Mar-jar card game   

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a card game, and more particularly to a mar-jar card game, which allows multiple players playing with one banker by using one or more decks of playing card.

2. Description of Related Arts

There are many card games are available. Baccarat game is one of the most popular games. Accordingly, in Baccarat, each of the cards is assigned to have its own value that cards 2 to 9 are worth their face values, cards 10 and face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth zero point, and cards Ace are worth 1 point. Two cards are dealt by a croupier to one Banker and one Player. Each of the Banker and player determines the total points by adding the values of the cards modulo 10. The highest point that the player can get is 9 and the lowest point that the player can get is 0. By the rules of Baccarat, each of the Banker and Player is able to draw a third card. Comparing the values of the Banker and Player, the croupier will announce the winning hand between the Banker and Player. The major drawback of Baccarat game is there are only one Banker and one Player in a game. All participants can only place the bet at either the Banker or Player.

Blackjack card game is a well-known card game that is very popular and available in every casino, where players are dealt a number of cards and have an option of receiving additional cards. The objective of Blackjack is to score a point value of twenty-one without going over this limit. However, Blackjack card game is too complex to play, especially for a beginner or an unskilled player, because the player must be good at card counting to calculate the probability of advantages based on the ratio of high cards to low cards. In addition, when the point values of the cards go over 21, the player definitely loses the round of game.

SUMMARY

The main object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, which allows multiple players playing with one banker by using one or more decks of playing card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game which is easy to play, simple, fair, and full of fun.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, wherein the player is able to get a paired hand of cards or a non-paired hand of cards. Therefore, the players do not have to do card counting every time when they receive two cards.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, wherein the picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards are assigned with values of zero point for the non-paired hand. However, a pair of KING cards as the paired-hand has the highest ranking among the hand strength of the cards. Therefore, the player always has a chance to form a paired hand when the first card is a picture card.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, wherein each player is able to place a bonus bet for the paired-hand to have a chance to win the bonus pay.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, wherein a maximum of eight participants, including one Banker and seven Players, can be participated to start the card game. Therefore, each of the participants is able to receive two cards in hand in each round to play the card game.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mar-jar card game, wherein no expensive tool or complicated rule is required to employ in the present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects. Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic and exciting game for allowing multiple players with cards in hand to play the game and for providing simplicity of card counting process to enhance the excitement of the card game.

Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a mar-jar card game, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing two or more participants to start a round of the card game;

(b) providing at least a deck of cards, wherein the deck of cards includes a set of numbered cards from two to nine with assigned values from two to nine points respectively, a set of numbered cards of ten with assigned values of ½ point, a set of ACE cards with assigned values of 1 point, a set of picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards with assigned values of zero point;

(c) shuffling the deck of cards by one of the participants who serves as a Banker, wherein the rest of the participants serve as Players respectively;

(d) dealing two cards from the deck of cards to Banker and each of the Players in sequence, wherein the two cards form a paired hand or a non-paired hand;

(e) comparing a hand strength of the Banker with each of the Players, wherein the hand strength of the paired hand is stronger than the hand strength of the non-paired hand, wherein the hand strength of the non-paired hand is determined by counting point values of the Banker and Players that the assigned values of the two cards of each of the Banker and the Players are summed up;

(f) determining by the Banker and each of the Players whether a third card is desired, wherein when the third card is dealt, counting the point value by adding the assigned value of three cards; and

(g) declaring by the Banker one or more winners whose have a stronger hand strength of paired hand or the point value of the cards of each of the Players is larger than the point value of the cards of the Banker.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating the method of playing a mar-jar card game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a table for playing the mar-jar card game according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a mar-jar card game according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the mar-jar card game comprises the following steps.

(1) Provide two or more participants to start a round of the card game. Preferably, the mar-jar game is played at a table 10 that the participants sit around the table 10.

(2) Provide at least a deck of cards. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards having four suits of each of an ace, 2-10 cards, a Jack, a Queen and a King. In other words, the deck of cards includes a set of numbered cards from two to nine with assigned values from two to nine points respectively, a set of numbered cards of ten with assigned values of ½ point, a set of ACE cards with assigned values of 1 point, and a set of picture cards of KING, QUEEN, and JACK cards with assigned values of zero point. That is, the card Ace represents one point, and the cards 2 to 9 represent 2 to 9 point. Card 10 represents ½ point, and the picture cards J, Q, K represent 0 point.

According to the preferred embodiment, the deck of cards is a traditional deck of cards including fifty-two playing cards. It is appreciated that other game pieces can be a placement of the deck of cards to play the card game of the present invention once the game pieces are assigned with numerical values.

