CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/098,814, filed Dec. 31, 2014 and entitled â€œA Casino Card Gameâ€ ; and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/099,361, filed Jan. 2, 2015, and entitled â€œA Casino Card Gameâ€ , the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as though set forth fully herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for playing a game of chance, and more particularly, toward a method and system for playing a casino card game of chance.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Games of chance are well-known activities whose outcomes are strongly influenced by randomizing devices and upon which contestants may wager money as they forecast outcomes. Games of chance have been played throughout all of human history, and are considered popular pastimes by many. Players of games of chance are attracted to new and exciting methods of game play. Therefore, there remains a need for new and interesting method and system for playing games of chance that maintain player interest and attract new players.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a card game of chance that is more exiting for users to play.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a card game of chance that allows players more opportunities to win.

In accordance with the above and the other aspects of the present disclosure, a method of playing a card of chance is provided. The card game of chance includes at least one player and a dealer. The game includes providing a plurality of playing cards each having a value and a suit and a color. The game of change includes a playing surface having at least one player position and one dealer position wherein the player position of the playing surface includes at least a change up card indicia, at least a first primary card indicia, and an ante indicia. The dealer position of the playing surface includes at least one dealer card indicia. According to the method an ante wager consisting of a betting currency on the ante indicia. A first primary card is dealt to the player on the first primary card indicia in a manner so as to conceal the value of the first primary card from the player and dealer. A change card is dealt to the player on the change up card indicia in a manner so as to conceal the value of the change card from the player and dealer. A dealer card is dealt to the dealer on the dealer card indicia in a manner so as to conceal the value of the dealer card from the player and the dealer. The first primary card of the player is exposed. The player either plays the first primary card by making a first prediction of whether the dealer card is higher or lower than the first primary card, or substitutes the first primary card with the change card and makes a second prediction of whether the change card is higher or lower than the dealer card. The value of the dealer card is exposed. Declaring the player a loser if at least either of the first and second predictions are incorrect. Declaring the player a winner if a predetermined number of the predictions are correct. If the player is declared a winner, they are awarded a first predetermined proportion of the ante wager if the player played the change card and awarding the player a second predetermined proportion of the ante if the player did not play the change card.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other aspects of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary playing surface that can be used with a method and system for playing a game of chance in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a player position that may be included on the playing surface of FIG. 1 in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart presenting a method of playing a game according to an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic table presenting winning combinations of poker hands and corresponding payouts that can be used with the method and system for playing a game according to an aspect of the disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration and an exemplary playing surface that can be used with a method and system for playing a game of chance in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a method and system for playing a casino game of chance upon which players may place wagers upon the outcome is disclosed. More specifically, the disclosed method is a method of playing a casino card game.

FIG. 1 presents an exemplary embodiment of a playing surface 10 on which the disclosed game may be played. According to an aspect, the playing surface may present three player positions 12 and one dealer position 14. It should be appreciated that the playing surface 10 may be configured to include any number of player positions 12 to allow any number of players to participate in the game. The player positions 12 may be represented in a variety of different ways. The playing surface 10 may be configured to receive a plurality of playing cards 16, which can be utilized with the disclosed method and system. The cards may be a standard deck consisting of fifty two (52) individual cards. However, a variety of other decks of cards can be employed including custom decks.

The game may alternatively be played in an electronic gaming environment, whereby the playing surface may be presented on a display screen of a computer implemented device. This may be configured as an electronic gaming machine like video poker machines found in regulated gaming establishments, a personal computer, a hand-held device running software from the internal memory or the Internet, or by other suitable methods, including any combination of the above. For example, the method may be configured as a combination of a physical playing surface together with an electronic gaming environment. According to an aspect, in an electronic or virtual environment, the playing cards may be displayed as images of playing cards on the display screen, whereas in a tangible application, the playing cards 16 may comprise physical playing cards 16 which are handled by players in physically.

As best shown in FIG. 2, according to an aspect, each player position 12 of the playing surface 10 can present a change-up card indicia 18, a first primary card indicia 20, a second primary card indicia 22, and a third primary card indicia 24, each for receiving at least one playing card. Each player position 12 can also present an ante indicia 26 and a poker bonus indicia 28, each for receiving betting chips or other forms of betting currency. Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. 1, the dealer position 14 can include a dealer card indicia 30 for receiving a playing card. It will be appreciated that in an electronic environment, the wagers may be placed and resolved electronically.

