METHOD OF CONDUCTING A CARD GAME

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to wagering games. More particularly, the present invention is a card game in which a player hand competes against a dealer hand to form a hand closer to a target value.

Background of the Invention There are many wagering games in which the object of the game is to reach a target value. For example, one well known game incorporating a target value is Blackjack. In Blackjack, each player places a wager. A dealer deals two cards to each player and to himself. The dealer's cards are dealt with one card face up and the other face down. All players receiving a natural twenty-one or Blackjack, i.e. a total of twenty-one in the initial dealt hand, are immediately rewarded and their cards collected. Typically, Blackjacks are rewarded at greater than even money, such as 2:1 or 3:2.

Each remaining player may opt to hit, i.e. receive one or more additional cards, or stand, i.e. stand on the player's current hand, with the object being to obtain a hand total closer to twenty-one than the dealer's hand total. If the player hits and receives a card that causes his hand total to exceed twenty-one, the player busts and the player's wager is immediately collected and play is terminated as to that player. A player may also have additional options available depending on the initial hand dealt. If the player receives a pair, i.e. two cards having the same face value, the player may double his wager and split the pair, using each card of the pair as a

base for a separate hand. For example, if a player were to be dealt a pair of eights, the player may split the pair by doubling his wager and playing with two hands each having an eight and an additional dealt card.

A player may also have the option to double down. Although the availability of the double down option varies from casino to casino, doubling down allows a player to double the player's wager in exchange for a single additional card. Frequently, the double down option is only available to players having an initial hand total often or eleven.

After all the players have formed a final hand or busted, the dealer reveals the dealer's hand and forms a final dealer hand by hitting or standing as the house rules dictate. House rules typically require the dealer to hit on any hand total less than or equal to sixteen. The dealer resolves wagers by rewarding, typically at even money, all players with a final hand total closer to twenty-one than the dealer's final hand total. Conversely, wagers are collected from players with a final hand total further from twenty-one than the dealer's final hand total. If the dealer busts, i.e. has a final hand total exceeding twenty-one, all players who did not bust or receive a Blackjack are rewarded, again, typically at even money. If the player and dealer push, i.e. have the same final hand total, the player's wager is returned.

Another target value game is Baccarat. Baccarat is a live table game that uses a standard deck of fifty-two playing cards. The object of Baccarat is for a player to successfully wager on which of two hands, designated the Bank hand and the Player hand, is going to win. The player is paid even money for the wager if he or she wagers on the winning hand and loses the wager if he or she selects the losing hand. Play of Baccarat is commenced after all wagers are made by dealing two

cards to the Bank position and two cards are dealt from the shoe to the Player position on the table layout. The cards are turned face up and the values of the Bank hand and the Player hand is determined by summing the face values of the cards in each hand. If the sum of the cards are added together, the total of the hand exceeds , nine, then the hand value is caclulated modulo ten. In other words, all hand values range from a low of zero to a high of nine. For example, a seven and a eight total fifteen, but the hand value is five. An Ace and a nine total ten, but the hand value is zero. Whichever of the Bank hand or the Player hand is closest to a total of nine is the winner. Depending on the point total of the initial Player hand and the initial Bank hand, one more card may be dealt to either the Player hand, the Bank hand or both. The rules for determining whether a third card is dealt are fixed; that is, there is no discretion for either the Player hand or the Bank hand on whether a third card is dealt. Rule #1 : If the initial two card Player hand has a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or

5, the Player hand draws a third card. If the initial two card Player hand has a point total of 6 or 7, the Player hand stands and does not receive a third card.

Rule #2: If the Player hand stands and does not draw a third card, then the Bank hand follows Rule #1. In other words, if the Player hand has a point total of 6 or 7, the Bank hand draws a third card on a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and the

Bank hand stands on a point total of 6 or 7.

