U.S. patent application number 12/907555 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-19 for poker game enabling replacement of discrete card characteristics.
Invention is credited to Bradley Berman, Chad Shapiro.
Application Number | 20120094731 12/907555 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45934603 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120094731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berman; Bradley ; et
al. |
April 19, 2012 |
Poker Game Enabling Replacement of Discrete Card
Characteristics
Abstract
Techniques involving the enhancement of hand results in poker
games involving a draw. One representative method includes
presenting a hand(s) of cards, where each of the cards has at least
a card value and a card suit. A player may identify the card values
and card suits in which to hold in each of the cards. The card
values and card suits are replaced for any of the card values/suits
that are not held, and a resulting hand(s) that includes the held
and replaced card values and card suits is provided.
Inventors: |
Berman; Bradley;
(Minnetonka, MN) ; Shapiro; Chad; (Plymouth,
MN) |
Family ID: |
45934603 |
Appl. No.: |
12/907555 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3293
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: presenting a hand of a plurality of cards
on a display, wherein each of the cards has a card value and a card
suit; facilitating user identification of the card values and the
card suits in which to hold in each of the cards via a user
interface; replacing the card values for any of the card values not
held, and replacing the card suits for any of the card suits not
held; and presenting via the display a resulting hand of the cards
that includes the held and replaced card values and card suits.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a plurality
of the hands, wherein each of the cards in each of the plurality of
the hands has a card value and a card suit, and wherein:
facilitating user identification of the card values and the card
suits comprises facilitating user identification of the card values
and the card suits in which to hold in each of the cards of each of
the plurality of hands; replacing the card values for any of the
card values not held and replacing the card suits for any of the
card suits not held comprises replacing the card values and card
suits for any of the card hands and suits not held in each of the
cards of each of the plurality of hands; and presenting a resulting
hand of the cards comprises presenting a plurality of the resulting
hands of the cards, each of which includes the held and replaced
card values and card suits for the respective resulting hand.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating user identification
of the card values and the card suits in which to hold in the hand
of cards comprises enabling user selection of the card values and
the card suits in which to retain and not replace.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating user identification
of the card values and the card suits in which to hold in the hand
of cards comprises enabling user selection of the card values and
the card suits in which to replace and not retain.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a hand of a plurality
of cards comprises presenting a five-card hand.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a hand of a plurality
of cards comprises presenting an initial number of cards greater
than five cards, and wherein presenting a resulting hand of the
cards comprises presenting the resulting hand using five of the
cards of the initial number of cards that create the highest poker
rank after the replacement any of the card values and card
suits.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the card values for any
of the card values not held and replacing the card suits for any of
the card suits not held comprises replacing the card values and/or
card suits such that no resulting cards of the resulting hand are
duplicates.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein replacing the card values for any
of the card values not held and replacing the card suits for any of
the card suits not held comprises replacing the card values and/or
card suits such that one or more of the resulting cards of the
resulting hand are duplicates as a result of the replacement.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether
the presented hand meets at least one defined criteria; and
enabling the user identification of the card values and the card
suits in which to hold in response to the presented hand meeting
the at least one defined criteria.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein facilitating user identification
comprises determining, based on defined play rules, which of the
card values and card suits to hold on behalf of the user.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a paytable
of poker ranks, and providing a payout for the resulting hand based
on which of the poker ranks in the paytable correspond to the
resulting hand.
12. An apparatus comprising: a display configured to present at
least one initial hand of a plurality of cards, wherein each of the
cards has a card value and a card suit; a user interface configured
to facilitate player designation of the card values and the card
suits in which to retain for each of the plurality of cards in the
at least one initial hand; a processor configured to provide
replacement card values and replacement card suits for any of the
card values and card suits that are not retained; and wherein the
display is further configured to present at least one resulting
hand for each of the at least one initial hands that includes the
retained card values, the retained card suits, the replacement card
values and the replacement card suits.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises
a touch screen configured to facilitate player designation of the
card values and the card suits in which to retain by touching the
display proximate the card values and the card suits in which to
retain.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user interface comprises
a touch screen configured to facilitate player designation of the
card values and the card suits in which to retain by touching the
display proximate the card values and the card suits that are to be
replaced.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein: the processor is further
configured to replicate the retained card values and retained card
suits into one or more additional hands presented on the display,
and to additionally replace the card values and the card suits for
cards of the additional one or more additional hands presented on
the display; and the display is further configured to present a
plurality of resulting hands corresponding to the at least one
initial hand and the one or more additional hands, wherein the
cards in each of the plurality of resulting hands includes the
retained and replaced card values and card suits.
16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the display is configured to
present the at least one initial hand having an initial number of
cards greater than five, and wherein the processor is further
configured to identify the at least one resulting hand using five
of the cards of the initial number of cards that yield a highest
poker rank attainable on a paytable after replacement of any of the
card values and card suits.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured
to provide replacement card values and replacement card suits for
any of the card values and card suits that are not retained by
providing resulting cards that conform to a standard fifty-two card
virtual deck of cards without duplication.
18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured
to provide replacement card values and replacement card suits for
any of the card values and card suits that are not retained by
providing resulting cards that conform to cards of a standard
fifty-two card virtual deck of cards while allowing duplication of
the resulting cards.
19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further
configured to determine whether the at least one initial hand meets
at least one defined criteria, and to enable the user interface to
facilitate player designation of the card values and the card suits
in which to retain for each of the plurality of cards in the at
least one initial hand in response to the initial hand meeting the
at least one defined criteria.
20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is further
configured to utilize play rules to determine which of the card
values and card suits to automatically retain on behalf of the
player.
21. A method comprising: presenting an initial hand of cards having
a plurality of cards on a display, wherein each of the cards has a
card value and a card suit; facilitating user identification of the
card values and the card suits in which to hold in the initial hand
of cards; replicating the held card values and held card suits into
one or more additional hands presented on the display; replacing
the card values for any of the card values and card suits that are
not held for the initial hand and the one or more additional hands;
and presenting via the display resulting hands of the cards
corresponding to the initial hand and each of the one or more
additional hands, wherein the cards in each of the resulting hands
includes the held and replaced card values and card suits.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein replacing the card values and
the card suits comprises replacing the card values and the card
suits for each corresponding card in the hand and in each of the
one or more additional hands with like card values and card
suits.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein replacing the card values and
the card suits comprises replacing the card values and the card
suits for each corresponding card in the hand and in each of the
one or more additional hands with different card values and card
suits.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates in general to card games, and more
particularly to facilitating enhanced hand results in poker
games.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Card games such as poker have long been enjoyed as a means
of entertainment. While cardroom poker continues to captivate
casino patrons, electronic forms of poker have opened new doors for
gaming enthusiasts. Electronic forms include, for example, video
poker played on "slot machines" or other gaming kiosks, online
computer-based poker, and the like.
[0003] While the underlying poker games provided by electronic
poker/gaming machines are enjoyable, continued play of the same
poker or other card game can become mundane over long periods of
play. It is desirable to provide new capabilities in poker games to
hold players' interest in games such as poker.
