BLOCKING SOLITAIRE CARD GAME

Abstract

Solitaire style card games with a blocking play feature. In one illustrative embodiment, the game may be played with a deck of twelve valued cards and an additional “block” card. A set of foundation stacks are dealt in a line face down and the top card on each is then turned face up, with the remaining cards forming a “draw” stack. Visible cards may then be removed from the foundation stacks in sets of one to three cards with a total face value meeting a preselected number. As cards are removed, the top card on each stack is turned face up. When a “block” card is revealed, a foundation stack may be “blocked.” Play of the blocked stack may be restricted until a designated condition is satisfied. When no play is possible or desired, a card may be drawn from the draw stack.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference all of the subject matter included in Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/046,645, which was filed Sep. 5, 2014

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to card games and more specifically, to solitaire-style card games.

BACKGROUND

Solitaire-style card games have long been used for entertainment purposes. The most well-known is probably Klondike solitaire, which has even been packaged with the Windows computer operating system. While many variations of such games have been known, they have often proved unpopular due to unusual variations in rules that are hard to remember or to a monotony felt by players as multiple games lack substantial variation in game play. Additionally, the long time often required to complete a solitaire game has made many unsuitable for using as a game of chance in a casino setting.

New solitaire style card games that used familiar mechanics with additional easy to remember rules that provide significant variation to the player play from game to game would be an improvement in the art. Such a game that could be offered as a game of chance in a casino setting would be a further improvement in the art. Such a game that could be played as a multiplayer game as well as a one player solitaire game would be a further improvement in the art.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a card game with blocking play feature. In one illustrative embodiment, the game may be played with a deck of twelve valued cards and an additional “block” card. A set of foundation stacks are dealt in a line face down and the top card on each is then turned face up, with the remaining cards forming a “draw” stack. Visible cards may then be removed from the foundation stacks in sets of one to three cards with a total face value meeting a preselected number, such as twelve. As cards are removed, the top card on each stack is turned face up. When a “block” card is revealed, a foundation stack becomes “blocked.” In one embodiment, a player may be restricted to the “blocked” stack rather than the foundation stacks, in other embodiments, the “blocked” stack may be removed from play and associated with a “free” stack that remains in play. Once the “free” stack is depleted, the “blocked” stack is returned to play. When no play is possible or as a player desires, a card may be drawn from the draw stack. Play may continue until the draw stacks are depleted, or another condition satisfied.

The game may be scored in several different ways, and may include one or more feature occurrences allowing it to be offered in a casino setting or for scoring variations to be used for awarding prizes. The game may also be offered in an electronic form, for example, as a video game or video slot machine or as an application on a smart phone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the various drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The nature of the present disclosure, as well as various embodiments, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, to the appended claims, and to the several drawings. Further, while dimensions may be noted for certain parts in the drawings, such dimensions are only exemplary and may be varied as the particular application requires.

FIG. 1 is a graphic image of a first set of a deck of cards that may be used in a game in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a graphic image of a row of cards dealt for playing a solitaire game in accordance with this disclosure using the cards of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a graphic image of the position of various cards during game play in accordance with the embodiment FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a graphic image of cards dealt for playing a multi-player game in accordance with this disclosure using the cards of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a graphic image of the position of various cards during game play in accordance with the embodiment FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to solitaire card games. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described, while illustrating certain embodiments, are not intended to so limit this disclosure or the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art will also understand that various combinations or modifications of the embodiments presented herein can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Turning to FIG. 1, the faces and back of a deck of cards especially suited for playing a card game in accordance with the present invention are depicted. In the depicted embodiment there is a deck of cards 200 including number cards bearing indicia representing values 1 through 12 (designated as 201 to 212, respectively). There is also a “block” card 213 bearing suitable indicia. In some versions, there will be a “wild” card 214 also bearing suitable indicia. One suitable card back is shown at 250 although any back design may be used.

