Amusement devices: games – Card or tile games – cards or tiles therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-23
2001-05-22
Layno, Benjamin H. (Department: 3711)
Amusement devices: games
Card or tile games, cards or tiles therefor
C273S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234483
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to card games useful for playing in casinos, cardrooms and other card game locations. More specifically, this invention relates to chance card games that are bingo-like in nature and which require the participant to match cards with cards or numbers selected by the dealer.
B. Background
Many different types of card games are played throughout the world. Some of these games are specifically designed to be played in a casino or cardroom location whereby the participant attempts to win money, most often designated by playing chips, and the casino or cardroom makes money off each game or hand that is played. The most common of these types of games are Poker and Blackjack, which are both played with one or more decks of standard playing cards. For many people, however, these and other casino and cardroom card games can be very intimidating due to the complexities of the rules or the need to have a certain level of skill in order to have a realistic chance of winning. As a result, many people do not participate in these types of card games at all.
In contrast to the above-mentioned card games, many people participate in lottery draws, bingo games and the like where the chances of winning are not dependent upon skill and knowledge of the game. Many people prefer these types of games because they provide every participant with an equal chance of winning, notwithstanding the differences between the participants with regard to skill and knowledge. In particular, bingo games have become very popular as a form of entertainment and a way for persons without much background or experience in card games to play games of chance.
Generally, games involving primarily chance, such as bingo games, are not played at casinos and cardrooms. In part, this is due to the set-up of the bingo games, which generally require each player to have a bingo card, a caller to call out the numbers and a machine or other device to generate the numbers which are matched on the bingo cards. However, it would benefit casinos and cardrooms to offer a bingo-type card game to attract persons not interested in or capable of playing the more skill and knowledge orientated card games, including those persons who are the partners of persons playing the more difficult games. As a result, the number of participants and, therefore, the income for the casino or cardroom could increase.
One such game, patented as U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,577 to Preston, is referred to as Bingo Poker or the like. As played, this game utilizes two decks of standard playing cards (52 cards comprising four suits with thirteen cards in each suit) and is generally played with ten players. Each player antes four chips into the center of the table and the dealer deals three cards to each player from a mixed deck of cards. Each hand is ranked by standard poker rules and the highest ranked hand is designated as such. From a second standard deck of cards, which by its nature matches the first deck of cards, the dealer begins turning over cards one card at a time. If the number or value (i.e., face cards) of one of the dealer's cards matches the number or value of one of the player's cards, the dealer places one of the chips from the ante pot on top of that card. The dealer then continues turning over cards from the dealer's deck until one of the players has a chip on each of his or her three cards or until the dealer turns over nine cards. If after nine cards have been played by the dealer none of the player's have a chip on each of their cards, the player with the designated highest poker hand wins the chips remaining in the ante.
Several limitations exist with regard to the game as described and played pursuant to the Preston patent. One major limitation is on the limited amount of involvement by the player. In that game, the only activity for the player is to turn over his or her cards. All the rest is performed by the dealer, including placing the chip on the cards. Another limitation is that by utilizing a standard deck of cards (52 cards), there will generally be a substantial number of cards not played and for which there will be no matches, which creates the need to rank the cards by poker rules to speed the game up and make it interesting. There exists a need for a card game based on the concept of bingo-type matching that utilizes player participation, limited excess cards and which is compatible with standard poker tables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The method of playing a matching card game of the present invention solves the problems identified above. The present invention discloses a card game that is a bingo-type matching card game that, in its preferred embodiment, requires player participation, has limited excess or unmatched cards and can be played on standard nine-player card tables. In the preferred embodiment, two partial standard playing card decks are utilized. The present invention overcomes the problems found in prior art card games, particularly those requiring knowledge and skill with regard to the relative complex rules and ranking systems of most casino and cardroom games. The present invention can be a good compliment to the typical casino and cardroom games for persons who are not interested in or capable of playing those games requiring higher knowledge and skill levels.
The method of playing a matching card game of the present invention utilizes two sets of cards, a first set and a second set, wherein the cards of the first set match the values of the cards of the second set. Although any number of cards can be used in each set, the preferred embodiment comprises 27 cards in each of the first and second set of cards. The first and second sets can be made up of standard playing cards wherein two complete suits, having 13 cards in each suit, and one joker are utilized to make up the 27 cards in each set. For instance the first set can comprise a complete set of spades and heart suits and one joker. The second set should also comprise a complete set of spades and heart suits and one joker so the second set of cards is identical to the first set of cards.
Preferably, the card game of the present invention is played on a standard nine-player card table utilized by most present day casinos and cardrooms. Nine players sit at the table and each person antes up the required ante, which can be three chips each. After shuffling the first set of cards, the dealer deals three cards, one at a time, to each player face down in front of the player from the first set of cards, thereby utilizing all 27 cards. After all the cards are dealt, each player turns over his or her three cards and places a chip on the top or “pot” side (i.e., the center of the table) of the card. After shuffling the second set of cards, the dealer begins revealing one card at a time from the top of the second set of cards. As the match cards are revealed, the dealer announces the value of the card and the players check to see if their card matches the suit and value of the match card revealed by the dealer from the second set. If so, the player takes the chip from the top side of the card and places it on top of their matching card. The dealer keeps turning over one card at a time from the second set until one player has matched all three of his or her cards (i.e., a chip on each card in front of them). All of the matched chips, those on top of a card, stay with the player whose card matched. All of the unmatched chips go into the pot, from which the casino or cardroom takes its cut and the dealer receives his tip. The remainder of the pot is distributed to the winner, the person with three matched cards. The first set and second set are either gathered and re-shuffled or discarded and new decks obtained so the game can begin again.
By requiring a separate ante and the player to place his or her own chip on the cards in front of them, the game creates larger pots (dependant on the ante) and requires player involvement. The player feels as though he
Layno Benjamin H.
Ryan Richard A.
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