SUMMARY
[0004] Techniques involving the enhancement of hand results in
poker games involving a draw are disclosed.
[0005] In accordance with one embodiment, a method includes
presenting a hand of cards, where each of the cards has at least a
card value and a card suit. In some embodiments, the cards may have
one or more additional or different card characteristics than a
card value and a card suit. The exemplary method includes enabling
a player to identify the card values and card suits in which to
hold in each of the cards. In one embodiment, such identification
may result in the player holding card characteristics ranging from
no card values or card suits to all card values and card suits. In
the exemplary method, the card values for any of the card values
that are not held are replaced, and the card suits for any of the
card suits that are not held are replaced. A resulting hand that
includes the held and replaced card values and card suits is
presented.
[0006] In one particular variation, such a method may further
include presenting a plurality of the hands, where each of the
cards in each of the plurality of the hands has a card value and a
card suit. In such a variation, facilitating player identification
of the card values and/or card suits includes enabling the player
to identify the card values and/or card suits to hold in each of
the cards of the plurality of hands; replacing the card values
and/or suits for any of the card values and/or suits not held in
each of the cards of each of the plurality of hands; and presenting
a plurality of the resulting hands, each of which includes the held
and replaced card values and card suits for the respective
resulting hand.
[0007] In another particular embodiment of such a method,
facilitating player identification of the card values and the card
suits in which to hold in the hand of cards involves enabling user
selection of the card values and the card suits in which to retain
and not replace. In an alternative embodiment, facilitating player
identification of the card values and the card suits in which to
hold in the hand of cards involves enabling user selection of the
card values and the card suits in which to replace and not
retain.
[0008] In another representative variation, presenting a hand
involves presenting an initial number of cards greater than five
cards, and presenting the resulting hand using five of the cards of
the initial number of cards that create the highest poker rank
after the replacement any of the card values and card suits.
[0009] Another representative embodiment of such a method includes
replacing the card values for any of the card values not held and
replacing the card suits for any of the card suits not held while
disallowing duplicate resulting cards in the resulting hand. Other
embodiments allow duplicate resulting cards in the resulting hand
as a result of the replacement.
[0010] In another embodiment, such a method may further include
determining whether the presented hand meets at least one defined
criteria, and enabling the player to identify the card values and
the card suits in which to hold in response to the presented hand
meeting the defined criteria.
[0011] In another embodiment of the exemplary method, facilitating
player identification involves determining, based on defined play
rules, which of the card values and card suits to hold on behalf of
the user.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, such a method further involves
providing a paytable of poker ranks, and providing a payout for the
resulting hand based on which of the poker ranks in the paytable
correspond to the resulting hand.
[0013] In accordance with another representative embodiment, an
apparatus is provided that includes at least a display, a user
interface and a processing module. In one embodiment, the display
is configured to present at least one initial hand of a plurality
of cards, where each of the cards has a card value and a card suit;
the user interface is configured to facilitate player designation
of the card values and the card suits in which to retain for each
of the plurality of cards in the initial hand(s); and a processor
is configured to provide replacement card values and replacement
card suits for any of the card values and card suits that are not
retained. In the representative embodiment, the display is further
configured to present at least one resulting hand for each of
initial hand(s) that includes the retained card values, the
retained card suits, the replacement card values and the
replacement card suits.
[0014] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the user
interface includes a touch screen configured to facilitate player
designation of the card values and the card suits in which to
retain by touching the display proximate the card values and the
card suits in which to retain. In another embodiment, the user
interface includes a touch screen configured to facilitate player
designation of the card values and the card suits in which to
retain by touching the display proximate the card values and the
card suits that are to be replaced.
[0015] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the
processor is further configured to replicate the retained card
values and retained card suits into one or more additional hands
presented on the display, and to additionally replace the card
values and the card suits for cards of the additional one or more
additional hands presented on the display. In such an embodiment,
the display may further be configured to present a plurality of
resulting hands corresponding to the initial hand(s) and the one or
more additional hands, where the cards in each of the plurality of
resulting hands includes the retained and replaced card values and
card suits.
[0016] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the
display is configured to present the initial hand(s) having an
initial number of cards greater than five, and the processor is
further configured to identify the resulting hand(s) using five of
the cards of the initial number of cards that yield a highest poker
rank attainable on a paytable after replacement of any of the card
values and card suits.
[0017] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the
processor is configured to provide replacement card values and
replacement card suits for any of the card values and card suits
that are not retained by providing resulting cards that conform to
a standard fifty-two card virtual deck of cards without
duplication. In another embodiment, the processor is configured to
provide replacement card values and replacement card suits for any
of the card values and card suits that are not retained by
providing resulting cards that conform to cards of a standard
fifty-two card virtual deck of cards while allowing duplication of
the resulting cards.
[0018] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the
processor is further configured to determine whether the initial
hand(s) meets at least one defined criteria, and to enable the user
interface to facilitate player designation of the card values and
the card suits in which to retain for each of the plurality of
cards in the initial hand(s) in response to the initial hand
meeting the defined criteria.
[0019] In another embodiment of the exemplary apparatus, the
processor is further configured to utilize play rules to determine
which of the card values and card suits to automatically retain on
behalf of the player.
[0020] In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a method
includes presenting an initial hand of cards having a plurality of
cards on a display, where each of the cards has a card value and a
card suit. The exemplary method further includes facilitating user
identification of the card values and the card suits in which to
hold in the initial hand of cards; replicating the held card values
and held card suits into one or more additional hands presented on
the display; replacing the card values for any of the card values
and card suits that are not held for the initial hand and the one
or more additional hands; and presenting via the display resulting
hands of the cards corresponding to the initial hand and each of
the one or more additional hands, wherein the cards in each of the
resulting hands includes the held and replaced card values and card
suits.
[0021] In a variation of such a method, replacing the card values
and the card suits involves replacing the card values and the card
suits for each corresponding card in the hand and in each of the
one or more additional hands with like card values and card suits.
In another embodiment, replacing the card values and the card suits
involves replacing the card values and the card suits for each
corresponding card in the hand and in each of the one or more
additional hands with different card values and card suits.
[0022] These and other representative concepts and features are
further described in the Detailed Description. The features noted
in this Summary are not intended to suggest essential features, nor
is the claimed subject matter intended to be limited by the
representative Summary provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The description herein refers to embodiments illustrated in
the following diagrams.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment for
facilitating selective draws of individual card characteristics in
a poker context;
[0025] FIGS. 2A and 2B are flow diagrams illustrating
representative techniques for providing a draw capability to
discrete card characteristics;
[0026] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are flow diagrams depicting representative
manners in which a player, or automated system, may hold and
replace card values and/or suits to arrive at a resulting
hand(s);
[0027] FIG. 6 depicts a representative video poker environment in
which the principles described herein may be employed;
[0028] FIGS. 7, 8A and 8B illustrate representative examples of
poker game enabling individual card characteristics to be
held/discarded;
[0029] FIG. 9 illustrates a representative embodiment of a
casino-style gaming device in which the principles described herein
may be applied;
[0030] FIG. 10 depicts a representative multi-hand poker game that
enables individual card characteristics to be selected and
replicated from at least one hand to at least one other hand;
and
[0031] FIG. 11 depicts a representative computing system capable of
carrying out operations and features in accordance with the
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which depict
representative implementation examples. It is to be understood that
other embodiments and implementations may be utilized, as
structural and/or operational changes may be made without departing
from the scope of the disclosure.