In one embodiment, four of each of the displayed cards 200 may be present in the deck. It will be appreciated that the depicted deck of cards 200 is only illustrative and other decks and designs may be used. For example, in another embodiment, a standard 52 card deck may be used with the Aces designated as the 1 card, the number cards 2 through 10 used at their face values, the jack and queen cards designated as the 11 and 12 cards and the king cards designated as the “block” cards. Other designations may be used, and alternative decks with greater or fewer sets of the depicted cards 200 may also be used.

Turning to FIG. 2, the set up for one illustrative embodiment of a game in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted. The deck of cards 200 is randomized, as by shuffling. Where a single player is present, this can be done by the player. Where the game is offered in a casino or other gaming setting, the cards may be shuffled by a dealer or an automatic card shuffler. Where presented in an electronic version, the card positions may be randomly generated using a processor and appropriate protocol.

A foundation row 100 consisting of six stacks (designated 102A through 102F) of cards 200 arrayed in a line are dealt. For purposes of clarity, the foundation row 100 will be referred to as a horizontal line and the movement of cards around this line will use the terms “above” and “below”, although it will be appreciated that where a physical deck of cards 200 is used, typically all cards 200 will be placed on a planar surface, such as a table. Each stack 102 may include 5 cards, although this may vary for particular game variants. The cards 200 may be dealt into the stacks 102 face down and the top card is then turned over. Alternatively, the stacks 102 may be dealt face down with the exception of the final cards 200, which may be dealt face up. The remaining cards in the deck will then be used as the draw pile 120, and may be retained by the player in hand or placed below the foundation row.

Play then commences, and cards 200 visible on the foundation stacks 102 that form into sets of cards up to a desired number that total a selected amount may be removed and may be placed in a discard pile 130. The discard pile 130 may be placed below the foundation row 100. In the depicted embodiment, a set may be of 1, 2, or 3 cards 200 and the selected amount may be a value of twelve. It will be appreciated that these numbers may vary in different variations. The use of sets of differing numbers of cards introduces an element of strategy into the game as the player determines which sets to form and which cards to keep in play for further use.

Where present, a wild card 214 or a joker (in a standard deck) may have any value assigned to it by a player to complete a set. Sets may be placed in a discard pile 130, which may be below or to the side of the foundation stack row 100. As cards 200 are removed from the foundation stacks 102, the next uppermost card 200 in the stack is turned face up.

When no set totaling the selected amount may be removed from the foundation stacks 102, or when the player opts not to create a set from the visible cards on the foundation stacks 102, then a player may draw a card 200 from the draw pile 120. If the drawn card 200 may be played with visible cards on the foundation stacks 102 to form a set, then it may be played. Where the drawn card 200 is not immediately playable, it may be placed face up in a “usable row” 140 and another card 200 drawn from the draw pile 120, which may be below or to the side of the foundation row 100. As drawn cards 200 are placed in the usable row 140, they are placed on top of the last card 200 added to such pile. The pile may be formed as a row with a portion of each card shown, in order to allow a player to develop a strategy for play. If the top card 200 in the usable row may be used to form a set with visible cards from the foundation stacks 102, then it may be used and the card 200 immediately underneath it becomes available for use.

When a block card 213 becomes visible on a foundation stack 102, whether at the initial deal or by being turned over during play, the foundation stack 102 is designated as a “blocked stack” 104. A blocked stack 104 is designated as blocked and “tied” to another foundation stack 102, as by being moved to a position above the tied foundation stack 102. In the embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, foundation stack 102F was blocked in the initial deal and was tied to foundation stack 102C. Accordingly, it was moved above foundation stack 102C as block stack 104 as shown in FIG. 3. Depending on the variant desired, the foundation stack 102 to which the block stack 104 is tied may be selected by the player, or may be selected by a dealer or may follow a predetermined rule for a gaming setting.