Rule #3: If the Player hand draws a third card, the Bank hand must draw or stand as follows:

Bank hand two Bank hand DRAWS when Bank hand STANDS when card point total: the Player's hand third card the Player's hand third card isi is:

0, I, or 2 Bank always draws

3 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or 9 8

4 2,3,4,5,6 or 7 0,1,8 or 9

5 4,5,6 or 7 0,1,2,3,8 or 9

6 6 or 7 0,1,2,3,4,5,8 or 9

7 Bank always stands

At the end of each hand, winning wagers are paid and losing wagers are collected by the house. Any commission due to the house is marked in commission boxes in the center of the table.

Summary of the Invention A card game is conducted for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards. In an optional embodiment, the dealer may be a player-banker. Each player places a game wager. In an optional embodiment, the player may also place a hand wager.

Each player is dealt an initial player hand of playing cards. Optionally, each initial player hand consists of two playing cards. An initial dealer hand of playing cards is dealt. Optionally, the initial dealer hand consists of two playing cards. In one such optional embodiment, the initial dealer hand is dealt with one of the playing cards exposed.

Each player forms a final player hand by standing on the initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional cards. In one such optional embodiment, the player forms a final player hand by either standing on the initial

player hand or receiving exactly one additional card. In one optional embodiment, one or more automatic winning hands may be defined. In such an optional embodiment, a player having an automatic winning hand would avoid any losing outcome in that the player may, at worst, tie if the initial dealer hand also forms an automatic winning hand, and may win if the initial dealer hand has anything other than an automatic winning hand.

A final dealer hand is formed by either standing on the initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional cards. In one such optional embodiment, the predetermined quantity is exactly one card. Optionally, the final dealer hand is formed according to predetermined house rules identifying when the dealer hand must stand and when the dealer hand must receive the predetermined quantity of additional cards. For example, in an optional embodiment, the cards of the initial dealer hand are summed, and a determination whether to stand or receive a predetermined quantity of additional cards is based on that sum. A hand value is determined for the final dealer hand and each final player hand. In an optional embodiment, the hand value is the sum, modulo ten, of the values of the playing cards in the final hand. In one such optional embodiment, the value of the playing cards two through nine is its face value, the value of Aces is one, and the value of the ten and face cards is zero. Each player's game wager is resolved by comparing the hand value of that player's final player hand to the hand value of the final dealer hand. If a player's hand value is closer to a target sum than the dealer's hand value, the player is rewarded based on his or her game wager. If the dealer's hand value is closer to a target sum than a player's hand value, the player's game wager is collected, i.e. the player loses his or her game wager. If the dealer's hand value and player's hand

value tie, a tie resolution may take place, with ties being resolved as a push (e.g. the player's game wager is returned), as a player win, or as a dealer win, depending on the particular embodiment.

As noted above, in an optional embodiment, a hand wager may be offered. In one such optional embodiment, the hand wager is resolved by comparing the initial player hand to a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs. For example, in one optional embodiment, the pay table includes hand combinations forming an automatic winning hand, with different pay outs for the combination of playing cards forming the automatic winning hand. In a further optional embodiment, the pay table may include hand combinations based on hand combinations based on the receipt of a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards. For example in one such optional embodiment, a player with an automatic winning hand that is rewarded based on his or her hand wager may be dealt a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards strictly for the purpose of determining whether the automatic winning hand plus the predetermined quantity of additional playing cards forms a hand combination listed on the pay table. Optionally, each player placing a hand wager of a predetermined size qualifies for an envy payout if any player obtains certain hand combinations listed on the pay table.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention includes a method for conducting a card game. This method could be conducted in many formats, including at a table using gaming chips and physical playing cards or electronic representations of playing cards displayed on a display, or at a gaming device (not shown) using gaming credits and computer generated playing cards. A gaming device embodiment could be conducted at any type of platform, including on a cellular telephone, video gaming machine, electronic gaming table, personal computer, kiosk, handheld device, such as a PDA or networked wireless gaming device, or any other type of standalone or networked platform.