[0033] Generally, systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for
enhancing result possibilities in poker games. For example, result
possibilities may be enhanced by providing a draw capability to
discrete card characteristics in one or more poker hands.
[0034] In one representative embodiment, a hand(s) of cards is
presented, where each of the cards includes a plurality of card
characteristics, such as a card value and a card suit. The player
may designate, and/or the system may automatically designate, card
values and/or card suits in which to hold in each of one or more of
the cards. The card values for any of the card values that are not
held are replaced, and the card suits for any of the card suits
that are not held are replaced. A resulting hand that includes the
held and replaced card values and card suits is presented. In such
a manner, the player can obtain a potentially greater chance to
enhance his/her hand(s) by selectively replacing card values and/or
card suits in one or more of the cards of the hand(s).
[0035] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment for
facilitating selective draws of individual card characteristics in
a poker context.
[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, a poker event or "hand" 100
of a poker/card game is depicted, which includes providing an
initial hand 102 including a number of initial cards A.sub.I,
B.sub.I, C.sub.I or any number of cards represented by card
N.sub.I. While multiple hands 100 may be concurrently played, the
example of FIG. 1 assumes a single hand 100 is played for purposes
of description. The cards A.sub.I-N.sub.I may be presented to the
player, such as by dealing cards, presenting virtual cards
electronically, or the like. The initial hand 102 may be dealt by a
dealer in a live table version of the card game, or by a virtual
dealer in electronic embodiments.
[0037] The dealt cards A.sub.I-N.sub.I in the representative hand
102 include multiple card characteristics, such as card "rank" or
value "V" and the card suit "S." For example, the card A.sub.I
includes an initial value V-A.sub.I and an initial suit S-A.sub.I.
The initial value V-A.sub.I for card A.sub.I may be, for example,
an Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five,
Four, Three or Two when a standard deck or standard virtual deck of
cards is used. Thus, in such an embodiment, the value "V"
represents a rank of the card. The initial suit S-A.sub.I for card
A.sub.I may be, for example, a Diamond, Heart, Club or Spade when a
standard deck or standard virtual deck of cards is used. Thus, in
such an embodiment, the suit "S" represents a suit of the card.
Other values, suits, and/or other characteristics may alternatively
be used.
[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the initial cards
A.sub.I-N.sub.I includes both a value and suit as shown.
Particularly, card A.sub.I includes an initial value V-A.sub.I and
an initial suit S-A.sub.I, card B.sub.I includes an initial value
V-B.sub.I and an initial suit S-B.sub.I, card C.sub.I includes an
initial value V-C.sub.I and an initial suit S-C.sub.I, and so forth
through some indeterminate number of cards N.sub.I which includes
V-N.sub.I and S-N.sub.I. While any number of initial cards
A.sub.I-N.sub.I may be used depending on the game rules, one
embodiment involves dealing five initial cards A.sub.I-N.sub.I.
[0039] In accordance with one embodiment, none, either or both of
the card characteristics V, S may be held or discarded after the
initial hand 102 is presented. For example, the value V-A.sub.I of
card A.sub.I may be selectively "held" 104 without holding the suit
S-A.sub.I. Thus, the suit S-A.sub.I of card A.sub.I that was not
held may be replaced. The resulting card A.sub.R in the resulting
hand 120 includes the value V-A.sub.R and suit S-A.sub.R that
result from the holding/discarding 104 and ultimate replacing of
the values/suits V-A.sub.I, S-A.sub.I of card A.sub.I. Continuing
with the example that V-A.sub.I is held and S-A.sub.I is not held
(i.e. S-A.sub.I is discarded), then the resulting value V-A.sub.R
of the resulting card A.sub.R is the same as its corresponding
initial card value V-A.sub.I (i.e., V-A.sub.R=V-A.sub.1), but the
resulting suit S-A.sub.R of the resulting card A.sub.R is a
replacement suit and thus is not the same as the initial card suit
S-A.sub.I (i.e., S-A.sub.R.noteq.S-A.sub.1). In one embodiment,
such selective holding/discarding 104, 106, 108, 110 is allowed for
each of the values V and suits S of the initial cards A.sub.I,
B.sub.I, C.sub.I, N.sub.I, thereby providing corresponding
resulting cards A.sub.R, B.sub.R, C.sub.R, N.sub.R in the resulting
hand 120. In this manner, individual card characteristics, such as
card value and card rank, may be held or discarded. For those card
characteristics that are discarded, replacement values/suits are
provided to establish the resulting cards A.sub.R, B.sub.R,
C.sub.R, N.sub.R of the resulting hand 120. As described in greater
detail below, some embodiments may enable identification of a
limited or lesser number of card characteristics to hold/discard,
or a limited or lesser number of cards in which card
characteristics may be individually held or discarded.
[0040] FIG. 2A is a flow diagram of a technique for enhancing
resulting hands through selective retention of discrete card
characteristics. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, card values and card
suits represent the card characteristics that may be held, or
discarded to obtain replacement characteristics. A hand(s) of cards
is presented 200. For each of the cards, holding or discarding of
the card value, the card suit, or both the card value and card suit
is enabled as shown at block 202. While both the card value and
suit may be held, the embodiment of FIG. 2 allows the player to, if
he/she chooses, to hold or discard either or both of the card value
and card suit. Such holding/discarding may be specified by the
player, such as via a user interface in an electronic embodiment.
Alternatively, the decision to hold or discard values/suits may be
automatically performed on behalf of the player by a processor or
other circuit configured to determine which card values/suits
should be held and which should be discarded. Such an automatic
decision may be based on programmed poker hand analyses, such as to
provide the player with the chance to obtain the highest payout, or
the most likely payout, etc. While the illustrated embodiment of
FIG. 2 depicts such a decision may be made for each of the cards,
other embodiments involve enabling such a decision for some subset
of the cards.
[0041] For card values and/or suits that are not held and thus are
discarded, the corresponding card value, card suit, or both the
card value and card suit are replaced 204. For example, assume one
of the initial cards is a Ten of Spades. The player may opt to hold
only the suit (i.e. Spade) such that the value (Ten) is discarded.
A replacement value is provided to replace the Ten value, but the
suit of Spades is retained in the final version of the card. The
resulting card may be, for example, a King of Spades or any other
card value of Spades.
