U.S. patent application number 11/923468 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for card game.
Invention is credited to Max S. Faulkner.
Application Number | 20090111551 11/923468 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40583531 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090111551 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Faulkner; Max S. |
April 30, 2009 |
CARD GAME
Abstract
A method of playing a card game against the house. Optionally,
before the cards are dealt, each player may place a bet. Then, a
predetermined number of cards are dealt to each player. After the
cards are dealt, each player decides whether to "Play" or
"Surrender." A surrendering player forfeits at least a portion of
his/her bet, if one was placed. The game terminates for each
surrendering player; however, the game continues for the other
players. Optionally, each remaining player may bet a raise amount.
Then, a hit card is selected from the deck and displayed to the
remaining players. A player is a winner, if the player has a card
with the same suit as the hit card and with a relationship with
respect to the hit card, the relationship selected before the game
as one selection from the following two choices: a value greater
than the value of the hit card and a value less than the value of
the hit card. Winning players who placed bets are paid a winning
amount while losing players who bet forfeit a lose amount.
Inventors: |
Faulkner; Max S.; (East
Wenatchee, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE, LLP/Seattle
1201 Third Avenue, Suite 2200
SEATTLE
WA
98101-3045
US
|
Family ID: |
40583531 |
Appl. No.: |
11/923468 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 ; 273/303;
463/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/322 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 ; 273/303;
463/43 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24; A63F 1/00 20060101 A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a card game comprising: dealing a
predetermined number of cards to at least one player, each of the
predetermined number of cards having a suit and a value; displaying
a hit card to the at least one player, the hit card having a suit
and a value; if one of the predetermined number of cards dealt to
the at least one player has the same suit as the hit card and has a
relationship with respect to the hit card, the relationship
selected before the game as one selection from the following two
choices: a value greater than the value of the hit card and a value
less than the value of the hit card, determining the at least one
player has won; and if none of the predetermined number of cards
dealt to the at least one player has the same suit as the hit card
and has the selected relationship with respect to the hit card,
determining the at least one player has lost.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before dealing the
predetermined number of cards to the at least one player, receiving
a bet amount from the at least one player; allowing the at least
one player to surrender; and if the at least one player surrenders,
returning a portion of the bet amount to the at least one
player.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: before the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet amount from the at least one player; and if the at
least one player has won, returning the bet amount and paying the
at least one player a winning amount.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet amount from the at least one player; and if the at
least one player has won, returning the bet amount and paying the
at least one player a winning amount.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: before the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet amount from the at least one player; after the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a raise amount from the at least one player; and if the
at least one player has won, returning the bet amount and the raise
amount to the at least one player, and paying the at least one
player a winning amount.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet from the at least one player and if the at least
one player has lost, retaining at least a portion of the bet
amount.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet from the at least one player and if the at least
one player has lost, retaining at least a portion of the bet
amount.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: before the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a bet amount from the at least one player; after the
predetermined number of cards are dealt to the at least one player,
receiving a raise amount from the at least one player; allowing the
at least one player to surrender; if the at least one player
surrenders, returning a portion of the bet amount to the at least
one player; if the at least one player has lost, retaining at least
a portion of the bet amount and the raise amount; and if the at
least one player has won, returning the bet amount and the raise
amount to the at least one player, and paying the at least one
player a winning amount.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the winning amount is greater
than or equal to a sum of the bet amount and the raise amount.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein if the at least one player
surrenders, the portion of the bet amount returned to the at least
one player comprises at least half of the bet amount.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the winning amount is greater
than or equal to the bet amount.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein if the at least one player
loses, the portion of the bet amount retained is greater than the
portion of the bet amount that would have been returned to the at
least one player if the at least one player had surrendered.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein if the at least one player
loses, the portion of the bet amount retained is greater than or
equal to a sum of the bet amount and the raise amount.