In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of playing cards 16 may consist of six 52-card decks of conventional playing cards, however, more or less playing cards 16 could be used. As is known in the art, each of such conventional playing cards 16 may have a value, a suit and a color. It is anticipated that other types of playing cards having different indicia could be used. A shoe 32 (schematically shown) may be disposed on the playing surface 10 for containing and dispersing the playing cards 16. Other suitable devices may be used for containing and dispersing the playing cards 16. For example, card shuffling devices such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,669,853 may also be employed.

FIG. 3 schematically presents the steps of the exemplary embodiment of the method according to an aspect of the disclosure. According to an aspect, the plurality of playing cards 16 can be provided at step 34 and may be subsequently shuffled at step 36. The playing cards 16 can then be stored in the shoe 32 at step 38, from which they may be distributed in the manner set forth below.

At step 40, each of the players must make an ante wager and a poker bonus wager. In the exemplary embodiment, one or more chips representing the player's ante wager may be placed on the ante indicia 26 corresponding to their player position, and one or more chips representing the player's bonus wager may be placed on the poker bonus wager indicia 28 corresponding to their player position. It is anticipated that the players could make ante and poker bonus wagers of that are equal values although the amount of these wagers could vary.

According to an aspect, the method continues at step 42 wherein a first primary card, a second primary card and a third primary card may be dealt from the shoe 32 to each player in a manner so as to conceal the value of the primary cards from the players and the dealer. The first primary card may be placed on the first primary card indicia 20, the second primary card on the second primary card indicia 22, and the third primary card on the third primary card indicia 24. According to an aspect and as shown in FIG. 5, the first primary card indicia 20 can include an upper box 100, which reflects a prediction by the player that the first primary card will be higher than the dealer's card, as discussed below. The first primary card indicia can also include a lower box 102, which reflects a prediction by the player that the first primary card will be lower than the dealer's card. According to another aspect, the second primary card indicia 22 can include an upper box 104 and a lower box 106 to reflect the player's prediction that the second primary card will be higher or lower than the dealer's card. According to a further aspect, the third primary card indicia 24 can include an upper box 108 and a lower box 110 to reflect the player's prediction that the third primary card will be higher or lower than the dealer's card.

Likewise, the method proceeds at step 44 with dealing a change card from the shoe 32 to each player in a manner so as to conceal the value of the change card from the players and the dealer. According to an aspect, this can be accomplished by placing a card face down on the player's change up indicia. Further, at step 46 one dealer card may be dealt to the dealer from the shoe 32 in a manner so as to conceal the value of the dealer card from the player and the dealer. The change card may be placed on the change card indicia 18 and the dealer card placed on the dealer card indicia 30.

In the exemplary embodiment, the following steps 48-84 may be performed for each player in a predetermined order. They can be performed such that they are executed for a first player prior to being performed for a second player. The order of players in which these steps are executed is predetermined based upon the seating arrangement of the players, however, the order could be chosen in other ways.

According to an aspect, the value of the first primary card may be revealed at step 48 by turning it over to reveal its indicia. At step 50, the player can proceed by selecting to play the first primary card (step 52) or by selecting to play the change card (step 54). If the player proceeds by playing the first primary card, the player can then make a prediction of whether the indicia of the dealer card is higher or lower than the indicia of the first primary card by sliding the first primary card to either the upper box 100 or the lower box 102. If the player proceeds by playing the change card, the player can substitute the first primary card with the change card, and makes a prediction of whether the indicia of the player change card is higher or lower than the indicia of the dealer card by placing the change card in the upper box 100 or the lower box 102 depending upon their prediction.

According to an aspect, the value of the second primary card is revealed at step 56. Akin to step 50, at step 58 the player proceeds by electing to play the second primary card (step 60), or by playing the change card (step 62) if they have not already done so. If the player proceeds by playing the second primary card, the player can make a prediction of whether the indicia of the dealer card is higher or lower than the indicia of the second primary card by placing the second primary card in either the upper box 104 or the lower box 106 to reflect their prediction. If the player proceeds by playing the change card, the player can substitute the second primary card with the change card and makes a prediction of whether the indicia of the change card is higher or lower than the indicia of the dealer card by placing the change card in either the upper box 104 or the lower box 106. The change card may only be played once per round per player, therefore, if the player elected to play the change card at step 54, they may not play it at step 62.

