U.S. patent application number 13/303838 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-24 for method of playing variant of poker.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jamie Abrahamson. Invention is credited to Jamie Abrahamson.
Application Number | 20130023318 13/303838 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47556134 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130023318 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abrahamson; Jamie |
January 24, 2013 |
METHOD OF PLAYING VARIANT OF POKER
Abstract
A wagering game is played under the control of a dealer with
steps of: a) a set of playing cards is used to provide random cards
from a set of playing cards; b) the dealer requires two equal
wagers at a player position at two locations, wherein each of the
two locations represents a wager on a single poker hand of three
cards; c) the dealer dealing exactly three random cards from the d
set of playing cards to a first of the two locations; d) the dealer
moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
locations to a second location of the two locations; e) the dealer
completing three-card hands at the two locations; f) the dealer
providing a three card hand at a dealer's position; and g) the
dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks
of each of the two locations against a three-card poker rank of the
three card hand at the dealer's position.
Inventors: |
Abrahamson; Jamie; (Las
Vegas, NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Abrahamson; Jamie |
Las Vegas |
NV |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
47556134 |
Appl. No.: |
13/303838 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13188035 |
Jul 21, 2011 |
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13303838 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 ;
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/322 20130101;
G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 ;
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24; A63F 1/00 20060101 A63F001/00 |
Claims
1) A method of playing a wagering game under the control of a
dealer comprising: a) a set of playing cards is shuffled to form a
randomized set of playing cards; b) the dealer requires two equal
wagers at a player position at two locations, wherein each of the
two locations represents a wager on a single poker hand of a final
three cards; c) the dealer dealing exactly two cards from the
randomized set of playing cards to each of the two locations, for a
total of four cards at each player position; d) the dealer moving
exactly one and only one card from the first of the two locations
to a second location of the two locations and exactly one and only
one card from the second of the two locations to the first of the
two locations; e) the dealer completing three-card hands at the two
locations; f) the dealer providing a three card hand at a dealer's
position; and g) the dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing
three-card poker ranks of each of the two locations at the player
position against a three-card poker rank of the three card hand at
the dealer's position.
2) The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer deals the two cards to
the first location and moves the one card before any cards are
dealt to the second location.
3) The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer deals the two cards to
the first location and moves the one cards according to step d)
after the two cards are also present in the second location.
4) The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer deals the two cards to
the first location and moves the one card after the two cards are
present in the second location and the dealer has received the
three cards at the dealer position.
5) The method of claim 4 wherein one card in the second position is
moved by the dealer to the first location and the dealer is
provided with exactly four playing cards from which to make a best
three-card poker hand.
6) A method of playing a wagering game under the control of a
dealer comprising: h) a set of physical playing cards is used to
provide random physical playing cards during play of the wagering
game; i) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a player position
at two locations, wherein each of the two locations represents a
wager on a single poker hand of three cards; j) the dealer dealing
exactly two random physical playing cards to a first of the two
locations; k) the dealer moving exactly one and only one card from
the first of the two locations to a second location of the two
locations and exactly one and only one card from the second of the
two locations to the first of the two locations; l) the dealer
completing three-card hands at the two locations using random cards
from the set of physical playing cards; m) the dealer providing a
three card hand at a dealer's position of random playing cards from
the set of physical playing cards; and n) the dealer resolving the
two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks of each of the two
locations against a three-card poker rank of the three card hand at
the dealer's position.
7) The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer deals two random cards
to the first location and moves the one card before any cards are
dealt to the second location and the physical playing cards are
provided from a mechanical physical playing card randomizing
machine that provides playing cards for the dealer to
distribute.
8) The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer deals two cards to the
first location and moves the one card after at least one card is
present in the second location and the physical playing cards are
provided from a mechanical physical playing card randomizing
machine that provides playing cards for the dealer to
distribute.
9) The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer deals two cards to the
first location and moves the one card after exactly two cards are
present in the second location and the physical playing cards are
provided from a mechanical physical playing card randomizing
machine that provides playing cards for the dealer to
distribute.
10) The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer deals two cards to the
first location and moves the one card after exactly two cards are
present in the second location and the dealer position has three
cards and the physical playing cards are provided from a mechanical
physical playing card randomizing machine that provides playing
cards for the dealer to distribute.
11) The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one card in the
second position is moved by the dealer to the first location.
12) The method of claim 10 wherein one card in the second position
is moved by the dealer to the first location and one card in the
second position is moved by the dealer to the first location.
13) The method of claim 6 wherein the physical set of playing cards
are provided from a physical playing card randomizing machine, and
specific numbers of playing cards are provided for the dealer to
distribute to a single position at at least one step during play of
the game.
14) The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer accepts a wager on
each of the player's two hand locations for a bonus wager paid off
at odds listed by the dealer on a paytable, the dealer resolving
the wager by comparing three card poker ranks for each player
position hand where a bonus wager has been placed against a list of
three card poker ranks and odds and paying player position hands
based on the odds listed on the paytable.
15) The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer accepts a wager on
each of the player's two hand locations for a bonus wager paid off
at odds listed by the dealer on a paytable, the dealer resolving
the wager by comparing three card poker ranks for each player
position hand where a bonus wager has been placed against a list of
three card poker ranks and odds and paying player position hands
based on the odds listed on the paytable.
19) A method of playing a wagering game on an electronic system
under the control of a virtual dealer, the electronic system
comprising a processor, a video display screen and player input
controls at at least one player position, the processor acting as a
virtual dealer comprising: a) a set of playing cards is provided by
the processor as a randomized set of playing cards; b) the virtual
dealer requires two equal wagers at a single player virtual hand
position at two player virtual hand locations, wherein each of the
two player virtual hand locations represents a single wager of the
two equal wagers on a single poker hand of three cards; c) the
virtual dealer dealing exactly two cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to a first of the two locations; d) the virtual
dealer moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
virtual player hand locations to a player virtual hand second
location of the two locations; e) the virtual dealer completing
three-card hands at the two virtual player hand locations; f) the
virtual dealer providing a four card hand from the randomized set
of playing cards at a dealer's virtual position; and g) the virtual
dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks
of each of the two virtual player locations against a best
three-card poker rank of the four card hand at the dealer's virtual
position.
20) The method of claim 19 wherein the dealer accepts a wager on
each of the player's two hand locations for a bonus wager paid off
at odds listed by the dealer on a paytable, the dealer resolving
the wager by comparing three card poker ranks for each player
position hand where a bonus wager has been placed against a list of
three card poker ranks and odds and paying player position hands
based on the odds listed on the paytable.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/188,035, filed 21 Jul.
2011.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to the field of wagering
games, particularly poker-type wagering games and most particularly
variants of poker games in which three cards or four cards are used
to determine a poker rank. These games may be played with physical
playing cards or virtual playing cards, and may be live casino
table games or virtual electronic games.
[0004] 2. Background of the Art
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,759 (Webb et al.) claims priority
through a long line of Patents and applications (this patent is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/249,118
filed Feb. 12, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,823 which in turn is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/170,092
filed Oct. 13, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,916 issued May 29,
2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 08/889,919 filed Jul. 10, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,641
issued May 2, 2000, which is a division of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 08/504,023 filed Jul. 19, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.