[0042] In one embodiment, the discarded value (e.g., Ten) is
included in the set of replacement values, such that the player
could theoretically receive a replacement value that corresponds to
the particular value that was discarded. In another embodiment, the
discarded value is not included in the set of replacement values,
such that the player will not receive a replacement value that is
the same particular one that was discarded. In another embodiment,
the player may received the discarded value as a replacement value,
but only if there are other such values available in the set of
available values. For example, assuming a standard card deck, there
are four of each poker value (e.g., four Aces, four Twos, four
Tens, etc.). If only one Ten is dealt in the hand, and the player
chooses to discard the Ten, one embodiment allows any of the
remaining three Ten values to be provided as a replacement, but not
the particular Ten value that was discarded.
[0043] In one embodiment, the discarded suit (e.g., Spades) is
included in the set of replacement values, such that the player
could theoretically receive a replacement suit that is the same as
the suit that was discarded. In another embodiment, the player will
not receive a replacement suit that is the same as the discarded
suit. In another example, the player may received the discarded
suit as a replacement suit, but only if there are other such suits
available in the set of available suits. For example, assuming a
standard card deck, there are thirteen cards of each suit (e.g.,
thirteen Spades, thirteen Hearts, etc.). If two Spades were dealt
in the hand, and the player chooses to discard one of the Spades,
one embodiment allows any of the remaining eleven Spades to be
provided as a replacement.
[0044] In some embodiments, what is available to be provided as a
replacement value or suit depends on which value/suit pairs, e.g.,
cards, have been presented. For example, one embodiment allows a
card with a particular value and suit to be held, and allows that
same value/suit combination to be presented in another card in
which any value and/or suit replacement occurs. Such an embodiment
therefore allows for duplicate cards in the resulting hand. In
another embodiment, duplicate cards are prohibited, such that no
value/suit combination in one card will match another value/suit
combination in a card of the resulting hand.
[0045] FIG. 2B is a flow diagram of another technique for enhancing
resulting hands through selective retention of discrete card
characteristics. At least one hand of cards is presented 210. The
embodiment of FIG. 2B allows the user to identify 212 the card
value(s) and/or card suit(s) in which to hold in any of the cards
of the hand. For example, a user interface may be provided 212A to
enable the player to specify card value(s)/suit(s) to hold for each
card, and/or a user interface may be provided 212B to enable the
player to specify card value(s)/suit(s) to replace in each card.
Allowing the player to identify 212 which of the cards values/suits
to hold may be accomplished in an electronic embodiment by
providing one or more user interface mechanisms, such as buttons,
touch screen, voice input, joystick, and/or any other manner of
facilitating user designation of one or more of the presented card
values/suits to hold.
[0046] It should be recognized that specifying which cards to
"hold" also suggests which cards will be discarded; i.e. those that
are not specified to be held are discarded. Therefore, in an
embodiment where card values and suits represent the card
characteristics, unless otherwise noted references to selecting
card values and/or suits in which to "hold" includes identifying
those values/suits by explicit identification of the values/suits
to hold, or by implicit identification of the values/suits by
identifying those that are to be discarded. Analogously, unless
otherwise noted, references to selecting card values and/or suits
in which to "discard" includes identifying those values/suits by
explicit identification of the values/suits to discard, or by
implicit identification of the values/suits by identifying those
that are to be held.
[0047] In response to the user's identification 212 of which card
values and/or suits to replace in any of the cards, the respective
card values and/or card suits are replaced 214. A resulting hand
that includes the held and replaced card values and suits may be
presented 216.
[0048] Other embodiments involve an apparatus configured to enhance
resulting hands through selective retention of discrete card
characteristics. For example, a display may be configured to
present the hand(s) of cards, and a user interface may be provided
to enable the user to identify the card values/suits in which to
hold. A processing module may be configured to replace the card
values and/or card suits for any of the card values/suits not held,
such that the display can present the resulting hand including
those held and replaced card values/suits.
[0049] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram depicting a representative manner
in which a player, or automated system, may hold and replace card
values and suits to arrive at a resulting hand. One or more hands
of cards are dealt 300. In one embodiment, one hand of cards, such
as five cards, is dealt for consideration by the player. In other
embodiments, multiple hands may be dealt 300, whereby the player is
allowed to make hold/discard decisions for the card values and
suits in each of the concurrently-played hands. Other embodiments
involve dealing 300 one hand, and replicating those card
values/suits that are held into one or more other concurrently
played hands, thereby allowing card value/suit replacement in each
instance where the value/suit was not held or replicated.
[0050] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a replaceable card value and
replaceable card suit is presented 302 for each card in the one or
more concurrently played hand(s). A first hand includes initial
card-I.sub.INITIAL 304, initial card-2.sub.INITIAL 306, initial
card-3.sub.INITIAL 308, initial card-4.sub.INITIAL 310 and initial
card-5.sub.INITIAL 312. For each of the cards, the player is
allowed to specify whether the value and/or suit presented for that
card is to be held or replaced. For example, if it is decided to
hold 314 the value and hold 315 the suit of card-1 .sub.INITIAL
304, then the corresponding resulting card-1.sub.RESULT 330 of the
resulting hand 328 will retain the value and suit of the original
card-1.sub.INITIAL 304. On the other hand, if either or both of the
value and suit are not held 314, 315, then a replacement value
and/or suit is obtained 326. Such a decision is made for each of
the initial cards 304, 306, 308, 310, 312 as noted by the decision
blocks 314-323, ultimately providing the resulting hand 328
including resulting cards 330, 332, 334, 336, 338.
[0051] If there is another hand 340 to consider (i.e. a multiple
hand embodiment), then decisions 314-323 may be made for the cards
304-312 of the additional hand(s) to produce corresponding
resulting hands 328. When the resulting hand(s) 328 have been
identified, results can be calculated 342 to determine whether the
hand(s) results in a payout as determined from a paytable of
winning poker hands.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram depicting another representative
manner in which a player, or automated system, may hold and replace
card values and suits to arrive at a resulting hand. In this
embodiment, card values and/or suits that are discarded may be
replaced prior to decisions to hold/discard card values and/or
suits from the other cards in the hand that have not yet been
considered. Similarly to that of FIG. 3, one or more hands are
dealt 400, and replaceable card values and suits are presented 402
for each card 404, 406, 408, 410, 412. In one embodiment, any card
such as .sub.card-INITIAL 404 may be considered for card value
and/or suit replacement. It is determined 414, 415 whether to hold
the value and/or suit for that card 404, replacements are obtained
416 if necessary, and a resulting card-1.sub.RESULT 417 is
provided. The result of this card-1.sub.RESULT 417 may influence
the decision 420, 421 whether or not to hold the value and/or suit
of a next card, such as card-2.sub.INITIAL 406. Replacements are
obtained 422 if necessary, and a resulting card-2.sub.RESULT 423 is
provided. Again, the result of this card-2.sub.RESULT 423 may
influence the decision 426, 427 whether or not to hold the value
and/or suit of a next card, such as card-3.sub.INITIAL 408. For
example, if the resulting cards 417, 423 are both Hearts, and the
initial cards 410, 412 are also Hearts, the player may choose 427
to discard a non-Heart suit for card-3.sub.INITIAL 408 in the hopes
of ultimately drawing to a flush in the resulting hand 445.