Accordingly, the numbered card 10 is always considered as same as the picture card to have a value of zero point for the conventional card game. However, the numbered card 10 is assigned to have a value of ½ point according to the mar-jar card game of the present invention. Therefore, there is always a chance for the participant to win the card game by ½ point. In addition, the participant will have less chance to get zero point by assigning the numbered card 10 to have a value of ½ point.

It is appreciated that two or more decks of cards can be used to play to mar-jar card game. In addition, the suits of the cards, i.e. diamonds, spades, hearts, and clubs, are a non-factor of the card game. In other words, the value of a diamond 5 equals to the value of heart 5.

(3) Shuffle the deck of cards by one of the participants who serves as a Banker, wherein the rest of the participants serve as Players respectively. Accordingly, a maximum of eight participants, including one Banker and seven Players, can be participated to start the card game.

(4) Deal two cards from the deck of cards to Banker and each of the Players in sequence.

Accordingly, the two cards are dealt one at a time to each of the participants until each of the participants receives two cards. According to the preferred embodiment, the Banker receives two cards that one of the cards is dealt in a face up manner while another card is dealt in a face down manner. Each of said Players receives two cards being dealt in face up manner. In other words, two cards, which are facing up, are dealt to each of the Players.

In addition, the two cards in each hand of the Banker and Players form a paired hand or a non-paired hand. The paired hand is that the two cards are identical. In other words, a pair is defined as the original two cards. Getting the identical same two cards is called a pair. For example, the original two cards are a spade 5 and a diamond 5, we call it a pair of 5.

The non-paired hand is that the two cards are not identical. For example, a diamond 5 and a diamond Jack are called a non-paired hand.

According to the preferred embodiment, when the first card of Queen is dealt to the Player, the initial point value of the first card is zero. However, the Player can always have a chance to receive higher valued cards, such as 7, 8, or 9, when the second card is dealt to form a non-paired hand. In addition, the Player may have a chance to receive a second card of Queen to form a paired hand of Q, so as to enhance the excitement of the mar-jar card game.

(5) Compare a hand strength of the Banker with each of the Players.

According to the preferred embodiment, the hand strength of the paired hand is stronger than the hand strength of the non-paired hand. For example, a paired hand with a spade 5 card and a diamond 5 wins a non-paired hand with a diamond 5 and a diamond Jack.

For the comparison among the paired hand, the hand strength of the paired hand has a ranking sequence of KING, QUEEN, JACK, 10 to 2, and Ace consequently. Therefore, a pair of King is the highest rank in this game. The next is a pair of Queen. The next is a pair of Jack. The next is a pair of 10. The next is a pair of 9. The next is a pair of 8, and the next is a pair of 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace. In other words, a pair of KING cards has the highest ranking while a pair of Ace cards has the lowest ranking.

The hand strength of the non-paired hand is determined by counting point values of the Banker and Players that the assigned values of the two cards of each of the Banker and the Players are summed up. The Banker and Players calculate their point values by taking the sum of two cards modulo 10, meaning that after adding the value of the cards, the tens digit is ignored. For example, a hand consisting of 1 and 3 is worth 4 (1+3=4). A hand consisting of 6 and 8 is worth 4 (6+8=14=4), i.e. the first digit of dropped because the total point value is higher than 10. A hand consisting of 6 and 4 is worth zero (6+4=10=0). A hand consisting of 9 and Queen is worth 9 (9+0=9). A hand consisting of 8 and 10 is worth 8½ (8+½=8½).

Accordingly, the highest ranking of the non-paired hand is 9½ and the lowest ranking of the non-paired hand is 0.

(6) Determine whether a third card is desired, wherein when the third card is dealt, counting the point value by adding the assigned value of three cards.

According to the preferred embodiment, the third card is dealt when one of the two cards is a picture-card, i.e. King, Queen, and Jack. If one of the two cards is not the picture card, the third card cannot be dealt. Accordingly, the third card is determined by the Banker and each of the Players such that the by the Banker and each of the Players can choose whether he or she needs the third card. In addition, it is easily for the Banker and each of the Players to obtain the third card when he or she sees the picture card in hand. Therefore, no computation of two original cards is required to check whether the third card is desired. Preferably, the third card is dealt in a face up manner.

In addition, the third card is prohibited to form the paired hand when the third card is dealt, such that the third card is formed said non-paired hand only.