A method according to the present invention uses playing cards, or electronic representations thereof. While the examples given below use conventional playing cards, i.e. cards having a rank denoted by the numbers two through ten, Jack, Queen,

King, or Ace, and a suit denoted by hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, it is contemplated that the present invention could also be conducted using cards other than conventional playing cards.

A method according to the present invention could be conducted with a set of playing cards having any constitution. For example, the present method could be conducted using a conventional poker deck of fifty-two playing cards or multiple poker decks. In alternate optional embodiments, the deck could have a different constitution from a conventional poker deck by either supplementing or truncating the deck. For example, the present method could be conducted with a deck of playing cards supplemented with one or more Joker playing cards, or with a deck of

playing cards truncated to form a Spanish deck. Thus, while the examples given below discuss the use of six conventional poker decks in conducting a method according to the present invention, these examples should be considered illustrative and rather than limiting. A method according to the present invention is conducted between one or more players and a dealer. By "dealer," it is contemplated that in a house-banked embodiment, a house-dealer deals the playing cards and acts on behalf of the house to conduct a dealer hand (discussed in greater detail below). However, it is contemplated that the task of dealing playing cards could be separated from the task of conducting the dealer hand. Similarly, it is contemplated that in a cardroom embodiment of the present invention, a player-banker may be tasked with paying winning wagers, collecting losing wagers, and conducting the dealer hand. In an optional embodiment utilizing such a player-banker, it is contemplated that the player-banker may be responsible for dealing playing cards or a dealer may perform that task. In an optional embodiment using a player-banker, the player-banker may be selected in any manner, including on a fixed basis, on a rotating basis, or any other basis.

Referring to FIG. 1, each player places 100 a game wager and is dealt 102 an initial player hand. While the initial player hand could consist of any quantity of playing cards dealt in any manner, in an optional embodiment, each initial player hand consists of two playing cards dealt exposed.

In an optional embodiment, if the player holds 106 a predetermined automatic winning hand in the initial player hand, the player's game wager may be immediately resolved by rewarding 124 the player on his or her game wager, unless, in an optional embodiment, the initial dealer hand also has 108 what would be an

automatic winning hand. In such an optional embodiment, if both the initial player hand and the initial dealer hand hold an automatic winning hand, the game wager may be returned 120, i.e. neither rewarded nor collected. It should be noted that with respect to players not holding an automatic winning hand, an initial dealer hand comprising 108 an automatic winning hand could outrank all other player hands with all players losing 118 their game wagers. Alternatively, an initial dealer hand comprising what would be an automatic winning hand could be treated as an ordinary hand with a hand value computed as described below and compared to the player hands that were not automatic winning hands for resolution of those players' game wagers.

The automatic winning hand could take any form. That is, an automatic winning hand could be defined by a combination of playing cards, an initial hand with a predetermined hand value (as described in greater detail below), or in any other fashion. For example, in a game in which the hand value is determined by summing the values of the playing cards in a hand, the automatic winning hand may be defined by the combination of cards in the hand rather than the hand value of the hand. Thus, in one such example, the automatic winning hand could be a pair of nines, even where the target value is nine and the pair of nines would, in fact, have a hand value (calculated by the sum modulo ten of the values of the playing cards) of eight. Play by a player with an automatic winning hand could end at this point or, as discussed in greater detail below, where a player places a hand wager in addition to a game wager, play may continue for resolution of the hand wager.

An initial dealer hand, or a portion of an initial dealer hand, is dealt 104. As with the initial player hand, the initial dealer hand could consist of any quantity of playing cards and could be dealt in any manner. In an optional embodiment, the

initial dealer hand consists of two playing cards, with one playing card dealt exposed and one playing card dealt unexposed. In an alternate optional embodiment, one exposed playing card is dealt to the initial dealer hand, with a second playing card to be dealt to the iniϊial dealer hand at a later time. In other words, in such an optional embodiment, rather than dealing an unexposed playing card to the initial dealer hand, one card of the initial dealer hand remains undealt until after each player forms a final player hand.

Each final player hand is formed 110 by either standing on the initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards. In one optional embodiment, the initial player hand contains two playing cards and the predetermined quantity is exactly one. Thus, in such an optional embodiment, the player has the option of either standing on the initial player hand to form a final player hand of two playing cards, or receiving exactly one additional playing card into the initial player hand to form a final player hand of three playing cards. In an optional embodiment, the player may be restricted from receiving any additional playing cards to the player's initial player hand based on the hand score of the player's initial player hand. For example, in an optional embodiment in which the initial player hand contains two playing cards, and the target value is nine based on the sum, modulo ten, of the values of the cards in the initial player hand, the player may be allowed to draw one additional card if the hand sum of the initial player hand is less than seven, but restricted from receiving any additional cards (i.e. required to stand in the initial player hand) if the hand sum is seven or greater. It is contemplated that these ranges are merely illustrative and may vary depending on the particular embodiment. As discussed elsewhere, however, this rule may be modified if the initial player hand includes an automatic winning hand but the player wishes to

draw one additional card to resolve the player's hand wager, since the player's game wager would already have been resolved based on the automatic winning hand. A final dealer hand is formed 112 by either standing on the initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards. As with the player hand, in one optional embodiment, the predetermined quantity of additional playing cards received into the dealer hand is exactly one playing card. Thus, in such an optional embodiment, the dealer would either stand on the initial dealer hand to form a final dealer hand of two playing cards, or receive exactly one additional playing card into the initial dealer hand to form a final dealer hand of three playing cards.

In an optional embodiment, the formation of the final dealer hand is guided by house rules that direct when to stand and when to receive the additional playing card or cards. For example, in one optional embodiment, the house rules may depend on the sum modulo ten of the playing cards of the initial dealer hand. That is, in an optional embodiment, the playing cards of the initial dealer hand are summed modulo ten, i.e. only the ones digit is used if the sum of the values of the playing cards exceeds ten, and the conduct of the initial dealer hand is based on that calculation.

For example, in one optional embodiment, the values of the playing cards are the face values of the playing cards two through nine; one for the Ace playing card; and zero for the playing cards ten, Jack, Queen, and King. In one such optional embodiment, the final dealer hand may be formed by standing on the initial dealer hand when the sum modulo ten of the playing cards in the initial dealer hand is within a first predetermined range, such as five through nine, six through nine, or any other range. Continuing with the example, the final dealer hand may be formed

by receiving the additional playing card or cards when the sum modulo ten of the playing cards of the initial dealer hand is within a second predetermined range, such as zero through four, zero through five, or any other range.

A hand value is calculated 114 for the final dealer hand and each final player hand. In an optional embodiment, the hand value is the sum modulo ten of the values of the playing cards in the final hand. In an optional embodiment, the values of the playing cards are the face values of the playing cards two through nine; one for the Ace playing card; and zero for the playing cards ten, Jack, Queen, and King. As discussed above, modulo ten arithmetic applied to a sum means that if the sum . exceeds ten, the tens digit is disregarded and only the ones digit is used. For example, using the values discussed previously, the sum modulo ten of 47 and 8<£> would be two. Similarly, the sum modulo ten of 6ώ, AO, and Kώ would be seven. The hand value of the final dealer hand is compared to the hand value for each final player hand and the hand with a hand value closer to a target value is the winning hand. That is, the object of the game for the player is to obtain a hand value in the final player hand that is closer to a target value than the hand value of the final dealer hand is. The target value could be any number. In an optional embodiment using modular ten arithmetic, the possible hand values range from zero to nine, hi one such optional embodiment, the target value is nine. If the player has a winning hand, i.e. if the hand value of the final player hand is closer to the target value than the hand value of the final dealer hand is, the player is rewarded 124 on his or her game wager. The nature of the reward may be fixed, e.g. even money, or may vary depending on one or more factors involving, for example, the margin between the player hand value and the target value, the margin between the player hand value and the dealer hand value, or the like. In the example

discussed in greater detail below, the reward is fixed at even money.

