U.S. patent application number 11/003995 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-30 for electronic card game and method of playing an electronic card game.
This patent application is currently assigned to Merit Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Canepi, Michael, Russo, Augustus John JR., Stelzer, James R..
Application Number | 20050143157 11/003995 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34703542 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050143157 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stelzer, James R. ; et
al. |
June 30, 2005 |
Electronic card game and method of playing an electronic card
game
Abstract
An electronic blackjack variation card game playable in a gaming
machine having a display includes an electronic shoe of cards
having a deck of cards. The electronic card game includes a playing
area and five card receiving zones. The electronic card game has
rules which include allowing the player to place a wager; turning
over a top card on the shoe, so that the top card is face-up;
selecting the face-up card from the shoe and directing it to one of
the five zones; adding up the face value of the cards in each of
the five card receiving zones to form individual card receiving
zone totals; adding the values of all of the individual zone totals
that are twenty-one or less to form a total score; and paying out a
multiple of the wager when the total score is equal to or greater
than a winning amount.
Inventors: |
Stelzer, James R.; (Holland,
PA) ; Canepi, Michael; (Bensalem, PA) ; Russo,
Augustus John JR.; (Conshohocken, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD L.L.P.
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE
2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-7013
US
|
Assignee: |
Merit Industries, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34703542 |
Appl. No.: |
11/003995 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60532392 |
Dec 24, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/008 20130101;
A63F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/012 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
We claim:
1. An electronic blackjack variation card game playable in an
gaming machine having a display, the electronic card game
comprising: (a) an electronic deck of cards having a plurality of
individual playing cards, each of the individual playing cards
having an associated face value displayed on a face-up side of each
of the individual playing cards; (b) a playing area within the
display; (c) five card receiving zones disposed on the playing
area; (d) a shoe of cards configured to dispense cards of the
electronic deck of cards for selection by a player, the shoe being
disposed proximate to or within the playing area; and (e) a set of
rules dictating scoring of the electronic blackjack variation card
game, the rules including: (i) allowing the player to place a
wager; (ii) beginning a round of play by turning over a top card on
the shoe of cards, so that the top card is face-up, for selection
by the player; (iii) selecting the face-up card from the shoe and
selectively directing the face-up card to one of the five card
receiving zones; (iv) adding up the face value of the cards in each
of the five card receiving zones to form individual card receiving
zone totals; (v) adding the values of all of the individual card
receiving zone totals that are individually twenty-one or less to
form a total score; and (iv) paying out a multiple of the wager
when the total score is equal to or greater than a predetermined
winning amount.
2. The electronic blackjack variation card game system of claim 1,
wherein the cards have conventional face values including Ace, two,
three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, Queen and
King.
3. The electronic blackjack variation card game of claim 2, wherein
the cards further include denominations including hearts, diamonds,
clubs and spades.
4. The electronic blackjack variation card game of claim 1, further
comprising: (f) a total score indicator being disposed proximate to
or within the playing area, the total score being incremented or
decremented based upon the total face value of cards in all of the
five card receiving zones that each have total face values of
twenty-one or less.
5. The electronic blackjack variation card game of claim 4, wherein
the total score is also a function of the amount of time the player
takes to select the next playable card.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 60/532,392, filed Dec. 24, 2003,
entitled "Electronic Card Game and Method of Playing an Electronic
Card Game."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an electronic
card game and method of playing an electronic card game, and more
particularly, to an electronic blackjack variation card game and
method of playing an electronic blackjack variation card game in a
gaming machine that allows a player to wager.
[0003] Electronic card games such as blackjack variation card games
for computers and touchscreen or other types of amusement devices
are generally well known in the art. New variations of games which
are more fast-paced and require the player to strategize about a
selected card are currently sought after. One prior art game, such
as Run 21.RTM., commercially available from Merit Industries, Inc.,
Bensalem, Pa., includes five separate "hands" or card receiving
zones playable by a single player. A shoe of cards having one or
more decks is located at the top of the screen or playing area with
the top card turned face-up. The object of the Run 21 game is to
form as many winning hands out of the five separate hands by
directing the top card from the shoe of cards to each hand. More
points are earned for getting blackjack in each hand. The player
continues to turn over shoe cards until all five hands are one of
blackjack, over twenty-one ("bust"), or sufficiently high enough
for the player's preference. Bonus points are scored for completing
the five hands quickly based on a timer.
