WO2009155998A1

WO2009155998A1 - New card game

Info

Publication number: WO2009155998A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/058344
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Homan
Original assignee: Mark Homan
Priority date: 2008-06-28
Filing date: 2008-06-28
Publication date: 2009-12-30

Abstract

A card game played on a standard casino-type gaming table where patrons wager against a croupier representing the house. Each player will place a single initial wager and then be dealt a single card from a pre-arranged dealing shoe containing 8 shuffled decks of standard playing cards. The players will then in turn attempt to correctly predict if the next card to be dealt to their original card is higher or lower than his original card. Should he be correct he must then predict if the next card to be dealt to him is higher or lower than his second card. Receiving an ace, a card of the same rank or making a wrong guess will cause a player to lose. Should a player predict correctly twice, he will have accumulated three cards and will win his wager.

Description

New Card Game

Field.

[1] The invention is a new card game to be used in a gambling facility, i.e as a casino table game, a video gaming/ slot machine or an online gambling website. Background.

[2] Casino games come in a wide variety of formats. They may use cards, dice or spinning wheels but all have the common factor of a plurality of players wagering against the house on an unknown outcome of some game of chance. Modern casinos are limited in their choice of which table games to offer players as very few games offer the right combination of ease of operation, acceptable house advantage and simplicity with excitement and anticipation for the player. This game fulfils all the requirements that a good casino game must have.

[3] The purpose of a casino table game is to provide an enticing game which can reward the participant financially on occasion whilst maintaining a small constant advantage to the house (called the house advantage or edge). A new game needs to satisfy multiple requirements before it can be deemed desirable to a casino operator. A new game must be at least as profitable as an existing game as well as simple for staff and customers to learn and be simple to install and operate. Explanation of how the game is desirable to casinos:

[4] The game has a built in house advantage of 2.67%. This means over many hands a player will lose an average of 2.67% of his wager per round. This is extremely competitive as it offers a fair prospect to the player whilst maintaining a good income for the casino. An advantage of 2.67% is perfectly placed between the requirements of the gambling players and of the casino.

[5] Simplicity is a key factor of this game. It is fast and simple for players and staff to learn. All bets are paid at even money so there are no difficult calculations for the croupiers to perform. Casino staff already trained in card and chip handling can learn the game and be dealing it in the casino within the same day.

[6] The game is played on a standard size blackjack table. A casino operator can install the game in a venue very easily by simply replacing the cloth on an existing blackjack table with the cloth required by this game. The game requires only one dealer and is quick and easy to conduct. Up to seven players can be accommodated on one table with options for back betting (subject to local regulations) being available. Detailed description of gameplay.

[7] Upon placement of an initial wager, a player or players will be dealt one card in turn.

The player furthest to the dealers left will then attempt to predict that the next card to be dealt to their first card is higher or lower than his existing first card. Should the player guess incorrectly, receive a card of the same rank or receive an ace, his game is over and his wager is lost. Should he guess correctly, the process is repeated once more and should the player be correct in his second prediction he will have accumulated three cards and will win his wager. His bet will be paid at even money, that is a $10 bet would be paid $10 in winnings.

[8] Further to the description above, the game possesses extra rules that apply upon the placement of the first card:

[9] Rule 1: Change card. The player, if he wishes, may, on his turn, reject his first card and have it replaced by the next card from the dealing shoe. For example, should the players first card be a seven, which is clearly hard to correctly guess higher or lower than, he can change his card for free, no extra bet is required. Should he change his card, the new card must be played as explained in the detailed description above. Rules 2 and 3 below are available for the replacement card.

[10] Rule 2: Double. The player may double his wager after the first card is dealt to him.

Should he go on to accumulate three cards by following the method detailed above, he will win and his total wager be paid at even money. Should he fail to accumulate three cards by guessing incorrectly once or being dealt an ace or a card of the same rank as the preceeding card in his hand once his game is over and he will lose the total wager.

[11] Rule 3: Aces. Aces are ranked as both the highest and the lowest card. Thus should a player receive an ace as his first card, the next card is given without needing a prediction from the player. This is because any card except another ace will allow the player to remain in the game. This incidence is called "free card". If the players second card is another ace, he will lose. The double option is available as normal after the player receives his first card, in this case an ace. Side Bet.

[12] The concept of a side bet is very important in casinos as both a revenue booster and as an enticement to players. A side bet is an optional extra wager placed in addition to and at the same time as the main or original wager. The outcome of the side bet is independent of that of the original bet, i.e one or both or none of the original and side bets may win. Details of Side Bet.

[13] The objective of the game is to accumulate three cards. If the three cards gained by a successful player form a poker hand such as a straight (sequence of three cards e.g 234, A23) or a flush ( three cards in the same suit) or a straight flush (three cards in suit and sequence), a side bet wagered upon this eventuality would win. Should the third card cause a players main bet to lose but also form a poker hand as described here, the side bet would win whilst the original would lose. Thus a player may win one , both or none of his wagers. Payout odds can be set by a casino operator depending upon his requirements, but the concept of a poker hand side bet remains as part of the new card game.

Claims

[1] The new card game is not an adaptation or modification of an existing game. It is new and separate from related prior art. Protection is sought for the method and operation of this gambling game, herein referred to as "New Card Game", which consists of a player twice predicting if a dealt standard playing card is higher or lower than the preceeding card. Protection is also sought for the unique options offered upon receiving the first card, and of the poker hand side bet.