WO2001036058A1

WO2001036058A1 - System and method for playing a card game

Info

Publication number: WO2001036058A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/000258
Authority: WO
Inventors: Naftali Merari
Original assignee: Naftali Merari
Priority date: 1999-11-18
Filing date: 2000-03-10
Publication date: 2001-05-25
Also published as: AU2934500A

Abstract

A system and method for playing a card game where the primary object of the game is to acquire more cards than your opponent without exceeding a predetermined point value limit. A dealer and at least one player are dealt two cards by the dealer, creating a player's hand and a dealer's hand. A player may elect to receive additional cards until the player's hand has a predetermined total point value no greater than 23. The dealer is required to receive additional cards if the dealer's hand has a predetermined total point value of 18 or less. The total point value and the total number of cards is determined for the dealer's hand and the player's hand. The participant with the largest total number of cards and a total point value that does not exceed 23 is declared the winner.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING A CARD GAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The timeless popularity of card games has reached even greater heights in

recent years due to legalized gambling in many states and the increasing number of

venues to play card games including casinos, cruise ships, personal computers, and

hand-held devices.

As described in U.S. Patent Re. 35,968 (Prerost), one of the most

popular card games is "Blackjack" or "21" where players attempt to acquire a total

point value ("TPV") as close to 21 without exceeding 21. To achieve the desired

goal, the player may elect to receive additional cards in order to increase the total

point value. Many variations on blackjack have been described which utihze different

and multiple point targets and other variations to the basic concept of the game. For

example, there are games utilizing two target values such as 7 and 27 where the

object is to get as close as possible to either target value.

U.S. Patent Re. 35,968 (Prerost) also describes a variation of blackjack

where players may elect to receive additional cards and replace those cards with a new

card for an additional wager. U.S. Patent Numbers 5,072,946 (Miller) and

5,275,415 (Wisted) describe blackjack games utilizing a target value of 22. U.S.

Patent 5,413,353 (Demarest) describes a method of playing blackjack where players

compete against each other rather than a dealer.

SUBS 111 UTE SHEET (RULE 26) Technology has expanded the forums, venues and opportunities for

playing card games. Most, if not all, popular card games are available in software

format for playing on a personal computer or a processor- based handheld device.

More recently, the popularity of and technology available for the Internet has further

increased the variations and possibilities for playing card games. For example, many

card games may now be played on the Internet against opponents located around the

world or around the corner. The increased popularity of Personal Digital Assistants

("PDAs") has further increased the availability of forums for playing card games.

Furthermore, it is now possible to connect these PDAs via wireless communication

and modems further increasing the opportunities for interactive card games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention provide a challenging and

enjoyable game that can be played in a variety of formats and venues. A system and

method for playing a game where the primary object of the game is to acquire more

cards (or other indicia of value) than your opponent without exceeding a

predetermined value limit. In a preferred embodiment, a dealer and at least one

player are dealt two cards each, creating a player's hand and a dealer's hand. A player

may elect to draw additional cards until the player's hand has a total value no greater

than the predetermined value limit (e.g., 23). In a preferred embodiment, the dealer

is required to draw additional cards if the dealer's hand has a total value of some

predetermined threshold number (e.g., 18) or less. Subsequently, the total value and

SUBS I I 1 U 1 b SHEET (RULE 26) the total number of cards is determined for the dealer's hand and the player's hand,

respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the participant with the largest total

number of cards with a total value that does not exceed the predetermined value

(e.g., 23) is declared the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many advantages, features, and applications of the invention will be

apparent from the following detailed description of the invention that is provided in

connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram symbolically illustrating various components of a

preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of the

invention implemented in a processor- based system; and

Figs. 3 A and 3B are flowcharts illustrating the operational flow of a

preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fir. 4 is an exemplary table layout for use with a preferred embodiment of

the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments and applications of the invention will now be

described with reference to Figs. 1-3. Other embodiments may be realized and

structural or logical changes may be made to the disclosed embodiments without

departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, a card distribution module 1 is established to

distribute cards forming a player's hand 3 and a dealer's hand 4, as illustrated in Fig.

