Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the sport of bowling and the poker game Texas Hold-em and, particularly, to a computerized method which combines these two games. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Bowling is a popular sport that has been around for centuries. It is one of the oldest most widely played games in the world. The sport of bowling is played recreationally and in organized leagues and competitions by millions of people, every age, any gender. Since its&#39; creation, which can be traced back to the stone age, the game has evolved from a crude form of the sport, to the conventional game of bowling that is played today. Over the years, there have been many variations to the game to continually challenge a player and increase the public&#39;s interest in the sport. The most significant technological advancement in the game of bowling was the introduction of the automatic pinspotter in the 1940&#39;s. This machine revolutionized the bowling industry and brought it into the modern era. It is now time to once again, revolutionize the bowling industry by introducing a new method of playing this popular sport. What better way then to combine one of the most widely played games in the world, with the most popular form of poker played in the United States today. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to the invention, the conventional game of bowling will be played. The variation to this game occurs when the poker game Texas Hold-em is incorporated into the bowling center&#39;s computerized scoring system. This will be done by creation of a computer program that is compatible with the existing computer software used for a bowling center&#39;s scoring system. There will be a maximum of ten players, per pair of lanes. Each player will have the opportunity at the beginning of the game to select whether or not they would like to participate in the Texas Hold-em aspect of the bowling game. Only players that have selected to participate in the poker aspect of the game, will receive cards that are drawn at random by the computer. A conventional game of bowling consists of ten frames. The computer will randomly draw cards as each player completes specific frames. 
         [0004]    Once a participating bowler&#39;s name is entered into the scoring system, two “hole” cards will be drawn at random, by the computer. “Hole” cards are for each player&#39;s individual poker hand, which will be combined later in the game with community cards and used to complete their final poker hand. The conventional bowling aspect of the game now begins. Each bowling frame is considered “filled” when a bowler makes a strike, or attempts a second shot to pick up the spare. 
         [0005]    After “filling” the first frame, a card is drawn at random by the computer. The card drawn is known as one of the “flop” cards. This is a community card and will be used by all players to complete their own individual hand, in which the best five cards are played. 
         [0006]    After “filling” the second frame, no card will be drawn. 
         [0007]    After “filling” the third frame, a card is drawn at random by the computer. The card drawn is known as one of the “flop” cards. This is a community card and will be used by all players to complete their own individual hand, in which the best five cards are played. 
         [0008]    After “filling” the fourth frame, no card will be drawn. 
         [0009]    After “filling” the fifth frame, a card is drawn at random by the computer. The card drawn is known as one of the “flop” cards. This is a community card and will be used by all players to complete their own individual hand, in which the best five cards are played. 
         [0010]    After “filling” the sixth frame, no card will be drawn. 
         [0011]    After “filling” the seventh frame, a card is drawn at random by the computer. The card drawn is known as the “turn” card. This is a community card and will be used by all players to complete their own individual hand, in which the best five cards are played. 
         [0012]    After “filling” the eighth frame, no card will be drawn. 
         [0013]    After “filling” the ninth frame, a card is drawn at random by the computer. The card drawn is known as the “river” card. This is a community card and will be used by all players to complete their own individual hand, in which the best five cards are played. 
         [0014]    After all participating players have filled their ninth frame, each player will now have two “hole” cards and there will be five community cards at the top of the computerized scoring screen. A player&#39;s final poker hand will consist of their two “hole” cards and three community cards to complete their best poker hand. 
         [0015]    The tenth and final frame will be a bonus frame. The bonus has been added to give the game a twist and provide players with an opportunity to improve their poker hand. This method will add excitement and provide challenge and incentive to all participating players. If a player&#39;s poker hand can be improved and a player fills the tenth frame with three consecutive strikes, otherwise known as striking out (XXX), the computer will remove one of their “hole” cards and replace it with the best available card in the deck to improve their hand. 
         [0016]    After all players have filled the tenth and final frame and any bonus cards have been drawn by the computer, each participating player will have a final poker hand and all players will have a conventional bowling score. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The features of this invention are shown in detail with the accompanying drawing. This drawing simulates the appearance of the standard computerized scoring screen currently utilized by bowling centers and incorporates the poker game Texas Hold-em, as described in the claims. This drawing represents a hypothetical game, played by one player who has chosen to participate in the poker aspect of the game. The method reflected in this drawing first represents the player having filled nine frames and the computer having randomly drawn the player&#39;s “hole” cards and all community cards; the player then fills the tenth and final bonus frame by striking out, wherein the computer removes one of their “hole” cards and replaces it with the best available card in the deck to improve the player&#39;s final poker hand. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  represents a computerized scoring sheet for a hypothetical conventional bowling game played by one player in accordance to the method of the present invention, wherein the player has filled nine frames and the computer has drawn at random the player&#39;s “hole” cards and all the community cards required to complete the poker aspect of the game. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the player&#39;s two individual “hole” cards which are drawn at random by the computer, once a player&#39;s name is entered into the scoring system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the first of three “flop” cards that is drawn at random by the computer, after the first frame has been filled. This is a community card and will be played by all players to complete their final poker hand. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates the second of three “flop” cards that is drawn at random by the computer, after the third frame has been filled. This is a community card and will be played by all players to complete their final poker hand. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  illustrates the third of three “flop” cards that is drawn at random by the computer, after the fifth frame has been filled. This is a community card and will be played by all players to complete their final poker hand. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  illustrates the “turn” card that is drawn at random by the computer, after the seventh frame has been filled. This is a community card and will be played by all players to complete their final poker hand. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  illustrates the “river” card that is drawn at random by the computer, after the ninth frame has been filled. This is a community card and will be played by all players to complete their final poker hand. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  represents a computerized scoring sheet for a hypothetical conventional bowling game played by one player in accordance to the method of the present invention, wherein the player has filled the tenth and final bonus frame with three consecutive strikes in a row. Since player one struck out in the bonus frame, the computer has awarded them with the best card available in the deck to improve their final poker hand. In this example, it is the Ace of Diamonds. The player has a conventional bowling score of 227 and their improved poker hand consists of a full house, Three Aces and Two Tens. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  illustrates the change in the player&#39;s individual “hole” cards once they struck out in the tenth frame. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the player&#39;s “hole” cards initially consisted of an Ace of Spades and a Two of Clubs. After the player filled the bonus frame with three consecutive strikes in a row, the computer improved their poker hand by removing the Two of Clubs and replacing it with an Ace of Diamonds. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    The method of playing a conventional bowling game and combining it with the poker game Texas Hold-em, as described in the invention, is designed to increase the level of excitement and interest by adding a degree of chance to the already popular sport of bowling. 
         [0028]    The preferred embodiment, is a game intended to be played with a maximum number of ten players, per each pair of lanes. The computer will utilize one standard deck of playing cards per each pair of lanes. Although the preferred embodiment of this invention described herein as a game for multiple players, or teams, the present invention can be appreciated by individual players. 
         [0029]    The preferred embodiment of this method of playing a game is intended for those already skilled in the art and those familiar with the rules of the poker game Texas Hold-em. Of course, this method is not limited to such specific schemes. 
         [0030]    The preferred embodiment of this method of playing a game is intended to allow bowling centers, leagues, or other organized groups to have the opportunity in awarding a variety of prizes for winning ranked poker hands, in addition to the numerous awards and prizes that are already distributed to skilled bowlers. The method of playing this invention is not intended to include a betting strategy, wherein players are betting against each other. 