5,685,774 issued Nov. 11, 1997, which claims priority under 35
U.S.C. 119 from United Kingdom Patent Applications 94/26324 filed
Dec. 29, 1994 and 94/14822 filed Jul. 22, 1994.) for a game known
in the industry as the "Three-Card Poker".TM. game.
[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,387,300 (Snow); 7,584,966 (Snow) 7,195,243
(Kenny); and 7,533,886 (Kenny) describe variants of poker games in
which combinations of cards are used to form poker hands of four
cards in a competition against a paytable and/or a dealer's
hand.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,295 (Cabot et al.) describes a variant
of blackjack in which a player is provided with multiple hands of
initially two playing cards. The player may switch one card from
each hand between the two hands, forming two new initial 2-card
hands for playing blackjack. An initial set of cards is dealt and
then additional cards are dealt to complete hands. In a commercial
game similar to this disclosure (a game marketed as "Blackjack
Switch.TM. game by Shuffle Master, Inc.) specific rules are used to
make the game commercially acceptable, very specific rules are
provided. A player makes two equal wagers at two wagering
positions. Two cards are dealt to each wager position. Only the two
top cards may be switched between the two hands. The dealer hand
does not "bust" with a hand having a count of 22. Blackjacks by
players are paid at 1:1 (rather than the typical 3:2 payment).
These last two rules are needed to maintain a house advantage.
[0008] A 5-card poker variant is described on the internet as a
licensable game. Two initial wagers are made at each player
position, two 5-card poker hands are dealt to each player position
and the player may move the top card from each hand to the other
hand.
[0009] New and more enjoyable wagering games are regularly sought
by the gaming industry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A method of playing a wagering game places the game under
the control of a dealer comprising. [0011] a) a set of playing
cards is shuffled to form a randomized set of playing cards; [0012]
b) the dealer requires two equal wagers (or a single wager covering
two hands) at a player position at two locations, wherein each of
the two locations represents a wager on a single poker hand of
three cards; [0013] c) the dealer deals exactly three cards from
the randomized set of playing cards to a first of the two
locations; [0014] d) the dealer moves exactly and only one card
from the first of the two locations to a second location of the two
locations; [0015] e) the dealer completes three-card hands at the
two locations; [0016] f) the dealer provides a three card hand at a
dealer's position; and [0017] g) the dealer resolves the two wagers
by comparing three-card poker ranks of each of the two locations
against a three-card poker rank of the three card hand at the
dealer's position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for play of one embodiment of a
game according to the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows a table layout for a game according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a pay table and betting station at a single
player position for one embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 shows an example of an automated table system useful
in the practice of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 shows an electronic/processor schematic for a
MultiPlayer Platform (MPP) gaming system.
[0023] FIG. 6 shows the electronic/processing schematics of the MPP
Player Station Intelligence board.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] A method of playing a wagering game under the control of a
dealer adds value to the existing commercial game of Three-Card
Poker.TM. games. The game requires that at least: [0025] a) a set
of playing cards is shuffled to form a randomized set of playing
cards. The set of playing cards should comprise at least a standard
deck of playing cards, fifty-two cards having four suits (spades,
hearts, diamonds and clubs) having ranks from 2 to Ace. Multiple
decks and/or specialty cards may also be included with the deck.
The deck(s) must be randomized by shuffling to provide cards in a
random order. The transformation of cards into a random order must
be done before the play of each round of the game so that the cards
provided cannot be predicted with any significant degree of
certainty. Shuffling may be effected manually or mechanically.
Manual shuffling is effected by one or more of mixing playing cards
by moving them randomly over a gaming table surface, or by
interleaving sections of the decks of cards together multiple
times.
[0026] Mechanical shuffling may be performed by automated shufflers
that may be electromechanical or mechanical equipment that is
commercially available. These automated shufflers may operate by
interleaving cards, removing cards from an input set of cards and
moving cards to compartments in stacks or carousels, randomly
mixing cards by inserting cards into random portions of shuffled
stack's) of cards, random ejection or random removal of cards from
an input set of cards to an output set of randomized cards, and the
like. Such shuffler systems are known in the art such as in U.S.
Pat. Nos. 7,976,023; 7,413,191; 7,407,438; 7,384,044; 7,374,170;
7,367,561; 7,338,044; 7,255,344; 6,722,794; 6,719,288; 6,676,127;
6,655,684; 6,568,678; 6,629,894; 6,346,044; 6,325,373; 6,165,069;
6,126,166; 5,989,122; 5,695,189; and 4,586,712. These are merely
representative examples of the types of shufflers that may be used
and are not interpreted as limiting either as batch shufflers,
continuous shufflers or as to the type of shuffling performed.
[0027] b) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a player position
at two locations, wherein each of the two locations represents a
wager on a single poker hand of three cards; The dealer controls
the play of the game and dictates the rules of play of the game.
The dealer will not allow cards to be dealt to player positions
unless the appropriate wager is verified by the dealer. [0028] c)
the dealer dealing exactly three cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to a first of the two locations; The dealer segments
the shuffled set of playing cards into random content subsets of
exactly three cards. The cards may be manually dealt or
automatically dealt by a shuffling apparatus. The shuffling
apparatus may be a batch shuffler or a continuous shuffler. Cards
may be provided one at a time from a delivery position in the
shuffler, entire randomized deck(s) may be provided from the
shufflers, or individual hands of exactly three cards for delivery
to individual player positions and the dealer position. [0029] d)
the dealer moving exactly and only one card from the first of the
two locations to a second location of the two locations; There are
a number of variations in the play of the game that may be used.
The rules are controlled, enforced and implemented by the dealer
(acting as a direct agent of the casino or house). In one
embodiment, only a first hand of three cards is dealt to a players
first wager position. The dealer removes a single card from the
first three-card hand (or removes no cards if it is a "pat" hand
using all three cards in a straight, flush, three-of-a-kind or
straight flush) and puts that single card into the player's second
hand position. The selection of the specific card removed may be
done according to a playbook of perfect play rules. Also the dealer
may allow the player to have input into the selection of the card
to be moved. In this variant, any one (or none) of the three cards
may be moved. Perfect play rules might include the following: 1)
always keep two cards that are consecutive and in-suit; 2) keep two
cards in suit in preference to two cards in sequence; 3) keep two
cards with an inside straight flush draw over a straight; 4) keep a
pair in preference to two cards that offer an inside straight draw;
and 5) other strategic rules.
[0030] In another variant (to be described in greater detail
later), there are three cards in the first hand position and at
least one card (up to three cards) in the second player hand
position. The presence of less than three cards (one or two cards)
in the second hand position enables dealer selection of the single
card to be moved to be effected with more information or different
Perfect Play rules or guidelines.
[0031] In another variant, the dealer requires a single wager to be
placed which wager applies to both hands. This may require an even
credit amount wager, or to increase house benefits, one win on an
odd credit amount debt would pay the smaller of two sums (odd and
even) that equal the total of the odd credit wager. For example, if
there were a $25.00 wager, a one hand win would pay at a $12.00
rate and the second hand win would be paid at a $13.00 rate. There
may be two separate bonus wagers (e.g., equivalents of Pair
Plus.TM. wagers) made, one on each hand, or there may be a single
bonus wager (e.g., again the equivalent of the Pair Plus.TM. wager
used in the major commercial variant of the Three-Card Poker.TM.
game played in U.S. Casinos). If there is a single such bonus wager
covering both hands, the scale on the pay table should be less than
the scale on a "normal" single hand bonus wager event. For example,
if the Three-of-a-kind on a single hand bonus wager pays 40:1, then
a single bonus event wager on two hands would pay between 15:1 and
25:1, maintaining a profitable result for the house long-term.