[0004] Another, similar electronic blackjack variation which is
available on the world wide web is 21 For Fun.RTM. commercially
available from Lazer-Tron Corporation, Pleasanton, Calif. The
object of 21 For Fun is also to stack the cards as fast as possible
in five separate columns (hands) and get the totals as close to
twenty-one as possible without going over twenty-one. Aces count as
one or eleven. The maximum number of cards per hand is five. There
are three "rounds" per game where a round is the completion of the
five hands based on each of the five hands being one of blackjack,
over twenty-one (bust), five cards or sufficiently high enough for
the player's preference.
[0005] It is desirable to provide an electronic card game that is a
blackjack variation in a gaming machine that allows a player to
wager.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly stated, the present invention comprises an
electronic blackjack variation card game playable in a gaming
machine having a display. The electronic blackjack variation card
game includes an electronic shoe of cards having an electronic deck
of cards. The deck has a plurality of individual playing cards.
Each of the individual playing cards has an associated face value
displayed on a face-up side of each of the individual playing
cards. The cards also have an associated face value (i.e., Ace,
two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, Queen
and King). The electronic card game includes a playing area within
the display and five card receiving zones disposed on the playing
area. The shoe of cards is configured to dispense cards of the
electronic deck of cards for selection by a player. The shoe is
disposed proximate to or within the playing area. The electronic
card game has a set of rules dictating scoring of the electronic
blackjack variation card game. The rules include (i) allowing the
player to place a wager; (ii) beginning a round of play by turning
over a top card on the shoe of cards, so that the top card is
face-up, for selection by the player; (iii) selecting the face-up
card from the shoe and selectively directing the face-up card to
one of the five card receiving zones; (iv) adding up the face value
of the cards in each of the five card receiving zones to form
individual card receiving zone totals; (v) adding the values of all
of the individual card receiving zone totals that are individually
twenty-one or less to form a total score; and (iv) paying out a
multiple of the wager when the total score is equal to or greater
than a predetermined winning amount.
[0007] The present invention further comprises a method of playing
an electronic card game as set forth above, in a gaming machine
having a display, in accordance with the set of rules set forth
above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments of the invention, will be
better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
shown in the drawings an embodiment which is presently preferred.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited
to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
[0009] In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a gaming machine having an
electronic blackjack variation card game in accordance with the
preferred embodiments of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of another gaming machine
having an electronic blackjack variation card game in accordance
with the preferred embodiments of the present invention; and
[0012] FIGS. 2-21 are screen shots of an electronic blackjack
variation card game in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Certain terminology is used in the following description for
convenience only and should not be construed as limiting. The word
"a" as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the
Specification, means "one or more than one." In the drawings, like
numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout.
[0014] FIG. 1A shows a first gaming machine 26 having operating
modes in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present
invention. The gaming machine 26 includes a controller U1 and a
memory U2. The gaming machine 26 further includes a video display
27 which is operatively connected to the amusement device
controller U1. FIG. 1B shows another or second gaming machine 14
having operating modes in accordance with the preferred embodiments
of the present invention. The second gaming machine 14 also
includes a controller U1 and a memory U2. The second amusement
device 14 also includes a video display 17. Preferably, the video
displays 27, 17 are touchscreen video displays configured to accept
touch input. The first gaming machine 26 is a free-standing or
floor-standing apparatus, whereas the second gaming machine 14 is a
table-top or counter-top apparatus. However, the gaming machines
26, 14 may be arranged in any configuration including table mount,
wall mount, pole mount and the like without departing from the
invention. For convenience, the gaming machines 26, 14 will be
referred to hereinafter simply as "gaming machine 26."
