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Poker style game of forming words from playing cards having letters with corresponding point values

Abstract: A method of playing a POKER style game, by dealing a plurality of playing cards to each of a plurality of players; and having the individual players bet against one another as to the perceived values of the playing cards they are each holding, wherein each playing card has a letter and a number thereon, wherein the values of the playing cards held by each player are determined by the players forming words from the letters printed on the playing cards, and wherein the point value of the word is determined by adding the numbers on each of the playing cards used to form the word. ...

Agent: Buchanan Ingersoll PC (including Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis) - Alexandria, VA, US
Inventor: Joel Brodie
USPTO Applicaton #: #20060192335 - Class: 273292000 (USPTO)

Related Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Card Or Tile Games, Cards Or Tiles Therefor
The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060192335, Poker style game of forming words from playing cards having letters with corresponding point values.

Playing Cards

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention is a card game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention provides a POKER style card game in which: a plurality of playing cards are dealt to each of a plurality of players; and the individual players bet against one another as to the perceived values of the playing cards they are each holding. Each playing card has a letter and a number thereon, and the values of the playing cards held by each player are determined by the players forming words from the letters printed on the playing cards, wherein the point value of the word is determined by adding the numbers on each of the playing cards used to form the word.

[0003] In one variation of the preferred method (played similar to TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER) a plurality of playing cards are dealt to each of a plurality of players, each player views only their own playing cards; and a plurality of the playing cards are dealt to a community area, and each player views the playing cards in the community area. Each player forms a word using at least one of their own cards and at least one of the cards in the community area, and wherein the point value of the word is determined by adding the numbers printed on each of the playing cards used to form the word. The individual players bet against one another as to the perceived values of the playing cards they are each holding.

[0004] In various aspects of the present game, the results of successive rounds of betting are recorded by continuously re-allocating betting chips among the players. Preferably, the identities of the plurality of the playing cards in the community area are revealed to the players with successive rounds of betting occurring therebetween as the identities of each of the playing cards in the community area are revealed. As is similar to many standard variations of POKER, each of the individual players take turns deciding whether to fold, to match a previous player's bet, or to raise a previous player's bet.

[0005] In another aspect of the preferred method of playing the game (played similar to 5 CARD DRAW POKER), each of a plurality of players is dealt a plurality of cards. Each player views his/her cards. There are no cards dealt to a community area in this version of the game. Instead, the players bet against one another knowing only the cards they are personally holding. In one aspect of this preferred method, the individual players may have the option to replace one or more of their cards. After they all receive their replacement card(s), the individual players then bet against one another as to the value of the cards they are holding.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, the different playing cards used have different point levels. In one example, playing cards having letters with low linguistic frequency printed thereon will have higher point levels, and wherein playing cards having letters with high linguistic frequency printed thereon will have lower point levels. In another example, playing cards with consonants will typically have higher point levels than playing cards with vowels. However, it is to be understood that other letter-point value distributions are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

[0007] In another aspect of the preferred method of playing the game, a single player may play the game on a video slot machine (or a hand-held mobile or similar device), as follows. A plurality of playing cards are dealt (appearing on screen) to a player; and the player bets as to the perceived values of the playing cards (s)he is holding. Preferably, the player has the option to hold (i.e.: keep) or discard (i.e.: replace) at least one of his/her cards.

[0008] In various versions, the present card game may be played with the players being in-person around a table, on a computer, on a game console, over the internet, on a wireless hand-held device, or on a video slot machine. Thus, in some aspects of the invention, at least one of the players may be a computer or a computer generated character. In some aspects of the invention, a sole player plays against a computer.

[0009] The present invention also includes a deck of playing cards, wherein the playing cards have individual letters and numbers thereon; and instructions for use setting forth the preferred method of play. A plurality of betting chips may also be included.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an illustration of four players at the start of a first round of betting, prior to any playing cards being placed in a community area.

[0011] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the four players of FIG. 1 after three cards have been dealt to the community area.

[0012] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the four players of FIG. 1 after a fourth card has been dealt to the community area.

[0013] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the four players of FIG. 1 after a fifth card has been dealt to the community area.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an exemplary deck of cards used in the present game.

[0015] FIG. 6 is an illustration of the present game being played by one player on a computer terminal.

[0016] FIG. 7 is an illustration of four players at the start of a round of betting (with each player holding five cards, prior to the players replacing any of their cards).

[0017] FIG. 8 is an illustration of the four players of FIG. 7 after one of the players has replaced some of his/her cards.