1. A calculator module 2 is provided to determine and compare the total Point

Value ("TPV") and total number of cards ("TNC") of the player's hand 2 with the

dealer's hand 3 at the conclusion of the card game.

The term "card" or "value marker", as used herein, refers to any thing

(real or simulated) that can be assigned value such as a point value or series of point

values. The point value assigned to a card may be added to another card or series of

cards resulting in a total point value ("TPV") for the cards. In one embodiment,

"cards" refer to a standard deck of playing cards arranged in four suits designated as

hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades. Each suit consists of 13 cards, the first 9 of

which are assigned a face value in series ranging from 2-10. Three cards (jack, queen,

king) are assigned a face value of 10 while the ace is assigned a value of 1. A standard

deck of playing cards may also include one or more cards designated as the Joker that

may optionally be assigned a point value, preferably 0. Any number (or type) of

cards (or decks of cards) may be used, however, for illustration purposes eight (8)

standard decks of cards including the Joker card will be assumed herein. The cards may be physical units of any size or shape, adorned with any

graphic or text, and arranged in any manner desired. In yet another embodiment,

cards may be simulated or represented electronically through use of a computer

program, subroutine or instructions, and displayed on a computer monitor in the

form of an icon, avatar or any other visual or other sensory arrangement.

It is apparent to those of skill in the art that cards as described herein may

be assigned range of face values and arrangements and the invention as described

herein is not hmited in any way to cards assigned a particular value or series of values

in any particular arrangement.

The card distribution module, which in the preferred embodiment

represents "dealer," may be in the form of a person, a computer program,

subroutine, or set of instructions, or in any other form or format, electronic,

mechanical or organic, having the capability of distributing or assigning cards to

players. A player or dealer may receive or be assigned a card by "drawing" or

requesting assignment of a card from the dealer. In the case of a computer program,

subroutine, or instructions, the card distribution module may be displayed on a

computer monitor in any form or electronic representation, avatar, icon or any other

sensory arrangement.

A calculator module 2 is provided to determine and compare the TNC

and TPV of a player's hand 3 and the dealer's hand 4. The calculator module 2 may

be fully or partially integrated into the card distribution module 1 or may be provided as a completely separate unit. For example, a dealer may be both the card

distribution module 1 and the calculator module 2. Likewise, a computer program

may embody both the card distribution module 1 and the calculator module 2.

As shown in Fig. 2, a processor- based system 5 may be used to implement

a preferred embodiment of the card game. Preferably, one or more components are

coupled together using bus 6 (although alternative connection wired or wireless

schemes known in the art may also be used). As illustrated in Fig. 2, a central

processing unit (CPU) 7 is provided for execution of one or more computer

programs 12 stored in a recording medium such as memory 8. CPU 7 performs,

controls, or at least informs the various processing steps performed by the system in

sending and retrieving data to and from at least one user interface 10 and/or the

network 9. A user interface 10 may be connected to the bus 6 or remotely (user

interface 13) through network 9. Network 9 represents (wired or wireless)

connection of two or more devices, directly or indirectly connected (e.g., directly

coupling through cable, indirect coupling through one or more hubs or servers,

whether network 9 is local to processor- based system 5, geographically remote from

system 5, or a distributed combination of local/remote network components).

In operation, the illustrated embodiment described above allows the

system to execute a card game in accordance with the operational flow depicted in

Figures 3A and 3B in (steps S30 through S39). Figures 3A and 3B also describe a method of playing a card game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the

invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the card distribution module ("CDM")

assigns cards to each player and to itself (step S30). Each player may optionally

receive (i.e., "draw") additional cards from the CDM as long as the total value of the

cards in the player's hand is no greater than a first predetermined value, which in this

preferred embodiment is 23 (step S31 ). The CDM is preferably required to draw

additional cards repeatedly until the TPV of all cards in the dealer's hand equal or

exceed a second predetermined value, which in this preferred embodiment is 19 (step

S32). Alternatively, the CDM is not required to draw additional cards if the dealer

has already won the game as described below. The calculator module respectively

compares both the TPV and TNC of a player's hand with the TPV and TNC of the

dealer's hand (step S33) to determine an outcome, as shown in Figure 3B

(outcomes 01-03).