[0032] It is also possible, as the player gets to make at least one
strategic move to improve player hands, or the house is required to
order hands according to rules that are advantageous to the player,
the dealer may better equalize the probability of outcomes or add
significant advantage to the casino by getting a fourth card to use
in making a three-card poker hand. It is also possible that the
dealer may be required to discard one of the four cards if specific
events occur. For example, if there are two pair in the dealer's
hand, the dealer may be required to discard either one card of the
highest pair or one card of the lowest pair. Additionally, if there
is three-of-a-kind in the dealer's hand, the dealer may be required
to discard one of the three similar cards. This allows a perception
of balancing favorability with a player, but with only modest
overall benefits to a player.
[0033] If there are three cards in both the player first hand
position and the player second hand position, different rules may
apply. There is essentially no set of perfect play guidelines as
the dealer would move the cards (one from each three card hand) to
form hands with the highest potential return on the two wagers.
[0034] e) the dealer completing three-card hands at the two
locations;
[0035] The hands are completed with additional cards only when the
player second position hand contains fewer than three cards. The
dealer "completes" the hands when there are three cards in both
player position hands and cards are switched (or not moved). [0036]
f) the dealer providing a three card hand at a dealer's position;
and
[0037] The dealer's three card hand is provided face down (or one
card exposed) so that any subsequent wagers made (e.g., a Play
wager) in a typical commercial version of the Three-Card Poker.TM.
game is made without totals information on the dealer's hand. At
this point, the dealer may or does require a Play wager at each
player position for that player position to remain in the game. If
the dealer does not obtain a Play wager at any single hand
position, that hand position has completed the game. The dealer may
require a wager from each of the two hands at a player position or
only one hand at a player position. The rules may allow for the
dealer requiring Play wagers from both hands for the two hands to
remain active in play, may allow the dealer to accept only a single
Play wager to keep both Ante wagers in Play, or may require the
dealer to collect an Ante wager from any of the two hands where no
Play wager has been received. [0038] g) the dealer resolving the
two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks of each of the two
locations against a three-card poker rank of the three card hand at
the dealer's position.
[0039] The standard wagers in the commercial version of the
Three-Card Poker.TM. game can be made (e.g., Pair Plus.TM. wager,
Ante wager and Play wager, as well as bad beat wagers, progressive
wagers and the like).
[0040] Other alternative variants that may be used in the play of
the game by the dealer include (especially where the player is
allowed to complete a three-card poker hand in the initial card
switching step): a) the dealer receiving four cards, from which a
dealer's best three-card poker hand is made by the dealer and/or b)
if the player is allowed to form a three-card poker hand with a
switch, the paytable with the Pairs Plus or other special bonus
payments are adjusted to be lower than traditional ranges of bonus
payments.
[0041] With regard to altering paytables, there are three general
paytables used throughout the United States for Pairs-Plus wagers.
These are, in decreasing order of use:
TABLE-US-00001 Pay Table 1 Rank Probability Pay Out Return Straight
Flush 0.002172 40 to 1 0.086878 Three of a Kind 0.002353 30 to 1
0.070588 Straight 0.032579 6 to 1 0.195475 Flush 0.049593 4 to 1
0.198371 Pair 0.169412 1 to 1 0.169412 Nothing 0.743891 -1 to 1
-0.743891 Total 1.000000 -0.023167 House Advantage: 2.3167%
TABLE-US-00002 Pay Table 2 Rank Probability Pay Out Return Straight
Flush 0.002172 40 to 1 0.086878 Three of a Kind 0.002353 25 to 1
0.058824 Straight 0.032579 6 to 1 0.195475 Flush 0.049593 4 to 1
0.198371 Pair 0.169412 1 to 1 0.169412 Nothing 0.743891 -1 to 1
-0.743891 Total 1.000000 -0.034932 House Advantage: 3.4932%
TABLE-US-00003 Pay Table 3 Rank Probability Pay Out Return Straight
Flush 0.002172 40 to 1 0.086878 Three of a Kind 0.002353 30 to 1
0.070588 Straight 0.032579 5 to 1 0.162896 Flush 0.049593 4 to 1
0.198371 Pair 0.169412 1 to 1 0.169412 Nothing 0.743891 -1 to 1
-0.743891 Total 1.000000 -0.055747 House Advantage: 5.5747%
An alternative paytable, used with a three-card hand being formable
after the switch, could be in the range of:
TABLE-US-00004 Rank Probability Pay Out Return Straight Flush
>0.002172 30 to 1 <0.086878 Three of a Kind >0.002353 20
to 1 <0.070588 Straight >0.032579 4 to 1 <0.162896 Flush
>0.049593 3 to 1 <0.198371 Pair >0.169412 1 to 1
<0.169412 Nothing <0.743891 -1 to 1 >-0.743891 Total
1.000000 -0.055747 House Advantage: less than 4%
[0042] The payout ranges may be, for example, 20-30:1 for a
straight flush, 15:25:1 for Three-of-a-Kind, 3-5:1 for a straight,
2-4:1 for a flush and). 5-1.0:1 for a Pair. Even with these
changes, the House Advantage is adjusted to be within acceptable
traditional ranges for the game, yet offer significant return for
the players.
[0043] The method may require the dealer to deal three cards to the
first location and moves the one card before any cards are dealt to
the second location. As noted above, the dealer may be required by
rules to move cards according to best play or perfect play strategy
or move at the suggestion or inclination of a player. In any event,
the dealer moves the card(s). In another variant of the game
methods described herein, the dealer deals three cards to the first
location and moves the one card after at least one card or exactly
two cards are present in the second location.
[0044] Another variant in the game method is where the dealer deals
three cards to the first location and moves the one card after
exactly three cards are present in the second location. There may
be rules for card movement where both hand positions have three
cards. Among the possible rules are that only the last cards (top
cards) may be moved, only the first hand top card may be moved (but
any card in the second hand). Similar rules may be used with the
bottom card and even the middle card.
[0045] Where there is a single card in the player second hand
position, the at least one card in the second position may be moved
by the dealer to the first location. Where there are two cards in
the player second hand position, one card in the second position is
moved by the dealer to the first location.
[0046] A method of playing a wagering game under the control of a
dealer may also be described as having the steps of: [0047] b) a
set of playing cards is shuffled to form a randomized set of
playing cards; [0048] c) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a
player position at two locations, wherein each of the two locations
represents a wager on a single poker hand of three cards; [0049] d)
the dealer dealing exactly three cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to a first of the two locations; [0050] e) the dealer
moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
locations to a second location of the two locations; [0051] f) the
dealer completing three-card hands at the two locations; [0052] g)
the dealer providing a three card hand at a dealer's position; and
[0053] h) the dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing
three-card poker ranks of each of the two locations against a
three-card poker rank of the three card hand at the dealer's
position.
