US20240050840A1

US20240050840A1 - American Mahjong-Bingo Game

Info

Publication number: US20240050840A1
Application number: US17/819,868
Authority: US
Inventors: Nei-Long Lyang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-08-15
Filing date: 2022-08-15
Publication date: 2024-02-15

Abstract

The patent application discloses a set of game cards and a method of playing composite. The method of playing a card game using one or more decks of cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols may comprise steps of setting up a challenge level of playing the card game; providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols and a plurality of spaces; randomly selecting a Mahjong tile having individual symbol corresponding to the plurality of spaces on the bingo card; and awarding an amount of prize when the player achieves a predetermined winning combination on the bingo card.

Description

The invention disclosure relates to game cards, and more particularly to gaming devices that include elements of Mahjong in game cards.

BACKGROUND

Mahjong is a Chinese game played by four players against one another. It is a game of skill, strategy, intelligence, calculation and luck. Depending on the variation, which is played, luck can be anything from a minor to a dominant factor in success. The object of the game is to build complete suits (usually of threes) from thirteen to sixteen tiles. The first person to achieve this goal is said to win the game. The game is very popular in Asia but has not attained the same level of popularity on other continents. One reason is the level of sophistication and complexity of the game. Another reason is the use of unfamiliar tiles which are not as well-known as other gaming props like playing cards or dice.
Conventional bingo is a well-known game. Players are provided with bingo cards that have a matrix of five rows and five columns. The columns are lettered BINGO from left to right across the top of the matrix and each bingo card has five numbers in each row except the center I column which has a “free space” at the intersection of the third row and the third column.
Bingo balls individually numbered 1-75 are mixed together and balls are selected one at a time. As each ball is selected, the number is announced to the players, who cover any corresponding number on their bingo card. When a player achieves a predetermined arrangement of covered spots on his bingo card, that player yells out “Bingo!” and he wins the game.
Bingo can be played as an amusement game, but it is quite popular as a form of gambling. Players purchase bingo cards for use during the bingo session and winning players receive payouts from the operator or gaming establishment. Typically, a bingo session includes a number of individual bingo games concluding with a coverall game in which a large prize is awarded. Some operators also offer a jackpot prize if the coverall is achieved within a fixed number of called numbers, e.g. 50.
There is a need to increase the player appeal of Mahjong incorporated into a bingo game.
It is a further object of the present invention to increase the popularity of mahjong by increasing the difficulty factor of getting a bingo, to allow for prizes high enough to attract players.
The relative lack of success of these games, and others, was based on their superficial attention to Asian culture, and their lack of combining the symbols used with playing methods that Chinese players were accustomed to. Embodiments of this invention address these and other issues in the prior art.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, one embodiment discloses a method of conducting a card game using one or more decks of cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols. The method comprises steps of setting up a challenge level of playing the card game; providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols and a plurality of spaces; randomly selecting a Mahjong tile having individual symbol corresponding to the plurality of spaces on the bingo card; and awarding an amount of prize when the player achieves a predetermined winning combination on the bingo card.
In yet another aspect, one embodiment discloses a method of playing a game of bingo. The method comprises steps of providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols with a plurality of spaces in a play of a bingo game; providing a plurality of Mahjong tiles; randomly selecting a Mahjong tile; and achieving a predetermined winning combination by a player on the bingo card when only Mahjong tiles have been selected.
Optionally in any aspect, the method comprises the step of awarding a prize to the first player who achieves a predetermined winning combination.
Optionally in any aspect, the method comprises the step of setting up a challenge level of playing the card game.
Optionally in any aspect, the challenge level comprises three levels of difficulties.
Optionally in any aspect, the first challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.
Optionally in any aspect, the second challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.
Optionally in any aspect, the third challenge level comprises five spaces on the bingo card.
Optionally in any aspect, the bingo card comprises 12 or 13 Mahjong tiles depicting Mahjong-type symbols depending on challenge levels.
In further another aspect, one embodiment discloses a kit for playing a game of bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols. The kit may comprise a set of playing cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols; and a mahjong set.
Optionally in any embodiment, the kit include a set of user instructions for playing the card games.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or the exemplary techniques, the drawings to be used in the embodiments or the description of the exemplary embodiments will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only certain embodiments of the present disclosure, and other drawings may be obtained according to the structures shown in the drawings without any creative work for those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a detailed diagram illustrating an example set of Mahjong tiles according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level one according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is another exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level one according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level two according one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level two according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is another exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level three according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows yet another exemplary Mahjong-bingo game card for level three according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows a method of playing a card game using one or more decks of cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 9 shows a method of playing a game of bingo cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols according to another embodiment.