14. A method of playing a card game against a house, the method
comprising: betting a bet amount; receiving a predetermined number
of cards, each of the predetermined number of cards having a suit
and a value; based on the predetermined number of cards received,
betting a raise amount, or surrendering a portion of the bet amount
to the house; if one of the predetermined number of cards received
has the same suit as a hit card and has a relationship with respect
to the hit card, the relationship selected before the game as one
selection from the following two choices: a value greater than the
value of the hit card and a value less than the value of the hit
card, receiving a win amount from the house; and if none of the
predetermined number of cards received has the same suit as a hit
card and has the selected relationship, forfeiting a portion of a
sum of the bet amount and the raise amount to the house.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the win amount is greater than
or equal to a sum of the bet amount and the raise amount.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of the bet amount
surrendered to the house comprises at least half of the bet
amount.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of a sum of the bet
amount and the raise amount forfeited to the house is less than or
equal to a sum of the bet amount and the raise amount.
18. A computer readable medium comprising a game module having
computer-executable instructions for: dealing a predetermined
number of cards to at least one player, each card having a suit and
a value; displaying to the at least one player the predetermined
number of cards dealt to the at least one player; selecting a hit
card having a suit and a value; displaying the hit card to the at
least one player; and determining whether at least one of the
predetermined number of cards dealt to the at least one player has
the same suit as the hit card and has a relationship with respect
to the hit card, the relationship selected before the game as one
selection from the following two choices: a value greater than the
value of the hit card and a value less than the value of the hit
card.
19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising
computer-executable instructions for: receiving a bet amount from
the at least one player; if none of the predetermined number of
cards dealt to the at least one player has the same suit as the hit
card and one of the predetermined relationships, retaining the bet
amount; and if one of the predetermined number of cards dealt to
the at least one player has the same suit as the hit card and one
of the predetermined relationships, paying a winning amount to the
at least one player.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, further comprising
computer-executable instructions for maintaining an account storing
an amount available for betting by the at least one player;
subtracting the bet amount from the amount available for betting by
the at least one player; and adding the winning amount to the
amount available for betting by the at least one player.
21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising
computer-executable instructions for: receiving a bet amount from
the at least one player; before displaying the hit card to the at
least one player, determining whether the at least one player has
surrendered; and if the at least one player has surrendered,
returning a portion of the bet amount to the at least one
player.
22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, further comprising
computer-executable instructions for: before dealing the
predetermined number of cards to the at least one player, receiving
a bet amount from the at least one player; after dealing the
predetermined number of cards to the at least one player and before
displaying the hit card to the at least one player, receiving a
raise amount from the at least one player; if none of the
predetermined number of cards dealt to the at least one player has
the same suit as the hit card and has a relationship with respect
to the hit card, the relationship selected before the game as one
selection from the following two choices: a value greater than the
value of the hit card and a value less than the value of the hit
card, determining a lose amount as a function of the bet amount and
the raise amount; and if one of the predetermined number of cards
dealt to the at least one player has the same suit as the hit card
and has the selected relationship, determining a winning amount as
a function of the bet amount and the raise amount.
23. A system comprising: a user interface; a memory; a data
structure stored in the memory, the data structure representing a
deck of cards, each card having a suit and a value; a processor
coupled to the user interface and the memory, the processor being
configured to: select a predetermined number of cards randomly from
the data structure representing the deck of cards, display the
predetermined number of cards to a user using the user interface,
select a hit card randomly from the data structure representing the
deck of cards, display the hit card to the user using the user
interface, determine the user has won by determining at least one
of the predetermined number of cards dealt to the user has the same
suit as the hit card and has a relationship with respect to the hit
card, the relationship selected before the game as one selection
from the following two choices: a value greater than the value of
the hit card and a value less than the value of the hit card,
determine the user has lost by determining none of the
predetermined number of cards dealt to the user has the same suit
as the hit card and has the selected relationship, and use the user
interface to communicate to the user whether the user has won or
lost.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive an indication of a bet amount from the user
before displaying the hit card to the user, if the user has lost,
to calculate a lose amount as a function of the bet amount, and if
the user has won, to calculate a winning amount as a function of
the bet amount, the system further comprising an account stored in
the memory, the account comprising an amount available to the user
to bet, the processor being configured to add the win amount to the
amount available to the user to bet and subtract the lose amount
from the amount available to the user to bet.