[0054] The method may require the dealer to deal three cards to the
first location and moves the one card before any cards are dealt to
the second location.
[0055] The game may also be played as an electronic version using a
processor, video display and player input. The processor
effectively operates as the dealer in the play of the game. A
random number generator effectively acts as a shuffling mechanism,
providing a random generation of cards from a closed set (e.g., a
deck or deck(s)) into individual subsets of multiple player
position hands and a dealer hand. Wagers are registered by the
processor and wagers are resolved according to paytables retained
in memory.
[0056] Various aspects of games included within the scope of the
present technology may be further and alternatively described as
follows.
[0057] There may be a method of playing a wagering game under the
control of a dealer having steps of: [0058] a) a set of playing
cards is shuffled to form a randomized set of playing cards; [0059]
b) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a player position at two
locations, wherein each of the two locations represents a wager on
a single poker hand of three cards; [0060] c) the dealer dealing
exactly three cards from the randomized set of playing cards to a
first of the two locations; [0061] d) the dealer moving exactly and
only one card from the first of the two locations to a second
location of the two locations; [0062] e) the dealer completing
three-card hands at the two locations; [0063] f) the dealer
providing a three card hand at a dealer's position; and [0064] g)
the dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker
ranks of each of the two locations against a three-card poker rank
of the three card hand at the dealer's position. The dealer deals
three cards to the first location and moves the one card before any
cards are dealt to the second location. Alternatively, the dealer
deals three cards to the first location and moves the one card
after at least one card is present in the second location, or the
dealer deals three cards to the first location and moves the one
card after at least two cards are present in the second location,
or the dealer deals three cards to the first location and moves the
one card after exactly three cards are present in the second
location. In these alternatives, the at least one card in the
second position may be moved by the dealer to the first
location.
[0065] Another alternative method may be may be a method of playing
a wagering game under the control of a dealer having steps of:
[0066] a) a set of playing cards is shuffled to form a randomized
set of playing cards; [0067] b) the dealer requires two equal
wagers at a player position at two locations, wherein each of the
two locations represents a wager on a single poker hand of three
cards; [0068] c) the dealer dealing exactly three cards from the
randomized set of playing cards to a first of the two locations;
[0069] d) the dealer moving exactly and only one card from the
first of the two locations to a second location of the two
locations; [0070] e) the dealer completing three-card hands at the
two locations; the dealer providing a three card hand at a dealer's
position; and [0071] g) the dealer resolving the two wagers by
comparing three-card poker ranks of each of the two locations
against a three-card poker rank of the three card hand at the
dealer's position. The methods described above and below may allow
equivalents or variants to the Standard Pair Plus (TMO side bet
wager in versions of Three-Card Poker.TM. games presently played,
where the dealer accepts a wager on each of the player's two hand
locations for a bonus wager paid off at odds listed by the dealer
on a paytable, the dealer resolving the wager by comparing three
card poker ranks for each player position hand where a bonus wager
has been placed against a list of three card poker ranks and odds
and paying player position hands based on the odds listed on the
paytable.
[0072] Another alternative method may be may be a method of playing
a wagering game under the control of a dealer having steps of:
[0073] a) a set of playing cards is shuffled to form a randomized
set of playing cards; [0074] b) the dealer requires two equal
wagers at a single player position at two hand locations, wherein
each of the two hand locations represents a single wager of the two
equal wagers on a single poker hand of three cards; [0075] c) the
dealer dealing exactly three cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to a first of the two locations; [0076] d) the dealer
moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
locations to a second location of the two locations; [0077] e) the
dealer completing three-card hands at the two hand locations;
[0078] f) the dealer providing a four card hand from the randomized
set of playing cards at a dealer's position; and [0079] g) the
dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks
of each of the two locations against a best three-card poker rank
of the four card hand at the dealer's position.
[0080] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for one method of play of games
within the present technology.
[0081] FIG. 2 shows an example of a gaming table layout 2 for play
of a game according to the present technology. The layout 2
provides (for example) five (5) separate player positions 4, 6, 8,
10 and 12 having three separate locations where the dealer may
require an Ante Wager, a Play wager and a Bonus wager at each
player position, with two locations for each of the wagers provided
at each player position, as there are two hands per player. The
player positions also have a location 28 where the two hands of
cards are dealer and arranged by the dealer. A shuffling device 22
and a dealer card position 24 are also shown.
[0082] FIG. 3 shows one example of an embodiment of a single player
position 4 as generally shown in FIG. 2.
[0083] Games of the present invention may also be practiced on
other gaming platforms, such as on an electronic gaming machine or
EGM, on a multi-player EGM, on a chipless gaming table, which
utilizes physical cards and simultaneously enables credit
wagering.
[0084] One preferred construction of a Chipless Table has from
three to eight players (Shown in FIG. 3 as six player positions)
with five, six or seven Player betting positions 112a-112f (with
independent monitors 116a-114f) being preferred, a Dealer console
130, a playing card reading shoe 102 (or card reading shuffler or
overhead camera imaging system or table mounted card reader--not
shown), a chip tray 120, cards (not shown), a generic felt 136 and
a table computer 128 using the Aquarius Controller.TM. protocol
(game controller, under the table manufactured by Progressive
Games, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev.), for example, connected through an
I/O port 134. The dealer position is at 110. Communication lines
are shown, including for example 132.
[0085] The game information (which is preferable for multiple
games) is configurable and will be set-up during the initial
installation of the table and may be switched from game to game
on-the-fly at each table. It is from the set-up that the Game
information is selected so that the graphics on the Player Touch
Screen 116a-116g. Dealer Console 118, Pit Display 134 and Table
Display 132 provide the correct information regarding the game in
play. It is the capability of changing individual types of game
events (e.g., from blackjack to baccarat) at a table that enables,
or even requires that the generic felt 136 is free of any permanent
printing that identifies only a specific game at a table. There may
be separate monitors (not shown) that enable display of games
names, game rules and paytables for individual games, or under
table back-lighting that may project such information display on
the table.
[0086] Using the Pit Display 134, the game is selected by casino
personnel and communicated to the table controller 128 via a touch
screen control on the pit display 134. The table controller (and/or
a central pit controller) sends out the appropriate graphics to
each of the Player screens and table signs to begin game play.
[0087] An exemplary chipless table system is disclosed in
co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/218,583, filed Jul. 15,
2008 and Ser. No. 12/231,759, filed Sep. 5, 2008 which are herein
incorporated by reference in the entireties.
[0088] In one form of the invention, the game is played according
to a live gaming table format. Such a format typically includes a
standard gaming table with a substantially horizontal gaming
surface, and with a printed felt layout. Built into the table or
positioned on the table is provided a card handling device, which
in one example is an automatic card shuffling device with playing
card recognition capacity. An example of a suitable device is
disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 11/810,864, filed Jun. 6,
2007, the content which is incorporated by reference into entirety.
The card handling device preferably is equipped with a processor
that controls card handling functions, receives and stores card
information from the card recognition components and also is
programmed with "house way" hand setting instructions for the game.
