Abstract:
A card game includes constructing a matrix of card positions by dealing a row of cards, discarding zero or more cards, and receiving replacements for discarded cards. Optionally discarded cards are displayed. As each row is dealt, the discarded cards are unavailable for dealing. After the matrix is filled, the cards in one or more rows or columns may be rearranged. The rearrangement may be displayed or the hands with which the rearranged cards are evaluated is indicated. The final matrix is evaluated by comparing each row and column to a value table.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/173,250, entitled Method and Device for Conducting a Card Game,” filed Jun. 30, 2005 which, in turn, claimed the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/584,015, entitled “Maximum Poker,” filed Jun. 30, 2004 by Applicant herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to games. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices for conducting card games in which a player constructs a card matrix with the goal of maximizing the value of the matrix.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Card games have a very long history. Among the most well known card games is draw poker. In the conventional game of video draw poker known in the art, the player makes a wager and is dealt a hand from a deck of playing cards. In conventional draw poker, five cards are dealt face up to an initial hand. The player selects which, if any, of the five cards of the initial hand to hold and discards the remaining cards. The discarded cards are replaced with replacements selected from the remaining cards in the deck to produce a final five card poker hand. The video draw poker device compares the final outcome to the pre-determined winning combinations also stored in a data structure, these combinations frequently representing ranked poker hands. If the player&#39;s final outcome matches a winning combination, the player is rewarded. Otherwise, the final outcome is deemed to be a loss and the player&#39;s wager is retained.  
         [0004]     In a variation of video draw poker, multiple hands may be provided. As with conventional video draw poker, the player is dealt five cards for an initial hand. The player selects which, if any, of the five cards of the initial hand to hold. Prior to drawing replacement cards for the initial hand, the held cards are copied into the other hands. The player discards the remaining cards and additional cards are drawn to replace the discarded cards. The draw step is then repeated for the additional hands, each using a separate deck of playing cards. Thus, a player receives multiple opportunities to draw to the same held cards using separate depleted decks.  
         [0005]     In video poker, the goal is not to have a “better” hand than other players, but rather to get the highest ranking hand possible. Video poker adds an element of player skill, as there is typically a player-controlled “draw” or replacement of cards, or the electronic representations thereof. The house may control its profit margin, its “edge,” by the manipulation of the pay table values for the several winning hand combinations.  
         [0006]     In order to maintain player interest, video poker machines have continued to implement new methods of playing what is essentially the same game, attempting to construct hands of the highest possible payout value. Variations in rules, wild cards, payouts, and the like have been successful to varying degrees.  
         [0007]     Thus, it can be seen that there is a need in the art for a method and device that provides a card game in which the result is based on a matrix of cards, rather than a single hand of cards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is a method and device for conducting a card game. According to the present invention, a matrix of m matrix rows and n matrix columns of card locations is created using a deck of cards. Optionally, the matrix is a five by five matrix. The matrix is formed by performing m iterations of hand creation from the deck. In each iteration, n cards are dealt to a row from available cards in the deck. The player then discards zero or more cards from the dealt hand. The discarded cards are unavailable to be subsequently dealt in the matrix. Optionally, the cards unavailable to be dealt are displayed, such as in a row or a separate matrix. Replacement cards for discarded cards are dealt for the available cards in the deck to complete the hand. In an optional embodiment, the deck is segmented into subsets with each subset allocated to a hand. Replacement cards for a hand are dealt from the subset for that hand and the remaining undealt cards of a subset are made unavailable after the hand is completed. Once the iterations are complete and the matrix is filled, the cards comprising at least one of the matrix rows or matrix columns is rearranged to form a final matrix. Optionally, the rearranged cards are displayed in the matrix. In another optional embodiment, the rearranged cards are maintained in the dealt positions, but the hand with which each rearranged card is evaluated is indicated. Optionally, the rearrangement may be performed automatically to maximize the value of the final matrix or under the player&#39;s control.  
         [0009]     The final matrix is evaluated. In evaluating the final matrix, the hands of each matrix row formed by the cards not discarded plus any replacement cards distributed to replace cards discarded are evaluated by comparing each hand to one or more prespecified value tables. Similarly, the hands of each matrix column formed by the cards not discarded plus any replacement cards distributed to replace cards discarded are evaluated by comparing each hand to one or more prespecified value tables. In an optional embodiment, the player places a game wager. In one optional embodiment, the player is rewarded based on the overall value of the final matrix determined by summing the value of the hands of the matrix rows and the matrix columns. In another optional embodiment, the wager is allocated among the matrix columns and matrix rows and the player is rewarded based on the payout associated with each matrix column and each matrix row and the wager allocated to that matrix column or matrix row. In such an optional embodiment, the payout is determined based on a value table of winning hands and associated payouts.  