The block stack 104 remains out of play until the foundation stack 102 to which it is tied is completely depleted. At that point, the block card 213 is discarded and the block stack 104 is returned to play as a foundation stack 102. In the depicted embodiment, it would then be returned to the foundation row 100, either replacing the stack to which it was tied or to its original position.

It will be appreciated that where offered as a casino game or in an electronic version, the positions of the foundation stacks 102, draw pile 120, discard pile 130, usable row 140, and any blocked stacks 104 may be marked on the playing table or screen and placed therein.

Play continues until all foundation stacks 102 are depleted, or play cannot be continued. One rare occurrence is when four blocked stacks 104 are present, with no foundation stacks 102 remaining. The occurrence of this condition can be used as a designated “bonus” condition in a gaming setting and an enhanced or special payout made. In a casino version of the game, where the game is offered with a standard deck of cards and the kings are designated as the blocking cards, this occurrence may be known as a 4 KING ROYALE and the special payout may be called a 4 KING ROYALE payout.

The game may be scored in various ways. For example, points may be awarded for each set that is discarded, for each foundation stack 102 that is depleted and/or for returning a blocked stack 104 to play as a foundation stack. Where offered as in a gaming setting, the player may pay an initial amount for the game and the payout may be based on the points awarded.

In a version of the game especially suited for children and known as “Dozen Doubloons”, the player may collect tokens at the depletion of each foundation stack 102 and play until a set amount of tokens is reached. Similarly, in a gaming setting, the player could receive a prize (or a payout) for each foundation stack depleted.

In other exemplary embodiments, the solitaire game may be implemented on an electronic gaming machine, such as a video game or a video slot machine. As known by those of ordinary skill in the art, the electronic gaming machines may include various functional devices configured and programmed to simulate play of the card game. For instance, the gaming machines may be configured with a microprocessor, a random number generator, a memory device, a video display, various input devices, sound generating devices, a coin or bill input for receiving money, a token input, a payout slot for payout bets and others. In yet a further embodiment, the solitaire game may be played in conjunction with electronic slot machines as an added or bonus game. Additionally, the solitaire game may be implemented on other electronic devices, such as personal computers or mobile phones as a video game “app”.

In one aspect that provide additional challenge to a player, and may be configured into an electronic version of the solitaire game, as a player progresses through the play of games, additional challenges may be presented on various levels. For example, upon initiating the game the first time on an electronic device, a foundation row of only three foundation stacks 402 may be displayed. Upon successful completion of a game, the player may advance to another level and an additional foundation stack added until the typical six stacks are present. At higher levels additional challenges may be presented. For example, where a stack 402 is blocked, the blocked stack 404 could be “cloned” such that the blocked stack appears twice and has to be cleared twice by the player. The additional of new features and challenges at levels can increase a player's interest in continued game play. “In-app” purchases could allow a player to obtain wild cards for a fee. Additionally, the player could collect “doubloons” as explained previously herein, which could be used for the in-app purchases or exchanged in a virtual store for vouchers that could be used for related purchases. The “app” could also carry advertisements and the advertisers could accept such vouchers as part of a marketing effort.

In yet other exemplary embodiments, a computer including a central processing unit may be configured to run software that executes play of the blocking solitaire card games described herein. The computer may be operatively connected via the internet to a server computer that is located at a location remote from the computer such that players may play the game over the internet.

Turning to FIG. 4, the set up for one illustrative embodiment of a multiple player game in accordance with the present disclosure is depicted. It will be appreciated that although explained in terms of two players, that any number of multiple players, such as three, four, or five may be used. Play order may be set by having players cut the deck 200 with the high card being the first player, by flipping a coin or otherwise. The first player may serve as the dealer and play may rotate between the players.

The deck of cards 200 is randomized, as by shuffling. In an embodiment using physical cards, this can be done by a dealer or by a player serving as the dealer. Where presented in an electronic version, the card positions may be randomly generated using a processor and appropriate protocol.