In a preferred embodiment, TPV(P) and TPV(D) are used to represent

the total point value of the player's hand and dealer's hand, respectively, as reflected

by the face value of the cards in the hands. TNC(P) and TNC(D) represent the total

number of cards in a player's hand and the dealer's hand, respectively.

If TPV(P) is greater than the first predetermined value (e.g., 23) (step

S34), then the dealer wins (Ol ). If TPV(P) is equal to TPV(D) and TNC(P) is equal

to TNC(D), (step S35), then neither party wins and a "push" (i.e., no winner) is

SUBSTΓΠΠΈ SHEET (RULE 26) declared (03). If TPV(P) is greater than TPV(D) (S36) and TNC(P) is greater than

or equal to TNC(D), (S37) then the player wins (02). If TPV(P) is greater than

TPV(D) (S36) and TNC(P) is less than TNC(D), (S37) then the dealer wins (Ol).

If TPV(D) is greater than the first predetermined value (e.g., 23), and

TPV(P) is less than or equal to the first predetermined value (e.g., 23) (S38), then

the player wins (02). If TPV(P) is less than TPV(D) (S36) and TNC (P) is greater

than the TNC(D), (S39) then the player wins (02). If TPV(P) is less than TPV(D)

(S36) and TPV(D) is less than or equal to the predetermined value, (e.g., 23) (step

S38), and TNC(P) is less than TNC(D) (S39), then the dealer wins (Ol ).

Variations on the above-described method and system can add additional

excitement to the card game of the invention, particularly the determination of

outcomes (01-03). In accordance with a preferred embodiment, players may place a

wager or a bet regarding the outcome of the game at the outset of the card game or

when receiving additional cards or at other various time points during the course of

the game.

Players may win the card game as described above resulting in a player

win. The dealer or the house may win the card game as described above resulting in

a dealer win. A player win may optionally result in a player receiving some multiple

(or in the alternative a fraction) of the value of the player's bet or wager. Receiving

payment as a result of a player's bet or wager is alternatively termed a "payout." In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a number of different payouts can result

from a player win, as illustrated in the following scenarios:

If the TPV(P) of each of the first two cards assigned or dealt to a player

are equal, then the player has the option of "sphtting" the cards to form two different

player hands. This technique is termed "splitting pairs," which increases the

probability that the player will receive a payout.

After the first two cards are dealt (i.e., separating) to a player, the player

has the option to double the player's initial bet or wager. This technique is known as

"doubling down" or "double down," and, in a preferred embodiment, allows the

player to draw only one additional card.

If a player wins with a TPV of 23 and a TNC of five or six, the player will

receive payment in some predetermined ratio (e.g., five to one) relative to the

player's bet or wager. This result is known as "Super 23."

In the preferred embodiment, a player wins with a TNC of seven and a

TPV of 23 or less, the player will receive payment in a predetermined ratio (e.g., 10

to one) relative to the player's bet or wager. This result is known as "7 Cards."

Optionally, the player wins with a TNC(P) of 7 regardless of the TNC(D). As shown

in Figure 4, a player may occupy a player station 14 while the CDM occupies the

dealer station 15. Slots 16 numbered 1 through 6 are provided at each player station

14 and players may place their first six cards in the corresponding numbered slot 16. The slot labeled "7 CARDS" 17 is prominently displayed to alert the player and

CDM when a player has obtained seven cards.

The following describes a result termed "under 5." If the total of the first

two cards dealt to a player has a TPV less than 5, the player wins and will receive

payment in a predetermined ratio (e.g., three to two). If the first two cards of both

the dealer's hand and the player's hand has a total TPV less than 5 no one is declared

the winner and the hand is "pushed". In a preferred embodiment, if the first two

cards assigned to the dealer have a total TPV under 5, the dealer wins unless the

player has a Super 23, or a 7 Cards, or some other designated result. Optionally, the

Joker card does not count towards TPV for purposes of an under 5.