25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor is further
configured to receive a request from the user to surrender before
the hit card is displayed to the user, and if the processor
receives a request to surrender from the user, to calculate a
surrender amount as a function of the bet amount, and to subtract
the surrender amount from the amount available to the user to bet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed generally to card games
and more particularly to methods of playing a card game.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] As an industry, gambling has grown steadily throughout the
United States and the world. Like most forms of entertainment,
popular forms of gaming come and go. A particular game that is
popular for a period of time may subsequently experience a period
of reduced interest. For example, most recently, a card game named
"Texas Hold'em," which is a poker variant, has become extremely
popular. However, in the past, other card games, such as Five-Card
Stud, were more popular. Therefore, an ongoing need exists in the
gaming arts for new games. In particular, a need exists for new
card games.
[0005] In recent years, gambling over a network, such as the
internet, has become increasingly popular. Card games lend
themselves well to network implementations. For example, Texas
Hold'em may be played over the internet at many popular on-line
gambling websites. However, as gambling trends come and go, a need
exists for new on-line games, including card games.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0006] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an exemplary method of playing a
card game according to the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an illustration of a playing surface for use with
the method of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of hardware and an operating
environment in conjunction with which implementations of the method
of FIG. 1 may be practiced
[0009] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a game module implementation of
the method of FIG. 1 in the hardware and an operating environment
of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Aspects of the present invention relate to a method 12
(depicted in FIG. 1) of playing a game 10 (depicted in FIG. 2). The
game 10 may be played with a standard deck of playing cards 14 or a
portion thereof. A standard deck of cards 14 includes fifty-two
cards. The cards are divided equally between four suits: hearts;
clubs; diamonds; and spades. The game 10 considers all suits to be
of equal value. Within each suit, each of the cards is assigned a
unique value. By way of non-limiting example, the cards may be
ranked according to value in descending order as follows: ace;
king; queen; jack; 10; 9; 8; 7; 6; 5; 4; 3; and 2. However, as is
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, alternate rankings
may be used and the invention is not limited to the ranking
described.
[0011] Like many card games, the game 10 may be played in a single
hand or may include multiple hands. During a hand, all of the cards
14 dealt at one time are played. A single hand of the game 10
includes all of the blocks depicted in the block diagram of FIG. 1.
The game 10 may be played for entertainment and/or gambling
purposes.
[0012] The game 10 is played by players (e.g., players 20A, 20B,
20C, 20D, and 20E). While for illustrative purposes FIG. 2 depicts
five players 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E, the game 10 may be played
by any number of players. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art, two or more standard decks of cards 14 may be combined
to accommodate a large number of players.
[0013] All of the players 20A-20E play the game 10 against a single
opponent referred to as "the house" with the object of the game 10
being to beat the house. If a player loses, the house collects the
player's bets. On the other hand, if a player wins, the house pays
out any winnings. Sometimes, a dealer 50 is a proxy for the house.
The house is generally a casino; however, this is not a
requirement. The house may be one or more of the players 20A-20E,
one or more third parties, a combination thereof, and the like.
Optionally, the players 20A-20E may compete with one another based
on the number of hands each wins, the amount each player wins, the
amount each player loses, and the like.
[0014] The players 20A-20E may sit around a table 30 on which the
cards 14 and bets in the form of currency, tokens, chips, and the
like may be placed. The table 30 may include a betting area 40A,
40B, 40C, 40D, and 40E for each player 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, and 20E,
respectively. Each betting area 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, and 40E may be
located near (e.g., in front of) one of the players 20A, 20B, 20C,
20D, and 20E. For example, each bet placed by a particular player
20A may be placed in front of that player in his/her betting area
40A.
[0015] The table 30 may include a surrender area 45 in which cards
14 that have already been dealt to one or more of the players
20A-20E may be selectively placed during the game 10. If one or
more of the players 20A-20E wishes to stop playing the game 10,
cards dealt to any such players may be placed thereby in the
surrender area 45.