Replacements are obtained 428 if necessary and card-3.sub.RESULT
429 is provided. Similar decisions 432, 433 and possible
replacement 434 occurs for card-4.sub.INITIAL 410 to provide
resulting card-4.sub.RESULT 435, as well as decisions 438, 439 and
possible replacement 440 for card-5.sub.INITIAL 412 to provide
resulting card-5.sub.RESULT 441. Results 448 are calculated for the
resulting hand 445 and any other resulting hands occurring if other
initial hands are dealt as depicted at decision block 450.
[0053] Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 4 provides replacement card
values/suits as card values/suits are discarded, thereby providing
the player with mid-hand decisions as the state of the resulting
hand 445 incrementally changes.
[0054] Various alternative embodiments may be used in connection
with the techniques described herein. Some representative
alternative embodiments are described in connection with FIG. 5.
For example, one or more initial hands of cards may be presented
500, where different numbers of initial cards may be dealt. In one
embodiment, the initial cards dealt is five 500A. This embodiment
may provide five initial cards in which card values and/or card
suits may be subject to a draw. Another embodiment involves dealing
more than five cards, as shown at block 500B. In such an
embodiment, card values and/or card suits for greater than five
cards may be subject to a draw, but only a subset of the total
number of cards initially dealt are used to create the resulting
hand. For example, if seven cards are initially dealt, card values
and/or card suits may be selectively held/discarded for each of the
seven cards, while five of the resulting seven cards may be used to
create the best five-card resulting hand.
[0055] In another embodiment, less than the number of cards used in
the resulting hand may initially be dealt as depicted at block
500C. For example, three cards may initially be dealt, where card
values and/or card suits may be selectively held/discarded for each
of these three cards. An additional two cards having no selectable
card values and/or card suits may then be provided to complete the
resulting hand. In this manner, a subset of the total cards are
available for card value/suit replacement, while another subset of
the cards are not.
[0056] When the initial cards have been presented, card values and
suits to hold in the hand(s) of cards are identified 502. In one
embodiment, all cards 502A are provided with the opportunity to
hold or discard card values and/or suits. In another embodiment,
only a subset of the cards 502B are available for card value and/or
suit replacement. In yet another embodiment depicted at block 502C,
one or more cards may be presented that afford the player the
opportunity to select only a subset of the card characteristics for
replacement. For example, some cards may only allow the suit to be
held or discarded, some cards may only allow the rank to be held or
discarded, while other cards may allow both the suit and rank to be
held or discarded.
[0057] Thus, some embodiments may not provide the option of
selecting both the card value and/or card suit for every card of
every played hand. In one embodiment, the occurrence of cards that
enable card value and/or card suit to be individually
held/discarded is purely random. In other instances, it is random
but weighted in the sense that the likelihood of one or more cards
providing such options is somewhat controllable or adjustable. The
term "random" is used herein regardless of the level of randomness
used; e.g., "random" is used whether purely random or
weighted-random. Thus, cards exhibiting the ability to individually
hold or discard card value and/or card suit may or may not be
provided in connection for every dealt card. In some embodiments,
more than one, and up to all of the dealt cards may enable
individual selection of card values and/or card suits to hold. For
example, where five cards are dealt, one card may be a normal card
with no card value/suit selection opportunity, while others may
provide the ability to hold either or both the card value and card
suit.
[0058] The individual card characteristic selection features may be
an integral part of the poker game, or may be selectively
activated. For example, the frequency of such opportunities may be
dependent on wagering factors, such as how much was wagered,
whether the maximum credits are played, etc. In one embodiment, the
feature is activated when a side bet is placed, or other monetary
amount is paid to activate the feature. Still other factors may be
used, such as a number of consecutive plays without a payout, a
number of consecutive plays with a payout, number of consecutively
played hands, etc. These and other manners of invoking the features
described herein may be implemented.
[0059] Other alternative embodiments may involve criteria-based
opportunities 502D. In one embodiment, the ability to hold/discard
card values and card suits may be presented when a certain
condition(s) is met. For example, the opportunity may be presented
when the initially dealt hand meets a threshold to reach a
particular resulting hand. One example is to present the ability to
hold/discard card values and card suits for each of the cards of
the initial hand when the initial hand is one, or two cards from
reaching a flush. More particularly, if three of five initially
dealt cards are one suit such as Hearts, each of the cards may be
presented with the opportunity to hold/discard card suits, or both
the card values and card suits. Another example is where the option
to individually hold/discard card values/suits is presented where
the initial hand can theoretically reach a straight flush if the
appropriate replacement card values and/or card suits are
drawn.
[0060] Still other alternatives involve the manner in which the
card characteristics may be identified for holding or discarding.
In one embodiment, the player selects the card characteristics in
which to hold or discard. For example, the player may select the
card values and/or card suits in various cards using a user
interface, such as buttons, touch screen, voice command, joystick,
etc. In another embodiment, an assisted identification feature 502F
is employed, which automatically holds card values and/or card
suits for the player. Programmed rules may be consulted by a
processor or other controller to automatically determine which card
values/suits, if any, to hold on the player's behalf. For example,
the processor or other control mechanism may determine which card
values/suits to hold based on which resulting cards have the
highest probability of providing a resulting hand(s) with the
highest poker rank. This, or any other desired criteria, may be
used to automatically hold cards. Such an auto-hold feature may be
mandatory in some embodiments, or may be a selectable feature
available to the player in other embodiments. In yet other
embodiments, such as that described above, the player is allowed to
specify which card values and suits, if any, to hold.
[0061] The card values and/or card suits for any of the discarded
card values/suits are replaced 504. As previously noted, the
replacement card values/suits may be provided such that duplicate
cards are allowed 504A, or such that the resulting cards correspond
to cards of a standard deck without duplicates 504B.
[0062] A resulting hand(s) is presented 506, which includes cards
having the held and replaced card values and card suits. In one
embodiment, the resulting hand has the same number of cards as the
initial hand as depicted at block 506A. In another embodiment, such
as where the initial hand presents X cards greater than five 500B,
the resulting hand uses the best five of the X cards as shown at
block 506B. Where the initial hand includes fewer than five cards
500C, one or more cards may be added to reach a five-card resulting
hand as shown at block 506C. It should be noted that a five card
resulting hand is assumed in these examples, but other poker games
may utilize more or fewer cards in the resulting hand.
[0063] The resulting hand(s) is provided when the replacements of
card values and/or card suits have been made, and a payout(s) may
be provided 508 for any resulting hands meeting defined payout
criteria. For example, the resulting hand(s) may be compared 508A
against a paytable that lists a plurality of resulting hand poker
ranks in which a payout will be provided. In other embodiments, the
payout may be adjusted 508B based on the extent to which
replacement card values and card suits were needed. For example, a
higher payout may be provided for a resulting hand of a straight
flush if only one card suit was replaced than for a straight flush
where multiple card values and/or card suits were replaced.