[0015] FIGS. 2-21 depict an electronic blackjack variation card
game 100 playable in an gaming machine 26, such as a touchscreen
gaming machine 26, having a display 27 in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The electronic
blackjack variation card game 100 includes at least one electronic
deck of cards 102 having a plurality of individual playing cards
103. The deck of cards 102 may be a conventional deck of cards
comprising fifty-two cards 103. However, the deck of cards 102 may
include any number of cards 103 without departing from the
invention. Each of the individual playing cards 103 has an
associated face value and/or denomination (i.e., 2-10 and Jack,
Queen, King and Ace and/or Hearts, Clubs, Spades and Diamonds,
respectively). The electronic blackjack variation card game 100
includes a playing area 104 within the display 27. The electronic
blackjack variation card game 100 further includes a shoe 116 of
cards 103 configured to dispense cards 103 of the deck 102 as a
player (not shown) selectively directs the cards 103 to each of the
five hands in the playing area 104. The shoe 116 is disposed
proximate to or within the playing area 104.
[0016] The electronic blackjack variation card game 100 includes a
set of rules which dictate scoring of the electronic blackjack
variation card game 100. The rules include allowing the player to
place a wager, beginning play of five simultaneous hands and
individually selecting cards 103 from the top of the shoe 116 which
are showing face-up. The rules further include directing each
face-up card from the top of the shoe 116 to one of the five hands
151-155 and scoring points based upon a total accumulated score
from the five hands 151-155 during each round of play. A round of
play is when the player can selectively remove cards 103 that are
in the shoe 116.
[0017] As best shown in FIGS. 4-19, the cards 103 have conventional
face values including Ace (A), two (2), three (3), four (4), five
(5), six (6), seven (7), eight (8), nine (9), ten (10), Jack (J),
Queen (Q), and King (K). The cards 103 also have denominations
including hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. However, the cards
103 may include any denominations or face values using other
numbering systems without departing from the present invention.
[0018] The electronic blackjack variation card game 100 also
includes a total score indicator 120 which is disposed proximate to
or within the playing area 104. A total score for a run of play is
incremented or decremented based upon the face value of cards 103
that are in hands that are twenty-one or under. Hands over
twenty-one (i.e., "bust") do not count toward the total score.
[0019] By way of example, a run of play will be explained with
respect to FIGS. 4-19. In FIG. 4, the Jack of clubs is the top card
103, the Ace of diamonds is in the first card receiving zone 151
and the score on the total score indicator 120 displays 11 total
points. FIG. 5 shows that the Jack of clubs has been moved into the
second card receiving zone 152, a six of spades is now the top card
103 in the shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now displays
21 total points. FIG. 6 shows that the six of spades has been moved
into the third card receiving zone 153, the seven of hearts is now
the top card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120
now displays 27 total points. FIG. 7 shows that the seven of hearts
has been moved into the fourth card receiving zone 154, the King of
hearts is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score
indicator 120 now displays 34 total points. FIG. 8 shows that the
King of hearts has been moved to the first card receiving zone 151
to overlay the Ace of diamonds, the Queen of hearts is now the top
card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now
displays 44 total points. FIG. 9 shows that the Queen of hearts has
been moved to the fifth card receiving zone 155, the two of clubs
is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score
indicator 120 now displays 54 total points.
[0020] FIG. 10 shows that the two of clubs has been moved to the
fourth card receiving zone 154 with the seven of hearts, the Ace of
spades is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score
indicator 120 now displays fifty-six total points. FIG. 11 shows
that the Ace of spades has been moved to the second card receiving
zone 152 with the Jack of clubs, the seven of clubs is now the top
card 103 in the shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now
displays seventy-seven total points. FIG. 12 shows that the seven
of clubs has been moved to the third card receiving zone 153 with
the six of spades, the six of clubs is now the top card 103 in the
shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now displays 84 total
points. FIG. 13 shows that the six of clubs has been moved to the
third card receiving zone 153 with the six of spades and the seven
of clubs, the two of hearts is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116
and the total score indicator 120 now displays 90 total points.
FIG. 14 shows that the two of hearts has been moved to the third
card receiving zone 153 with the six of spades, the seven of clubs
and the six of clubs; the five of diamonds is now the top card 103
in the shoe 116; there is a check mark above the third card
receiving zone 153 indicating a hard twenty-one for that zone; and
the total score indicator 120 now displays 92 total points.