[0016] Before the game 10 begins, the dealer 50 is identified. A
dedicated dealer may be selected who is not one of the players
20A-20E of the game 10. For example, the dealer 50 may be a
professional dealer provided by a casino. Alternatively, the dealer
50 may be identified by selecting one of the players 20A-20E to
deal the cards.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the method 12 will now be
described. Before the cards 14 are dealt, if the method 12 is being
used to gamble, in optional decision block 300, each of the players
20A-20E decide whether to place a bet. Each player that decides
"YES" progresses to optional block 300. Players that decide "NO"
proceeds to block 400.
[0018] In optional block 300, each player that decided to place a
bet in optional decision block 300, bets a bet amount. The house
may collect the bets or leave them in the betting areas 40A-40E.
Those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that the house may
impose betting constraints. Under such circumstances, the bet
placed in optional block 300 should conform to those constraints.
For example, the house may impose what are commonly referred to as
"house limits." House limits specify a maximum bet amount that may
be placed. Similarly, a minimum bet amount may be specified by the
casino and/or the players 20A-20E. Further, a mandatory bet, such
as an ante, may be required in optional block 300. After their bets
are placed, the players progress to block 400
[0019] In block 400, the dealer 50 begins a hand by dealing a
predetermined number of cards to each of the players 20A-20E. In
FIG. 2, the cards dealt to each of the players 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D,
and 20E are identified by reference numerals 52A, 52B, 52C, 52D,
and 52E, respectively. The predetermined number of cards dealt to
each of the players 20A-20E may be five. As is appreciated by those
of ordinary skill in the art, the probability of winning may depend
at least in part on the number of cards dealt to each of the
players 20A-20E. Therefore, the predetermined number of cards dealt
may be determined at least in part on a desired probability that a
selected number of players will win the game 10 (i.e., beat the
house).
[0020] The dealer 50 deals the predetermined number of cards to
each of the players 20A-20E face down. While each of the players
20A-20E is permitted to look at his/her cards, the players 20A-20E
may not reveal their cards to one another. If a player reveals
his/her cards to another player, the player that revealed his/her
cards is disqualified and may not participate in the remainder of
the hand. Optionally, all players to whom the cards were revealed
may be disqualified. Alternatively, if the cards are revealed to
one or more players, those cards are revealed to all of the players
20A-20E.
[0021] The cards may be dealt to each of players 20A-20E one at a
time, according to a dealing order (e.g., clockwise,
counterclockwise, and the like) that may be based on a seating
order of the players 20A-20E at the table 30. For example, dealing
may begin with the player 20E to the immediate left of the dealer
50 and end with the player 20A to the immediate right of the dealer
50. In other words, a first card in the deck 12 is dealt the player
20E, a second card in the deck 12 is dealt to the player 20D, and
so forth. After a card is dealt to the player 20A, the dealer 50
deals a second card to player 20E, and so forth until each of the
players 20A-20E has the predetermined number of cards. In his
example, the cards are dealt to the players 20A-20E in a clockwise
fashion around the table 30.
[0022] The first player to whom cards are dealt may change at the
start of each hand. The players 20A-20E may take turns being the
first one to whom cards are dealt. For example, after the player
20E has been the first player to whom cards were dealt, at the
start of the next hand, the player 20D may be the first player to
whom cards are dealt. The first player may be selected at the
beginning of a hand according to the seating order of the players
20A-20E at the table 30 (e.g., clockwise, counterclockwise, and the
like).
[0023] Optionally, the dealer 50 also deals himself/herself the
predetermined number of cards face down in the dealer's area 60.
These cards are not played but may represent a dealer's hand. The
dealer's hand may be dealt along with the cards dealt to the
players 20A-20E, the dealer 50 being incorporated into the seating
order and receiving his/her cards according to the seating order
and the dealing order (clockwise, counterclockwise, and the like).
The dealer 50 may occasionally be the first person to whom cards
are dealt according to his/her place in the seating order and
according to the dealing order (clockwise, counterclockwise, and
the like). Alternatively, after cards have been dealt to the
players 20A-20E, the dealer 50 may place the top predetermined
number of cards remaining in the deck 12 in the dealer's area
60.