[0064] The operational and structural features described herein may
be used in connection with numerous poker-related card games
involving a draw. An exemplary use case is now described in
connection with a draw poker game shown in FIG. 6.
[0065] In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a paytable 600 is provided that
includes numerous poker rank thresholds in which a payout is
provided, as well as different payouts depending on the amount
wagered by the player. For example, assuming increasing wagers from
bet-1 602 to bet-5 610, the payout amount increases for each given
poker rank threshold (e.g., royal flush, straight flush, etc.). As
a more specific example, if the player wagered three credits (BET 3
606) and obtained a full house, the player would win twenty-seven
credits. As noted above, the features described herein may be
integral to all gaming activity, or may be triggered upon a
wagering or other event such as by wagering the maximum of five
credits. However, for purposes of the example of FIG. 6, it is
assumed that the feature is integral to the game and available at
all times during play.
[0066] The example of FIG. 6 assumes a draw poker embodiment where
five cards 612, 614, 616, 618, 620 are dealt in an initial hand
622. The illustrated embodiment is an electronic embodiment played
on a video poker machine or other computer-implemented apparatus,
and therefore it is assumed the cards 612, 614, 616, 618, 620 are
"dealt" by presenting the cards via a display screen. The cards may
be dealt face down and then turned face up, or may be initially
dealt face up.
[0067] In one embodiment, multiple hands are initially presented,
as depicted by the one or more other hands 624. For example,
multiple hands 622 through 624 may initially be dealt, and the card
values and card suits in each card of each hand 622, 624 may be
held, or discarded to obtain replacement card values/suits. In
another embodiment, an initial hand 622 may be presented, and upon
holding card values and card suits in that hand 622, those held
card values and card suits are replicated into one or more
additional hands 624. In these and other multi-hand embodiments,
card values and card suits that are not held will be replaced to
ultimately provide respective resulting hands from the initial
hands.
[0068] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment where a single initial hand
700A is presented for play, although the principles described are
equally applicable to multiple hands. Like reference numbers are
used in FIG. 7 in the various stages of play where applicable.
[0069] A hand 700A of five cards 701, 702, 703, 704, 705 is
presented in the illustrated embodiment, although other numbers of
cards could be presented. The hand may initially be presented face
down, or face up as shown at hand 700B. The example shows that the
five cards 701-705 of hand 700B include card 701 which is the Two
of Spades, as noted by the Two value 711 and the Spade suit 716.
Similarly, card 702 of hand 700B includes the Three 712 of Spades
717, card 703 includes the Four 713 of Spades 718, card 704
includes the Five 714 of Spades 719, and card 705 includes the Six
715 of Hearts 720. In accordance with one embodiment, as few as
none, and as many as all of the card values 711-715 and card suits
716-720 may be identified for discarding and replacement. In other
embodiments, there may be a limit based on established rules of
play as to how many card characteristics may be held.
[0070] Referring to hand state 700C, it can be seen that various
card characteristics have been held. Particularly, the card values
Two 711, Three 712, Four 713, Five 714 and Six 715 of the
respective cards 701-705 have been held. These held cards are
depicted as highlighted in FIG. 7. Additionally, card suits 716,
717, 718 and 719 of the respective cards 701-704 have been held.
Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, only suit 720 of card 705 has
been identified for discarding and replacement. It should be noted
that whether cards are identified to hold, or whether cards are
identified to discard, is not relevant as the result of replacing
the discarded or non-held cards is the same. As can be seen, the
player can "hold" the straight including the Two 711, Three 712,
Four 713, Five 714 and Six 715, and hold four Spades 716, 717, 718,
719, while discarding the Heart 720 in the hopes of drawing to a
straight flush.
[0071] Hand state 700D shows the cards 701-705 after the discarded
card characteristic (Heart 720) has been replaced. As can be seen,
the replacement suit is a Spade 721, which provides a resulting
hand 700D of a straight flush. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 7
involves a five-card initial hand of draw poker where the player
receives a straight on the deal, and is four cards to a straight
flush. The feature of enabling selective holding/discarding of
discrete card characteristics enables the player to lock up the
straight, while still drawing to a possible straight flush.
[0072] Other representative examples are provided in FIGS. 8A and
8B to further illustrate the features described herein. FIG. 8A
again illustrates an embodiment where one initial hand 800A is
presented for play, although the principles described are equally
applicable to multiple hands. Like reference numbers are used in
FIG. 8A in the various stages of play where applicable.
[0073] A hand 800A of five cards 801, 802, 803, 804, 805 is
presented in the illustrated embodiment, although other numbers of
cards could be presented. The example shows that the five cards
801-805 of hand 800A include card 801 which is the Ten of Hearts,
as noted by the Ten value 811 and the Heart suit 816. Similarly,
card 802 of hand 800A includes the Jack 812 of Hearts 817, card 803
includes the Queen 813 of Hearts 818, card 804 includes the King
814 of Hearts 819, and card 805 includes the Eight 815 of Hearts
820.
[0074] Referring to hand state 800B, it can be seen that various
card characteristics have been held. Particularly, the card values
Ten 811, Jack 812, Queen 813 and King 814 of the respective cards
801-804 have been held. The held cards are depicted as highlighted
in FIG. 8A. Additionally, card suits 816, 817, 818, 819 and 820 of
the respective cards 801-805 have been held. Thus, in the
illustrated embodiment, only card value 815 of card 805 has been
identified for discarding and replacement. As can be seen, the
player can "hold" the flush including the Hearts 816-820, and hold
the Ten 811, Jack 812, Queen 813 and King 814, while discarding the
Eight 815 in the hopes of drawing to a royal flush.
[0075] Hand state 800C shows the cards 801-805 after the discarded
card characteristic (Eight 815) has been replaced. As can be seen,
the replacement value is an Ace 821, which provides a resulting
hand 800C of a royal flush. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 8A
involves a five-card initial hand of draw poker where the player
receives a flush on the deal, and is four cards to a royal flush.
The feature of enabling selective holding/discarding of discrete
card characteristics enables the player to lock up the flush, while
still drawing to a possible royal flush.
[0076] FIG. 8B illustrates another example where the feature is
used to give the player a better opportunity to achieve one of
multiple possible outcomes. FIG. 8B again illustrates an embodiment
where one initial hand 850A is presented for play, although the
principles described are equally applicable to multiple hands. Like
reference numbers are used in FIG. 8B in the various stages of play
where applicable.
[0077] A hand 850A of five cards 851, 852, 853, 854, 855 is
presented in the illustrated embodiment, although other numbers of
cards could be presented. The example shows that the five cards
851-855 of hand 850A include card 851 which is the King of Hearts,
as noted by the King value 861 and the Heart suit 866. Similarly,
card 852 of hand 850A includes the Seven 862 of Hearts 867, card
853 includes the Ace 863 of Hearts 868, card 854 includes the Ace
864 of Clubs 869, and card 855 includes the King 865 of Spades
870.