For example, if a hand consists of a 5 and a J, the point value would be counted as 5 point. According to the rule, you have the right to hit the third card because you have the picture card (Jack). If the third card is a 5, the hand consisting of 5, J, and 5 is worth 0 (5+0+5=10=0). Therefore, the point value of the hand is 0, and it cannot call the hand of a pair of 5 because the third card is dealt. In the same situation, if you get a 5 and a J, you have the right to ask for hit the third card. If you hit a J, then it is still 5 point. It is because the third card J is treated as 0 point in this case, and it cannot be treated as a pair of J.

It is worth mentioning that the third card is optional that the Banker and Player can refuse to hit the third card. For example, a hand consisting of 9 and K is worth 9. The Banker/Player is able to receive the third card because of the picture card. However, the point value of the hand will be changed by summing up all the three cards. Therefore, there is a risk for the Banker/Player to receive the third card. In addition, even through the third card may be a K card, the third card cannot be paired with the two original cards to form a pair of K by rule. In this case, the Banker/Player may refuse to receive the third card.

(7) Declare by the Banker one or more winners whose have a stronger hand strength of paired hand or the point value of the cards of each of the Players is larger than the point value of the cards of the Banker.

Accordingly, it should be a tie game when the point value of the cards of the Player equals to the point value of the cards of the Banker. In one case, if the Banker has 0 point and the Player has 0 point, the Banker wins.

According to the preferred embodiment, the winner is between the Banker and each of the Players. In other words, the mar-jar card game is that each Player plays against the Banker. Therefore, some of the Players may lose and some of the Players may win. For example, the Banker consisting of 3 and 5 is worth 8. The first player consisting of a pair of 3 forms a paired hand of 3. The second player consisting of 7, J, and K is worth 7. Therefore, the first player wins the hand from the Banker while the second player loses the hand from the Banker. It is worth mentioning that Banker wins the round of card game from the Player when the point value of the Banker and the Player is 0. Otherwise, it is a tie game when the hand strength of Banker equals to the hand strength of Player. For example, if the Banker has 0 point and the Player has 0 point, the Banker wins. If the Banker has a paired hand of 7 and the Player also has a paired hand of 7, it is a tie game.

To play the mar-jar card game as one of the casino card game, wagers are placed before the cards are dealt.

According to the preferred embodiment, before the step (4), the mar-jar card game further comprises a step of placing a required wager by each of the Players before the cards are dealt. If the Player wins, the winner (Player) collects at least a portion of the wager from the Banker. If the Banker wins, the winner (Banker) will collect the wager from the Player.

In order to enhance the excitement of the mar-jar card game, before the step (4), the present invention further comprises a step of placing a bonus bet by each of the Players before the cards are dealt, wherein each of said Players collects a bonus pay from the Banker when the Player has the paired hand. Preferably, a ratio of the bonus bet and the bonus pay is 1:10.

Accordingly, the Player will collect the bonus pay when the Player has the paired hand even though the Player loses the round of card game. For example, the Player places $40 of wager and $5 of bonus bet, wherein the Player then receives two cards of 5 such that the Player has a hand consisting of 5 and 5 to form a paired hand of 5. The Banker has a hand consisting of Q and Q to form a paired hand of Q. Since the paired hand of Q has a higher ranking than the paired hand of 5, the Banker wins this round of card game and collects the $40 of wager from the Player. Since the Player places $5 of bonus bet and obtains the paired hand, the Banker will pay $50 ($5×10=$50) to the Player.

As shown in FIG. 2, the table 10 is designed for fitting seven Players, Players 1 to 7, sitting side by side and the Banker sits at the opposite side of the table 10. In particularly, the table 10 has seven player sections 11 and one banker section 12. The table 10 further has two card areas 13 provided at each of the player sections 11 and the banker section 12 for the two original cards being dealt at the card areas 13 respectively. The table 10 further has a wager spot 14 and a bonus spot 15 at each of the player sections 11 for the Player to place the wager and bonus bet at the wager spot 14 and the bonus spot 15 respectively. Therefore, each Player has one wager bet, and one bonus bet. Player can choose bet bonus bet or not.

Accordingly, the card game of the present invention can also be embodied as an electronic card game, wherein, in the step (2), the deck of cards is configured in an electronic form. The card game can be played by a game stimulator which comprises a processor for operating the card game, in responsive to the rules of the card game, including shuffling the cards, dealing the cards to the Banker and Players, determining the hand strength of the Banker and Players, and declaring the winner(s) of the round of the game. The game stimulator further comprises an input device, preferably a keyboard, for the participants to select the options of the card game, such as starting a new game or acquiring the third card, and a display for electronically displaying the cards thereon. In other words, the game simulator can be a hand-held device for the participants to play the card game of the present invention. It is appreciated that the card game can be a computer card game or an online card game that the participants can play the card game of the present invention through the computer and/or Internet such that all the participants around the world can play together.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.