         [0010]     In a further optional embodiment, the card game may be conducted at a plurality of terminals connected to a common computer. A round of play is conducted in which a plurality of card games are played by a plurality of players. Each card game produces a value for its final matrix equal to the sum of the value of the hands of the matrix rows and the matrix columns. The final matrix values for players are tracked. The tournament winner is the player that obtained a greater final matrix value than any other player obtained during the round of play. If two or more players tie, no winner is declared and additional rounds are played until a single player obtains a greater final matrix value than all other players.  
         [0011]     In an optional wagering embodiment, each player places a wager and, if the wager is greater than, or equal to, a tournament threshold quantity, a portion of the player&#39;s wager is allocated to a tournament payout. The values of the final matrices obtained by each player placing a wager greater than, or equal to, a predetermined tournament threshold quantity are tracked. The tournament payout is awarded to the player who achieves a value of a final matrix greater than that achieved by any other player during the round of play. If two or more players tie by achieving the same value of a final matrix during the round of play, the tournament payout is carried over to a subsequent round. Additional rounds of play are conducted until only one player achieves a value of a final matrix during a round of play greater than all other players. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a display of overall layout of the display screen according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2A  is an illustration of the card display portion of the display screen according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2B  is an illustration of the card availability matrix portion of the display screen according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]     FIGS.  3 A-E are respectively illustrations of the first through fifth row of the card display portion of the display screen according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]     FIGS.  4 A-K are illustrations of an example game according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an illustration of a final matrix in an example game according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is display of overall layout of the display screen according to an optional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a table of the wagers compared to the house rake and player win for a multi-player tournament according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an optional gaming device display  100  for play of a card game according to an optional embodiment of the present invention. The device display  100  consists of two sections, a card display section  200 , and an available card indicator display  300 .  
         [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the card display section  200  consists of a plurality (m) of rows of card displays  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 , arranged in a matrix arrangement to form a plurality (n) of columns of card displays  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 . In the optional embodiment illustrated, the matrix consists of five rows  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 , and five columns  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 . Alternate embodiments may use greater or fewer rows, and greater or fewer columns, and need not have equal numbers of rows and columns.  
         [0022]     As illustrated in FIGS.  3 A-E, in the optional embodiment illustrated, the topmost row  210  consists of five card locations  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215 ; the second row  220  consists of five card locations  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 ,  225 ; the third row  220  consists of five card locations  231 ,  232 ,  233 ,  234 ,  235 ; the fourth row  220  consists of five card locations  241 ,  242 ,  243 ,  244 ,  255 ; and the fifth row  220  consists of five card locations  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 . The card locations are arranged so as to form five columns  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259  such that the first column consists of five card locations  211 ,  221 ,  231 ,  241 ,  251 ; the second column consists of five card locations  212 ,  222 ,  232 ,  242 ,  252 ; the third column consists of five card locations  213 ,  223 ,  233 ,  243 ,  253 ; the fourth column consists of five card locations  214 ,  224 ,  234 ,  244 ,  254 ; and the fifth column consists of five card locations  215 ,  225 ,  235 ,  245 ,  255 .  
         [0023]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2B , in the optional embodiment illustrated, the available card indicator display consists of a matrix of indicators reflecting the availability status of the cards which comprise the card deck. In the optional embodiment illustrated, the indicators are arranged into four columns  310 ,  320 ,  330 ,  340  representing the suits of the deck, and thirteen rows  351 ,  352 ,  353 ,  354 ,  355 ,  356 ,  357 ,  358 ,  359 ,  360 ,  361 ,  362 ,  363  representing the thirteen card values in each suit. Thus, for example, in the optional embodiment illustrated, the availability of the 9 of spades is indicated by the indicator at the intersection of the rightmost column  340  and the ninth row from the top  359 . In the optional embodiment illustrate, at the commencement of play all of the indicators would be lit, indicating availability of all cards. As cards were utilized in the play, indicator lights would be extinguished, indicating cards which were no longer available. In alternate embodiments, indicators could be extinguished for cards which had not been used, as such cards might nonetheless be removed from play. This latter option might be more applicable in the tournament implementation, described below.  
         [0024]     In an alternate embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the available card indicator display  300  may be replaced by a discard card indicator display  600  that shows at least a portion of the cards unavailable for dealing. That is, as described in greater detail below, when a card is discarded, the card may be displayed in the discard card indicator display  600  so that the player can at least track those cards that were previously displayed and are no longer available for dealing.  