[0078] Referring to hand state 850B, it can be seen that various
card characteristics have been held. Particularly, the card values
King 861, Ace 863, Ace 864 and King 865 of the respective cards
851, 853, 854 and 855 have been held. The held cards are depicted
as highlighted in FIG. 8B. Additionally, card suits 866, 867 and
868 of the respective cards 851-853 have been held. Thus, in the
illustrated embodiment, the card characteristics identified for
discarding and replacement are card value 862 of card 852, and
suits 869 and 870 of cards 854, 855 respectively. As can be seen,
the player has held the two pair (Kings 861/865 and Aces 863/864),
while discarding other card characteristics s in the hopes of
drawing to either a full house or a flush.
[0079] Hand state 850C shows the cards 851-855 after the discarded
card characteristics (Seven 862, Club 869 and Spade 870) have been
replaced. As can be seen, the replacement values are the King 871
in card 852, the Diamond 872 in card 854, and the Club 873 in card
855. The resulting hand 850C has resulted in a full house of Kings
861, 871, 865 over Aces 863, 864. Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 8B
involves a five-card initial hand of draw poker where the player
receives two pair on the deal, is two cards to a flush, and one
card to a full house. The feature of enabling selective
holding/discarding of discrete card characteristics enables the
player to lock up any desired cards (e.g., the two pair), while
still drawing to one or more other possible outcomes such as a full
house or a flush. As can be seen, the features described herein
enable holding of any cards to preserve, or increase or otherwise
change the chances of, a winning outcome.
[0080] It is noted that in the example of FIG. 8B the player did
not additionally or alternatively receive a flush outcome in
response to the draw to new suits 872, 873. In one embodiment,
duplicate cards are not allowed; e.g., the Ace of Hearts cannot be
provided twice in the same resulting hand. In other embodiments,
such duplicates are allowed in the resulting hand as a result of
the card characteristics draw.
[0081] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 8B, if duplicates are
allowed, the player could obtain both a full house and a flush.
This is because multiple card values having the same suit would be
required to obtain both a resulting hand based on matching card
values (e.g., pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind, full house,
four-of-a-kind, etc.), and a resulting hand based on matching suits
(e.g., flush, straight flush, royal flush, etc.).
[0082] If duplicates are not allowed as in some embodiments, the
player could obtain only one of the full house or flush outcomes.
For example, rules can be provided to enable a processor or other
controller to prohibit providing replacement cards that will result
in duplicate cards. As a more particular example, if the King 861
of Hearts 866 in hand state 850B were both held, the processor or
other controller would not allow a King 871 to be the replacement
rank at card 852 of hand 850C, since Card 851 of hand 850C is
already a King of Hearts.
[0083] The embodiments of FIGS. 6, 7, 8A and 8B assumes a draw
poker embodiment in an electronic embodiment played on a video
poker machine or other computer-implemented apparatus, and
therefore it is assumed the cards are "dealt" by presenting the
cards via a display screen.
[0084] The features described herein may be used in connection with
slot machines, computing devices and/or other gaming devices. FIG.
9 illustrates a representative embodiment of a casino-style gaming
device in which the principles described herein may be applied. For
purposes of explanation, the description of the gaming device is
FIG. 9 is provided in terms of a kiosk, slot machine, or video
poker machine 900. However, the present invention is analogously
applicable to other computer-based systems.
[0085] The illustrated gaming machine 900 includes a computing
system (not shown) to carry out operations according to the
disclosure. The illustrated gaming machine 900 includes a display
902, and a user interface 904, although some or all of the user
interface may be provided via the display 902 in touch screen
embodiments. The user interface 904 allows the user to control and
engage in play of the gaming machine 900. The particular user
interface mechanisms associated with user interface 904 is
dependent on the type of gaming machine. For example, the user
interface 904 may include one or more buttons, switches, joysticks,
levers, pull-down handles, trackballs, voice-activated input, or
any other user input system or mechanism that allows the user to
play the particular gaming activity.
[0086] The user interface 904 may allow the user to enter coins,
bills, or otherwise obtain credits through vouchers, tokens, credit
cards, tickets, etc. Various mechanisms for entering such vouchers,
tokens, credit cards, coins, tickets, etc. are known in the art.
For example, coin/token input mechanisms, card readers, credit card
readers, smart card readers, punch card readers, and other
mechanisms may be used to enter wagers. It is through the user
interface 904 that the user can initiate and engage in an
electronic poker activity as described herein. For example, the
player can use the user interface 904 and/or touch screen inputs to
indicate the number of hands to play 906, place wagers 908, make
gaming decisions (e.g., bet max) 910 or place side bets 912 that
will otherwise make the player eligible for such features, etc. The
user interface 904 may also enable the user to identify which card
characteristics will be held/discarded for the cards in play, as
depicted by user interface block 914. While the illustrated
embodiment depicts various buttons for the user interface 904, it
should be recognized that a wide variety of user interface options
may be used, including pressing buttons, touching a segment of a
touch-screen, entering text, entering voice commands, or other
known user entry methodology.
[0087] As noted above, touch screen technology may be used to
enable the player to identify card characteristics (e.g., card
value, card suit, etc.) and perform other actions in connection
with the games. The desired card characteristics in cards of a hand
920 may, in addition to or in lieu of using the user interface 904,
be identified for holding or discarding by touching an area of the
display 902, such as touching 922 proximate the particular card
characteristic 924 and/or other designated areas 926.
[0088] The display device 902 may include one or more of an
electronic display, a mechanical display, and fixed display
information such as paytable information associated with a
glass/plastic panel 928. A display segment or panel 930 may also be
provided to present information such as the accumulated credits,
current bet amount such as "10" credits (where credits may
represent, for example, coins, tokens, dollars, etc.), the number
of hands played, total bet, the number of credits paid out or "won"
on a particular play, etc. A wager acceptor 932 is operative to
receive wager tokens, coins, bills, credit/debit cards, coupons,
smart cards, prepaid casino cards, electronic fund transfer (EFT),
tickets, and the like.
[0089] In the illustrated embodiment, the user is shown to play a
draw poker hand 920, where the player is selecting the card
characteristic 924 of a Spade to hold in the card 934. The card
characteristic 924 may be highlighted or otherwise indicated as a
held (or alternatively discarded) card characteristic. In a single
hand game as shown, any discarded card characteristics will be
replaced. Embodiments also include enabling the player to
concurrently play multiple hands, whether dealt initially, created
through replication of held card characteristics, etc. For example,
where created through replication, any held card characteristics
may be replicated into other corresponding cards of one or more
additional hands. These other hands would also receive replacement
card characteristics.