The shuffler reads each card in each set of cards. For example,
when the shuffler is programmed to deliver a set of six cards to
each player and the dealer, the identity of each card in each set
is stored in the processor's memory. Each set of cards is delivered
to each player and to the dealer. In other embodiments, the card
handling device is a shoe, and in order to capture the identify of
each card in the set, the dealer inputs a command to designate the
first and last card dealt into the set of cards. This type of
system is similar to and may be enabled according to the teachings
of Published US Patent Application Document 20100090405 filed 1
Oct. 2009 (Roger Snow) which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0089] The processor preferably has memory and preconfigured
hardware (e.g., FPGA or ASIC) content that may be accessed. In the
memory may be stored a look-up table of possible arrangements of
six or other number of cards into a high-hand, mid-hand and
low-hand, and identifies how each hand should be set according to
house way rules. One way to display the house way rules is to
provide an electronic house way display on the gaming table, and to
display the rank and/or suit of at least two of the three hands.
Upon display, the dealer sets the hand according to the house way
rules.
[0090] Although the present invention has been described in terms
of a live casino style game played with cards, chips and optionally
an automatic card shuffler, it can be appreciated that the game may
be offered in other formats, some well known, and other newer
formats. Some non-limiting examples of other formats for offering
games of the present invention include: live gaming tables that use
physical cards and other game pieces and that enable credit
wagering, electronic single player gaming machines, electronic
multi-player gaming machines, hybrid gaming systems with physical
game pieces and/or components for determining game outcome but that
enable credit wagering such as the Rapid.TM. gaming systems
distributed by Shuffle Master, Inc., games for practice play
(i.e.--no monetary wagering) on cell phones, gaming stations, PC's,
wireless gaming platforms, hand held game devices, parlor games,
and the like and some emerging gaming opportunities including but
not limited to internet gaming and gaming on systems designed
specifically for use on aircrafts, etc.
[0091] Other alternative methods of play are described below.
[0092] One generic concept for play includes steps on a physical
gaming table, which preferably has an automatic, mechanical or
electromechanical playing card shuffler wherein: [0093] a) a set of
playing cards is shuffled or random playing cards are provided from
the physical set of playing cards (preferably by the automated
shuffler or playing card randomizing machine) to form a randomized
set of playing cards or to provide random cards for delivery by the
dealer; [0094] b) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a player
position at two locations, wherein each of the two locations
represents a wager on a single poker hand of three cards; [0095] c)
the dealer dealing exactly two cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to each of the two locations or a total of three
playing cards to the two player positions; [0096] d) the dealer
moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
locations to a second location of the two locations so that no more
than two cards are present in any one of the two player position
hands, such as moving exactly one and only one card from the one of
the two locations that has two playing cards or three playing card
to the other of the two locations (In this way, creation of a final
three-card hand is prevented, which would significantly impact
success on certain wagers, such as the Pair Plus or bonus wagers);
[0097] e) the dealer completing three-card hands at the two
locations; [0098] f) the dealer providing a three card hand at a
dealer's position (either after steps c, d or e; and [0099] g) the
dealer resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks
of each of the two locations against a three-card poker rank of the
three card hand at the dealer's position.
[0100] Another alternative method of playing a wagering game under
the control of a dealer has steps wherein: [0101] h) a set of
playing cards is shuffled to form a randomized set of playing
cards; [0102] i) the dealer requires two equal wagers at a player
position at two locations, wherein each of the two locations
represents a wager on a single poker hand of three cards; [0103] j)
the dealer dealing exactly two cards from the randomized set of
playing cards to each of the two locations; [0104] k) the dealer
moving exactly and only one card from the first of the two
locations to a second location of the two locations and exactly one
and only one card from the second of the two locations to the first
of the two locations; [0105] l) the dealer completing three-card
hands at the two locations; [0106] m) the dealer providing a three
card hand at a dealer's position; and [0107] n) the dealer
resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks of
each of the two locations against a three-card poker rank of the
three card hand at the dealer's position.
[0108] Still another method of play within the scope of the present
invention can be described as a method of playing a wagering game
under the control of a dealer wherein: [0109] a) a set of physical
playing cards is used to provide random physical playing cards
during play of the wagering game; [0110] b) the dealer requires two
equal wagers at a player position at two locations, wherein each of
the two locations represents a wager on a single poker hand of
three cards; [0111] c) the dealer dealing exactly two random
physical playing cards to a first of the two locations (the random
cards are provided, for example, by either randomizing/shuffling an
entire set of playing cards and taking cards from one side of the
randomized set, or by delivering randomly selected or randomly
provided cards from the original set to a dealer delivery tray or
chute. In the latter case, the original set is not converted into a
final complete randomized set of playing cards, but rather
individual groups of cards are provided to the delivery tray or
chute, and either the complete set in the chute or the available
(forward or top cards) cards in the chute are delivered by the
dealer as required in the play of the game. This would include both
continuous shufflers, and cards on demand shufflers); [0112] d) the
dealer moving exactly one and only one card from the first of the
two locations to a second location of the two locations and exactly
one and only one card from the second of the two locations to the
first of the two locations; [0113] e) the dealer completing
three-card hands at the two locations using random cards from the
set of physical playing cards; [0114] f) the dealer providing a
three card hand at a dealer's position of random playing cards from
the set of physical playing cards; and [0115] g) the dealer
resolving the two wagers by comparing three-card poker ranks of
each of the two locations against a three-card poker rank of the
three card hand at the dealer's position. This method enables the
dealer to deal two random cards to the first location and then move
the one card before any cards are dealt to the second location,
after one card is present in the second location or after two cards
are present in the second location and the physical playing cards
are provided from a mechanical physical playing card randomizing
machine that provides playing cards for the dealer to distribute.
When there are two cards in the second location, one of those
original two cards in the second location should or must be moved
to the first location. The game is more strategically and
probabilistically played when no three-card final hand is formed in
step d). To do otherwise would too greatly increase the occurrence
of higher paying hands. Those would require a significant reduction
in payout terms for high ranking hands.
[0116] In a preferred method of play, the dealer deals two cards to
the first location and moves the one card after exactly two cards
are present in the second location and the dealer position has
three cards and the physical playing cards are provided from a
mechanical physical playing card randomizing machine that provides
playing cards for the dealer to distribute. The cards that may be
moved can be limited to only the top cards in both partial two card
hands. It is to be noted that random cards may be provided by
either randomizing all of the original set of cards to form a
complete randomized set of cards, or by randomly selecting cards
from the original set (e.g., by a random ejection shuffler or
random compartmentalizing shuffler (in a carousel or stack of
compartments) and then providing random subsets of cards from the
compartments.
[0117] Some alternate formats for performing game play method steps
of the present invention are described in more detail below.
Computer-Based Implementations
[0118] Methods of the present invention may be implemented in
computer hardware, software, or computer hardware and software. A
most common form of computer implementation is a stand-alone,
single player electronic gaming machine with electronic player
controls and one or more video output screens.
[0119] In computer-based embodiments, the gaming device preferably
includes at least one processor, such as a microprocessor, a
microcontroller-based platform, a suitable integrated circuit or
one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's) or
Field Programmable Gated Arrays (FPGA's). The processor is in
communication with or operable to access or to exchange signals
with at least one data storage or memory device, and/or a player
monitor or monitors. In one embodiment, the processor and the
memory device reside within the cabinet of a gaming device.
Multiple gaming devices are typically connected to a casino
information network.