According to another aspect, the value of the third primary card may be revealed at step 66. Akin to steps 50 and 58, at step 66 the player proceeds to play the third primary card (step 68), or to proceed by playing the change card (step 70). If the player elects to proceed by playing the third primary card, the player can make a prediction of whether the indicia of the dealer card is higher or lower than the indicia of the third primary card by placing the third primary card in either the upper box 108 or the lower box 110 depending upon their prediction. If the player proceeds by playing the change card, the player can substitute the third primary card with the indicia of the change card and makes a prediction of whether the change card is higher or lower than the indicia of the dealer card by placing the change card in the upper box 108 or the lower box 110 to reflect their prediction. Again, since the change card may only be played once per round per player, if the player elected to play the change card at steps 54 or 62, they may not play it at step 70.

According to an aspect, the value of the dealer card is revealed at step 72. If the change card was not played in steps 54, 62 or 70, then the value of the change card is also revealed at step 72. At step 74, it is determined if any of the predictions made by the player were incorrect. If any of the predictions were incorrect, the player is designated a loser and forfeits their ante (step 76). In determining whether the dealer card is higher or lower than the primary card, in the exemplary embodiment, deuces must be considered to be low and aces must be considered to be high. Furthermore, if the primary card and the dealer card are determined to have the same value, the player may be considered to have made an incorrect prediction. It is also anticipated that this could result in a push.

According to another aspect, if it is determined that all of the predictions made by the player were correct, the player may be designated a winner and awarded a predetermined ratio of their ante wager (step 78). More specifically, according to the exemplary embodiment, if the player is designated a winner and played the change card at one of steps 54, 62 or 70, then the player is awarded an amount equal to a 1:1 ratio of their ante wager. On the other hand, if the player is designated a winner and elected not to play the change card at one of steps 54, 62 or 70, then the player is awarded an amount equal to a 3:2 ratio of their ante wager. It is anticipated that other predetermined ratios of the ante wager could also be awarded.

According to a further aspect, the method proceeds by playing a poker bonus wager aspect of the game embodied in steps 80-84. In step 80, it may be determined if the player has a winning combination of the change card and the first, second and third primary cards according to a predetermined criteria. In the exemplary embodiment, the predetermined criteria may be based upon a plurality of poker hands which are presented in FIG. 4. Other criteria could be used, which may include other poker hand combinations.

If it is determined that the player does not have a winning combination, the poker bonus wager is forfeited (step 82). If it is determined that the player has a winning combination, a predetermined proportion of the player's poker bonus wager is rewarded based upon another predetermined criteria (step 84), also presented in FIG. 3.

According to an aspect and as shown in FIG. 4, the minimum qualifying four card poker hand is a pair of fives. If the player who places a wager in the poker bonus wager indicia 28 does not have a hand with a pair of 5s or better, they lose the amount of their poker bonus wager that was placed in the poker bonus wager indicia 28. If the player who places a wager in the poker bonus wager indicia 28, and has a hand of a pair greater than a pair of 5s, they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 1:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a hand of two pair, they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 2:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a hand consisting of three of a kind (trips), they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 3:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a four card poker hand consisting of a straight, they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 5:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a hand consisting of a flush, they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 6:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a hand consisting of a straight flush, they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 30:1 on the amount of their wager. If a player who placed a poker bonus wager has a hand consisting of four of a kind (quads), they are declared a winner and paid at a ratio of 50:1 on the amount of their wager.

In the exemplary embodiment, the poker bonus wager aspect of the game is played regardless of whether the player won the ante wager aspect of the game of steps 48-78, however, it is anticipated that the poker bonus wager aspect could alternatively be played only under the circumstances in which the player was designated a winner of the ante wager aspect of the game of steps 48-78.

Upon the completion of either steps 82 or 84 by any given player, the method proceeds with step 48 for an additional player (if other players remain). Once all of the players have advanced through step 82 or 84, a round is complete, and the method may proceed by repeating step 40 and subsequent steps. After a predetermined number of rounds are completed, the method proceeds to step 36, wherein the cards are re-shuffled and redistributed prior to beginning another round.

Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the orders in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed.

The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The specification and illustrations are not intended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such that a structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any sub combination. Further, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover any and all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.