In an optional embodiment, a commission may be charged on rewards. The size of the commission may vary depending on the embodiment. In the example discussed in greater detail below, the house retains a commission of 5% on winning game wagers. For example, a winning player with a game wager of 100 credits may be rewarded at even money, e.g. 100 credits, with a deduction of 5 credits (5% of 100 credits) for a commission. In another optional embodiment, the commission may be prepaid at predetermined wager levels, in that the game wager amount may take into account the commission if the player wins. For example, a player wagering 105 credits may be rewarded with 100 credits, which results in a commission of approximately 4.76%. In an optional embodiment, a commission may be waived under certain predetermined circumstances, such as play during certain times of the day or days of the week, placement of a certain size game wager or, as discussed in greater detail below, hand wager, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the commission may be waived randomly or on the occurrence of certain game events.

If the dealer has a winning hand, i.e. if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer 116 to the target value than the hand value of the final player hand is, the player's game wager is collected 118. If the hand value of the final player hand equals the hand value of the final dealer hand, a tie occurs 122. A tie could be handled in many different ways. In one optional embodiment, a tie is resolved as a push in which the player's game wager is returned 120 without being rewarded. In other optional embodiments, a tie may be resolved in favor of the dealer, i.e. the player may lose the game wager, or resolved in favor of the player, i.e. the player may be rewarded on the game wager.

Describing an example hand, a player could be dealt an initial player hand of Afi> 40 and the dealer is dealt an initial dealer hand with an exposed 5ώ. This gives an initial player hand value of five, so the player may elect to stand on the initial two playing cards, or may elect to receive one additional playing card. For this example, the player chooses to receive one additional playing card and receives a Q9. Since

Queens have a value of zero, the player has a final player hand value of five. The dealer exposes or deals the second card of the initial dealer hand and reveals an initial dealer hand of 5ώ 79. This gives an initial dealer hand value of two. In an optional embodiment, the dealer's conduct of the dealer hand is dictated by house rules. As noted above, these house rules could include a rule where the dealer must take an additional playing card if the hand value of the initial dealer hand is less than five or six, depending on the particular embodiment. In this example, a hand value of two would require the dealer to take an additional playing card under a game played according either set of house rules, so the dealer in this example takes another playing card. If the dealer receives, for example, a 6<£>, the hand value of the final dealer hand is eight. The dealer hand in such an example would be the winning hand since a dealer hand value of eight is closer to the target value of nine than the player hand value of five is. The player's game wager is collected when the dealer hand is the winning hand. Conversely, if the dealer receives, for example, a 10O, the hand value of the final dealer hand is two and the player hand is the winning hand.

The player of such an example is rewarded, optionally at even money less a commission.

In an optional embodiment, a method according to the present invention may further include a hand wager. In one such optional embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, the player may optionally place 200 a hand wager. Optionally, the hand wager is

separate and in addition to a game wager. The limits of the hand wager may be separate from the game wager amount or may depend on the game wager amount. The initial player hand is dealt 202 and the hand wager is resolved by comparing 204 the player hand to a pay table of player hands and associated pay outs. In an optional embodiment, the pay table may include both initial player hands and final player hands, so that an initial hand may appear on the pay table or may merely form a part of a hand on the pay table 208. In an optional embodiment, the pay table may specify the value and suit of the playing cards even where suit is otherwise not used in determining a hand value. For example, in one optional embodiment, a pay table could include the player hands and associated pay outs shown in Table 1.

Table 1

As may be appreciated, the player hands listed, the pay outs listed, or both, may differ in various embodiments of the present invention. For example, in another optional embodiment, a pay table could include the hand combinations and associated pay outs shown in Table 2.

Table 2

If the player has a player hand that appears 206 on the pay table and, thus, is eligible for a hand wager pay out, the player is rewarded 214 on his or her hand wager. If the player does not hold a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward, the player's hand wager is collected 218.