[0024] In decision block 500, each of the players 20A-20E decides
whether to "Play" or "Surrender." Because each player may see only
his/her own cards, each of the players 20A-20E may consider only
the value and suit of their own cards in decision block 500.
[0025] Then, in blocks 520 and 540, the players communicate the
decision made in decision block 500 to one another. For example, if
in decision block 500 the player 20A decided to "Play," in block
520, he/she communicates his/her decision to "Play" to the other
players 20B-20E. The player 20A may communicate his/her decision to
"Play" by placing his/her cards face down on the table 30. If the
player 20A placed a bet in optional block 200, the player 20A may
place his/her cards face down near his/her betting area 40A. If the
player's betting area 40A is in front of the player 20A, the player
20A may place his/her cards face down behind the betting area
40A.
[0026] If instead, in decision block 500, the player 20A decided to
"Surrender," in block 540, the player 20A communicates his/her
decision to "Surrender" to the other players 20B-20E. A player may
communicate a decision to "Surrender" by placing his/her cards face
down on the table 30 in the surrender area 45. Cards placed in the
surrender area 45 are referred to as "surrender cards." Optionally,
the dealer 50 places the surrender cards in a discard rack (not
shown).
[0027] If the surrendering player placed a bet in optional block
300, in optional block 550, the surrendering player surrenders a
surrender amount. The surrender amount may be determined as a
function of the bet amount. In particular implementations, the
surrender amount may include all or a portion of the bet amount
(e.g., at most half of the bet amount). For example, the house may
collect half of the bet amount in the surrendering player's betting
area. The surrendering player may retain the other half.
Alternatively, if the house collected the surrendering player's bet
in block 300, the house may return half of the bet. The
surrendering player forfeits the other half to the house.
[0028] The method 12 terminates with respect to each surrendering
player; however, the method 12 continues for the other players by
advancing to optional decision block 510.
[0029] In optional decision block 510, the non-surrendering players
may optionally decide to "Raise," (i.e., place an additional bet).
If a player decides to "Raise," in optional block 560, he/she
communicates his/her decision to "Raise" to the other players.
He/she may communicate his/her decision to "Raise" by announcing a
raise amount, placing a raise amount on the table in his/her
betting area, a combination thereof, and the like. Because a
decision to "Raise" inherently includes a decision to "Play," the
player may also perform any of the actions that communicate a
decision to "Play" in block 520.
[0030] In optional block 560, the player bets a raise amount. The
player may bet the raise amount in the same manner the player
placed the bet in block 300 (discussed above). Like any bet placed
in block 300, the raise amount may be subject to constraints, such
as house limits, minimum raise amounts, and the like.
[0031] Next in block 600, the dealer 50 selects a "hit" card 70
from the remaining cards in the deck 12 and displays it to the
players 20A-20E. By way of non-limiting example, the dealer 50 may
select the "hit" card 70 by burning the top card (i.e., placing it
face down on the table, thereby removing it from the game 10) and
displaying the next card in the deck 12 to the players 20A-20E
(e.g., turning the next card in the deck 12 face up on the table
30). Alternatively, the dealer 50 may select the top card in the
deck 12 as the "hit" card 70 and display it to the players
20A-20E.
[0032] After the "hit" card 70 is revealed to the players 20A-20E,
in block 700, any of the players 20A-20E who did not decide to
"Surrender" in block 500 turn their cards face up. Then, in block
700, their cards are compared to the "hit" card.
[0033] Decision block 720 determines whether any of the players
20A-20E who did not decide to "Surrender" in block 500 have won.
Decision block 720 determines a player has won when the player has
a single card that has both the same suit as the "hit" card and a
value greater than the value of the "hit" card. Other
implementations can have a player win with a value less than the
value of the "hit" card rather than greater than the value of the
"hit" card. In other words, in addition to being of the same suit
as the "hit" card, the player's winning card has a relationship
with respect to the "hit" card, the relationship selected before
the game as one selection from the following two choices: a value
greater than the value of the hit card and a value less than the
value of the hit card. In optional block 800, each winning player
that placed a bet, retains the bet amount (bet in block 300),
retains the raise amount (bet in block 550), and receives from the
house a winning amount. The winning amount may be calculated as a
function of the bet amount and the raise amount. For example, the
house may pay a winning player a winning amount equal to the sum of
the bet amount (see block 300) and the raise amount (see block
550).