[0018] FIG. 9 is an illustration of a screen shot of a video slot machine version of the present game, as played by a single player (prior to the player replacing any of his/her cards).

[0019] FIG. 10 is an illustration of the screen shot of FIG. 9 (after the player has replaced several of his/her cards).

[0020] FIG. 11 is a scratch-off lottery card incorporating aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention is a card game. FIGS. 1 to 4 show a first version of the game (played similar to TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER) with four players sitting around a table playing a hand of the game, as follows.

[0022] Four players P1, P2, P3 and P4 sit around a table T. Player P1 is the first dealer, as indicated by the position of dealer button D. The dealer deals the cards from card deck DE.

[0023] At first, as shown in FIG. 1, player P1 deals playing cards to each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4. In the illustration, Player P1 deals two pocket cards C1 and C2 to each of players. It is to be understood that in accordance with variations of the present invention, more than two playing cards may be dealt to each of the players.

[0024] Each player P1, P2, P3 and P4 views their own pocket cards C1 and C2, and does not view any of the other player's pocket cards C1 and C2. (Note: For clarity of illustration all playing cards C1 and C2 are shown face up. It is to be understood that cards C1 and C2 are typically held in the players hands, or viewed by the player and then placed faced down on the table, and are thus not visible to other players).

[0025] At this time, Players P1 through P4 will bet against one another as to the perceived value of the hands of cards they are holding.

[0026] For example:

[0027] Player P1 has card C1 having an "A" and a "1" printed thereon; and a card C2 having a "B" and a "5" printed thereon. Player P1 may feel that this is a strong hand due to the "A" being a commonly used (i.e.: high linguistic frequency) letter, and the letter "B" being a higher point value number (i.e.: a "5").

[0028] Player P2 has card C1 having an "E" and a "1" printed thereon; and a card C2 having an "O" and a "1" printed thereon. Player P1 may not feel that this is a strong hand due to both the "E" and the "O" having low point values (i.e.: they both have a point value of "1").

[0029] Player P3 has card C1 having a "P" and a "4" printed thereon; and a card C2 having an "H" and a "2" printed thereon.

[0030] Player P4 has card C1 having a "M" and a "4" printed thereon; and a card C2 having an "X" and a "8" printed thereon. Player P4 may decide to fold or to continue playing.

[0031] After player P1 has dealt cards C1 and C2 to each of the players P1, P2, P3 and P4, betting may begin. Typically, player P2 begins the betting, but the present invention is not so limited. As is typical with standard versions of the game POKER, betting each of the players have the option to fold (i.e.: drop out of the game), to match a previous player's bet (i.e.: to "call"), or to raise a previous player's bet. Initially, as is also standard to many versions of POKER, player P2 (adjacent to dealer P1) may also optionally have the opportunity to "check" (i.e.: to pass the opportunity to bet to player P3).

[0032] Variants of the game with minimum bet values (e.g.: known in standard POKER parlance as "big blinds" and "small blinds") may also be used. A round of betting is typically closed when each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 have acted at least once and have contributed the same amount to pot (assuming that no player has folded and is no longer in the round).

[0033] After each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 have had the opportunity to bet (by placing some of their betting chips BC's into the community area, then player P1 (i.e.: the current dealer) deals a plurality of the playing cards C3 to a community area, such as the center of table T as shown in FIG. 2.

[0034] In one exemplary method of play, three cards C3 are dealt to the community area at the same time. In standard POKER parlance, this is known as the "flop". Another round of betting occurs among the players, with all four players P1, P2, P3 and P4 viewing all three of cards C3 in the community area. (It is to be understood that one, two, three or more cards C3 may be dealt to the community area in accordance with variations of the present invention).

[0035] It is to be understood that in accordance with variations of the present invention, two, three, five or more playing cards may be dealt to the community area. In addition, the dealer may optionally remove a "burn" card B from the top of deck DE prior to placing cards C3 in the community area.

[0036] In accordance with the present game, each player attempts to form a word using at least one of their own pocket cards (C1 and/or C2) and at least one of the cards in the community area (being C3, C4 and C5 as will be shown in FIG. 4). The point value of the word is determined by adding the numbers printed on each of the playing cards used to form the word.

[0037] For example, as shown in FIG. 2, each player may attempt to form a word using at least one of their own pocket cards (C1 and/or C2) and at least one of cards C3 in the community area, as follows:

[0038] Player P1 may form the word "BAD" having 5+1+2=8 points.

[0039] Player P2 may form the word "DOE" having 2+1+1=4 points.