[0090] An example of a multi-hand game employing features described
herein is illustrated in FIG. 10. Assume a first hand 1000 is
dealt, including cards 1001-1005. The player may opt to hold all
card characteristics except for the Eight 1006, which is thus
discarded. The held card characteristics are replicated into one or
more other hands, such as hands 1010 and 1020 including cards
1011-1015 and 1021-1025 respectively. Each of the hands 1000, 1010,
1020 then receives replacement card characteristics for those card
characteristics that were not held, such as shown at card
characteristic locations 1006, 1016 and 1026. In this manner, held
card characteristics are replicated into one or more other playable
hands in an attempt to increase the chances of obtaining a winning
payout and/or increase the chances of obtaining a higher paying
award.
[0091] Returning to FIG. 9, the device 900 may be programmed to
facilitate these and other embodiments. The features described
herein may be implemented as a casino gaming machine such as a
video poker machine or other special purpose gaming kiosk as
described in FIG. 9, or may be implemented via computing systems
operating under the direction of local gaming software, and/or
remotely-provided software such as provided by an application
service provider (ASP). The casino gaming machine may utilize a
computing system to control and manage the gaming activity. An
example of a representative computing system capable of carrying
out operations in accordance with the disclosure is illustrated in
FIG. 11.
[0092] Hardware, firmware, software or a combination thereof may be
used to perform the various gaming functions, display presentations
and operations described herein. The functional modules in
accordance with the disclosure may reside in a gaming machine as
described, or may alternatively reside on a stand-alone or
networked computing device/system. The computing structure 1100 of
FIG. 11 is an exemplary computing structure that can be used in
connection with such electronic gaming machines, computers, or
other computer-implemented devices to carry out operations
described herein. It should be noted that the representative
computing structure of FIG. 9 or analogous computing structure may
be used on a local computer, kiosk, server, or any other device
providing or serving the gaming functions. It should also be noted
that the computing arrangement of FIG. 11 may be distributed across
multiple devices (e.g., processing components at a server, and
display and user interface components at a local gaming machine,
etc.).
[0093] The example computing arrangement 1100 suitable for
performing the gaming functions according to the disclosure
typically includes a central processor (CPU) 1102 coupled to random
access memory (RAM) 1104 and some variation of read-only memory
(ROM) 1106. The ROM 1106 may also represent other types of storage
media to store programs, such as programmable ROM (PROM), erasable
PROM (EPROM), etc. The processor 1102 may communicate with other
internal and external components through input/output (I/O)
circuitry 1108 and bussing 1110, to provide control signals,
communication signals, and the like.
[0094] Chance-based gaming systems such as video poker machines, in
which the present disclosure is applicable, may be governed by
random numbers and processors. A display device 1111 is used to
display the gaming activity as facilitated by one or more random
number generators (RNG). RNGs are known in the art, and may be
implemented using hardware, software operable in connection with
the processor 1102, or some combination of hardware and software.
Any known RNG may be used, and may be integrally programmed as part
of the processor 1102 operation, or alternatively may be a separate
RNG controller 1140.
[0095] The computing arrangement 1100 may also include one or more
data storage devices, including hard and floppy disk drives 1112,
CD-ROM drives 1114, and other hardware capable of reading and/or
storing information such as DVD, FLASH drives, etc. In one
embodiment, software for carrying out operations in accordance with
the disclosure may be stored and distributed on a CD-ROM 1116,
diskette 1118, DVD, FLASH device or other form of media capable of
portably storing information. These storage media may be inserted
into, and read by, devices such as the CD-ROM drive 1114, the disk
drive 1112, etc. The software may also be transmitted to the
computing arrangement 1100 via data signals, such as being
downloaded electronically via a network, such as the Internet.
Further, as previously described, software for carrying out
functions associated with the present disclosure may alternatively
be stored in internal memory/storage of the computing device 1100,
such as in the ROM 1106 or other storage.
[0096] The computing arrangement 1100 may be coupled to the display
1111, which represents a display on which the gaming activities may
be presented. The display 1111 may be any type of known display or
presentation screen, such as LCD displays, plasma display, cathode
ray tubes (CRT), etc. Where the computing device 1100 represents a
stand-alone or networked computer, the display 1111 may represent a
standard computer terminal or display capable of displaying
multiple windows, frames, etc. Where the computing device is
embedded within an electronic gaming machine (see FIG. 9), the
display 1111 corresponds to the display screen of the gaming
machine/kiosk. A user input interface 1122 such as a mouse,
buttons, keyboard/keypad, microphone, touch pad, trackball,
joystick, touch screen, voice-recognition system, etc. may be
provided.
[0097] The computing arrangement 1100 may be connected to other
computing devices or gaming machines, such as via a network. The
computing arrangement 1100 may be connected to a network server
1128 in an intranet or local network configuration. The computer
may further be part of a larger network configuration as in a
global area network (GAN) such as the Internet. In such a case, the
computer may access one or more web servers 1130 via the
network/Internet 1132.
[0098] Other components directed to gaming machine implementations
include manners of gaming participant payment, and gaming machine
payout. For example, a gaming machine including the computing
arrangement 1100 may also include a hopper controller 1142 to
determine the amount of payout to be provided to the participant.
The hopper controller may be integrally implemented with the
processor 1102, or alternatively as a separate hopper controller
1142. A hopper 1144 may also be provided in gaming machine
embodiments, where the hopper serves as the mechanism holding the
coins/tokens of the machine. The wager input module 1146 represents
any mechanism for accepting coins, tokens, coupons, bills,
electronic fund transfer (EFT), tickets, credit cards, smart cards,
membership cards, etc., for which a participant inputs a wager
amount.
[0099] Additionally, the computing arrangement 1100 may include a
transmitter (TX) 1150, and may include a receiver (RX) 1152. These
TX 1150 and RX 1152 components may be discrete components, or
aggregated such as in the case of a transceiver. The receiver
function provided by the RX 1152 can be configured to receive
information from any type of network, such as a local area network
(LAN), wireless LAN (e.g., 802.11 a/b/g/n), wired network (e.g.,
Internet), wireless network (e.g., Global System for Mobile
Communications/General Packet Radio Service (GSM/GPRS), proximity
networks (e.g., Bluetooth, peer-to-peer networks), and/or other
wired/wireless network technologies. For example, the RX 1152 may
receive programming and/or operational information from a server
1128 or 1130 where the system is server-based. Any such server may
include computing components analogous to those depicted in FIG.
11. Information such as wager information or other data used by a
server can be provided to the appropriate server 1128, 1130 or
other device or network entity via the TX 1150. It should also be
recognized that the computing arrangement 1100 of FIG. 11 may be
implemented in a gaming apparatus, or in a server or other network
entity.
[0100] The operational principles described herein may be played in
connection with electronic embodiments, or in live table games. In
live table games, the deck(s) of cards may include identifiable
card characteristics, or other items, circuits, or the like may be
used to identify the values, suits and/or other card
characteristics to be held/discarded by the player.
[0101] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments has
been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It
is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to
precise forms that are disclosed. Many modifications and variations
are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the
present disclosure is equally applicable in electronic or
mechanical gaming machines, and is also applicable to live table
versions of gaming activities that are capable of being played in a
table version (e.g., slot machines involving poker or card games
that could be played via table games).
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