U.S. patent application number 10/627450 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for gaming device and method displaying symbols in a polygon arrangement.
Invention is credited to Mayeroff, Jason M..
Application Number | 20040058725 10/627450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31997630 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040058725 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mayeroff, Jason M. |
March 25, 2004 |
Gaming device and method displaying symbols in a polygon
arrangement
Abstract
A device and method are set forth where Poker hands are selected
and displayed in positions of the sides of a polygon. Hands share
cards with hands of adjacent sides. The game may be played in a
stud fashion or in a draw Poker fashion. Awards may be given based
upon the constituency of each five card hand as well as the
constituency of cards of adjacent hands, e.g. a 7 card straight
flush.
Inventors: |
Mayeroff, Jason M.;
(Bangkok, TH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Anderson & Morishita, L.L.C.
Suite 102
2725 S. Jones Blvd.
Las Vegas
NV
89146
US
|
Family ID: |
31997630 |
Appl. No.: |
10/627450 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60402982 |
Aug 12, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
A63F 2001/005 20130101; G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/013 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
1. An improved electronic gaming device of the type having a video
display, a computer processor to control the device and display, a
first data structure storing data representing each card of at
least one deck of playing cards for the game and a wager acceptor,
the improvement comprising: said processor configured to randomly
select from said data structure and display at least N five card
hands, each arranged on a side of a polygon having N sides,
adjacent hands sharing at least one card at the corner intersection
thereof; a second data structure storing data corresponding to hand
winning outcomes and awards; said processor configured to compare
each hand N to said data structure and for each winning outcome
issue a corresponding award.
2. The improved device of claim 1 further comprising a player input
device configured for the player to select none, one or more cards
of a hand N to discard and replace, said processor configured to
select and display data representing a replacement card for each
discarded card to define a final hand and compare each final hand N
to said data structure and for each winning outcome issue a
corresponding award.
3. The improved device of claim 1 comprising N.gtoreq.3.
4. The improved device of claim 1 comprising said processor
configured to compare each five card set of cards on said sides to
said second data structure.
5. The improved device of claim 1 comprising said first data
structure including data sets representing a full deck of cards for
each side N and said processor randomly selecting for each hand
cards from the corresponding side card data set.
6. The improved device of claim 1 further comprising a player input
device configured for the player to select none, one or more cards
from any hand N, said selected card reproduced at each corner of
the polygon, said processor configured to control the display to
remove the other cards and to select and display replacement cards
for the removed cards to define at least N final hands and to
compare each hand N to said data structure and for each winning
outcome issue a corresponding award.
7. The improved device of claim 6 comprising the player selecting
at least three cards.
8. A method for a player to play a video Poker game comprising:
providing a game processor and a video display; the player making a
wager to play N hands, where N>3, and prompting play;
configuring the processor to select and display the N hands, each
of at least five playing cards, at the display in a polygon pattern
with N sides, each hand on displayed along a side and each hand
sharing at least one card; and comparing the combinations of cards
for each hand to a predetermined schedule of winning holdings and
if any hand is a winning holding issuing an award to the
player.
9. The method of claim 8 comprising the player, for at least one
hand, selecting one or more cards to discard, the processor
selecting and displaying replacement cards for each discarded card.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a utility conversion application of
prior filed and commonly owned provisional application Ser. No.
60/402,982 file Aug. 12, 2002 and titled "Gaming Device and Method
Displaying Symbols In A Polygon Arrangement".
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to electronic Poker games and
devices therefor.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Video Poker is a well known game played using and electronic
device such as computer with a display, a hand-held device or with
a dedicated, video Poker gaming machine. In that the play of basic
video Poker is the same whether it is played with a hand held,
electronic novelty device, with a computer, through the Internet or
with a dedicated gaming machine, the following description is
primarily directed to a dedicated, video Poker gaming or video
lottery machine of the type found in casinos.
