WO2002022219A1

WO2002022219A1 - Method and apparatus for playing card games

Info

Publication number: WO2002022219A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/028489
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Feola
Original assignee: New Vision Gaming And Development, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-09-12
Filing date: 2001-09-12
Publication date: 2002-03-21
Also published as: AU2001290807A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus to choose playing cards during a game including a video display (10), a grid of cards on the video display, a way to choose cards from the grid to make a hand, a way to indicate on the grid which cards have been chosen (18), an algorithm for randomly selecting card values for the chosen cards, and a way to reveal the card values on the video display. Chosen cards are indicated as such on the grid, and the values of the chosen cards (18) are displayed on the grid or on an adjacent grid. A means for later discarding chosen cards is implemented and discarded cards are indicated on the grid as not being available to be chosen. Ways for the player to chose cards from the grid and to initiate other game controls include a touch sensitive screen, a pointing device, and voice activation.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLAYING CARD GAMES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to gaming equipment, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for allowing a player to choose cards when playing a card game.

The Prior Art In the first step of many cards games, such as draw poker, a player receives a number of playing cards that the player alone sees. In draw poker, after a round of wagering, the player is allowed to discard a number of these original cards, and to replace them with new cards. The number of cards that can be discarded vary with the rules of the particular game. After receiving the replacement cards, the wagering continues, players may fold, and the game eventually ends with someone having the highest remaining hand.

In the typical stud poker game, after at least one card is dealt to each player, either face up, so that all players can see the card, or face down, so that only the player of the hand can see the card, as previously determined, a round of wagering occurs . The process of dealing cards to each player followed by a round of wagering continues until each player has the proper number of cards for the form of stud poker being played. After the last round of wagering, the winner is determined.

When playing with a physical deck of playing cards, the cards are shuffled prior to dealing the first round from the top of the deck. In draw poker, the replacement cards are also taken from the top of the deck. Thus, the player has no control over which cards she receives. For example, the player cannot say, "Give me the 10^th, 15^th, 20^th, 25^th, and 30^th cards of the deck for my hand, " and then say "I want the 10^th, 15^th, and 20^th cards of the remaining deck to replace the three cards that I discarded." Consequently, the player has little control over the cards she receives. There are several mechanical implementations of card games available for gaming establishments and the like, and as toys . The common aspect of these games is that they play the same way as the game played with physical playing cards. Basically, the player pushes a "PLAY" button and receives five cards displayed face up on a screen that have been selected at random by a computer. The player determines which cards to discard, and then receives replacements automatically, again without having the choice of which of the remaining cards she gets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for playing cards games in which the player feels that she has a greater measure of control over which cards are chosen for play than in the methods of the prior art .

The present invention gives a player an apparently greater measure of control over the cards that make up her hand. Rather than the game controller choosing the cards for the player, the player chooses cards from a display of all of the cards in the card deck. The apparatus includes a video display, a grid of cards on the video display, a way for the player to choose cards from the grid to make a hand, a way to indicate on the grid which cards have been chosen, an algorithm for randomly selecting card values for the chosen cards, and a way to reveal the card values on the video display.

As indicated, an aspect of the present invention is how the player chooses the cards of her hand. As an initial matter, the player does not know the value of the cards that are being chosen, but is merely picking the appropriate number of cards for the hand. The card values are randomly selected by the game controller sometime before being revealed to the player. The player chooses cards from a choosing grid that has a location for each card in the deck. For example, a choosing grid for a standard poker deck will have 52 locations. Optionally, each location has a unique symbol, such as the numerals 1-52, to make identification of a location easier.

For cards that are chosen, the fact that the card is chosen must be indicated and, eventually, the value of the card must be revealed. In one implementation, these two items are shown simultaneously by revealing the values of the chosen cards on the choosing grid. In another implementation, the values of the chosen cards are displayed in a playing grid next to the choosing grid, and the chosen cards are indicated on the choosing grid by, for example, an "X" through the card. Note that cards that can no longer be chosen include cards chosen by other players .