[0120] The memory device stores program code and instructions,
executable by the processor, to control the gaming device. The
memory device also stores other data such as image data, event
data, player input data, random or pseudo-random number generators,
pay-table data or information, House Ways distributions and
applicable game rules that relate to the play of the gaming device.
In one embodiment, the memory device includes random access memory
(RAM): which can include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM): magnetic RAM
(MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), and other forms as commonly
understood in the gaming industry. In one embodiment, the memory
device includes read only memory (ROM). In one embodiment, the
memory device includes flash memory and/or EEPROM (electrically
erasable programmable read only memory). Any other suitable
magnetic, optical, and/or semiconductor memory may operate in
conjunction with the gaming device disclosed herein.
[0121] In one embodiment, part or all of the program code and/or
operating data described above can be stored in a detachable or
removable memory device, including, but not limited to, a suitable
cartridge, disk, CD ROM, DVD, or USB memory device.
[0122] In other embodiments, part or all of the program code and/or
operating data described above can be downloaded to the memory
device through a suitable network. In one embodiment, an operator
or a player can use such a removable memory device in a desktop
computer, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a
portable computing device, or another computerized platform to
implement the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the gaming
device or gaming machine disclosed herein is operable over a
wireless network, for example part of a wireless gaming system. The
gaming machine may be a hand-held device, a mobile device, or any
other suitable wireless device that enables a player to play any
suitable game at a variety of different locations. It should be
appreciated that a gaming device or gaming machine as disclosed
herein may be a device that has obtained approval from a regulatory
gaming commission or a device that has not obtained approval from a
regulatory gaming commission. It should be appreciated that the
processor and memory device may be collectively referred to herein
as a "computer" or "controller" or "game controller."
[0123] In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the
gaming device randomly generates awards and/or other game outcomes
based on probability data. In one such embodiment, this random
determination is provided through utilization of a random number
generator (RNG), such as a true random number generator, a pseudo
random number generator, or other suitable randomization process.
In one embodiment, each award or other game outcome is associated
with a probability and the gaming device generates the award or
other game outcome to be provided to the player based on the
associated probabilities. In this embodiment, since the gaming
device generates outcomes randomly or based upon one or more
probability calculations, there is no certainty that the gaming
device will ever provide the player with any specific award or
other game outcome.
[0124] In one embodiment, described in more detail below as a
"chipless gaming platform", the gaming device includes one or more
display devices that are mounted into a gaming table surface and
are controlled by the processor in addition to or separately from
the individual player monitors. The display devices are preferably
connected to or mounted into the table structure. This may include
a central display device which displays a primary game, dealer
images, jackpot information, or information that is not
specifically related to the game, such as sports information or
winning events at other tables. This display device may also
display any suitable secondary game associated with the primary
game as well as information relating to the primary or secondary
game (e.g., side bets, bonuses, jackpots and the like).
[0125] An alternative embodiment may include a central horizontal
game display device and a vertically oriented virtual dealer
display device as in Shuffle Master, Inc.'s Table Master.RTM.
gaming system. The central display device may display the primary
game, any suitable secondary game associated or not associated with
the primary game and/or information relating to the primary or
secondary game. These display devices may also serve as digital
glass operable to advertise games or other aspects of the gaming
establishment. The gaming device includes a credit display 20 which
displays a player's current number of credits, cash, account
balance, or the equivalent. In one embodiment, the gaming device
includes a bet display displays a player's amount wagered. In one
embodiment, as described in more detail below, the gaming device
includes a player tracking display which displays information
regarding a player's play tracking status.
[0126] In yet another embodiment, at least one display device may
be a mobile display device, such as a PDA or tablet PC that enables
play of at least a portion of the primary or secondary game at a
location remote from the gaming device. The display devices may
include, without limitation, a monitor, a television display, a
plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) a display based on
light emitting diodes (LEDs), a display based on a plurality of
organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based on polymer
light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality of
surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including a
projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitable electronic
device or display mechanism.
[0127] In one embodiment, as described in more detail below, the
display device includes a touch-screen with an associated
touch-screen controller. The display devices may be of any suitable
size and configuration, such as a square, a rectangle or an
elongated rectangle. The display devices of the gaming device are
configured to display at least one and preferably a plurality of
game or other suitable images, symbols and indicia such as any
visual representation or exhibition of the movement of objects such
as mechanical, virtual, or video reels and wheels, dynamic
lighting, video images, images of people, characters, places,
things, faces of cards, images of dealers and the like.
[0128] Other forms of the invention are in the form of game
software that is implemented in a variety of formats, such as
interne gaming, PC practice play, hand-held game devices, wireless
gaming devices and the like.
Chipless Gaming Table Implementation
[0129] One enabling system useful in the practice of the present
invention is a system marketed under the name i-TABLE.RTM. by
Shuffle Master, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nev. That system includes: a) a
physical gaming table; b) player monitors at each player position;
c) a playing card reading and delivery system (e.g., commercially
available shufflers and playing card delivery shoes with reading
capability as sold under the Trade names of One2Six.RTM. shuffler,
Ace.RTM. shuffler, I-DEAL.RTM. shuffler, I-SHOE.RTM. delivery shoe,
etc.); d) a processor receiving information (numbers of cards, rank
of cards, suits of cards, etc.) from the card reading and delivery
systems; e) communication connectivity (hardwired or wireless)
between necessary combinations of the card reading/delivery systems
and the processor, the processor and the individual player
monitors, and/or the mid reading/delivery systems and the video
monitors; and f) software in the processor that defines
predetermined advantage for distributions of playing cards into
multiple hands, game rules, hand history, and the like.
[0130] With regard to software f), it is understood in the practice
of the present technology that this is not complex software that
reads individual player hand cards and determines advantageous card
distributions for a first time by extensive calculations. Rather,
the entire range of possibilities of hands (e.g., all possible five
mid sets dealt to players in poker-style games) are known in poker
style games.
[0131] By way of non-limiting example, the following is directed to
a live table game--electronic platform hybrid, marketed as SMI's
I-TABLE.RTM.. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary chipless gaming table 100
system for playing live card games with physical playing cards
dealt from an automatic card shuffler 102 according to technologies
enabled and disclosed herein. Gaming table 100 can be a variety of
common constructions or configurations as are typically used as the
structural components of gaming table in the industry. The typical
gaming table has a tabletop or playing surface 104 and a perimeter
pad or armrest (not shown) which extends at least about the portion
of the table periphery facing players. The relatively straight back
portion of the periphery 110 is used by the dealer (not shown) and
can be partly or wholly padded as may vary with the particular
table chosen. Six player display/input systems 112a-112f are shown.
Other numbers of systems can alternately be provided. Each of the
player input systems 112a-112f has a processor (not shown) and a
touch screen entry surface 116a-116g. The table includes a dealer
chip tray 120, even though players make credit wagers and not
gaming chip wagers.
[0132] There is also a game controller, CPU or casino computer 128
whose location at the table system 110 is relatively unimportant,
but which must be in direct (hardwired or wireless or networked)
communication with each individual player processor 112a-114f, a
card reading and/or delivery system 102, and a dealer input 130.