         [0025]     The present game could be played as a wagering game or as a solitaire game. For example, in an optional embodiment, the present game may not include any wagering. In another optional embodiment, however, a method commences with at least one wager placed by the player. In one optional embodiment, the wager is a single wager placed on the game as a whole. In an alternate embodiment, the wagers may be placed on, or allocated to, each individually constituted row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  and column  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 .  
         [0026]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the hand begins with the dealing of cards, or electronic card representations, into the topmost row  210  of card display locations  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215 . In one optional embodiment, as the cards are dealt, the available card indicator matrix  300  is updated to reflect the nonavailability of the cards. In the optional embodiment illustrated, utilizing the example illustrated in  FIG. 4A , indicator lights for the Queen of Hearts, the 10 of Spades, the 2 of Diamonds, the Jack of Clubs, and the 4 of Hearts would now indicate that these cards are no longer available.  
         [0027]     The player indicates which displayed cards  211 ,  212 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215  are to be held and which are to be discarded and replaced. In the example illustrated in  FIG. 4A  the 10 of Spades  212 , the 2 of Diamonds  213 , and the 4 of Hearts  215  are discarded and replaced, as here shown in  FIG. 4B , by the 10 of Diamonds  212 , the 8 of Clubs  213 , and the 9 of Spades  215 . The topmost row  210  is now complete, and each column  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259  now has a single card. In one optional embodiment, the available card indicator matrix  300  is updated to show the unavailability of the replacement cards dealt, in this example the 10 of Diamonds, the 8 of Clubs, and the 9 of Spades. In another optional embodiment, the discard card indicator display  600  is updated to show that the discarded cards are no longer available.  
         [0028]     As shown in  FIGS. 4C-4H , the sequence of deal, discard, and replace is repeated for the second row  220 , filling and finalizing the card display locations  221 ,  222 ,  223 ,  224 ,  225 , the third row  230 , filling and finalizing the card display locations  231 ,  232 ,  233 ,  234 ,  235 , and the fourth row  240 , filling and finalizing the card display locations  241 ,  242 ,  243 ,  244 ,  245 . In one optional embodiment, as each card is dealt, the available card indicator matrix  300  is updated to show the unavailability of that card. In an alternate embodiment, as cards are discarded, the discard card indicator display  600  is updated to indicate that the cards are no longer available.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIGS. 4I and 4J , the fifth, or bottommost, row  250  likewise is created by dealing the display locations  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255 , discarding and replacing. However, as illustrated in  FIG. 4K , following the replacement step, the display locations  251 ,  252 ,  253 ,  254 ,  255  of the final row, may “float” and be rearranged within the fifth row  250  to maximize the hands created within the columns  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 . In the optional embodiment illustrated, the “float” is automated with the purpose of maximizing the value of the final matrix. In an alternate embodiment, the “float” may be manually determined by the player, and may not necessarily create the optimal final result.  
         [0030]     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the final matrix is evaluated. Evaluation is performed for each final row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 , and for each final column  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 . In the optional embodiment illustrated, the evaluation is determined by examining each such hand  210 ,  219 ,  220 ,  229 ,  230 ,  239 ,  240 ,  240 ,  250 ,  259  and determining the hand value for the created hand according to a prespecified table of hand values as illustrated in Table 1. In an optional embodiment, the value of the final matrix is the sum of the values for each hand.  
                                         TABLE 1                                   Hand   Hand Value                                        Jacks or Better   1           Two Pair   2           Three of a Kind   3           Straight   5           Flush   7           Full House   9           Four of a Kind   15           Straight Flush   40           Royal Flush   400                      
 
         [0031]     In a variation on such an optional embodiment in which a wager is placed, the hand values directly correlate to the reward for a particular hand. For example, if a player obtains a flush in one of the matrix rows, the player expects to be paid at a rate of 7:1 for the wager allocated to, or placed on, that matrix row. The total reward for the final matrix in such an optional embodiment is the sum of the rewards for each individual hand in the final matrix.  
         [0032]     In another optional embodiment, however, the final matrix is evaluated as a whole. In such an optional embodiment, the hand values of each hand in the final matrix are summed to determine the value of the final matrix.  
         [0033]     In a variation on such an optional embodiment in which a player places a wager, the value of the final matrix may be correlated to a payout. An example of such a value table is shown in Table 2. Thus, a player could obtain several low value hands, and one high value hand, and still obtain a payout. Conversely, a player could obtain several medium value hands, and several low value hands, and obtain no payout.  