[0034] Decision block 720 determines a player has lost when the
player does not have a single card that has both the same suit as
the "hit" card and a value greater than the value of the "hit"
card. In optional block 900, all losing players that bet and/or
raised forfeit to the house at least a portion of the sum of the
amount bet and the amount raised. The lose amount (i.e., the amount
forfeited) may be calculated as a function of the bet amount and
the raise amount. For example, losing players may forfeit more than
half of the sum of the bet amount and the raise amount. In
particular implementations, losing players forfeit both the bet
amount and the raise amount. Preferably, the lose amount is greater
than the surrender amount.
[0035] If multiple decks are used to play the game 10, it is
possible that a player who does not have a single card that has
both the same suit as the "hit" card and a value greater than the
"hit" card may have a card that is identical to the "hit" card. In
such cases, the hand may be considered a draw (i.e., the player
neither wins nor loses, and any bet and/or raise placed are
retained by the player). Alternatively, decision block 720 may
determine the player has either lost or won.
[0036] Because a player that surrendered in blocks 500 and 540 may
retain at least a portion (e.g., half) of the bet, if any, placed
in block 300, a player that is dealt only cards having a low value
may decide in decision block 500 to surrender and thereby reduce
the amount of his/her forfeiture to the house. Alternatively, if a
substantial number of the cards dealt to a player have the same
suit, the player may conclude his/her odds of winning are low and
decide in decision block 500 to surrender.
[0037] After blocks 800 and 900, the method 12 terminates. The
dealer 50 may reassemble the deck 14 by collecting any cards
removed from the deck during the hand (e.g., the cards dealt to the
players and the dealer 50 and the "hit" card). At this point, a new
hand may be started by returning to optional decision block
200.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a diagram of hardware and an operating environment
in conjunction with which implementations of the method 12 of
playing the game 10 may be practiced. The description of FIG. 3 is
intended to provide a brief, general description of suitable
computer hardware and a suitable computing environment in which
implementations may be practiced. Although not required,
implementations are described in the general context of
computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being
executed by a computer, such as a personal computer. Generally,
program modules include routines, programs, objects, components,
data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement
particular abstract data types.
[0039] Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
implementations may be practiced with other computer system
configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor
systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,
network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like.
Implementations may also be practiced in distributed computing
environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices
that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed
computing environment, program modules may be located in both local
and remote memory storage devices.
[0040] The exemplary hardware and operating environment of FIG. 3
includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a
computer 1020, including a processing unit 1021, a system memory
1022, and a system bus 1023 that operatively couples various system
components, including the system memory 1022, to the processing
unit 1021. There may be only one or there may be more than one
processing unit 1021, such that the processor of computer 1020
comprises a single central-processing unit (CPU), or a plurality of
processing units, commonly referred to as a parallel processing
environment. The computer 1020 may be a conventional computer, a
distributed computer, or any other type of computer.
[0041] The system bus 1023 may be any of several types of bus
structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus
architectures. The system memory may also be referred to as simply
the memory, and includes read only memory (ROM) 1024 and random
access memory (RAM) 1025. A basic input/output system (BIOS) 1026,
containing the basic routines that help to transfer information
between elements within the computer 1020, such as during start-up,
is stored in ROM 1024. The computer 1020 further includes a hard
disk drive 1027 for reading from and writing to a hard disk, not
shown, a magnetic disk drive 1028 for reading from or writing to a
removable magnetic disk 1029, and an optical disk drive 1030 for
reading from or writing to a removable optical disk 1031 such as a
CD ROM or other optical media.
[0042] The hard disk drive 1027, magnetic disk drive 1028, and
optical disk drive 1030 are connected to the system bus 1023 by a
hard disk drive interface 1032, a magnetic disk drive interface
1033, and an optical disk drive interface 1034, respectively. The
drives and their associated computer-readable media provide
nonvolatile storage of computer-readable instructions, data
structures, program modules and other data for the computer 1020.