The communication is represented graphically as broken lines 132 on
the drawing. In a preferred form of the invention, the game
controller 128 resides beneath the gaming table surface within a
layer of the gaming table top structure. Layered gaming table tops
enable the system to house all of the necessary electronics yet
rest on a standard set of table legs and appear very similar to a
standard gaming table to the untrained eye.
[0133] A preferable card handling device for administering a
poker-style game is a hand-forming shuffler with integrated card
recognition technology, from which playing cards are supplied, with
a least a rank/count (and preferable also suit) of individual packs
of cards are known before the cards are removed and delivered to
player positions and/or the dealer position. The card delivery
system 102 is in communication with the controller 128 by wired or
wireless communication methods. Communication between the various
system components is not limited to electronic or electrical
signals, but may include optical signals, audio signals, magnetic
transmission or the like.
[0134] An electronic player display (not shown) may be mounted on a
pole and supported by pole support 134. The player display (not
shown) may be a double-sided table sign. The side opposite the side
viewable by the player is viewable by pit personnel. The player
display is also in communication with game controller 128 and may
provide information on the specific game being offered, historical
player game results, game outcome trends, game rules, game play
advice, advertisements and a variety of other information useful or
entertaining for players.
[0135] Dealer display 130 includes data input capability and may be
used by the dealer to input "buy in" amounts, to confirm game play
results, to provide the dealer with game play instructions such as
instructions on how to set the highest ranking hand, and the like.
A random number generator may be included as part of the processing
capability of the dealer display 130 and be used to determine which
player receives a first hand, or for other purposes. In an
alternate embodiment, the dealer display 130 resides on the card
dispensing device 102 or as a separate keypad (not shown).
[0136] The individual player position processors (not shown) are
preferable graphics processors and not full content CPUs as a cost
saving, space saving, and efficiency benefit. With the reduced
capacity in the processor as compared to a CPU, there is actually
reduced likelihood of tampering and fraudulent input.
[0137] The betting chip rack 120 is provided to allow the dealer to
conveniently store betting chips used by the dealer in cashing
players in and out of the game. A money drop slot (not shown) is
further included to allow the dealer to easily deposit paper money
bills therein when players purchase credits.
[0138] An exemplary chipless table system is disclosed in
co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 12/218,583, filed Jul. 15,
2008 and U.S. application Ser. No. 12/231,759, filed Sep. 5, 2008
which are herein incorporated by reference in the entireties.
Multi Player Platform Implementation
[0139] FIG. 4 shows an example of an automated table system 101a
useful to practice the game play methods of the present invention.
This system is fully disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication
2005/0164759 A1. The content of this application is incorporated by
reference in its entirety. The system 140 has an upright dealer
display cabinet 142 with a top 144 and a virtual dealer viewing
screen 146 which may be any form of display screen such as a CRT,
plasma screen, liquid crystal screen, LED screen or the like. The
common player area has a common player display screen 148 on which
images of cards being dealt 150, bets wagered (not shown) and touch
screen player input controls 152 are located. Other player input
functions may be provided on a panel 154 which might accept
currency, coins, tokens, identification cards, player tracking
cards, ticket in/ticket out acceptance, and the like.
[0140] FIG. 5 shows an electronic/processor schematic for a
MultiPlayer Platform (MPP) gaming system. The MPP Game engine
(dealer) comprises a Heber Pluto 5 casino game board 200 (Motorola
68340 board) operating off the PC Platform Pentium.TM. 4 MPP Game
Display processor 202. The game display processor operates on a
Windows XP platform. The respective subcomponents on the Pentium 4
processor are labeled to show the apportionment of activity on the
motherboard and the component parts added to the board. As is
shown, the game engine has an Uninterruptible Power Supply 204. The
game display processor directs activity on the Speakers, directs
activities onto the MPP Game Service panel, and the Plasma Monitor
Card Table display. It is important to note that all communications
are direct from the game display processor, freeing up resources
available to the game engine processor.
[0141] FIG. 6 shows the electronic/processing schematics of the MPP
Player Station Intelligence board (Heber Pluto 5 Casino, Motorola
68340), each of which player stations (one for each player
position) is in direct connection to the MPP Game Engine (Dealer),
which is in turn directly connected to the PC Platform (not shown
in this Figure). Each Intelligence board receives information for
all player input systems specific to that player station, such as
the shown Coin Acceptor, Coin Hopper, Bill Validator, Ticket
Printer, Touch Screen and/or Display Button Panel, Dual Wire
Ticket-in-Ticket-Out Printing and SAS System (SAS is one exemplary
standard communications protocol used by a number of casinos
central computer systems.) A significant benefit resides in the use
of the independent Intelligence boards at each player position
being in direct communication with the MPP Game Engine 300, as
opposed to each individual player position button panel being dead
or inactive until authorized by the main game processor, as
previous automated gaming systems were constructed.
[0142] With the player intelligent boards, the main game PC can
receive packets of information from each player station as events
occur rather than having to poll each player position on a regular
basis 100 times to gain the specific information for each player
input that may be made.
[0143] The following is a discussion of exemplary hardware
components that can be used in a multi-player gaming platform that
enables play of games of the present invention.
Heber Board
[0144] A description of the Heber Board, (an exemplary board that
can be used as a player station processor and/or game engine
processor) a commercially available intelligent processing board is
as follows. The Heber Board is known for its reliability and
flexibility, especially for the Pluto 5 family of gaming products.
The Pluto 5 is the controller of choice for the global gaming
industry. Flexibility comes from a set of features built into the
Pluto 5 (Casino) controller, and from the choice of optional add-on
boards that can be used to adapt the Pluto family to best suit
individual applications. In the area of interfacing, there are
three distinct boards, each of which serves a particular function
in helping the Pluto 5 to connect with the world outside:
[0145] RS485 Board
[0146] RS485 is an industrial-grade board for linking multiple
systems in unforgiving circumstances for centralized information
gathering. The Heber RS485 board is fully opto-isolated to provide
complete circuit safety when used within `electrically noisy`
environments. The RS485 board uses a single RS232 connection to the
Pluto 5 board and all necessary power is also derived through this
link. Two header connectors may be provided for the RS485 channel
to allow daisy chain connections between multiple systems.
[0147] HII/ccTalk Board
[0148] This board specializes in communicating with industry
standard note/coin acceptors and payout hoppers. Equipped with dual
communication channels, each port is configurable to use either the
HII format to connect with Mars.TM. coin/note acceptors or the
ccTalk format for Money Controls.TM. hoppers. Both channels are
controlled via a single RS232 connection to the Pluto 5 board and
all necessary power is also derived through this link. The Heber
FastTrack.TM. package contains modular library functions for
passing information via these channels.
[0149] Four Channel Relay Board
[0150] The relay board allows control of medium-level to high-level
loads such as solenoids, without risk of damage or interference to
the Pluto 5 circuitry. Four power-switching channels are available
with absolute isolation from the Pluto 5 control signals. Each
relay is capable of switching direct or alternating currents of up
to 7 A at a maximum voltage of 250V.