                           TABLE 2                                   Total Matrix Value   Payout                           12-19   1:1           20-34   2:1           35-49   3:1           50-74   5:1           75-99   8:1           100-199   10:1            200-299   20:1            300-399   30:1            400-799   50:1             800-1199   100:1            1200-1599   250:1            1600-1699   5000:1             1700 or more   25000:1                        
 
         [0034]     Returning to  FIG. 5 , the evaluation of the example game would yield results shown in Table 2:  
                                                     Row/Column   Resultant Hand   Value                                210   Straight   5       220   Flush   7       230   Pair of Aces   1       240   Nothing   0       250   Straight Flush   40       219   Straight   5       229   Pair of sixes   0       239   Four Eights   15       249   Three Sevens   3       259   Four Nines   15                  
 
         [0035]     According to the method of Table 2, this would yield an 8:1 payout on the initial wager.  
         [0036]     In an alternate optional embodiment, different weights would be assigned to each row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  and column  219 ,  229 ,  239 ,  249 ,  259 . For example, as the game progresses, the value of each row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  might increase, making the later decisions more critical to the payout.  
         [0037]     In another alternate embodiment; wagering could be allocated to each hand  210 ,  219 ,  220 ,  229 ,  230 ,  239 ,  240 ,  249 ,  250 ,  259  individually and just a payout table could be used, eliminating the hand value table.  
         [0038]     In another alternate embodiment, multiple payout tables could be used, with each hand  210 ,  219 ,  220 ,  229 ,  230 ,  239 ,  240 ,  249 ,  250 ,  259  being paid according to an associated payout table.  
         [0039]     In any of these embodiments, it is noted that the final hand value may represent currency or credits exchangeable for currency or used to play the game, points that are accrued into a points account exchangeable for goods or services, points that have no intrinsic value, points that may be traded among players, but are not exchangeable for currency, or any other form of representation. For example, in one embodiment, the final matrix value may be accrued to a points account that is separate from the wager. In other words, in such an optional embodiment, the wager is placed for conduct of a game, and the final matrix value is paid in points that are unrelated to the wager or credits used for conduct of the game. In one example of such a version of this embodiment, suppose a player pays one penny ($0.01) to play the game. The final matrix value may be, for example, eighty-three points. While this could represent $0.83 in one version of the game, in this optional embodiment, it merely represents eighty-three points that are accrued to a points account. If the player plays a subsequent game for one penny ($0.01) and receives an final matrix with a value of sixty-two points, the player&#39;s point account now has one hundred forty-five points (i.e. eighty-three+sixty-two).  
         [0040]     In an optional embodiment, the game may be played in a tournament mode on multiple terminals linked to a common computer. In one version of such an optional tournament embodiment, players may be competing against one another for a payout. The payout may be awarded based on any criteria, including one or more of the player with the highest (or lowest) ranking hand, the player with the highest (or lowest) ranking set of hands, the player with the highest (or lowest) point total for all hands, or the like.  
         [0041]     In an optional embodiment, each terminal could utilize the same card deck sequence in each round. However, this is not essential. Nevertheless, in such an embodiment, an optional implementation would segment a deck into a subset of cards for each row. For example, in one optional embodiment, the cards dealt to the first row  210 , whether initially or as replacements, would come from the first subset of ten cards in the deck; the cards dealt to the second row  220 , whether initially or as replacements, would come from the second subset of ten cards in the deck, regardless of the number of cards utilized in creating the first row; the cards dealt to the third row  230 , whether initially or as replacements, would come from the third subset of ten cards in the deck regardless of the number of cards previously used; the cards dealt to the fourth row  240 , whether initially or as replacements, would come from the fourth subset of ten cards in the deck, regardless of the number of cards previously used; and the cards dealt to the fifth row  250 , whether initially or as replacements, would come from the fifth subset of ten cards in the deck, regardless of the number of cards previously used. In this way, each tournament player would be playing the same cards, from the same deal, for each row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 . It should be noted that in such an optional embodiment, once a row is completed, the cards of the subset assigned to that row may be made unavailable for dealing. Thus, for example, in a game in which each hand is assigned a subset of ten cards and a player is dealt a hand of five cards, if a player discards three cards from a hand, three replacements are dealt, leaving the three discarded cards and the two unused cards as unavailable. In an optional embodiment, the identities of the unused and unavailable cards from the subset are not revealed to the player.  
         [0042]     In another optional tournament embodiment, all players may begin with an identically constituted deck, but following completion of replacement on one or more rows  210 ,  220 ,  230   240 , the remaining available cards may be reshuffled, such reshuffling independent for each player. Such an embodiment gives the players the impression that skill will have at least some influence in determining the tournament winner, because each player begins with an identically constituted deck.  