It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any type
of computer-readable media which can store data that is accessible
by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards,
digital video disks, Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories
(RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like, may be used in the
exemplary operating environment.
[0043] A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk
1027, magnetic disk 1029, optical disk 1031, ROM 1024, or RAM 1025,
including an operating system 1035, one or more application
programs 1036, other program modules 1037, and program data 1038. A
user may enter commands and information into the personal computer
1020 through input devices such as a keyboard 1040 and pointing
device 1042. Other input devices (not shown) may include a
microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the
like. These and other input devices are often connected to the
processing unit 1021 through a serial port interface 1046 that is
coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other
interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal
serial bus (USB). A monitor 1047 or other type of display device is
also connected to the system bus 1023 via an interface, such as a
video adapter 1048. In addition to the monitor, computers typically
include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as
speakers and printers.
[0044] The computer 1020 may operate in a networked environment
using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as
remote computer 1049. These logical connections are achieved by a
communication device coupled to or a part of the computer 1020, the
local computer; implementations are not limited to a particular
type of communications device. The remote computer 1049 may be
another computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a client, a
peer device or other common network node, and typically includes
many or all of the elements described above relative to the
computer 1020, although only a memory storage device 1050 has been
illustrated in FIG. 3. The logical connections depicted in FIG. 3
include a local-area network (LAN) 1051 and a wide-area network
(WAN) 1052. Such networking environments are commonplace in
offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the
Internet.
[0045] When used in a LAN-networking environment, the computer 1020
is connected to the LAN 1051 through a network interface or adapter
1053, which is one type of communications device. When used in a
WAN-networking environment, the computer 1020 typically includes a
modem 1054, a type of communications device, or any other type of
communications device for establishing communications over the WAN
1052, such as the Internet. The modem 1054, which may be internal
or external, is connected to the system bus 1023 via the serial
port interface 1046. In a networked environment, program modules
depicted relative to the personal computer 1020, or portions
thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. It is
appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and
other means of and communications devices for establishing a
communications link between the computers may be used.
[0046] As is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the
method 12 of playing the game 10 may be implement as
computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, stored
in the memory 1022, executed by the processor 1021, and displayed
to the user on the monitor 1047. The user may interact with the
method (e.g., communicate his/her decision in block 500 and
optionally in block 510) using one or more of the input devices
(e.g., the keyboard 1040, the pointing device 1042, and the like)
coupled to the processor 1021 by bus 1023.
[0047] The user may optionally select to be either a player of the
game (e.g., the player 20A) or the house. If the user elects to be
the house, the computer-executable instructions may include
instructions implementing one or more virtual players. Methods of
constructing virtual players of a game are well known in the art
and will not be described herein.
[0048] In particular embodiments, the method 12 of playing the game
10 may be implemented at least in part on the remote computer 1049
functioning as a central server coupled to one or more client
computing devices. Each of the players 20A-20E of the game 10 may
operate one of the client computing devices, such as computer 1020,
coupled to the remote computer 1049 via at least one of the
networks 1051 and 1052. In such embodiments, the central server is
considered the house against which all of the client computing
devices play. The central server collects any bet amounts,
disperses any winning amounts, and retains any forfeited amounts.
Optionally, a portion of the method 12 may be implemented on each
of the client computing devices operated by the players 20A-20E. In
further implementations, the method 12 may be implemented as a
distributed application across one or more peer computing devices.
In both client/server and distributed architectures, one or more
users may perform the method 12 simultaneously (i.e., play against
the house together). Such users may be located remotely with
respect to one another. Various implementations may also include
one or more virtual players that alongside one or more users.
[0049] The method 12 may be implemented as one or more game modules
each of which includes computer-executable instructions executable
by a computer (e.g., computer 1020, remote computer 1049, and the
like). Methods of implementing the one or more game modules of the
method 12 using each of the aforementioned architectures (i.e.,
stand alone, client/server, distributed, and the like) are well
known in the art and will not be described in detail.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, for ease of illustration, the game
module(s) are described as a single game module 1200, however, as
is apparent to those of ordinary skill, the various components of
the game module 1200 may be divided into separate modules executed
on one or more computing devices (e.g., computer 1020, remote
computer 1049, and the like).