[0004] To play the game according to the prior art, the player
makes a wager by any suitable means such as by wagering credits,
inserting tokens or the like. Once the wager is made the machine is
prompted for play whereupon the processor for machine randomly
selects from data representing a deck of playing cards, data
representing ten playing cards. This data need is not arranged in
any order and typically is configured as a data string representing
the cards of the deck in no particular order. From this randomly
selected data, five playing cards are displayed in a straight row
representing the initial holding and the data for the remaining
five cards is held in inventory. The player, using a touch screen
on the game display or buttons on the machine or other input means
such as a keyboard or mouse, selects which cards to discard, if
any, from the initial holding. The data representing the discarded
cards is replaced with the inventoried data and the replacement
cards are displayed. The final hand is (with or without replacement
cards) is compared to a schedule of winning hands based on the
ranking of hands of Poker. If the player has a winning final hand,
they are paid based upon their wager. If they do not have a winning
hand, their wager is lost. After determination of the outcome of
the hand, the player makes another wager and plays the next hand
according to the above.
[0005] It is further known to provide games according to the above
based upon a Deuces Wild, Joker's wild and Joker's and Deuces wild
format. It has also been known to display and play multiple hands
such as described in Moody, U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,873 titled "Method
of Playing Electronic Video Poker Games".
[0006] There is a need for new and improved games for video Poker
which have new and entertaining displays, which involves the play
of multiple hands arranged new and entertaining patterns and
wherein one or more cards can be shared by different Poker hands on
the display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] There is, therefore, set forth according to the present
invention a device and method which presents the play of multiple
hands of Poker inn a new and entertaining display-form which also
provides for hands to share cards.
[0008] Accordingly an improved method and electronic gaming device
of the type having a video display, a computer processor to control
the device and display, a first data structure storing data
representing each card of at least one deck of playing cards for
the game and a wager acceptor is set forth which further includes
that the processor is configured to randomly select from said data
structure and display at least N five card hands at the display.
Each hand is arranged on a side of a polygon having N sides,
adjacent hands sharing at least one card at the corner intersection
thereof. A second data structure stores data corresponding to hand
winning outcomes and awards. This data may instead be stored in the
first data structure. The processor is configured to compare each
hand N to said data structure and, for each winning outcome, issue
a corresponding award.
[0009] In one embodiment N=3 whereby the polygon is a triangle. In
another embodiment, the device further comprises a player input
device configured for the player to select none, one or more cards
of one or more hands N to discard and replace. The processor is
further configured to select and display data representing a
replacement card for each discarded card to define final hands and
compare each final N hands to said data structure and for each
winning outcome issue a corresponding award.
[0010] As can be appreciated, the present invention provides for
cards of hands to be shared and also for the player to discard and
replace. This game presents the players with unique displays, e.g.
hands arranged in a square or triangular pattern as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of a device for playing one
illustrative embodiment of the game; and
[0012] FIG. 2 shows another example of a device for playing another
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] Turning to the drawing there is shown a device 10 for
playing an embodiment of the game according to the present
invention. The device includes a housing 12 which contains a game
processor 13 of known design as well as, if desired a coin hopper
and coin dispensing mechanism (not shown). The housing 12 also
supports a game display 14 which is controlled by the game
processor 13 as hereinafter described. Preferably the display 14 is
a touch screen display so that the player may touch the screen to
provide input to the processor 13. Disposed on the housing 12 may
be a cash validator 16 or known construction and adapted to read
and validate cash inserted therein to accumulate gaming credits,
which are shown at a credit meter 18. In lieu of cash or script,
the device 10 may accept coins at a coin acceptor 20 to make wagers
or accumulate game credits.
[0014] To input wagers to play a hand of play of the game according
to the present invention, the player may depress a Bet Max button
22 which prompts the processor 13 to debit the maximum amount
permitted to be wagered, e.g. 15 credits for three hands, and
accept that as the wager as well as prompt play of the hands of
play as hereinafter described. Alternatively the player may wager
any amount by repeatedly depressing a Bet One button 24 or by
touching a Bet One icon 26 displayed on the touch screen display
14. A bet meter 28 registers the amount being wagered by the player
for a hand of play.
[0015] If the player has wagered the maximum amount permitted, e.g.
5 credits/coins/tokens per hand, play of a hand is automatically
prompted by the game processor. Otherwise, where the player has
wagered less than the permitted maximum, the player prompts play by
depressing a deal/draw button 30 or deal/draw icon 32 on the
display 14.