In an optional embodiment, a player having an initial player hand that forms 205 a part of a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward may be dealt 210 the additional playing card or cards, depending on the embodiment, for resolution of the hand wager. This additional card may be dealt at the player's option, i.e. the player may decline to receive an additional card to try to improve his or her holding for resolution of the hand wager if, for example, the player believes the additional card will not improve his or her holding for resolution of the game wager. Alternatively, the additional card may be dealt automatically for all initial player hands or certain predefined eligible initial player hands, as described in greater detail below. If the player does not receive an additional card or cards that improve the player's pay out according to the pay table of player hands, the player is rewarded 214 on the hand wager based on the initial player hand. Conversely, if the new player hand, that is the initial player hand plus the additional playing card or cards, depending on the embodiment, appears 212 on the pay table, the player is rewarded 216 on the hand

wager based on the initial player hand plus the additional playing card. In other words, if the player receives a card that improves the player's pay out according to the pay table of player hands, the player is rewarded on the hand wager based on the player hand including the additional card or cards. As alluded to above, in an optional embodiment, a player obtaining a particular initial player hand, such as a predetermined automatic winning hand, may have his or her game wager immediately resolved either by rewarding the player or returning the player's game wager if the initial dealer hand also held an automatic winning hand. In one such optional embodiment, a player having an initial player hand that formed an automatic winning hand and formed 208 a part of a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward, may be dealt the additional card or cards, depending on the embodiment, solely for resolution of the hand wager, even though the player's game wager has already been resolved. In such an optional embodiment, the additional playing card or cards would not alter the player hand value since the game wager would have already been resolved.

Thus, in an example based on Table 2 above and an embodiment where a pair of nines is an automatic winning hand, if a player is dealt 9<£> 9&, the player's game wager is rewarded unless the dealer also has a pair of nines, in which case the player's game wager is returned. Although the player's game wager has been resolved, the player may, in this optional embodiment, be dealt a third card to determine the player's reward for any hand wager, as well as resolve any envy pay outs discussed in greater detail below. If the player receives, for example, a 9ώ as the third card, the player would be rewarded at 500: 1 on any hand wager for obtaining three nine playing cards from a black suit. Additionally, an envy pay out may occur as described below. Conversely, if the player receives, for example, J^ as

the third card, the player would be rewarded at 40:1 on any hand wager for receiving two nines in a black suit in the initial player hand. In an optional embodiment in which the player hands eligible for a hand wager reward are not necessarily automatic winning hands, a player may receive a third card for resolution of the hand wager that does not otherwise contribute to the player's hand value for resolution of the game wager.

In another optional embodiment, an additional card is dealt to every initial player hand. For those players requesting an additional card or additional cards, depending on the particular embodiment, the additional card(s) contributes to the player's hand value for resolution of the player's game wager and for resolution of the player's hand wager, if any. For those players who did not request an additional card or additional cards, depending on the particular embodiment, the additional card(s) are not used to determine the player's hand vale, and are used solely for resolution of the player's hand wager. As may be appreciated, this step may be limited to certain predetermined hands in an alternate optional embodiment.

In a further optional embodiment, an envy pay out may be offered for certain game events. For example, in one optional embodiment, each player placing a hand wager of at least a predetermined minimum amount is eligible for an envy pay out. In one such optional embodiment, if any final player hand includes a predetermined combination, such as triple nines, e.g. three playing cards each of nine rank, each eligible player (optionally excluding the player who obtained the predetermined combination) is paid an envy pay out. Optionally, the player who obtained the predetermined combination is excluded from receiving the envy pay out. The envy pay outs could take any form, including fixed amount pay outs, multiples of certain wager amounts, or any other form. For example, one optional table of

predetermined combinations and associated envy pay outs is given in Table 3 with fixed envy pay out amounts.

Table 3

As above, these amounts and the predetermined combinations are merely illustrative. Thus, in other optional embodiments, the amounts and hand combinations may be altered. For example, in another optional embodiment, a table of envy events and associated envy pay outs could be as shown in Table 4.

Table 4

While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention presented herein.