The implementation, functional features and advantages of the present disclosure will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS

Definitions

The invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols, and reagents described herein because they may vary. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms and any acronyms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art in the field of the invention. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are described herein. The technical means, creative features, objectives, and effects of the patent application may be easy to understand, the following embodiments will further illustrate the patent application. However, the following embodiments are only the preferred embodiments of the utility patent application, not all of them. Based on the examples in the implementation manners, other examples obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The experimental methods in the following examples are conventional methods unless otherwise specified. The materials and reagents used in the following examples can be obtained from commercial sources unless otherwise specified.
Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, such as play cards, Mahjong tiles, and/or a marker, or an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.
Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, or otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction performance system, apparatus, or device. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with the computer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc.
Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions.
These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The Inventions

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices, such as game cards, and methods of operating gaming devices to incorporate elements of Mahjong game play. Mahjong is an ancient and popular game that originated in China and is common in various forms throughout Eastern Asia. The term “Mahjong” (or “Mah Jong”) is used in this document, as it is the most common form of spelling in roman characters, meant to represent the phonetic spelling of the Cantonese dialect for the term, whereas spelling for Mandarin in pin yin format would be Ma Jiang, the Chinese characters being
traditional Chinese, and
in simplified Chinese. The traditional Asian game of Mahjong consists of 144 tiles (although variations of the game sometimes contain more or fewer tiles). It is these symbols, and commonly recognized variations of these symbols, that are referred to in this invention.
FIG. 1 is a detailed diagram illustrating an example set of Mahjong tiles 100 according to embodiments of the invention. Images in this figure have been drawn by Jerry Crimson Mann and are used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Referring to FIG. 1 , the 144 Mahjong tiles are separated into Simple tiles, Honor tiles, and Bonus tiles. The words “tile” or “tiles” will be regularly used in this document, but other terms and/or objects could be used interchangeably, such as symbols, cards, plaques, graphic icons etc. to represent the images of the symbols used in the traditional Asian game of Mahjong for the purposes outlined in this document.
Embodiments of this invention are meant to provide unique games for enjoyment, which may be in social setting, family gathering, or in casino type environments (whether land based, sea based, server based, Internet type, or otherwise). These methods of play, incorporated with the use of Mahjong tiles, open up a new realm of games for potential offer to people. Application of these games could be, but is not limited to the following: table style gaming (in similar fashion to Blackjack or others), electronic gaming machines (slot machines), computer games (including but not limited to Internet style games), and hand held device style gaming (such as mobile phones, tablets, and PDAs or otherwise) as discussed below.
As discussed below embodiments, the present concept combines the traditional tiles of the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong with various features of traditional gaming devices to create a unique mix of games readily identifiable by Asian players with easily understood methodology and potentially meaningful payouts based on pay tables that resemble winning combinations within the actual game of Mahjong.
The advantages of the methods of gaming outlined in the embodiments discussed in this disclosure include symbol recognition with familiar game play elements. In addition, some embodiments of the present invention utilize all of the tiles used in the game of Mahjong instead of just including a few of them as art work as previously attempted. Other embodiments described herein take advantage of already popular game styles, such as bingo games, which players can associate with, but with the additional cultural association with the Mahjong tiles that are incorporated. For example, these combinations, sequences, or groupings of tiles may relate to the various traditional groupings used in Mahjong, such as “Chow” (sequence of suited tiles, such as 1, 2, and 3 of a particular suit), and/or “Pung” (three identical symbols of the same tile, such as 3 units of the single bamboo suit), or any other combinations or groupings. While these traditional groupings may be utilized on the bingo card, other embodiments of the invention may use completely different groupings, sequences, or sets to indicate a winning hand.