[0040] Player P3 may form the word "HAD" having 2+1+2=6 points, or the word "PAD" having 4+1+2=7 points.

[0041] Player P4 may form the word "MAD" having 4+1+2=7 points.

[0042] A further round of betting may occur as outlined above.

[0043] Next, as shown in FIG. 3, player P1 deals card C4 to the community area. Card C4 is a "T" having a point value of "1". In standard POKER parlance, this is known as the "turn".

[0044] Each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 now attempts to form a word using at least one of their own pocket cards (C1 and/or C2) and at least one of cards C3 and/or C4 in the community area, as follows: [0045] Player P1 could form the word "DATA" having 2+1+1+1=5 points. However, player P1 would instead remain with the word BAD as it has 8 points as shown above.

[0046] Player P2 may form the word "EAT" having 1+1+1=3 points. However, player P2 would instead remain with the word "DOE" as it has 4 points as shown above.

[0047] Player P3 could form the word "PAT" having 4+1+1=6 points. However, player P3 would instead remain with the word "PAD" having 7 points as shown above.

[0048] Player 4 may now form the word "TAX" having 1+1+8=10 points.

[0049] A further round of betting may occur as outlined above.

[0050] Next, as shown in FIG. 4, player P1 deals card C5 to the community area. Card C5 is an "S" having a point value of "1". In standard POKER parlance, this is known as the "river".

[0051] Each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 now attempts to form a word using at least one of their own pocket cards (C1 and/or C2) and at least one of cards C3 and/or C4 and/or C5 in the community area, as follows:

[0052] Player P1 would remain with the word BAD as it has 8 points as shown above.

[0053] Player P2 may now form the word "TOES" having 1+1+1+1=4 points.

[0054] Player P3 may now form the word "PADS" having 4+1+2+1=8 points.

[0055] Player P4 may notice the word "DAMS" having 2+1+4+1=8 points. However, player P4 would instead remain with the word TAX having 10 points as shown above.

[0056] Therefore, player P4 would win this round of the game, and collect all of the betting chips BC placed in the pot P (i.e.: wagered in this particular round of the game).

[0057] Betting chips BC are used to keeps score between each round: i.e. the "flop" (FIG. 2), the "turn" (FIG. 3) and the "river" (FIG. 4). In addition, betting chips BC are used to keeps score between successive rounds of play. Thus, betting chips BC are continuously re-allocated among the various players in the game over time.

[0058] Typically, the game is played again and again; for example, until one of the players has won all the betting chips BC in play. When a player loses all of their betting chips, (s)he is forced to withdraw from the game.

[0059] As in standard Poker, the individual players bet against one another as to the perceived values of the playing cards they are each holding, since they are not able to view one another's pocket cards C1 and C2, but are all able to view the five community area cards (three C3's, one C4 and one C5).

[0060] Moreover, as is also standard in various versions of POKER, during any betting round, the players may also have the option of going "all in" in which they wager all of their betting chips. Other players may choose to go "all in" as well. Typically, when this occurs, the players proceed directly to the "river" as illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0061] After each successive hand of cards, the dealer button D is passed to the next player (e.g.: P2) who then deals the cards, repeating the above described method of play.

[0062] In cases where two (or more) players have words having the same point value, the winnings (i.e.: the betting chips in the community area) are distributed equally among them.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary deck of cards 100 used in accordance with the present invention.

[0064] As can be seen, different playing cards have different point levels. In addition, some cards occur in the deck once, twice or four times. For example: there is only two "Q" cards and two "X" cards, there are two or three of most other cards, but there are four of vowel cards "A", "E", "I", "O" and "U". Optionally, as well, one of more "WILD" cards may also be provided. WILD cards may be used for any letter, but typically have a point value of "0".

[0065] It is to be understood that the deck of cards shown in FIG. 5 is merely illustrative, and is not limiting in any way. Other decks of cards having different combinations of letters and numbers printed thereon may equally be substituted, all keeping within the scope of the present invention.

[0066] Typically, playing cards having letters with low linguistic frequency (e.g.: "Q" and "X") have higher point values, and wherein playing cards having letters with high linguistic frequency (e.g.: "D" and "E" ) have lower point values. As a result, playing cards having letters with consonants have higher point values than playing cards with vowels.

[0067] FIGS. 1 to 4 show the game being played by four player sitting around a table. It is to be understood that more or less players may be used. In addition, teams of players may be used.

