Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-08-07
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270079
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates a method for playing a card game.
2. Problems to be Solved
Poker has become one of the most popular wagering games available at casinos.
Prospective players are always looking for new poker games that are challenging and exciting. On the other hand, casinos and wagering establishments are interested in poker games that will (i) attract more players, (ii) create player loyalty, and (iii) increase revenues to the casinos and wagering establishments. What is needed is a new and improved poker game that meets the needs of the players and casinos or wagering establishments.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for playing a card game that is challenging, exciting and entertaining.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for playing a card game that attracts more players.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for playing a card game that is easy to learn.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for playing a card game that increases revenue to casinos or wagering establishments.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the ensuing description of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to, in one aspect, a method of playing a card game comprising the steps of (a) providing a standard deck of playing cards comprising a plurality of different card suits, each suit includes a plurality of cards wherein each card has a particular value, all of the suits having in common cards with the same values, (b) designating a card having a particular value as a dual purpose card that functions as a wild card when face down and a killer card when face up, (c) each player placing a first predetermined wager, (d) the dealer dealing a predetermined number of cards to himself and to each player, at least one of the cards dealt to each player being face down and the card dealt to the dealer being face down, (e) providing an opportunity for each player to stay with the first predetermined wager or place a second predetermined bet that is larger than the first predetermined bet, (f) the dealer dealing an additional card to himself and to each player, the additional card to each player being face up and the additional cards dealt to the dealer being face down, (g) determining if any of the player's face up cards is a killer card and requiring any player with a killer card to surrender his or her bets and to withdraw from play, (h) the dealer dealing an additional card to himself and to each remaining player, the additional card to each remaining player being face up and the additional card dealt to the dealer being face down, (i) determining if any of the player's face up cards is a killer card and requiring any player with a killer card to surrender his or her bets and to withdraw from play, (j) revealing all face down cards of the remaining players and the dealer, (k) determining if the dealer's hand has a value that is greater than or equal to the value of a predetermined qualifying poker hand, (l) providing to each player winnings based on each player's first predetermined wager if in step (k), it is determined that the dealer does not have a hand that has a value that is greater than or equal to the value of the predetermined qualifying poker hand; and (m) if the dealer does have a hand that has a value that is greater than or equal to the value of the predetermined qualifying poker hand, then providing to each player winnings based on the first predetermined wager and the player's second predetermined wager if the player has a poker hand that has a value that is greater than or equal to the value of the dealer's hand.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The card game of the present invention can be played with up to six (6) players plus the dealer. In a preferred embodiment, the card game of the present invention is played by six (6) players plus the dealer. The players are sitting or standing in respective player locations spaced about the periphery of the gambling table. In one embodiment, the table has a generally semi-circular shape and includes a dealer playing station and a plurality of player areas or playing stations surrounding the opposite side of the table that is across from the dealer station. The table has an ante zone for receiving ante wagers. Each player's station has a player card area and betting zones for receiving bets or wagers. The table is also configured to have additional betting zones for receiving jackpot bets.
In a preferred embodiment, the cards are preferably dealt from a single conventional fifty-two card deck which is reshuffled after every hand. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum number of cards a hand may have is five (5). However, in other embodiments of the present invention, the maximum number of cards a hand may have can be fewer or more than five (5) cards.
In accordance with the present invention, a card is designated as a dual purpose card that can function as a “killer” card or as a “wild” card. Under certain conditions, as explained below, the dual purpose card is a “killer” card and forces a player to surrender any and all wagers and to withdraw from the game. Under other conditions, the dual purpose card is a “wild” card and can be used by a player to form a poker hand. In a preferred embodiment, when the dual purpose card is a face up card, it functions as a “killer” card and when the dual purpose card is a face down card, it functions as a “wild” card. In a preferred embodiment, the dual purpose card is the seven (7) card. Thus, any seven (7) card (i.e. 7 Clubs, 7 Hearts, 7 Spades and 7 Diamonds) functions as the “killer” card when it is a face up card and functions as “wild” card when a face down card. As explained above, the seven (7) card, when a “wild” card, can be used to complete a poker hand. In a preferred embodiment, when used to complete a flush, the wild seven (7) can fill up only the highest available opening in the hand. For example, in the case of A-K-7-9-5 suited, the “wild” seven (7) becomes a Queen, making the final hand A-K-Q-9-5. It is to be understood that any other card could be selected as the dual purpose card, e.g. Ace, any card two (2) through ten (10), Jack, Queen, King, Joker, etc. It is to be understood that once a dual purpose card is selected, any card having that same value, regardless of suit, becomes the dual purpose card. Thus, if the King is selected as the dual purpose card, then King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, King of Spades and King of Clubs become the dual purpose card.
The first step of the card game commences with each player placing his or her first or initial predetermined ante bet or wager on the gambling table. The first predetermined or initial ante bet is referred to herein as the “front bet”. The required amount of the initial ante bet is determined by the house (i.e. casino). In a preferred embodiment, the gambling table has indicia representing the ante amount shown in ante zone. For example, in one embodiment, the indicia comprises “$2”. Thus, each player would have to place a two (2) dollar chip over the indicia in the ante zone.
In the next step, each player has the option to place a bet for the jackpot. If a player desires to place a jackpot bet, the player places the appropriate chip in his or her jackpot betting zone. In one embodiment, the required jackpot bet is one (1) dollar. However, jackpot bets of other amounts can be used as well.
In the next step, the dealer deals three (3) cards to each player in an initial three (3) card deal. In one embodiment, the three cards in the initial three (3) card deal are dealt one at a time. In another embodiment, the dealer deals the three cards all at one time to each player and himself.
In a preferred embodiment, each c
Layno Benjamin H.
Nuzzo Raymond A.
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