As shown in FIG. 2 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 200 for level 1 comprises five sets of three suits, such as suits 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, and one set of two suit, such as 260, for example. The suit 210 may include pictures of Mahjong tiles 212, 214, 216. Mahjong tile 212 shows three bamboos; Mahjong tile 214 shows four bamboos; Mahjong tile 216 shows blank space. Suit 220 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 222, 224, and 226. Both Mahjong tile 222 and 224 show green dragon. The Mahjong tiles 226 shows blank space. Suit 230 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 232, 234, 236. The picture of Mahjong tile 232 shows simple tile of Chines character, which in English means “twenty thousand”. The picture of Mahjong tile 234 shows simple tile of Chines character, which in English means “thirty thousand”. The picture of Mahjong tile 236 shows simple tile of Chinese character, which in English means “forty thousand”. The suit 230 is “Chow” because it is the sequence of suited tiles. Suit 244 comprises the pictures of Mahjong tiles 242, 244, and 246. The pictures of Mahjong tiles 242 and 246 shows simple tiles of 5 circles. The picture of Mahjong tile 244 shows blank space. Suit 254 comprises the pictures of Mahjong tiles 252, 254, and 256. The pictures of Mahjong tiles 252 and 256 shows pictures of honor tile of East. Suit 260 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 262 and 265. The pictures of Mahjong tiles 262 and 266 show pictures of green dragon. The suit 260 is a Pung because they are identical symbols of the same tiles.
As shown in FIG. 3 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 300 for level 1 comprises five sets of three suits, such as suits 310, 320, 330, 340, 350, and one set of two suit, such as suit 360. The suit 310 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 312, 314 and 316. The Mahjong tiles 312 and 314 show green dragons. The Mahjong tile 316 shows blank space. The suit 320 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 322, 324 and 326. The Mahjong tiles 322, 324, and 326 are simple tiles of Chinese character, which in English means “twenty thousand”. The suit 320 is “Pung” because they are identical symbols of the same tiles. The suit 330 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 332, 334 and 336. The Mahjong tiles 332 and 334 are honor tiles of white. The Mahjong tile 336 shows blank space. The suit 340 comprises pictures Mahjong tiles of 342, 344, and 346. The Mahjong tiles 342 and 346 are simple tiles of 5 circles. The Mahjong tile 344 shows blank space. The suit 350 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 352, 354, and 356. The Mahjong tiles 352 and 356 show green dragon. The Mahjong tile 354 shows blank space. The suit 360 comprises Mahjong tiles 362 and 366. The Mahjong tiles 362 and 366 are simple tiles of 6 bamboos. The suit 360 is a Pung because tiles 362 and 366 are identical symbols of the same tiles.
Similarly as shown in FIG. 4 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 400 for level 2 may comprise five sets of three suits, such as suits 410, 420, 430, 440, 450, and one set of two suit, such as suit 460. The suit 410 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 412, 414, and 416. The Mahjong tile 412 shows a simple tile of 2 bamboos. The Mahjong tile 414 shows a simple tile of 3 bamboos. The Mahjong tile 416 shows blank space. The suit 420 comprises tiles 422, 424, and 426. The Mahjong tiles 422 and 426 show blank spaces. The Mahjong tile 424 shows a simple tile of three circles. The suit 430 may comprise Mahjong tiles 432, 434, and 436. The Mahjong tiles 432, 434, and 436 may include honor tiles of south. The suit 430 is a Pung because they are identical symbols of the same tiles. The suit 440 comprises Mahjong tiles 442, 444, and 446. The Mahjong tile 442 shows simple tile of Chines character, which in English means “sixty thousand”. The Mahjong tile 444 shows simple tile of Chines character, which in English means “seventy thousand”. The Mahjong tile 446 shows simple tile of Chinese character, which in English means “eighty thousand”. The suit 440 is a “Chow” because it is the sequence of suited tiles. The suit 450 comprises Mahjong tiles 452, 454, and 456. The Mahjong tile 452 shows a simple tile of 7 circles. The Mahjong tile 454 shows blank space. The Mahjong tile 456 shows a simple tile of 9 circles. The suit 460 comprises Mahjong tiles 462 and 466. The Mahjong tiles 462 and 466 show green dragons. The suit 460 a “Pung” since the Mahjong tiles 462 and 466 show identical images.