A foundation row 400 consisting of four stacks (designated 402A through 402E) of cards 200 arrayed in a line are dealt. For purposes of clarity, the foundation row 400 will be referred to as a horizontal line and the movement of cards around this line will use the terms “above” and “below”, although it will be appreciated that where a physical deck of cards 200 is used, typically all cards 200 will be placed on a planar surface, such as a table. Each stack 402 may include 5 cards, although this may vary for particular game variants. The cards 200 may be dealt into the stacks 402 face down and the top card is then turned over. Alternatively, the stacks 402 may be dealt face down with the exception of the final cards 200, which may be dealt face up.

Each player is then dealt four cards 200 face down to form a “hand” as depicted at 410A and 410B. The remaining cards in the deck will then be used as the draw pile 420 (FIG. 5).

Play then commences, and each player in turn using cards 200 visible on the foundation stacks 402 and/or the cards in the players hands 410A or 410B that form into sets of cards up to a desired number that total a selected amount may be removed and may be placed in a discard pile 430. As cards 200 are removed from the foundation stacks 402, the next uppermost card 200 in the stack is turned face up.

In the depicted embodiment, a set may be of 1, 2, or 3 cards 200 and the selected amount may be a value of twelve. It will be appreciated that these numbers may vary in different variations. The use of sets of differing numbers of cards introduces an element of strategy into the game as the player determines which sets to form and which cards to keep in play for further use. In one embodiment, each time a player discards a set of cards totaling the selected amount, that player receives a token T, from a set of tokens. In one pirate themed embodiment, each token T may be a play coin referred to as a “doubloon.”

Additionally, a player depleting a foundation stack 402 with a discard may receive an addition token T. In some embodiments discarding a set consisting of a single card with a value of twelve may receive two tokens T.

When a player cannot, or chooses not, to create a set totaling the selected amount from the visible cards on the foundation stacks 402 and the player's hand 410, then the player may discard a card of their choice from their hand 420 and draw a card 200 from the draw pile 420. If the drawn card 200 may be played with visible cards on the foundation stacks 102 to form a set, then it may be played.

When a block card 213 becomes visible on a foundation stack 402 or in a player's hand 410, whether at the initial deal or by being turned over during play, the player may then use the card to “block” another player. The block card is placed in front of another player of choice who must then select a foundation stack 402 to be designated as a “blocked stack” 404. The blocked stack 404 may be moved in front of the blocked player or to another position, as for example, by being moved to a position above the foundation row. In the embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, foundation stack 402E was blocked and was moved above the foundation stack row as depicted in FIG. 5.

The blocked player is blocked from playing from the foundation stacks 402 and may only play from the blocked stack 404 and the player's hand until the blocked stack 404 is completely depleted. All other players may play from the blocked stack along with the remaining foundation stacks.

Where present, a wild card 214 or a joker (in a standard deck) may be used in several ways. One option is to have any value assigned to the wild card 214 by a player holding the card to complete a set. In another use, a player may use the wild to remove a block card that has been played on them, by discarding the wild card 214 with the block card 213 and returning the block stack 404 to the foundation row. In yet another use, a player could preset the Wild card 214 to another player along with a specified number card, such as a card 200 bearing a 1, 2 or 3 to another player, who then discards the presented cards and gives the first player the number of tokens T corresponding to the number displayed on the numbered card from their own collection of tokens.

Play continues until all foundation stacks 402 are depleted, even if some players still have blocked stacks 404. At that point the player having the most tokens wins. In some embodiments, if no player has a present amount of tokens, such as twelve, then the cards are shuffled and re-dealt and play recommences where the last turn left off.