[0051] The game module 1200 includes a data structure 1300
representing the cards within the deck 14. The game module 1200
also includes deal instructions 1400 implementing block 400 by
randomly selecting the predetermined number of cards for each
player of the game from the data structure representing the deck
14. The deal instructions 1400 also randomly select the "hit" card
(i.e., implement part of block 600) from the cards remaining in the
deck (i.e., cards not dealt to the players). The deal instructions
1400 may also store the cards dealt to each of players and
optionally cards dealt to the dealer (i.e., the dealer's hand). The
deal instructions 1400 also store the cards dealt to each player so
that the cards dealt to each non-surrendering player may be
compared to the "hit" card.
[0052] The game module includes interface instructions 1500 for
communicating with the players 20A-20E. The interface instructions
1500 present the players 20A-20E with the options available in the
various decision blocks of the method 12 and receive and store each
player's response thereto. For example, the interface instructions
1500 receive and store the bet amount, if any, bet by one or more
players 20A-20E in optional block 300. The interface instructions
1500 receive and store the raise amount, if any, bet by one or more
players 20A-20E in optional block 550. The interface instructions
1500 also receive and store the decision of each of the players in
decision block 500 and optionally in decision blocks 200 and
510.
[0053] The interface instructions 1500 also include display
instructions 1510 for displaying or otherwise communicating the
cards selected for each player to the player for whom the cards
were selected. The display instructions 1510 also display the "hit"
card to at least the players who elected to play in block 500.
Optionally, the display instructions 1510 may display the "hit"
card to all of the players 20A-20E. The display instructions 1510
also optionally communicate the decision(s) of one of the players
to the other players. Further, the display instructions 1510 may
communicate the bet and raise amounts, if any, bet by one of the
players to the other players. The display instructions 1510 also
communicate to each player whether he/she has won or lost.
[0054] The instructions of the game module 1200 include surrender
instructions 1600 that for each surrendering player, retain a
portion of the amount bet by the player, if any, in block 300 and
return a portion of the amount bet by the player, if any, in block
300.
[0055] The game module compares each player's cards to the "hit"
card and determines whether each player has won or lost. Then, for
each winning player, win instructions 1700 return the winning
player's bet and raise amounts, if any, and pay a win amount to the
winning player, if any is to be awarded. For each losing player,
lose instructions 1800 retain at least a portion of the losing
player's bet and raise amounts, if any.
[0056] As is apparent to those of ordinary skill, if the method 12
is being used to gamble, the game module may optionally include an
accounting module 1900 that stores an amount each player has
available to bet. The accounting module 1900 subtracts any lose
amounts lost by a player from the amount available to that player.
The accounting module 1900 also subtracts any bet amounts
surrendered by a player from the amount available to that player.
Additionally, the accounting module 1900 adds any winning amounts
won by a player to the amount available to that player. The
accounting module 1900 may also provide statistical information
about each player's account, bets, and a combination thereof.
[0057] The accounting module and/or the game module 1200 may
enforce any applicable betting constraints. Optionally, the game
module 1200 may include betting instructions 1920 that store and
implement betting constraints. The betting instructions 1920 may
also store betting activity and provide betting information to the
house, the players, and others.
[0058] The foregoing described embodiments depict different
components contained within, or connected with, different other
components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures
are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can
be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a
conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same
functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired
functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein
combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as
"associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is
achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components.
Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as
being "operably connected," or "operably coupled," to each other to
achieve the desired functionality.
[0059] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and
modifications may be made without departing from this invention and
its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to
encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as
are within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is solely
defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those
within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are
generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including"
should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term
"having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term
"includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited
to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art
that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim,
and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.
For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended
claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one"
and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use
of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a"
or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced
claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation,
even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or
more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an"
(e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at
least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of
definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition,
even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that
such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least
the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations).
[0060] Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the
appended claims.
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