As shown in FIG. 5 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 500 for level 2 comprises five sets of three suits, such as suits 510, 520, 530, 540, 550, and one set of two suit, such as 560, for example. The suit 510 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 512, 514, and 516. The Mahjong tile 514 shows a simple tile of three bamboos. The Mahjong tiles 512 and 516 show blank spaces. The suit 520 comprises Mahjong tiles 522, 524, and 526. The Mahjong tile 522 shows a simple tile of two circles. The Mahjong tile 524 shows a simple tile of three circles. The Mahjong tile 526 shows a simple tile of four circles. The suit 520 is a “Chow” because it is a sequence of suited tiles. The suit 530 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 532, 534, and 536. Mahjong tiles 532, 534 and 536 show honor tiles of white. The suit 530 is a Pung because tiles are identical symbols of the same tiles. The suit 540 comprise Mahjong tiles 542, 544, and 546. The Mahjong tile 542 shows blank space. The Mahjong tile 544 shows a simple tile of character, which in English means “seventy thousand”. The Mahjong tile 546 shows a simple tile of character, which in English means “eighty thousand”. The suit 550 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 552, 554, and 556. The Mahjong tile 552 shows a simple tile of 7 circles. The Mahjong tile 554 shows blank space. The Mahjong tile 556 shows a simple tile of 9 circles. The suit 560 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 562 and 566. Mahjong tiles 562 and 566 show green dragons. The suit 560 is a Pung because tiles are identical symbols of the same kind of tiles.
As shown in FIG. 6 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 600 for level 3 comprises five sets of three suits, such as suits 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, and one set of two suit, such as suit 660. The suit 610 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 612, 614, and 616. The Mahjong tiles 612 and 616 show a simple tile of character, which, in English, means “thirty thousand”. The Mahjong tile 614 shows a blank space. The suit 620 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 622, 624, and 626. The Mahjong tile 622 shows a simple tile of character, which, in English, means “forty thousand.” The Mahjong tile 626 shows a simple tile of character, which, in English, means “sixty thousand.” The suit 630 comprises Mahjong tiles 632, 634, and 636. The Mahjong tile 632 shows a simple tile of character, which, in English, means “sixty thousand.” The Mahjong tile 634 shows a simple tile of character, which, in English, means “seventy thousand.” The Mahjong tile 636 shows blank space. The suit 640 comprises Mahjong tiles 642, 644, and 646. The Mahjong tiles 642 and 644 show a simple character, which, in English, means “ninety thousand”. The Mahjong tile 646 shows blank space. The suit 650 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 652, 654, and 656. The Mahjong tiles 652 and 654 show honor tiles of East. The Mahjong tile 656 shows blank space. The suit 660 comprises tiles 662 and 666. The Mahjong tiles 662 and 666 show a simple character, which, in English, means “twenty thousand”. The suit 660 is a “Pung” because they are identical symbols of the same tiles.
As shown in FIG. 7 , the Mahjong-Bingo game card 700 for level 3 comprises five sets of three suits, such as suits 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, and one set of two suit, such as suit 760. The suit 710 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 712, 714, and 716. The Mahjong tile 712 shows a simple tile of two bamboos. The Mahjong tile 714 shows a simple tile of three bamboos. The Mahjong tile 716 shows blank space. The suit 720 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 722, 724, and 726. The Mahjong tile 722 shows a simple tile of 1 circle. The Mahjong tile 724 shows blank space. The Mahjong tile 726 shows a simple tile of three circles. The suit 730 comprises Mahjong tiles 732, 734, and 736. The Mahjong tiles 732 and 736 show honor tiles of white. The Mahjong tile 734 shows blank space. The suit 740 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 742, 744, and 746. The Mahjong tile 742 shows blank space. The Mahjong tile 744 shows a simple tile of Chinese character, which in English means “seventy thousand”. The Mahjong tile 746 shows a simple tile of Chinese character, which in English means “eighty thousand”. The suit 750 comprises Mahjong tiles 752, 754 and 756. The Mahjong tile 752 shows a simple tile of 7 circles. The Mahjong tile 754 shows a simple tile of 8 circles. The Mahjong tile 756 shows blank space. The suit 760 comprises pictures of Mahjong tiles 762 and 766. The Mahjong tiles 762 and 766 show green dragon. The suit 760 is a Pung because tiles 762 and 766 are identical symbols of the same tiles. Various other Mahjong-Bingo game cards are possible, not just five sets of three suits and one set of two suit. Game cards could include six, seven, eight, or more sets of three suits and more than one set of two suits, for example, which is a part of the present embodiment.