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a bowler first begins by entering his name into the computerized scoring system. A bowler will then have the opportunity to select whether or not they want to participate in the poker aspect of the game, or if they would prefer to only bowl a conventional bowling game. This method is intended to allow all bowlers an opportunity to bowl on the same lane as individuals who will participate in the poker aspect of the game. Utilizing this selection process will allow league bowlers, or families and friends, from having to split their team and bowl on separate lanes. After a player&#39;s selection has been completed, the computer will randomly draw the first two individual player&#39;s cards wherein known as “hole” cards. This method will continue until all bowlers have been entered into the scoring system and those participating in the poker aspect of the game, have received their “hole’ cards. 
         [0032]    Next in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the first bowler will begin to bowl. As in the conventional game of bowling, a frame is considered “filled” when a bowler makes a strike, or attempts a second shot to pick up the spare. In this method of the game, after every player participating in the poker aspect of the game has filled the first, third and fifth frames, the computer will randomly draw a card after each of these frames wherein these cards will be known as “flop” cards. These cards are community cards and will be utilized by all participating players at the end of the game to complete their poker hand. 
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in this method of the game after every player participating in the poker aspect of the game has filled the seventh frame, the computer will randomly draw a card wherein this card will be known as the “turn” card. This card is a community card and will be utilized by all participating players at the end of the game to complete their poker hand. 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in this method of the game after every player participating in the poker aspect of the game has filled the ninth frame, the computer will randomly draw a card wherein this card will be known as the “river” card. This card is a community card and will be utilized by all participating players at the end of the game to complete their poker hand. 
         [0035]    In this method of the game, there will be no cards drawn at random by the computer after the second, fourth, sixth and eighth frames have been filled. 
         [0036]    To accurately play the poker game of Texas Hold-em, there are a set number of cards that must be dealt to each player and a set number of cards that are community cards and used by all players to complete their individual poker hands. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the intention is to have the computer draw cards at random after specific frames, to allow for the poker aspect of the game to continue throughout the entire game of bowling, leaving the tenth frame open as a bonus frame. 
         [0037]    Last, in the preferred embodiment, this method is intended to give the skilled bowler, or the lucky bowler, an opportunity to possibly improve their poker hand, by adding a bonus after the tenth frame. If a player should fill the tenth and final frame with three consecutive strikes, otherwise known as striking out (XXX), and their final poker hand can be improved by a card that is still available in the deck, the computer will replace one of their “hole” cards to improve their final poker hand. 
         [0038]    After all players have filled the tenth and final frame and any bonus cards have been drawn, the game is over. Each player will now have a bowling score and all players participating in the poker aspect of the game will have a final poker hand. 
         [0039]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred visions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the descriptions of the preferred version contained therein. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. 
         [0040]    Once a bowler&#39;s name is entered into the scoring system, two hole cards will be drawn at random by the computer. Then the bowling aspect of the game begins. A frame is filled when a bowler makes a strike, or attempts a second shot to pick up the spare.
       After filling the first frame, a card will be drawn at random by the computer.   The second frame, a bowler will fill the frame and no card will be drawn.   After filling the third frame, a card will be drawn at random by the computer.   The fourth frame, a bowler will fill the frame and no card will be drawn.   The fifth frame a bowler will fill the frame. A card will be drawn at random by the computer.   The cards drawn in the first, third and fifth frames will be known as the flop.   The sixth frame, a bowler will fill the frame and no card will be drawn.   The seventh frame, a bowler will fill the frame. A card will be drawn at random by the computer. This card will be known as the turn card.   The eighth frame, a bowler will fill the frame and no card will be drawn.   After filling the ninth frame, a card will be drawn at random by the computer. This card will be known as the river card.   The cards drawn during the first, third, fifth and seventh frames are community cards which are played by all players. These cards, along with their hole cards complete their own, individual hand, in which the best five cards are played.   The tenth and final frame will be a bonus frame. If a player should fill the frame with three consecutive strikes, otherwise known as striking out (XXX), the computer will remove a card and replace it with the best available card in the deck to improve a player&#39;s hand. The standard scoring of the bowling will be kept as normal. Upon completion, the player will have a poker hand, along with a bowling score.

Technology Category: 1