shuffle Master, Inc.), MD-2 shuffler (Shuffle Master, Inc.), and any other mechanical shuffler available commercially. The wagering in the physical game may be performed with traditional chips, tokens or cash on the table. Or wagering may be performed electronically in a mixed format (physical cards and electronic wagering) system. 
         [0051]    If played in an electronic of partially electronic format (e.g., with physical playing cards and electronic wagering), the table or electronic interaction among players and the house would require the use of essentially standard electronic interfaces and electronic gaming tables and networks, having player input/output interfaces, video screens, and combinations of processors, flash memory, RAM, EEPROM, storage, software, Random Number Generation, protocols among positions, security functions and the like, as needed to properly execute play of the game on the existing formats. 
         [0052]    The games of the present invention may be implemented as live table games, television or cable game show games, video poker gaming machine platforms, hand-held games for play, multiple player interactive wagering platform games (with kiosk formats, single player screens, community screens, and/or banks of seats for players with a common dealer screen), cell phone games, games downloadable from the internet, parlor games, games executed on personal computers, games played on internet gaming websites, palm pilots, play stations and the like. Each of the above game formats is contemplated by the present invention. Examples of known multiple player platforms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,443 and in U.S. Publication Number 2005/0164759A1. The content of these two disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
         [0053]    A gaming system that can be used to practice the method of the present invention comprises a table and a dealer “virtual” video display system positioned for view by players seated at the table. The table may seat at least two players up to the amount of players that can be configured about the table and have a view of the dealer video display system. Typically each gaming system will have at least four player available positions, with space determinations considered as to whether there would be 4, 5, 6 or 7 player positions. It is possible to have a completely circular dealer display (e.g., holographic display in a cylindrical centerpiece) and have players distributed around the entire periphery, but this is too dissimilar to standard play arrangements and could slow the game down, as play should approximate that of a live game, with players playing in sequence. A surface of the table includes a communal display surface for showing all player hands, community cards, dealer hands and any other cards used to play the game for any purpose, and, chips or other wagering designations. The table surface may include separate push button and or touch screen player controls, with our without other display features specific to the individual player. For example, the individual player screen may show a running history of wins/losses, credits available, credits bet and play options. A majority of the table surface comprises a video monitor in one example of the invention. Where there are no touch screen controls, the table surface may include player control panels at each player station near the communal display surface. 
         [0054]    The use of a large communal display surface offers some significant advantages in simulating or recreating a standard card table surface. Cards may be readily viewed by other players at a table, which is standard in table games and adds to player enjoyment. Individual monitors, especially where slanted towards the individual players make such table-wide card reading difficult. The use of the full screen (continuous) communal display also allows for better animation to be provided, such as displaying virtual images of cards moving to the player and “virtual” chips being placed on the table when wagers are indicated. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “virtual” means a graphical video representation of a real object or person, such as a dealer, cards and chips, for example. 
         [0055]    The individual player positions preferably have a separate intelligence at each player position that accepts player input and communicates directly with a game engine (main game computer or processor). The intelligence is preferably an intelligent board that can process information. For purposes of this disclosure the term “intelligent” refers to the ability to execute code, either provided in the form of software or hardware or a combination of software and hardware circuits. Such processing may at least comprise some of signal converting (e.g., signals from player card readers, credit deposit, currency readers, coin readers, touch screen signals, ticket readers/printers and control panel signals) into a signal that can be included in an information packet and interpreted by the main game computer when the signal is sent. Communication between the intelligence at each player position is direct to the main game computer and may be by self-initiated signal sending, sequenced polling by the main game computer (e.g., each position communicates directly to the main game computer in turn), timed communication, or any other order of communication that is direct between the intelligence and the main game computer. 
         [0056]    One preferred form of communication between the main game computer and player station computers is by means of self-initiated signal sending. There is essentially a single main game computer that contains video display controls and programs for both the dealer display and the table top display, audio controls and programs, game rules (including storage of multiple games if intended to be available on the machine), random number generator, graphic images, game sequence controls, security systems, wager accounting programs, external signaling and audit functions, and the like. In other forms of the invention, the above functions are divided between a main processor and one or more additional processors. The intelligence at each player position speeds up the performance of all aspects of the game by being able to communicate directly with the main game computer and being able to process information at the player position rather than merely forwarding the information in raw form to the main game computer. Processing player information at player positions frees up resources for use by the main processor or processors. 