Later during the playing of the game, the player may be given the option of discarding some or all of the chosen cards . Preferably, discarded cards are indicated on the choosing grid by showing them as cards that cannot be chosen. After discarding, ^' the player chooses replacement cards from the choosing grid in the same manner as the original cards were chosen.

The present invention expects that the game will be played on an electronic media, such as dedicated standalone and connectable machines and personal computers as standalone machines or on a network. A standalone machine is one that is designed for only one person to play, that is, the player plays against the machine. A connectable machine can be connected to at least one other machine, permitting two or more people to play each other. Dedicated machines are designed and built specifically to implement a particular game, while personal computers are general purpose machines programmed to implement a particular game among other operations . All machines have a video screen for displaying the grids. Several methods are contemplated for choosing cards from the grid, include a touch sensitive screen, a pointing device, and voice activation. These methods are not only used for choosing cards, but also for other controls needed for playing a game. Example controls include NEW GAME to start a new game, LOCK CHOICE to inform the machine that the player has completed her current choices, FOLD to inform the machine that the player is dropping out, and WAGER DONE to inform the machine that the player has competed a round of wagering.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings , wherein :

Fig. 1 is an example of a choosing grid of cards of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows one method of displaying five cards chosen by the player;

Fig. 3 shows another method of displaying five cards chosen by the player;

Fig. 4 shows a method of displaying more than one hand chosen during the same game;

Fig. 5 shows cards discarded by the player in the display of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 shows cards discarded by the player in the display of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 shows replacement cards chosen by the player in the display of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 shows replacement cards chosen by the player in the display of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is an example of a standalone dedicated machine embodying the method of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a plurality of dedicated machines connected together; and

Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a wide area network of machines embodying the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for giving a player an apparently greater measure of control over the manner in which a card game is played. The basis of the present invention is that the player is allowed to choose which of the available cards from a deck will constitute the player's hand, rather than having to play cards selected by the game controller. Generally, the method and apparatus can be used for any card game where the player is not normally given the option of choosing which cards are used to make a hand. Draw poker and stud poker are used as examples because the rules are widely known. Other games, such as blackjack and baccarat, are also examples of games that can be played using the method and apparatus of the present invention.

Terminology The term "card" is used in the present application to indicate a playing card or any facsimile thereof. For example, a card can be a paper playing card or an image of a card on a video display. Any representation of a playing card is contemplated. In addition, each card has a value which, for the standard poker deck of 52 cards, includes the suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) and the number (2- 10, J,Q,K,A) .

The term "deck" refers to a complete set of cards, as cards are defined above. Typically, a deck will have 52 different cards, but the deck may vary depending upon the actual game implemented with the method and apparatus of the present invention.

A game for which the present method or apparatus is designed has two types of actors, the players and the controller. The players are persons or machines that receive a hand. For example, if a single person is playing against a machine, such as in a gaming establishment, both the person and the machine are players because they both receive hands for playing. The terms "choose", "chosen", and "choice" are used in the present specification to refer to player actions and results. The controller is the entity, typically a computer, that makes random selections of values for cards appearing on a display. The terms "select" and "selections" are used in the present specification to refer to game controller actions and results.

Game Play Sometime before game play begins, the exact rules of the game to be played are determined, including such items as how many cards are in a hand, the amount that can be wagered, the payout schedule, and any other rules necessary to playing the game. Typically, these parameters must be decided upon prior to designing an apparatus implementing the present invention. However, the present invention does contemplate that the apparatus may be designed to be flexible and allow the players to choose some of the parameters of the game just prior to playing. In the remainder of this description, the rules of draw poker are assumed. Although draw poker is used as an example, stud-poker-type games can also be played using the apparatus of the present invention. The difference is merely a matter of when cards are chosen during the course of the game .

The game begins with the players choosing the cards that they believe, after the values of those cards are revealed, will constitute a winning hand. Typically, when physical playing cards are used, all players receive their first card, then all players receive their second card, etc. Although this is not an aspect of the present invention, it is expected that implementers of the present invention will use the same method. An aspect of the present invention is the method by which each player chooses the cards of her hand. As an initial matter, the player does not know the value of the cards that are being chosen. The player is merely picking the appropriate number of cards of unknown value.

The values of the cards are randomly selected by the controller prior to the values being revealed to the player during the game. The actual timing of when the card values are randomly selected is not important. Since the card values are not revealed until the appropriate time during the game, they may be randomly selected by the controller at any time prior to being revealed. Note that this means that the controller may never have to select values for cards that are never chosen. Algorithms for making random selections, particularly of playing card values, are old in the art and well-known by those of average skill in the art. The algorithms for selecting card values are not an aspect of the present invention, and are not detailed here.

An example display of the method for choosing cards of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1. The player chooses cards from a displayed grid 10 of locations 12, where each card of a complete deck is represented by a grid location 12. Typically, there will be 52 locations representing the number of cards in a standard 52-card poker deck. Alternatively, fewer or more locations 12 may be displayed if a card set other than the standard 52-card deck is used, for example, 104 locations if two 52-card decks are used, or 54 locations if Jokers are used. Optionally, each location 12 is denoted by a unique symbol 14, for example the numerals 1-52. In the second method, the player chooses cards from a displayed list of unique symbols, such as the numerals 1-52, rather than from a grid. The remainder of the specification assumes that the player uses the choosing grid 10 to choose cards. The manner in which the player physically chooses cards depends upon the media on which the game is played, and is discussed below.

As cards are chosen or after cards are chosen, depending upon the rules of the game, two items need to be indicated to the player: which cards are chosen and the values of the chosen cards. In one method, shown in Fig. 2, these two items are shown simultaneously by revealing the values of the chosen cards on the choosing grid 10.

In another method, illustrated in Fig. 3, the values of the chosen cards are displayed in a playing grid 16 next to the choosing grid 10 in card spaces 24, and the chosen cards are indicated on the choosing grid 10 by, for example, Crosshatch lines, a different color, or an "X" 20 through the card, as shown in Fig. 3. This is necessary because a card can only be chosen once during a game, and the display needs to indicate to the player that the card can no longer be chosen during this game. Please note also that cards that cannot be chosen include cards chosen by other players . Cards chosen by other players may be indicated differently, for example, by assigning different colors or symbols to different players, as at 26 of Fig. 3.

The present invention contemplates that the game rules may permit a player to choose cards to play more than one hand during a single game, where each hand is independent of the others. For example, in the display of Fig. 4, the playing grid 16 will show up to three hands 22 of five cards that are played during a single game. The player chooses the cards for the first hand and then is given a choice as to whether to play another hand. This continues until the maximum number of hands is reached. It is also contemplated that a different number of cards may be chosen for each hand of the same game. Note that, as explained above, a card can only be chosen once during a game. Thus, the choosing grid 10 indicates which cards have already been chosen by an "X" 20 through the card. Typically, after the cards are chosen, the player will wager on the outcome of the game. Wagering may not occur when the game is being played strictly for fun, such as a hand held video game or in a game arcade . Any manner in which the player can make a wager is contemplated by the present invention where the possibilities are dictated by the media on which the game is played. Methods of indicating the amount of wagering are described below with reference to the various playing media. Note that, like in any poker game, players may "fold" (drop out of the game) during the wagering process .

After the round of wagering is complete, players may discard some or all (depending upon the rules) of their cards. In the display of Fig. 5, the discarded cards are indicated by showing the card as ones that cannot be chosen. In the display of Fig. 6, the playing grid 16 may merely blank the card space 24 or it may indicate in some other way that a replacement card needs to be chosen.

After the desired cards are discarded, the player chooses replacement cards from the choosing grid 10. These replacement cards are displayed in the same manner as the originally chosen cards, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. After all players have their replacement cards, another round of wagering may take place . Eventually, after the wagering is complete, remaining players' hands will be revealed to all players according to the rules and the winner will collect any winnings .

Playing Media As indicated above, the present invention contemplates that the game will be played on an electronic media.

Examples include dedicated standalone machines, dedicated connectable machines, and personal computers as standalone machines, on a local-area network (LAN) , or on a wide-area network (WAN) . One common aspect to all machines implementing the present invention is a video screen. The screen may be in any technology for video display. The most prevalent are cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) . The size of the machine may differ depending upon the particular use. For example, a gaming establishment may use a large free-standing machine. Other machine sizes include desk top, lap top, and hand held.

A dedicated machine is one that is specifically designed and built to play only one game or a limited number of games. An example of such a machine is a video game in an arcade or a slot machine in a gaming establishment.

With dedicated machines, the player preferably chooses cards by touch, that is, the machine has touch-sensitive positions on the screen that represent each card location of the choosing grid 10 and the playing grid 16. Preferably, the touch-sensitive positions substantially overlap with the card locations on the screen so that when the image of a card location is touched, that card is chosen.

The touch-sensitive aspect of the machine may extend to other game controls . The names of the controls in the following description are merely illustrative. The NEW GAME control starts a new game. LOCK CHOICE informs the machine that the player has completed her current choice. In some implementations, the player may be permitted to change her mind during the course of choosing cards. In such a case, successive touches to a card location may toggle choice of the card on and off. Thus, there needs to be a control to indicate that the choice has been finally decided upon and that the current choice is to be locked in. LOCK CHOICE is such a control . FOLD informs the machine that the player is dropping out. WAGER DONE informs the machine that the player has competed a round of wagering.

Alternatively to touch control, the machine may be implemented to allow the player to choose cards by voice. In one configuration, the player calls out the symbols representing each card location to be chosen or the name of the control to be executed.

A dedicated standalone machine 30 is one that is specifically designed and built to play only one game. "Standalone" means that the machine is intended to be playable by only one person. The other player is the machine itself. The algorithm by which the machine determines which cards to discard is beyond the scope of the present invention and will not be discussed. A standalone machine may also be playable by more than one person using the same video display, for example, two or more players choosing from the same choosing grid, or a separate choosing grid for each player .

An example of a standalone machine 40 implementing the display of Fig. 3 for one player is shown in Fig. 9. The choosing grid 10 and playing grid 16 are displayed on the video screen 42. Prior to playing any game, the player inserts cash or tokens into a money reader 44 or swipes a credit or debit card in a card reader 46. The player begins a game by pressing the NEW GAME button 50 and entering her card choices by the choosing grid 10 or keypad 48 when permitted by the controller. The player and the machine, in the capacity of the second, player, alternate choices. After each card or all cards are chosen, depending upon the particular game being implemented, the player presses the LOCK CHOICE button 52, and the first round of wagering commences . Typically, the wagering rules of draw poker are followed. The player enters wager values by the keypad 48 and presses the WAGER DONE button 54. The wagering continues until both the player and the machine player stopping raising or until the player drops out by pressing the FOLD button 56 or the machine drops out by indicating so. After the round of wagering is complete, the player is given the option of discarding cards. This option is indicated, for example, by a portion of the screen flashing DISCARD 58. The player chooses those cards that she wishes to discard, and then touches the LOCK CHOICE 52 control . After the player has discarded, the she is allowed to choose replacement cards from the choosing grid 10, either before or after the machine player has done the same . After the replacement cards are chosen, the final round of wagering is performed. After the wagering is complete, the winner is determined and winning amounts are credited to the player or losing amounts are debited from the player. Winning amounts may be kept for the next game, printed on a voucher 60 for payment by a cashier, or they may be paid in coins or other monetary tokens by the machine itself.

A dedicated connectable machine 70 is one that is specifically designed and built to play only one game and that can be connected to at least one other identical machine, permitting two or more people to play against each other. There are a number of ways known in the art for connecting machines together, and such mechanics are not an aspect of the present invention. For example, the machines 70 can be connected by an Ethernet using a hub 72, as in Fig.

10, or the machines may all be connected to a single machine via communications ports on the single machine.

Each connectable machine 70 has its own display 74 that can show the activities of all of the players . In order to avoid conflicts between the machines, one machine is selected as the master, and it controls the process of the game, including selection of card values . As a player chooses cards, that player's machine informs the other machines so that the card choice can be displayed on all machines . Alternatively, there is a single master machine with a number of sockets to which satellite machines can be connected. The master machine controls all controller aspects of the game, and the satellite machines merely receive and display choices to the possessing player. A personal computer (PC) can be used to implement the present invention. With the exception of how cards are chosen, the PC can implement the present invention so that it is similar to the dedicated machine. The major difference between the dedicated machine and the PC is how the player physically chooses cards and other commands. With the dedicated machine, the player may use the touch-sensitive display screen. This is not feasible with a PC because the vast majority of PCs do not have touch-sensitive screens. Thus, the preferred means for choosing cards and commands is by a pointing device, such as a mouse, trackball, joystick, tablet, touchpad, etc. The player uses the pointing device to move a cursor over the card location on the choosing grid to be chosen. After the cursor is over the card location, the player activates a selector to make the choice. In the case of a mouse, trackball, or joystick, the selector may take the form of a button. In the case of a tablet or touchpad, the selector may be the action to tapping the tablet or touchpad. As with the dedicated machine, voice commands may be implemented.

The PC can be programmed to implement the present invention as a standalone machine, and it will function in essentially the same way as the standalone dedicated machine, where one person plays against the machine. The PC can also be implemented to play in the same way as the dedicated connectable machine. The PC typically uses a network interface to connect to other PCs, either locally via a LAN, or more widely via a WAN such as the Internet . Wagers can be made by debits to credit cards or debit cards or other cash equivalent, and payouts may be made by crediting credit or debit cards or other bank account.

Thus it has been shown and described a multiple round card game of chance which satisfies the objects set forth above . Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense .

Claims

What is claimed is : 1. An apparatus for choosing and displaying cards during the course of a card game played by a player and played with a set of cards, said apparatus comprising: (a) a video display; (b) a choosing grid on said video display, said choosing grid having a location for each of said cards; (c) a choosing means for a player to choose cards from said choosing grid to make at least one hand; (d) an indication on said choosing grid which of said cards have been chosen; (e) an algorithm for randomly selecting card values for at least said chosen cards; and (f) a revealing means for revealing said card values on said video display for at least all of said chosen cards .

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a discarding means for said player to discard one or more of said chosen cards .

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein successive operations of said choosing means on a card location toggles choice of said card on and off, and said choosing means includes a means for locking said chosen cards .

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said revealing means includes revealing said values of said chosen cards on said choosing grid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a playing grid, said chosen cards being displayed on said playing grid and said revealing means including revealing said values of said chosen cards on said playing grid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said choosing means includes said video display being touch sensitive.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said choosing means includes a pointing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said choosing means includes voice operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one other choosing grid in order for a plurality of said players to play said card game.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means for connecting said apparatus to at least one other of said apparatus in order for a plurality of said players to play said card game .

11. A method for choosing and displaying cards during the course of a card game played by a player and played with a set of cards, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a video display; (b) providing a choosing grid on said video display, said choosing grid having a location for each of said cards; (c) providing a choosing means for a player to choose cards from said choosing grid to make at least one hand; (d) indicating on said choosing grid which of said cards have been chosen; (e) randomly selecting card values for at least said chosen cards; and (f) revealing said card values on said video display for at least all of said chosen cards .

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a discarding means for said player to discard one or more of said chosen cards .

13. The method of claim 11 wherein successive operations of said choosing means on a card location toggles choice of said card on and off, and said choosing means includes a means for locking said chosen cards .

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said card values are revealed on said choosing grid.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a playing grid, said chosen cards being displayed on said playing grid and said card values are revealed on said playing grid.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said choosing means includes said video display being touch sensitive.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said choosing means includes a pointing device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said choosing means includes voice operation.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing at least one other choosing grid in order for a plurality of said players to play said card game.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of providing a means for connecting said apparatus to at least one other of said apparatus in order for a plurality of said players to play said card game .