In one embodiment, a kit for playing a game of bingo cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols may comprise a set of playing cards, as shown in FIGS. 2-7 , and a Mahjong set, as shown in FIG. 1 .
In one embodiment, the kit may further include a set of user instructions for playing the card games. In one embodiment the Mahjong set comprises a plurality of tiles, which has a character printed on it on each tile, for example.
In one embodiment, the kit further comprises a marker or a pin that is used to be put on the plurality of spaces on the bingo cards.
As shown in FIG. 8 , a method 800 of playing a card game using one or more decks of cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols comprises steps of setting up a challenge level of playing the card game in step 810; providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols and a plurality of spaces in step 820; randomly selecting a Mahjong tile having individual symbol corresponding to the plurality of spaces on the bingo card in step 830; and awarding an amount of prize when the player achieves a predetermined winning combination on the bingo card in step 840.
In the method 800, the challenge level may comprise three levels of difficulties, a first challenge level, a second challenge level, and a third challenge level. The first challenge level may comprise four spaces, such as Mahjong tiles 216, 226, 244, 254 in FIG. 2 , Mahjong tiles 316, 336, 344, 354 in FIG. 3 . The second challenge level may comprise four spaces, such as Mahjong tiles 416, 422, 426, 454 in FIG. 4 ; Mahjong tiles 512, 516, 542, 554 in FIG. 5 . The third challenge level may comprise five spaces, such as Mahjong tiles 614, 624, 636, 646, and 656 in FIG. 6 ; Mahjong tiles 716, 724, 734, 742, and 756 in FIG. 7 .
The bingo card may comprise a total of about 17 pictures of Mahjong tiles, in which there are 12 or 13 Mahjong tiles depicting Mahjong-type symbols depending on challenge levels. In challenge level one, 13 Mahjong tiles 212, 214, 222, 224, 232, 234, 236, 242, 246, 252, 256, 262, and 266 depict Mahjong-type symbols as shown in FIG. 2 . In challenge level two, 13 Mahjong tiles 412, 414, 424, 432, 434, 436, 442, 444, 446, 452, 456, 462, and 466 depict Mahjong-type symbols as shown in FIG. 4 . In challenge level three, 12 Mahjong tiles 612, 616, 622, 626, 632, 634, 642, 644, 652, 654, 662, 666 show Mahjong-type symbols as shown in FIG. 6 .
The method 900 of playing a game of bingo may comprise steps of providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols with a plurality of spaces in a play of a bingo game in step 910; providing a plurality of Mahjong tiles in step 920; randomly selecting a Mahjong tile in step 930; and achieving a predetermined winning combination by a player on the bingo card when only Mahjong tiles have been selected in step 940.
Optionally the method 900 may further comprise steps of awarding a prize to the first player who achieves a predetermined winning combination; and setting up a challenge level of playing the card game.
For example, a player holds a bingo-Mahjong card 200 as shown in FIG. 2 . A caller may randomly select a Mahjong tile from a Mahjong set as shown in FIG. 1 and announce the character on the Mahjong tile. The player marks the space, such as 216, 226, 244, and 250, using the marker or pins on the bingo-Mahjong card that has a character, such as Mahjong tiles having 5 bamboos, green dragon, five circles, honor tile of East, respectively, corresponding to the one called. The player first marking all of the spaces on a bingo-Mahjong card corresponding to the pattern being used for that game wins.
For example, a player has a bingo-Mahjong card as shown in FIG. 3 and wins the game if the player first marks all spaces of 316, 336, 344, 354 when a caller announces Mahjong tiles of green dragon, honor tile of white, 5 circles, another green dragon respectively.
For example, a player has a bingo-Mahjong card as shown in FIG. 4 and wins the game if the player first marks all spaces of 416, 436, 444, 454 when a caller announces Mahjong tiles of 4 bamboos, 2 circles, 4 circles, 8 circles respectively or Mahjong tiles of 4 bamboos, 3 circles, 3 circles, and 8 circles, respectively.
The above shows and describes the basic principles, main features and advantages of the utility patent application. Those skilled in the industry should understand that the present utility patent application is not limited by the above-mentioned embodiments. The above-mentioned embodiments and the description are only preferred examples of the present utility patent application and are not intended to limit the present utility patent application, without departing from the present utility patent application. Under the premise of spirit and scope, the present utility patent application will have various changes and improvements, and these changes and improvements fall within the scope of the claimed utility patent application. The scope of protection claimed by the utility patent application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of playing a card game using one or more decks of cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols comprising:

