| Method of playing cards -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Method of playing cardsRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Card Or Tile Games, Cards Or Tiles ThereforThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070152402. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] A wide variety of card games have become popular in recent years as casino-style gambling has become available in an increasing number of states and on the internet. Among the most popular card games are poker games, typically played with a standard 52-card deck. Poker games are popular because they can be played among individuals, or between players, and are not limited to individual players versus the house. [0002] One especially popular poker game is "Texas Holdem." Initially, each player is dealt two cards, called "hole cards," face down. Each player may then place a bet. Once a player places a bet, the other players may call the bet, raise the bet, or fold. [0003] Next, three "flop" cards are dealt face up. The flop cards are common to all players. The players again evaluate their hands using each player's face down hole cards combined with the three flop cards. Another round of betting ensues. [0004] Next, a fourth common card, called a "turn" card, is dealt face up. The players individually evaluate their hands to determine highest ranking five-card hand from the six cards available to each player. A third round of betting ensues. Next, a fifth common card, called a "river" card, is dealt face up. The players individually evaluate their hands to determine the highest ranking five-card hand from the seven cards available to each player. A fourth round of betting ensues. [0005] Finally, the players who have not yet folded reveal their "hole" cards. The player with the highest ranking five-card hand wins the pot. The rank of hands is determined according to standard poker rules, e.g. royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pairs, one pair, and high card. [0006] Because of the two face-down hole cards, and the need for multiple players, standard Texas Holdem is not readily adaptable to video poker machines or the conventional "dealer versus player" format of casinos. There is a need or desire in the gaming industry for a modified card game which reminds players of Texas Holdem and is adaptable to video game and casino formats. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention is a method of playing cards which resembles Texas Holdem yet with significant differences, making the game adaptable to video game and casino format. The game may be played with a standard 52-card deck. [0008] Initially, the player commits a minimum amount ("ante") and two hole cards are dealt face up on a video screen or gaming table. The player may place a further bet at this stage, or continue without betting. [0009] Then, nine cards are dealt face up in a matrix pattern, including three rows and three columns. Each row includes three cards and each column includes three cards. The player selects a first flop card from the first column. The player selects a second flop card from the second column that is either horizontally or diagonally adjacent to the first flop card. The player selects a third flop card from the third column that is either horizontally or diagonally adjacent to the second flop card. [0010] Flop cards which are horizontally or diagonally adjacent to each other in the matrix are herein referred to as "connecting" cards. The player's objective is to select the three connecting flop cards which the player believes will yield the highest ranking five-card hand. After selecting three connecting flop cards, the player may place a further bet, or continue without betting. [0011] Then, the player is dealt a sixth "turn" card, and may place a further bet. Then, the player is dealt a seventh "river" card. The player is paid by the video machine or the casino dealer based on the total highest ranking five-card hand from the seven cards, and the total amount bet (including the ante and any subsequent bets). [0012] Variations of this card game are also within the scope of this invention, as described further below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIGS. 1-3 schematically illustrate the method of the invention with respect to various playing strategies that may be chosen by the player. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] Referring to FIG. 1, after committing an initial amount ("ante"), the video machine or other dealer deals the player two face-up hole cards 12 and 14, suitably from a standard 52-card deck. Having seen the hole cards, a two of diamonds and a four of diamonds, the player may place a further bet, or continue without betting. [0015] The video machine or other dealer then deals nine face-up flop cards in a matrix which includes three rows A, B and C and three columns 16, 18 and 20. In the embodiment shown, each row (A, B and C) includes three cards and each column (16, 18 and 20) includes three cards. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), more than three rows of flop cards may be dealt, thus increasing the player's chance of obtaining a higher ranking hand. The ultimate payouts for ranking hands may be adjusted to account for this advantage. [0016] The player then selects a first hole card from the first column 16. In the embodiment shown, hole card 16A (column 16, row A) is selected, because this optimizes the player's chance of achieving a straight. [0017] The player then selects a second connecting hole card from the second column 18 and a third connecting hole card from the third column 20. The arrows with dashed lines illustrate some (but not all) of the selections that can be made in order for the cards to be connecting. In one scenario, the player may select three connecting cards from row A (i.e. cards 16A, 18A and 20A) because this maximizes the player's chance of obtaining a straight, while maintaining the chance of obtaining a flush. In another scenario, the player may select diagonally connected cards 16A, 18B and 20C from three different rows, because this maximizes the chance of obtaining a higher card flush while maintaining the chance of obtaining a straight. Other flop card selections (e.g. 16A with 18B and 20B, or 16A with 18A and 20B) represent connecting card combinations, but are less appealing. [0018] In an alternative embodiment, the player may be required to select all three flop cards from the same row (A, B or C). This reduces the player's chance of obtaining a higher ranking hand. The ultimate payouts for ranking hands may be adjusted to account for this disadvantage. [0019] Once the three flop cards are selected, the player may place a further bet, or continue without betting. The video machine or other dealer then deals the player a sixth face-up turn card 22. The player may place a further bet or continue without betting. The video machine or other dealer then deals the player a seventh face-up river card 24, and determines the highest ranking five-card hand from the two hole cards, three selected flop cards, turn card and river card. The player is then paid based on the highest five-card ranking hand (if any) that can be derived from the seven cards possessed by the player. [0020] A significant element of chance arises from the player being required to select three connecting flop cards before knowing the identity of the turn card 22 or the river card 24. In the embodiment illustrated, either of the flop card combination 16A, 18A and 20B, or the flop card combination 16A, 18B and 20B, would have yielded the highest ranking hand of two pairs. Yet as explained above, these combinations would have seemed less appealing at the time of selection of the flop cards. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of playing cards Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of playing cards 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. 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