In a preferred embodiment, the processor-based system and

corresponding methods shown and described in relation to Figures 2, 3 A and 3B

(alone or in conjunction with other devices or systems) can be used to implement the

scenarios illustrated above.

The system and method for playing a card game described herein may be

executed in a variety of venues and configurations. For example, the card game may

be played by hand in a casino with a dealer and at least one player in a manner similar

to blackjack and other related games. In addition, the card game may be played

using a computer where the computer acts as one or more of the card distribution

module, calculating module, and player(s). The card game may also be played with

players and the dealer assuming multiple roles such as players taking turns as a dealer. Alternatively, the card game may be played among multiple players wherein each

player's hand is compared with other player's hands to determine a winner.

The following examples are intended to further illustrate a preferred

embodiment of the invention. Numerous outcomes and payouts can be developed in

accordance with the invention.

SUBS 111 U I b SHEET (RULE 26) Example 1

In the following example, the TNC of the player's hand and dealer's hand

are identical. However, the TPV of the player's hand is greater than the TPV of the

dealer's hand and therefore, the player wins.

SUBSTΠTΠΈ SHEET (RULE 26) Example 2

In the following example, TPV(D) is greater than the TPV(P) and neither

the player or dealer's TPV exceeds 23. However, since TNC(P) is greater than

TNC(D), the player wins.

Example 3 Payout Schedule

The following table shows the payout for a wager of $ 1 under various

scenarios:

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and

illustrated, it should be apparent that many modifications to the embodiments and

implementations of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit or

scope of the invention. For example, the card game may be played via a network

connection (e.g., through Network 9 shown in Figure 2) with other players or the

dealer in a remote location. In a further embodiment the card game may be played systems. The card game may be embodied in a Java®-based program or similar

application and accessed by players via the Internet on various gaming sites such as

Yahoo!® and the like.

In yet another embodiment, the card game may be played on a hand-held

electronic device such as a Gameboy or other devices such as a personal digital

assistant device ("PDA"), a cellular phone, a pager or any other analog or digital

communication device, or using two or more such devices connected via a network

or a wireless connection.

The modules described herein, particularly those illustrated in Figs. 1 and

2, may be one or more hardware, software, or hybrid components residing in (or

distributed among) one or more local or remote computer systems. Although the

modules are shown as physically separated components, it should be readily apparent

that the modules may be combined or further separated into a variety of different

components, sharing different resources (including processing units, memory, clock

devices, software routines, etc.) as required for the particular implementation of the

embodiments disclosed herein. Indeed, even a single general purpose computer

executing a computer program stored on a recording medium to produce the

functionality and any other memory devices referred to herein may be utilized to

implement the illustrated embodiments. User interface device 10 and user interface

device 13 may be any device used to input and/or output information. The user

interface device 10 and user interface device 13 may be implemented as a graphical user interface (GUI) containing a display or the like, or may be a link to other user

input/output devices known in the art.

In addition, memory unit 8 and remote storage module 11 described

herein may be any one or more of the known storage devices (e.g., Random Access

Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), hard disk drive (HDD), floppy drive,

zip drive, compact disk-ROM, DVD, bubble memory, etc.), and may also be one or

more memory devices embedded within CPU 7, or shared with one or more of the

other components. The computer programs or algorithms described herein may

easily be configured as one or more hardware modules, and the hardware modules

shown may easily be configured as one or more software modules without departing

from the invention. Moreover, the operational flow and method shown in (and

described with respect to) Figures 3 A and 3B can be modified to include additional

steps, to change the sequence of the individual steps (e.g., inserting step S38 before

or immediately after step S34), as well as combining (or subdividing) the individual

steps shown and described in accordance with the invention. Numerous alternative

methods may be employed to produce the outcomes described with respect to the

preferred embodiments illustrated above or equivalent outcomes. Accordingly, the

invention is not Hmited by the foregoing description or drawings of preferred

embodiments of the invention, but is only limited by the scope of the appended

claims.

SUBS I H UTE SHEET (RULE 26)

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

(a) providing value markers, a dealer; and at least one player;

(b) dispensing value markers for the at least one player forming a player's hand;

(c) dispensing value markers for the dealer forming a dealer's hand;

(d) permitting drawing of additional value markers for the player's hand;

(e) permitting drawing of additional value markers for the dealer's hand; and

(f) determining an outcome based on the number of value markers dispensed.