[0151] Like the Pluto 5 board itself, its modular options have been
used extensively so that their designs are fully developed and
entirely stable. The options that are specified are consistently
provided in mass quantities. As with all Pluto products,
programming for the modular options is straightforward. This is
enhanced with the use of the Pluto 5 Enhanced Development Kit and
also the FastTrack.TM. package. Between them, these kits contain
all of the low level and high level programming tools and library
functions needed for gaming applications. These systems can be
provided through a Pluto 5 Enhanced Development Kit datasheet
80-15353-7 (Heber Limited, Belvedere Mill, Chalford, Stroud,
Gloucestershire, GL6 8NT, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1453 886000 Fax: +44 (0)
1453 885013 www.heber.co.uk. Specifications for the various boards
are identified below.
[0152] RS485 Interface
Host Interface
[0153] RS232 connection to Pluto 5/Pluto 5 Casino All power
provided via RS232 link from host system
Communication Port
[0154] Dual four-way Molex 0.1'' KK headers for daisy chaining
purposes
Dimensions
[0155] 80.times.61 mm (3.14.times.2.4'') Opto-isolated RS485 board
01-14536-2
HII/ccTalk Interface
Host Interface
[0156] RS232 connection to Pluto 5/Pluto 5 Casino All power
provided via RS232 link from host system
[0157] Communication Port
Single or dual 10 way header connectors
Dimensions
[0158] 101.6.times.69.85 mm (4.times.2.8'')
Part Number
[0159] Dual channel HII/ccTalk board 01-16171-2
Four Channel Relay Board
[0160] Host Interface
Connection to Pluto 5/Pluto 5 Casino via ribbon cable using four
standard output lines All power provided via ribbon cable link from
host system
[0161] Switching Capabilities
Up to 250V AC or DC @ 7 A maximum per channel
[0162] Dimensions
80.times.61 mm (3.14.times.2.4'')
Part Number
[0163] Four channel relay board 01-15275-1 80-16949-1
[0164] One proposed hardware configuration uses a "satellite"
intelligent processor at each player position. The player station
satellite processor is substantially the same as the primary game
engine processor, a Heber Pluto 5 Casino board. The satellite
processors receive instruction from the primary game engine but
then handle the communications with player station peripherals
independently. Each satellite processor communicates with only the
peripherals at the same player station. Thus each player station
has a dedicated satellite processor communicating with only the
peripherals at the same player station and with the casino's
central computer system. The peripherals are, but not limited to:
Slot accounting Systems, Bill Validator, Ticket Printer, Coin
Acceptor, Coin Hopper, Meters, Button panel or LCD touch screen and
various doors and keys.
[0165] The satellite processors run proprietary software to enable
functionality. The player station software is comprised of two
modules, the first being an OS similar to the game engine Operating
System and the second being station software that handles
peripheral communications. The software may be installed on EPROMs
for each satellite processor. The primary method of communication
between the satellite processors and the primary game engine is via
serial connectivity and the previously described protocol. In one
example, information packets are prepared by the satellite
processors and are sent to the game engine processor on the
happening of an event.
[0166] The proposed game engine provides communication to the
player stations to set the game state, activate buttons and receive
button and meter information for each player station. Communication
is via a serial connection to each of the stations. The new
protocol for communication between the game engine, game display
and player stations is an event driven packet-for-packet
bi-directional protocol with Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)
verification. This is distinguished from the Sega system that used
continuous polling. This communication method frees up resources in
the same engine processor because the processor no longer needs to
poll the satellites continuously or periodically.
[0167] The new protocol uses embedded acknowledgement and sequence
checking. The packet-for-packet protocol uses a Command Packet,
Response Packet and a Synchronization Packet as illustrated below.
The protocol uses standard ASCII characters to send data and a
proprietary verification method.
[0168] Format of Command Packet
TABLE-US-00006 STX SEQ DATA LENGTH DATA CRC-16 ETX 1 1 3 3-999 5
1
Format of Response Packet
TABLE-US-00007 STX SEQ DSP PRV ETX 1 1 1 1 1
Format of Synchronization Response Packet
TABLE-US-00008 STX MTS MRS ETX 1 1 1 1
Legend for Figures
[0169] TABLE-US-00009 STX Start of Packet Character SEQ Sequence #
(Cycles from `0` thru `9`) LEN Length of Data Area (`003` thru
`999`) DATA ASCII Data Fields Separated with `I` Character CRC
CRC-16 Value (`0000` thru `65535`) Cyclic Redundancy Check ETX End
of Packet Character DSP Disposition Code (`A` ACK, `N` NAK, or `I`
Invalid Sequence) PRV Sequence Number of Last ACK'ed Packet (0 thru
9) MTS Main's Current Transmit Sequence Number MRS Main's Current
Receive Sequence Number.
[0170] The Command Packet and Response Packet are used during
primary game communications. The protocol uses redundant
acknowledgement. For example: The packet is initially acknowledged
when first received by the recipient. The same recipient will
resend anther acknowledgement in the next communication. This
second acknowledgement is the `PRV` data in the response
packet.
[0171] The communications between the Game Engine and the Player
Station intelligence is preferably a transaction-based protocol.
Either device can start a transaction, which is why it is essential
that there be an intelligent board at each player position. All
packets of information may be sent in any acceptable format, with
ASCII format preferred as a matter of designer choice. All command
packets usually contain a sequence number that is incremented after
each successful packet exchange. The Game Engine and the Player
Station intelligence use sequence numbers that are independent of
each other. The sequence number keeps the communications in
synchronization. This synchronization method is described
later.
[0172] The command packet is used to send various commands such as
Inputs, Lamps, Doors, Errors, Chirp, Game Results, player input,
coin acceptance, player identification, credit acceptance, wagers,
etc. The command packet format may be, by way of a non-limiting
example: [0121] <STX><Sequence number><Data
Length><Data><CRC-16><ETX>
[0173] The data format with in the command packet may be:
[0174] <Address><Command><Field 1>I<Field
2>I<Field n>I
The response packet format may be:
[0175] <STX><Sequence
number><Disposition><Previous ACK><ETX>
The sync request packet format may be:
[0176] <SYN>
The sync response packet format may be:
[0177] <STX><Mains Current Transmission
Sequence><Mains Current Receive Sequence><ETX>
[0178] A major strength of the protocol is its resilience of the
Game Protocol and its ability to free up resources within the game
engine. Those resources can in turn be used to provide more
intricate games, and multi-media affects.
[0179] Synchronization Method:
[0180] The satellite and host must become synchronized in order to
provide for reliable communications using packet numbers. To
facilitate this, a novel protocol synchronization method that is
used. Upon applying power to the satellite, or after a
communications failure, the satellite automatically enters into
synchronization mode. In the synchronization mode the satellite
sends out the ASCII SYN (0.times.16) character about every second.
It is expecting a special response packet containing transmit and
receive packet sequence numbers to be used from that point on.
After receiving the special response packet, the sequence numbers
are used as-is, and not incremented until a successful packet
exchange is completed. After communications is synchronized, the
sequence numbers are incremented after each packet is successfully
sent or received.
[0181] As was noted before, the main game processor may contain
information, data, programming and other necessary functions to
enable the play of multiple games off the same machine. For
example, the main game engine may have rules and commands that will
enable play of high and low games of the present invention and
other card games. The system may be controlled so that different
games may be played at different times on command of the casino or
players.
[0182] The scope of the invention shown in the above examples and
descriptions are intended to be only specific, non-limiting
examples and descriptions of the generic concepts claimed herein.
All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety.
* * * * *
References