[0068] For example, FIG. 6 illustrates a single player P1 sitting in front of a video screen VS playing the game. Video screen VS may be a computer terminal (with player P1 playing the game over the internet). In various methods of playing the game player P1 may be playing alone against a computer, or player P1 may be playing over the internet against a number of other players. Alternately, VS may be a video slot machine (with player P1 playing against a computer).

[0069] Thus, the present game may be played among players sitting together in person, players playing over the internet, or with one player playing against a video slot machine. Thus one (or more) of the players may be a computer. When using a computer as a player, or when playing any electronic version of the game, an electronic database dictionary of various words and their point values may be used.

[0070] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second version of the game (played similar to 5 CARD DRAW POKER) with four players sitting around a table playing a hand of the game, as follows. (It is to be understood, however, that this version of the game may also be played on a computer, on a game console, over the internet, on a wireless hand-held device, or on a video slot machine.)

[0071] Four players P1, P2, P3 and P4 sit around a table T. Player P1 is the first dealer, as indicated by the position of dealer button D.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 7, player P1 deals five pocket cards C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 to each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4. Each player views only their own cards. It is to be understood that in accordance with variations of the present invention, more than two playing cards may be dealt to each of the players.

[0073] Players P1, P2, P3 and P4 may then bet among one another as to the perceived values of the hands of playing cards they are each holding (in a manner that may be similar to that outlined above).

[0074] Thereafter, each of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 may chose to discard one or more of their pocket cards C1, C2, C3, C4 or C5, and have the dealer replace these cards (in a manner similar to standard 5 CARD DRAW POKER). In one optional preferred method of play, P1, P2, P3 and P4 are dealt five cards, and have the option of replacing up to three of these five cards. It is to be understood that this variation is merely exemplary and that the present invention is not so limited.

[0075] Next, as shown in FIG. 8, player P2 has now replaced two cards: "K" has been replaced by "I" and "T" has been replaced by "S". Player P2 may now form the word "JARS" having 6+1+2+1=10 points. Thereafter, players P3, P4 and then P1 will also be given the opportunity to replace one or more of their cards. There are many variations of how playing cards can be discarded and replaced, including specific variations of rules when wild cards are drawn, all keeping within the scope of the present invention.

[0076] After all of players P1, P2, P3 and P4 have decided to hold (i.e.: keep) or discard (i.e.: replace) one or more of their playing cards C1, C32, C3, C4 and C5, a second round of betting occurs between the players (in a manner that may be similar to that outlined above).

[0077] Similar to that explained above, the player(s) having the highest point value for the word formed by their own pocket cards will win the hand (and the pot P).

[0078] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a screen shot of a video terminal touch display in which one player plays the game. As seen in FIG. 9, the player initially presses the DEAL button at which time five cards C1, C2, C3 C4 and C5 then appear on the screen. Below each of cards C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5 are a corresponding "HOLD" and a "DISCARD" button.

[0079] The player may then decide to touch the "HOLD" buttons below card C1, C3 and C4; and to touch the "DISCARD" buttons below C2 and C5. As a result, a new card C2 and a new card C5 are displayed, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0080] When the player is ready to place a bet, the player touches the "BET" button. In different versions of playing this game, a computer may determine the word having highest point value (formed from the letters of cards C1, C2, C3 C4 and C5); or the player may be given a pre-determined period of time in which to identify a word formed from the letters of his/her cards C1, C2, C3 C4 and C5.

[0081] The present invention also comprises a card game including: a deck 100 of playing cards (e.g.: as seen in FIG. 5) and instructions for use 102 setting forth the preferred method as described herein. Such instructions for use may be provided in a printed or electronic format that may either be sold together with the deck of cards, or be available to a user over the internet. When selling the deck of cards together with the instructions for use setting forth the preferred method as described herein, a set of betting chips BC may also be included. However, such betting chips BC may also be sold separately from deck of cards 100.

[0082] In another optional preferred aspect of the present invention, a lottery ticket (e.g.: a scratch off lottery card) as shown in FIG. 11 is provided. For example, lottery ticket LT has five scratch off portions C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5. As illustrated herein, the purchaser has bought the lottery ticket and has already scratched away the covering on regions C1, C2 and C3, revealing the letters "D", "G" and "O". The purchaser has not yet scratched away the covering on regions C4 and C5.

[0083] In accordance with the present invention, the purchaser buys lottery ticket LT and then scratches away the coverings on regions C1, C2, C3, C4 and C5. Similar to the playing card versions of the game described above, the purchaser then attempts to form a word of high point value. The redemption value (i.e.: the potential winnings) of lottery ticket LT correspond to the point value of the highest point value word that can be formed from the letters on the lottery ticket.

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