         [0057]    A card game system may also include a suitable data and control processing subsystem that is largely contained within a main control module supported beneath the tabletop. The control and data processing subsystem includes a suitable power supply for converting alternating current from the power main as controlled by a main power switch. The power supply transforms the alternating line current to a suitable voltage and to a direct current supply. Power is supplied to a power distribution and sensor/activity electronics control circuit. Commercially available power switching and control circuits may be provided in the form of a circuit board which is detachable, and plugs into a board receptacle of a computer mother board or an expansion slot board receptacle. A main game controller motherboard may include a central microprocessor and related components well-known in the industry as computers using Intel brand Pentium® microprocessors and related memory or intelligence from any other manufacturing source. A variety of different configurations and types of memory devices can be connected to the motherboard as is well known in the art. Of particular interest is the inclusion of two flat panel video display control boards connected in expansion slots of the motherboard. Display control boards are each capable of controlling the images displayed for the dealer video display and for the common display area. More specifically, the display control boards are connected to player bet interface circuits for the player stations. This arrangement allows the display control boards to provide necessary image display data to the display electronic drive circuits associated with the dealing event program displays and the dealer display. 
         [0058]    The use of a random number generator or other program or system to randomly provide virtual playing cards, as known in the art (such as physically shuffling a set of playing cards, creating a file of the randomized order of those playing cards, and then providing the virtual playing cards from that randomized order in the file to a virtual display and the game processor) is referred to the use of artificial intelligence, as no direct human intelligence is used in the process. 
         [0059]    The motherboard and/or the individual player intelligent boards also include a serial port that allows stored data to be downloaded from the motherboard to a central casino computer or other additional storage device. In one example, each player board communicates directly with the casino computer system. This allows card game action data to be analyzed in various ways using added detail, or by providing integration with data from multiple tables so that cheating schemes can be identified and eliminated, and player tracking can be maintained. Player performance and/or skill can be tracked at one table or as a compilation from gaming at multiple tables, as by using Bloodhound™ security software marketed by Shuffle Master, Inc., which may be incorporated into this automated gaming system. Additionally, player hand analysis can be performed. The motherboard and/or individual player intelligent boards may also have a keyboard connection port that can be used to connect a larger format keyboard to the system to facilitate programming and servicing of the system. 
         [0060]    Although the preferred system shown does not require features illustrated for receiving automated player identification information, such features can alternatively be provided. Card readers such as used with credit cards, player cards or other identification code reading devices can be added in the system to allow or require player identification in connection with play of the card game and associated recording of game action by one of the processors. Such a user identification interface, for example a card reader located at each player station, can be implemented in the form of a variety of magnetic card readers commercially available for reading user-specific identification information. The user-specific information can be provided on specially constructed magnetic cards issued by a casino, or magnetically coded credit cards or debit cards frequently used with national credit organizations such as VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, casino player card registry, banks and other institutions. The information could also be provided on other writable media, such as an RFID chip or card with writable memory, or bar coding, as just a few examples. 
         [0061]    Alternatively, it is possible to use so-called smart cards to provide added processing or data storage functions in addition to mere identification data. For example, the user identification could include coding for available credit amounts purchased from a casino. As further example, the identification card or other user-specific instrument may include specially coded data indicating security information such as would allow accessing or identifying stored security information which must be confirmed by the user after scanning the user identification card through a card reader. Such security information might include such things as file access numbers which allow the central processor to access a stored security clearance code which the user must indicate using input options provided on displays using touch screen inputs. A still further possibility is to have participant identification using a fingerprint image, eye blood vessel image reader, or other suitable biological information to confirm identity of the user that can be built into the table. Still further it is possible to provide such participant identification information by having the pit personnel manually code in the information in response to the player indicating his or her code name or real name. Such additional identification could also be used to confirm credit use of a smart card or transponder. All or part of the functions dedicated to a particular player station are controlled by the player station intelligence in one form of the invention. Additionally, each player station intelligence may be in communication with a casino accounting system. 
         [0062]    It should also be understood that the player display screens can alternatively be provided with suitable display cowlings or covers that can be used to shield display of card images from viewing by anyone other than the player in games where that is desirable. This shielding can also be effected by having light-orientation elements in the panel, and some of these light-orientation elements are electronically controllable. This type of shielding could also be used in controlling visual access to the main game play screen. In this manner, the processor can allow general viewing of cards in games where that is desirable or tolerated, and then alter the screen where desired. These types of features can be provided by nanometer, micrometer or other small particulate or flake elements within a panel on the viewing area that are reoriented by signals from the processor. Alternatively, liquid crystal or photo chromatic displays can be used to create a screening effect that would allow only viewers at specific angles of view from the screen area to view the images of cards. Such an alternative construction may be desired in systems designed for card games different from blackjack, where some or all of the player or dealer cards are not presented for viewing by other participants or onlookers. Such display covers or cowlings can be in various shapes and configurations as needed to prevent viewing access. It may alternatively be acceptable to use a player-controlled switch that allows the display to be momentarily viewed and then turned off. The display can be shielded using a cover or merely by using the player&#39;s hands. Still further it is possible to use a touch screen display that would be controlled by touch to turn on and turn off. Similar shielding can be used to prevent others from viewing the display. 
         [0063]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.