[0016] When a wager has been made and play prompted. the processor
13 randomly selects cards for the hands of play from a first data
structure 30 storing data representing each card of a randomly
shuffled standard deck of fifty-two playing cards and controls the
display 14 to display the hands in a polygon pattern as shown in
the drawing. It should be noted that where the desired display is a
triangle as shown, the processor 13 randomly selects nine cards for
the polygon arrangement of three game hands, i.e. Hand 1, Hand 2
and Hand 3. Each of the game hands is disposed along a side of the
polygon and at least two of the game hands share a common card.
Thus the display 12 may display the game hands as:
1 Q Hand 1 K 4 Hand 2 7 5 5 Q 5 Q Hand 3
[0017] Viewing the polygon (triangle) counter-clockwise from the
apex;
2 Hand 1 Q K 7 5 Q (shown in bold) Hand 2 7 5 Q 5 Q Hand 3 5 Q 5 4
Q
[0018] As can be seen each hand on an adjacent side shares at least
one card. Using the touch screen display 14, the player for each
hand may selects cards to hold. For example the player may hold
cards (shown as cards with the "H" notation) for each of the hands
as follows:
3 Hand 1 Q K 7 5 Q H H H Hand 2 7 5 Q 5 Q H H H H Hand 3 S Q 5 4 Q
H H H H
[0019] The player would then prompt the processor 13 to remove the
discarded cards (those not held) and to display replacements
therefor resulting in a display such as suggested below.
4 Q Hand 1 K 5 Hand 2 Q 5 5 Q 5 Q Hand 3
[0020] The hands, with replacements would then have the following
final holdings:
5 Hand 1 Q K Q 5 Q (Three Queens) Hand 2 Q 5 Q 5 Q (Full House)
Hand 3 5 Q 5 5 Q (Full House)
[0021] The processor 13 compares each hand to data representing a
predetermined schedule of winning hands and corresponding pays
based upon the tradition rankings of hands of Poker stored in a
second data structure 32. If any hand has a winning outcome the
player receives a pay based upon their wager. The pay schedule may
differ but the following is an example of a pay tale based upon a
five unit wager.
6 Pay Schedule Royal Flush 4000 Straight Flush 250 Four of a Kind
125 Full House 45 Flush 30 Straight 25 Three of a Kind 15 Two Pair
10 Pair of Jacks or Better 5
[0022] After the processor 13 has determined and paid any winning
hands, the player would have another opportunity to make a new
wager to play another three hand set.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the game is
shown. Like components have like reference numerals.
[0024] Like the embodiment described above, upon prompting of play
the processor 13 randomly selects and displays twelve cards
representing three five-card hands arranged and displayed in a
triangle form. Each of the hands shares two cards (the cards at the
corners of the triangle) with the other two hands. Thus Hand 1
shares the corner cards with Hands 2 and 3 and so forth. Thus the
sharing of the cards at the corners of the triangle polygon
presents various strategy challenges to the player as described
above.
[0025] It should be understood that while in the following example
a polygon-form of a triangle was used, that the present invention
is suitable for other polygon forms such as squares (four sides)
and other polygons. For example, a square display of four hands may
be as follows:
7 Q Hand 1 J 5 7 J 10 Hand 2 A K 2 4 Hand3 A 7 10 6 7 Hand 4 9
[0026] As shown each five card hand shares at least one common card
with another hand. Thus the player must exercise a degree of
strategy in regards to holding any shared cards. Further, if any
shared cards are discarded, the replacement will be for the two
sharing hands.
[0027] Still further it should be understood that the game and
device of the present invention may be played in a "Deuces Wild",
"Joker's Wild" (53 card deck), "Deuces and Jokers Wild", Double
Joker, One-eyed Jacks Wild format.
[0028] The arrangement of the hands in a polygon can also provide
for bonuses such as 6 or 7 card flushes or straight flushes in
addition to the holding os the five card hands. That is, the second
data structure 32 may include 7-card winning hands as well.
[0029] It should also be understood that the pattern of hands may
be changed from that described above and may define hands of more
or fewer than five cards, e.g. 7-card hands. The game could also be
played in a Stud Poker format where the player is not permitted to
replace cards. Also, each hand may be dealt from a separate deck
which can result in holdings of five of a kind.
[0030] It should further be noted that certain hands may be played
according different rules. For example, certain hands of the
polygon may be played as draw Poker hands with others played as
Stud Poker hands, Deuces Wild or Joker's Wild hands.
[0031] While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the
present invention, it should be understood that the same is subject
to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
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