[0021] FIG. 15 shows that the five of diamonds has been moved to
the fourth card receiving zone 154 with the seven of hearts and the
two of clubs, the eight of spades is now the top card 103 in the
shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now displays 97 total
points. FIG. 16 shows that the eight of spades has been moved to
the second card receiving zone 152 with the Ace of spades and the
Jack of clubs, the four of diamonds has been moved to the fourth
card receiving zone 154, the queen of spades is now the top card
103 in the shoe 116 and the total score indicator 120 now displays
99 total points.
[0022] FIG. 17 shows that the Queen of spades has been moved to the
first card receiving zone 151 with the King of hearts and the Ace
of diamonds, there is a check mark above the first card receiving
zone 151 indicating a hard twenty-one for that zone 151, the Ace of
clubs is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116, and the total score
indicator 120 now displays 99 total points. It should be noted that
in FIG. 17, the Ace of diamonds in the first card receiving zone
was converted from a soft (eleven) to a hard (one) so the score did
not change. FIG. 18 shows that the Ace of clubs has been moved to
the fifth card receiving zone 155 with the Queen of hearts and the
Queen of clubs, there is a check mark above the fifth card
receiving zone 155 indicating a hard twenty-one for that zone, the
two of spades is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116, and the
total score indicator 120 now displays 100 total points. FIG. 19
shows that the two of spades has been moved to the second card
receiving zone 152 with the Jack of clubs, the Ace of spades and
the eight of spades; there is a check mark above the second card
receiving zone 152 indicating a hard twenty-one for that zone 152;
the nine of clubs is now the top card 103 in the shoe 116; and the
total score indicator 120 now displays 102 total points.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 19, the player has no options for moving
the nine of clubs because four of the five card receiving zones
151-155 are twenty-one (i.e., the first, second, third and fifth
zones 151-153 and 155) and the fourth card receiving zone 154 is
displaying eighteen. Accordingly, the player must choose to stand
(i.e., take no more cards) and the total score being displayed in
the total score indicator 120 will determine whether or not the
player wins, loses or draws. By changing the minimum total score,
the "house" can thereby change the odds of winning or change the
odds of attaining a particular payout.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 3-21, the example payouts are three-to-one
(3:1) for a total score of 102 total points; four-to-one (4:1) for
a total score of 103 total points; six-to-one (6:1) for a total
score of 104 total points; and eight-to-one (8:1) for a total score
of 105 total points. Obviously, to get 105 total points, a player
would have to score twenty-one in all five card receiving zones
151-155, which requires a high degree of skill and possibly chance.
Further, if a player exceeds 21, i.e., busts, it would be
impossible for the player to achieve the minimum total score
required for the payout scheme.
[0025] Thus, it can be seen that the rules include (i) allowing the
player to place a wager; (ii) beginning a round of play by turning
over a top card 103 on the shoe of cards 116, so that the top card
is face-up, for selection by the player; (iii) selecting the
face-up card 103 from the shoe 116 and selectively directing the
face-up card 103 to one of the five card receiving zones 151-155;
(iv) adding up the face value of the cards 103 in each of the five
card receiving zones 151-155 to form individual card receiving zone
totals; (v) adding the values of all of the individual card
receiving zone totals that are individually twenty-one or less to
form a total score; and (iv) paying out a multiple of the wager
when the total score is equal to or greater than a predetermined
winning amount.
[0026] It is contemplated that bonus points may be scored for
achieving straight Blackjack in each of the card receiving zones
(i.e., a ten or a face card, such as a Jack, Queen or a King,
having a face value of ten (10)-in combination with an Ace).
[0027] The electronic game 100 may optionally include a time
indicator (not shown), such as a bar graph or time dial, which
displays the amount of time that a player has used during a round.
A player may optionally be awarded bonus points for completing a
round of play more quickly based on the amount of time that has
elapsed on the time indicator 122. Thus, in this optional
embodiment, the total score which is indicated on the total score
indicator 120 is also a function of the amount of time the player
takes to select the next playable card 103.
[0028] From the foregoing description, the present invention
comprises an electronic card game and method including a set of
rules dictating scoring of the game. It will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the broad
inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this
invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed,
but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and
scope of the present invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *