Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-05
2002-06-18
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
C273S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06406024
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a game, and in particular to a two-round casino-style game played with at least one standard deck of cards, the game including a first round having an in-between feature played with three cards and a second round played with the same three cards in accordance with the rules of poker and use of a pay table.
BACKGROUND
It is known in the art to provide single round three card games, such as games for play on gaming tables at casinos. These known three card games include games such as “Three Card Poker.” Typical three card games, however, besides having only one round, include other features that discourage play or decrease players' incentive to play. For example, these games may prohibit players from winning if the dealer's hand is disqualified—the dealer's hand may have to have a rank of one jack or higher or one ace or higher, for example, in order for the players to have the opportunity to obtain a return on their bets. Failure of the dealer to qualify with such hands results in all of the players returning their cards, with no opportunity to win with the cards the players were dealt. Thus, a player making a large bet based on a good hand, could have the possibility of winning removed solely on the basis of the dealer's hand, and completely outside the player's expectation of winning given the hand the player has been dealt.
Another problem with some prior art three card games is that they include potential automatic winning for all players simply by comparing the players' hands to pay tables. This approach removes the variability and strategy inherent in, for example, comparing hands between the player and dealer, as occurs, for example, with Blackjack. In addition, this approach can be costly to the house or otherwise reduce the likelihood of house winnings, thereby reducing the attractiveness of the game to casinos.
Yet another problem with known three card games is that they typically consist of a single round, such that the play becomes repetitious for players, which can result in loss of interest on the part of players. In addition, because these games typically only include a single round, players have less incentive to play because no other variable game features, such as a different or additional round, occur to provide players with the opportunity to obtain winnings or to offset losses. There is a need for additional rounds to increase the likelihood or incentive for players to play even when losing at the three card game.
Accordingly, there is a need for a three card game that includes more than one round and additional variation and opportunity for players to win than single round poker-like three card games. There is a further need for three card games with rounds that provide for house incentive to offer the game. In particular, there is a need for a game that includes features that provide for variability and strategy with regard to players' opportunities to win, such as by comparing players' hands to a dealer's hand in order to receive the opportunity to win. There is also a need for a game that includes additional features for simple, winning hands for players to provide additional incentive for players to play in more variable, poker-like three hand games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an advantage of the present invention to meet these needs, and others, by providing a three card game having two rounds to provide increased incentive for play of players and variability and sufficient likelihood of winning for the house.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a simple first round three card game in which each player bets on the likelihood of receiving a third card between two cards initially dealt. It is a further advantage of the first round to provide for payout of one to one for a winning player hand. It is yet a further advantage to provide for the option for each player to place additional bets at odds following receipt of a first card.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a second round in which the three cards initially dealt to each player in the first round are compared to a dealer hand. It is yet a further advantage of the present invention to provide a payout in the second round only to player's hands that beat the dealer's hand. It is yet a further advantage to provide a payout in the second round to players based on comparison to a payout table. It is yet a further advantage of the present invention to include no qualifying requirement for the dealer's hand, which increases player incentive to play.
The present invention comprises a casino style three card game and method of playing that includes two optionally playable rounds for each player. The game is playable by one to seven players using one or more standard decks of 52 cards or representations thereof. The game may be played, for example, on a gaming table by players and a dealer using standard cards, or, for example, on a computer or other electronic medium using representations of various features of the game on a display device using a graphical user interface (GUI). The game is also playable in electronic form or in conjunction with electronic features over a network, such as the Internet.
In a first round, two cards are dealt face up to each player electing to play, in turn, and two cards are dealt face down to the dealer. A third card is then dealt face up to each player, and a third card is dealt face down to the dealer. Each player for which the third card has a value between the values of the first two cards wins the first round, receiving a one to one return, for example, on a bet placed, as well as any increased return due to placement of a bet at odds.
Each player elects whether to play in the second round by, for example, placing a second bet after receiving two cards. The second round of play proceeds following completion of the first round. Each player's cards are then compared to the dealer's cards with the high hand winning. If the dealer's hand wins, the player loses, such as by losing the second bet wagered. If the player's hand wins, the house pays the player a return based on a pay table. Betting minimums and maximums, as well as pay table odds, are variably determined depending on mathematical probabilities and preferred odds of winning selected by the house. In play with a gaming table, the table includes various spots or locations for easing play or ensuring proper play, including a location for placement of the third card dealt to each player and betting spots for placement of bets and antes.
In one embodiment, following the ante, in the first round, after dealing the first card face up to each player and the first card face down to the dealer, each player optionally places a “first play” bet with regard to the first round of play. The “first play” bet is placed, for example, on a “first play” spot on a gaming table. This bet optionally includes additional odds, varying with the initial card received. A second card is then dealt face up to each player and face down to the dealer. Each player then either elects to “fold,” in which case the player is out of the second round and loses the ante, or to place a “second play” bet for play in the second round of the game. If a player “folds” the second round and placed “no first play” bet, that player is out of the game. A third card is then dealt face up to each player remaining in the game, and a third card is dealt face down to the dealer. For play with a gaming table, the “second play” bet is placed on a “second play” spot on the gaming table, and the third card is placed on an “in between” card spot. The dealer then turns over the dealer's cards. Each remaining player having a third card in between the first two cards is paid, for example, using a one to one return based on the “first play” bet wagered. Each remaining player's hand is then compared to the dealer's hand, in a second round, and winning players are paid using on a p
Chesser Wilburn L.
Layno Benjamin H.
Piper Rudnick LLP
LandOfFree
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