While this disclosure has been described using certain illustrative embodiments, the teachings of the present disclosure can be further modified within its spirit and scope. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practices in the art.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a gaming activity comprising:

randomizing a deck of cards, wherein the deck of cards contains cards displaying numerical values from one to twelve and cards displaying an indicia indicating a block feature;

dispensing a selected number of cards into a set of individual foundation stacks, such that the top card of each foundation stack faces up with the remaining cards facing down;

placing remaining cards into a draw pile;

removing upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks to a sets of one to three cards displaying numerical values that total a preset numerical value and then placing the set in a discard pile and turning over the next card in the foundation stack;

drawing a card from the draw pile where a player desires or needs an additional card to form a set of the preselected value; and

where a card displaying an indicia indicating a block feature is played, restricting play from a foundation set until a condition is fulfilled.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein drawing a card from the draw pile where a player desires or needs an additional card to form a set of the preselected value further comprises placing a drawn card that cannot be used to form a set of preselected value face up in a row form which cards may be drawn to form sets in combination with upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising dealing a set number of cards face down to two or more players to form hands of cards from which a player may remove cards to form sets in combination with the upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing a selected number of cards into a set of individual foundation stacks comprises dispensing a selected number of cards into four or six individual foundation stacks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein removing upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks to a sets of one to three cards displaying numerical values that total a preset numerical value comprises removing upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks to a sets of one to three cards displaying numerical values that total twelve.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising awarding a token to a player when a desired outcome occurs.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein play continues until a player has earned a set number of tokens.

8. The method of clam 1, wherein play continues until the foundation stacks are depleted.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the deck of cards further contains cards displaying an indicia indicating the card is considered a “Wild” card and may be used by a player as a card of any value, to remove a blocked card or to obtain tokens earned by another player.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein where a card displaying an indicia indicating a block feature is played, restricting play from a foundation set until a condition is fulfilled comprises where a card displaying indicia indicating a block feature is turned over on a foundation stack, that foundation stack is removed from play until a second foundation stack it is associated with has been depleted.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein where a card displaying an indicia indicating a block feature is played, restricting play from a foundation set until a condition is fulfilled comprises where a card displaying indicia indicating a block feature is placed in front of a second player by a first player, the second player is restricted to removing cards from a specific foundation stack until the that specific foundation stack is depleted.

12. A method of conducting a gaming activity comprising:

randomizing a deck of cards, wherein the deck of cards contains cards displaying numerical values from one to twelve and;

dispensing a selected number of cards into a set of individual foundation stacks, such that the top card of each foundation stack faces up with the remaining cards facing down;

placing remaining cards into a draw pile;

removing upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks to a sets of one to three cards displaying numerical values that total a preset numerical value and then placing the set in a discard pile and turning over the next card in the foundation stack;

drawing a card from the draw pile where a player desires or needs an additional card to form a set of the preselected value; and

when a blocking event occurs, restricting play from at least one foundation set until a clearing condition is fulfilled.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein when a blocking event occurs, restricting play from at least one foundation set until a clearing condition is fulfilled comprises where a card displaying indicia indicating a block feature is turned over on a foundation stack, designating that foundation stack as a block stack and associating it with a second foundation stack and removing the block stack from play until the designated foundation stack it is associated with has been depleted.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein when a blocking event occurs, restricting play from at least one foundation set until a clearing condition is fulfilled comprises where a card displaying indicia indicating a block feature is placed in front of a second player by a first player, the second player is restricted to removing cards from a specific foundation stack until the that specific foundation stack is depleted.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein drawing a card from the draw pile where a player desires or needs an additional card to form a set of the preselected value further comprises placing a drawn card that cannot be used to form a set of preselected value face up in a row form which cards may be drawn to form sets in combination with upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising dealing a set number of cards face down to two or more players to form hands of cards from which a player may remove cards to form sets in combination with the upwards facing cards from the foundation stacks.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising awarding a token to a player when a desired outcome occurs.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein play continues until a player has earned a set number of tokens.

19. The method of clam 1, wherein play continues until the foundation stacks are depleted.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the deck of cards further contains cards displaying an indicia indicating the card is considered a “Wild” card and may be used by a player as a card of any value, to remove a blocked card or to obtain tokens earned by another player.