a) setting up a challenge level of playing the card game;

b) providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols and a plurality of spaces;

c) randomly selecting a Mahjong tile having individual symbol corresponding to the plurality of spaces on the bingo card; and

e) awarding an amount of prize when the player achieves a predetermined winning combination on the bingo card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the challenge level comprises three levels of difficulties.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein a second challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a third challenge level comprises five spaces on the bingo card.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bingo card comprises 12 or 13 Mahjong tiles depicting Mahjong-type symbols depending on challenge levels.

7. A method of playing a game of bingo comprising:

a) providing a player with a bingo card depicting Mahjong-type symbols with a plurality of spaces in a play of a bingo game;

b) providing a plurality of Mahjong tiles;

c) randomly selecting a Mahjong tile; and

d) achieving a predetermined winning combination by a player on the bingo card when only Mahjong tiles have been selected.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising awarding a prize to the first player who achieves a predetermined winning combination.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising setting up a challenge level of playing the card game.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the challenge level comprises three levels of difficulties.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second challenge level comprises four spaces on the bingo card.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the third challenge level comprises five spaces on the bingo card.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the bingo card comprises 12 or 13 Mahjong tiles depicting Mahjong-type symbols depending on challenge levels.

15. A kit for playing a game of bingo cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols, comprising;

a set of playing cards depicting Mahjong-type symbols; and a mahjong set.

16. The kit of claim 15 further comprising a set of user instructions for playing the card games.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the mahjong set comprises a plurality of tiles.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the plurality of tiles has a character printed on it on each tile.

19. The kit of claim 17, wherein the bingo cards comprise a plurality of spaces.

20. The kit of claim 19 further comprises a marker that is used to be put on the plurality of spaces on the bingo cards.