         [0043]     In yet another optional embodiment, each terminal may use a different deck of cards. In such an optional embodiment, a single deck is continuously depleted as cards are dealt, either initially to a row or as replacement cards.  
         [0044]     In conducting a game according to the present invention, the hands of the matrix are dealt and play of each hand is conducted. In an optional embodiment, the decision regarding which cards to hold or discard and replace are made by the player, such as through an input selection. For example, if a player is dealt A          J⋄ 7⋄ 9          J         , the player may choose to hold the J⋄ J          (or discard and replace the A          7⋄ 9         , as the case may be). In another optional embodiment, the player may have the option of allowing the terminal to conduct the hand on the player&#39;s behalf. In various embodiments, the terminal may prescribe a strategy, play an optimum strategy, or allow the player to select from a set of strategies in conducting the hands. Thus, if a player is dealt J          8          9          10          J⋄, the terminal conducting the hand for the player may hold the J          J⋄ or to hold the 8          9          10          J⋄, depending upon the strategy employed or, in an alternate embodiment, selected by the player. In one application of such an embodiment, a player could purchase a quantity of games and allow the terminal to run the games without the player&#39;s supervision.  
         [0045]     As noted above, a player may have the option to allow a terminal to conduct a game, or play the game for himself or herself. For example, a player could purchase a quantity of games at a certain fixed price per game, such as $0.01 per game, and upon initiating play at a terminal, such as by entering a code at a personal computer, inserting a ticket at a kiosk or gaming machine, or the like, the terminal conducts the quantity of games, either under the direction of the player, or on its own using a predetermined strategy.  FIG. 7  illustrates the wagers collected over various periods of time based on various numbers of players simultaneously playing a game according to the present invention, assuming each game lasts fifty-five seconds.  FIG. 7  also illustrates a possible allocation between the player win, i.e. the amount allocated to a payout for which the players are competing, and the house rake, i.e. the amount allocated to the operator of the tournament. For example, as illustrated in the figure, in a game in which each player game is bought for a fixed price of $0.01, in one optional allocation, the house rake could be $500.00 and the payout could be $10,000.00, assuming play by one million players for that game. Similarly, as shown in the figure, over a period of twenty-four hours, the house rake would accrue to a total of $785,454.00 and the payouts would total $15,709,080.00, assuming continuous play by one million players over that time period for a payment of $0.01 per game.  
         [0046]     In an optional tournament embodiment of the present invention, the winner of the tournament is determined by tracking the final matrix values of the players during the tournament. While the specific calculation of final matrix value could vary, in an optional embodiment, the final matrix value is the sum of the values of the hands of the final matrix. The winner is the player with a final matrix value greater than all other players. If two or more players tie, no winner is declared and additional rounds may be conducted until a player has a greater final matrix value than all other players.  
         [0047]     In an optional embodiment involving wagering, a player may be required to wager at or above a predetermined tournament threshold quantity to participate in the tournament. In an alternate tournament embodiment, each player wagers an equal amount to participate in a tournament, but does not wager upon each hand. In such optional tournament embodiments, a portion of a wager equal to, or greater than, the tournament threshold quantity may be allocated to a tournament payout. The tournament payout is awarded to the tournament winner. If a tie occurs, the tournament payout may be carried over to a subsequent round until a tournament winner is declared.  
         [0048]     In an alternate tournament embodiment, in order to avoid such ties, hand valuations could take into account the rank of the hand, as well as the category of the hand, see Table 3.  
                           TABLE 3                                   Hand   Hand Value                           Pair of Twos   101           Pair of Threes   102           Pair of Fours   103           .   .           .   .           .   .           Pair of Twos and Threes   201           Pair of Twos and Fours   202           Pair of Twos and Fives   203           .   .           .   .           .   .           Three of a Kind Twos   301           Three of a Kind Threes   302           Three of a Kind Fours   303           .   .           .   .           .   .           Six High Straight   501           Seven High Straight   502           Eight High Straight   503           .   .           .   .           .   .                      
 
         [0049]     In another optional tournament embodiment, in order to synchronize play, remove player advantage for slow play, and speed up the hand, all participating players could be given an equal time to designate their cards to be held within each row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250 . At the end of such time period, designated cards would be held, non-designated cards would be discarded and replaced. For example, as decisions for each row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  becomes increasingly complex, players might receive five seconds to indicate their choices in the first row  210 , eight seconds for the second row  220 , eight seconds for the third row  230 , twelve seconds for the fourth row  240 , and twenty seconds for the fifth and final row  250 . Players failing to designate selections within such time will have all cards in that row  210 ,  220 ,  230 ,  240 ,  250  discarded and replaced.  
         [0050]     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein.