BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a game apparatus or kit and method of playing a casino style card game relating to a combination of stud poker, dice and betting. The invention further relates to such an apparatus or kit and method where players play against the dealer representing the house or casino. The invention utilizes a standard 52 card deck of playing cards, Joker icon tiles and a pair of dice having Jokers and numbers on their faces in different combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The game apparatus or kit of the invention comprises a standard 52 card deck of playing cards, a first six-sided die having designations or indicia for combinations of Jokers and numbers of cards, to wit, the indicia Joker, Joker, Joker, one, two and a pair of "D"s, one indicia per side, a second six-sided die having designations or indicia for numbers of cards, to wit, the indicia four, four, three, two, two and two, again one indicia per side, and a plural number of Joker tiles or icons.

The method of play and the rules of the game encompass a player placing an ante bet and rolling the dice. The indicia on the dice indicate the number of cards and possibly a Joker icon that the player will receive from the dealer. The dealer begins with a Joker icon and three cards. A player stays in the game by placing another bet, after which he receives another two cards. The player can raise the bet, fold or stay pat. The dealer receives two more cards. The dealer and the player each build the best possible five card poker hand from the cards and Jokers they possess, if any, with the Joker being a wild card. If the player's hand is better than the dealer's hand under the standard Poker hierarchy, he wins, and if not, he loses. Multiple players may play against the dealer at one time, with the dealer's hand being used against each player's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an exploded view of one of the dice.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the second of the dice.

Figure 3 is an illustration of a Joker icon.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the method of play.

Figure 5 is an illustration of a playing table for the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the figures, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment.

In general, the invention is a game apparatus and a method of playing a game with the apparatus, where the apparatus comprises playing cards, dice and representational icons, where the method includes random card combinations, dice rolls and betting against a dealer representing the house or casino.

A standard deck of 52 playing cards having four suits of cards numbered from two through 10 and face cards of Jack, Queen, King and Ace is used. Relatively small tiles, chips or other physical icons 30 are used to represent Jokers, with the Joker icons 30 acting as wild cards such that the possessor may designate a Joker icon 30 to represent any playing card desired. Preferably the Joker icon 30 is relatively similar in size and shape to a playing card, as shown for example in Figure 3.

A pair of six-sided dice 10 and 20 is utilized. The first die 10, as shown in Figure 1, has indicia on each side representing either a Joker, the number one, the number two, or a pair of"D"s. This is accomplished for example by using a"J"to represent a Joker, by using a single dot or the numeral to represent the number one, using a pair of dots or the numeral to represent the number two, and using a pair of"D"s or similar indicia to

simultaneously represent the number two and a double down betting option. Most preferably, the Joker indicia is placed on three of the sides of the first die 10, the indicia for the number one is placed on one of the sides of the first die 10, the indicia for the number two is placed on one of the sides of the first die 10, and the pair of"D"s is placed on the remaining side of the first die 10. Thus on a given roll of this first die 10, the player has a 3/6 chance to roll a Joker, a 1/6 chance to roll a one, a 1/6 chance to roll a two, and a 1/6 chance to roll a two with the double down betting option.

The second die 20, as shown in Figure 2, has indicia on each side representing the numbers two, three and four, which may be represented by the corresponding number of dots or the numeral itself. The indicia for the number two appears on three sides of the second die 20, the indicia for the number three appears on one side of the second die 20, and the indicia for the number four appears on two sides of the second die 20. Thus on a given roll, the player has a 3/6 chance to roll a two, a 1/6 chance to roll a three, and a 2/6 chance to roll a four with the second die 20.

The Joker indicia on the die 10 represents the Joker icon as a wild card, while each numeral indicia represents a corresponding number of playing cards to be received from the dealer.

One or more players simultaneously play against a dealer who represents the house or casino, with the players playing and receiving cards in order throughout the game. The game methodology is shown in Figure 4. To begin the game, each player places an ante bet, which amount is determined by the casino. The first player then rolls the dice 10 and 20 to determine his starting hand. The player will either roll a pair of numbers, a number and the pair of"D"s representing the number two, or a number and a Joker indicia. The dealer then deals the total number of cards to the player face down which equal the total of the numbers exposed on the dice 10 and 20. If a Joker indicia is <BR> <BR> rolled, the dealer gives the player a Joker icon 30 to represent a wild card, i. e. , the player can choose to have the Joker icon 30 represent any card desired. If a pair of"D"s are rolled, the player will receives two cards and has the option to double the initial ante if the hand is felt to be strong.

Table I illustrates the possible player hands resulting from the various roll combinations.

Table I Possible card/J hands Added cards Possible card/J combination totals after rolling the dice after betting to build 5 card poker hand from (1 card + 2 cards) + 2 cards = 5 cards (1 card + 3 cards) + 2 cards = 6 cards (1 card + 4 cards) + 2 cards = 7 cards (2 cards + 2 cards) + 2 cards = 6 cards (2 cards + 3 cards) + 2 cards = 7 cards (2 cards + 4 cards) + 2 cards = 8 cards (J icon + 2 cards) + 2 cards = J icon + 4 cards (J icon + 3 cards) + 2 cards J icon + 5 cards (J icon + 4 cards) + 2 cards = J icon + 6 cards The second player then rolls the dice 10 and 20 in turn and receives cards and possibly a Joker icon 30, the third player rolls the dice 10 and 20 in turn and receives <BR> <BR> cards and possibly a Joker icon 30, etc. , until all players have received their start hands.

In this manner a start hand may consist of either six cards, five cards, four cards, four cards plus a Joker icon 30, three cards plus a Joker icon 30, or two cards plus a Joker icon 30.

The dealer then deals himself three playing cards, with the first card exposed face up to the players. The dealer also receives a Joker icon 30.

Each player now determines whether to stay in the game or fold, based on factors such as the number and the value of the cards received in the start hand, whether a Joker icon 30 was received, and knowledge of the dealer's exposed card. To stay in the game each of the multiple players must place a bet, in which case the player will receive two more cards face up from the dealer. The dealer deals a single first card face up to each of the multiple players and to the dealer. The first player then decides whether to raise the bet or stay pat, with the decision being based on the best possible five card poker hand which can be constructed from the cards and Joker icons in the possession of the first player, plus the knowledge that one more card will be received. The first player also has

the advantage of knowing the face up cards in front of the other players and the dealer.

The second, third, etc. , players make the same decisions as the first player in turn.

The dealer now deals a second card face up to each of the multiple players and to the dealer. The first player then decides whether to make a second raise bet or stay pat, with the decision being based on the best possible five card poker hand now being based on the best possible five card poker hand which can be constructed from the cards and any Joker icons 30 in the player's possession, with the Joker icons 30 representing any card desired, plus the knowledge of the face up cards in front of the other players and the dealer. The first player will now have a hand consisting of the either eight cards, seven cards, six cards, six cards plus a Joker icon 30, five cards plus a Joker icon 30, or four cards plus a Joker icon 30. The second, third, etc. , players make the same decisions as the first player in turn.

The dealer then exposes all the dealer's cards to the players, such that the dealer's best possible five card poker hand is known to all. Each player's best possible five card poker hand is then compared to the dealer's best possible five card poker : hand. If the player's hand is better, the player wins a payoff. If the dealer's hand is better, the player loses his bets. All cards and Joker icons 30 are retrieved, the cards are shuffled, and another round begins.

It is possible to vary the number of Joker indicia appearing on the die 10 as well as the particular numerals and their frequency appearing on the dice 10 and 20. Such changes will affect the wining percentage associated with the game, as such changes will increase or decrease the likelihood of receiving the maximum number of cards from which to build a hand, and will increase or decrease the likelihood of receiving a Joker icon 30.

A representative playing table or cover 40 is shown which may be utilized in a casino setting. The semi-circular layout is shown with six player positions, each position having an ante circle, a betting circle and a raise circle in front of a generally rectangular designated card area, within which all cards must be kept during play. Other circles may be provided for jackpot and raise bets. A no card area is placed on the perimeter.

Rectangles may be provided adjacent each card area for placement of a Joker icon 30.

The dealer position is shown as a large rectangle having rectangles to receive the dealer's cards and Joker icon 30, as well as jackpot circles.

As an optional method of playing the game, the players may play the jackpot as an additional side bet, with a jackpot board of winning hands maintained by the casino.

Players put a chip in the jackpot circle at the beginning of play simultaneously with the ante bet. Jackpot bets are not lost if a player decides to fold during the game, but instead are moved to the dealer's area and played on the dealer's hand. If the player's hand, or the dealer's hand if a player has folded, beats or is one of the jackpot hands determined by the casino, the jackpot bet pays off.

It is contemplated that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.