2. A method of playing a game comprising the steps of:

(a) providing cards, a card distribution module; and at least one player;

(b) said card distribution module dispensing at least two cards for each player

forming a player's hand;

(c) said card distribution module dispensing at least two cards for said dealer forming

a dealer's hand;

(d) each of said players having the option of drawing additional cards until the cards

have a TPV no greater than 23; (e) said card distribution module being required to draw additional cards if TPV(D)

is 18 or less;

(f) determining TNC(P), TNC(D), TPV(P), and TPV(D);

(g) comparing TPV(P) with TPV(D);

(h) comparing TNC(D) with TNC(D); and

(i) determining an outcome.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of at least one player

placing at least one wager on the outcome of the card game.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said outcome is a dealer win if TNC(D) is

greater than the TNC(P) and TPV(D) is greater than TPV(P) but does not exceed a

predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said outcome is a player win if TNC(P) is

greater than the TNC(D) and TPV(P) is greater than TPV(D) but does not exceed a

predetermined value.

(j) The method of claim 2 wherein said outcome is a push if TNC(D) is equal to

TNC(P) and TPV(D) is equal to TPV(P) but does not exceed a predetermined

value.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of permitting said player

to split pairs if the TPV of each of the first two cards is the same.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of permitting said player

to double down followed by receiving assignment an additional card from said dealer.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein if TPV(P) is 23 and TNC(P) is greater than

or equal to five and TNC(P) greater than TNC(D) then the player will receive

payment in a ratio of five to one.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein if TNC(P) is seven and TNC(D) is less than

seven and TPV(P) is 23 or less then the player will receive payment in a ratio of 10 to

one.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein if the TPV(P) of the first two card assigned to

a player is less than 5, then the player will receive payment in a ratio of 3 to 2.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein if the TPV(D) of the first two cards assigned

to the dealer is less than 5, then the dealer wins.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein if the TPV(P) of the first two cards assigned

to a player is less than 5, and the TPV(D) of the first two cards assigned to the dealer

is under 5, then neither the dealer or the player is declared the winner.

13. An apparatus for playing a card game comprising:

(a) a card distribution module wherein said card distribution module assigns cards to

at least one player forming a player's hand and to said card distribution module

forming a dealer's hand; and

(b) a calculator module wherein TPV(P) is compared to TPV(D) and TNC(P) is

compared to TNC(D) and an outcome is determined.

14. A processor- based system for playing a card game comprising:

(a) a central processing unit; and

(b) a memory, wherein a computer program is stored in said memory for execution

by said processing unit to play a game comprising the steps of:

providing cards, a card distribution module, and at least one player;

said card distribution module assigning cards to a player's hand;

said card distribution module assigning cards to a dealer's hand;

each of said players having the option of obtaining additional assignment of

cards from said card distribution module until the cards have a first

predetermined TPV;

SUBS U I U l b SHEET (RULE 26) said card distribution module being assigned additional cards until the cards

have a second predetermined TPV;

determining TNC(P), TNC(D), TPV(P), and TPV(D);

comparing TPV(P) with TPV(D);

comparing TNC( D ) with TNC( D ) ;

determining an outcome; and

(c) at least one user interface.

15. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein the computer program is

executed remotely from the location of the players.

16. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein the computer program is

executed remotely from the location of said card distribution module.

17. The processor- based system of claim 14 further comprising a network.

18. The processor-based system of claim 17 wherein said network further

comprises a remote storage module.

19. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein said memory is accessed

through an Internet connection.

20. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein said memory is accessed

through a modem.

21. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein said computer program is

accessed through a wireless connection.

22. The processor- based system of claim 14 further comprising a PDA.

23. The processor-based system of claim 14 wherein said central processing unit is

located in a PDA.

24. The processor- based system of claim 14 wherein said memory is located in a

PDA.

25. The processor- based system of claim 24 wherein said memory is located in a

PDA.