| Card game -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Card gameRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Card Or Tile Games, Cards Or Tiles ThereforThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060157933. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] For thousands of years, games that use cards or other uniquely identifiable playing pieces have been popular, both as a means of pleasurably passing time in the company of others, and as intellectual exercises that challenge the players to make choices based upon perceived statistical probabilities and each player's recollection of past events. Two games that have been highly popular in decades past are poker and gin rummy. Both poker and gin rummy are commonly played as parlor games, and both have been adapted to a casino-style of play. However, because both games have been played for many years under generally the same respective historical rules, some people who are accustomed to playing poker or gin rummy, and to facing the same tactical choices that they have been making for years, may find that the old games have become stale, and that certain tactical choices no longer present the intellectual challenges that they once did. Such people may wish to play a game that is similar in some concepts to poker or gin rummy, but that involves different tactical elements of play and of betting. [0002] The present invention is a new card game that combines betting elements of poker, and tactical hand play elements of gin rummy, but that also incorporates new features in terms of requiring the creation of new card combinations needed to complete the game, and invoking the optional use of an imaginary card that may be used to substitute for an actual, needed card. Such new features present intellectual challenges that are not found in other games, and provide a substantially larger number of possible card combinations for a winning hand than other traditional card games. [0003] The appealing feature of the card game of this invention is its entertainment value. The invention can provide fun for casino patrons and home players who enjoy card games, and can easily be adapted to computerized play. Many players enjoy the new, innovative features of the invention to provide players with a game that is easy to learn and play but that generates more excitement than standard card games such as blackjack, poker, and gin rummy, which have become boring and simplistic after many card-playing sessions. The card game of this invention provides a gaming experience that can be played for fun or money. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] This invention is a card game that fulfills the need for a fun, new casino-style gambling game. The game is played using one or more standard decks of cards, each card having a suit and a specific numeric or face card value. [0005] The game may be played by as few as two players, although greater excitement and enjoyment may be had where there are between five and eight players. Computerized versions of the game of this invention may be developed, and would be able to interact with one or more live players while providing virtual players who are able to compete at selectable, predetermined levels of skill. [0006] To play this game, each player antes a predetermined amount into the pot. For parlor or informal games, a $5 ante is suggested. Each player is each dealt the same number of cards. Although different versions of the invention can use different numbers of cards, eight cards per hand has been found to provide an interesting and challenging game for the players. Following the deal, a round of betting commences with each player having an opportunity to raise the bet, to pass (check), or to fold if the player does not wish to meet the amount of the largest bet that has been made as his turn to bet comes around. [0007] The object of the game is to be the first to lay down all of the cards in a hand as 3, 4, 5 or 6 card melds, or by laying down a flush in which all of the cards of the hand are of a single suit, and to discard a last, unused card. [0008] Following the betting, the play commences in a sequential fashion around the playing table, beginning with the player at the dealer's left. Although play could revolve to the dealer's right, rather than to the left, such a modification is a matter of choice, and is unimportant to the play of the game. Similarly, it is desirable to rotate the deal of each new hand amongst the players to ensure that each player has an opportunity to play "first," "second," or at any other position as each new hand is dealt. Some casino-style versions, however, may require that a single "house" dealer deal all hands. In that case, the deal may be theoretically rotated amongst players, and the order of play of the players may be rotated each hand, with a token being used to indicate which player is the theoretical dealer. [0009] Cards are introduced into a player's hand either as a new draw card, which is delivered by the dealer to the player face down so that its suit and value are not seen by other players, or as a pickup of the face up top card from a discard pile. During a player's turn, the player may lay down one or more melds, but is not required to do so. During the turn, a player may also lay cards down on the meld of another player. A player's turn is complete when the player places a card face up on the discard pile. [0010] There are three kinds of melds: A first kind is a flush in which all of the cards in the hand are of the same suit, regardless of value. A second kind is a straight flush combination of three or more consecutively numbered or valued cards of the same suit. A third kind of meld is three or more cards of the same value and of at least three different suits. When only three cards of the same value are being held, they may be laid down only if they are of three different suits. A fourth or fifth card of the same value can be added to form a four or five card meld, and may be the same suit as any of the first three or may be of a different suit. [0011] To assist a player to complete a meld of consecutively numbered cards of the same suit (a straight), each player can optionally add one imaginary card, (or a Joker), to his or her hand, and can declare the suit and value of the card at the time the meld in which the imaginary card is used is laid down. The imaginary card can only be used in a straight, and is not available to assist in the completion of a flush. [0012] The game is normally played using two standard card decks in order to provide a sufficient number of cards for the number of players, although smaller games may use a single deck, and there is no reason why additional decks cannot be used, if desired. The use of multiple standard decks makes it possible for cards having identical suits and values to be used in a four or five card meld of cards having the same value so long as at least three different suits are represented in the meld. In the preferred embodiment, players may lay down their cards by adding to existing melds laid down by other players. [0013] In the preferred embodiment, although other meld combinations may be used, the game is commonly won with three melds of three cards each. Because each player may use an imaginary card to help form a straight, the number of actual cards laid down in a winning hand will be eight (unless the player has played cards onto another player's meld), and a last, unused card will be discarded. However, it is also possible to win with two melds of four cards each, and to ignore the imaginary card; or to have one five card meld and one three card meld, and ignore the imaginary card. Other winning combinations that use the imaginary card are possible, so long as the minimum length meld is three cards, and the rules for using suits are followed. The variety of possible meld combinations, and the players' calculations of the odds for drawing necessary or desirable cards, make the card game of this invention challenging and interesting for the players, and provide a decided advantage for those players most able to adjust the calculated odds by watching the play of other players. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the primary steps in the playing of a hand by each player. [0015] FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the essential steps involved in the betting phase of the hand. [0016] FIG. 3 shows a representative hand having two melds that may be laid down to complete a game. [0017] FIG. 4 shows a representative hand having three melds that may be laid down to complete a game. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] FIG. 1 depicts the flow of the game of this invention. Before each hand, each player will place a like ante into the pot 10. Once all players have placed their antes, the dealer will deal the cards face down to each player 20. The method of dealing can be sequential, or may be two, four, eight, or any other desired number of cards at a time. In the preferred embodiment, each player will receive eight (8) cards. [0019] To enter the game, a player must first place an ante, and during the betting phase, must raise the bet or check, as is depicted in FIG. 2. Preferably, betting will begin with the player next to the dealer 200, who can place a bet (raise) 230 or pass 240. Although the first player could fold 210 and decline to play the hand 220, as a practical matter he would check to see whether any other players will raise the pot by placing a bet. Depending upon the situs and nature of the game (casino or parlor), a raise may be limited to triple the amount of the opening ante. [0020] Betting proceeds from one player to another 280 until all players have had an opportunity to bet 260, and all players who have not folded have placed bets of equal size 270. If at least some bets have been made, then play will commence 300. Alternatively, if no player has placed a bet 290, then the hand is not played 310, and an additional ante is collected for the next hand, doubling the size of the pot. If bets are not placed for consecutive hands, the pot may optionally be divided, and a portion reserved to supplement a future pot. By limiting each pot to a maximum size before the betting commences, and reserving the excess for future pots, the players will have a greater number of opportunities to participate in larger pots, and their interest in the game will be maintained at a high level. Continue reading... Full patent description for Card game Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Card game patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Card game or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Card game Next Patent Application: Diejack Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Card game patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28536 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
||
