ENTERTAINMENT METHOD INVOLVING PLAYING CARDS AND POINT AWARD SYSTEM
A game playing method is provided that may be played with a card deck and includes dealing a first row of five cards with cards thereafter dealt individually. With each fresh card, a player makes a decision as to which one of the five columns will receive the fresh card with the goal of building the best possible “poker hand” in each respective column. Card dealing continues with each laying off of a card onto a respective column being non-reversible, even if subsequent card deals may show that a card may have been more productively laid off into a different column. Eventually, each column comprises five cards and a last card is dealt with the player having the discretion to lay off this card into the respective column that could best benefit from the card in terms of its “poker hand.”
The present invention generally relates to an entertainment method involving playing awards and point award system. One common version of the well known card game “poker” is played by dealing each player five card poker hands using a standard deck of playing cards. The high hand wins based on the priority of hands established under conventional five card poker rules. As a leisure time activity, poker and other card games have fascinated the public for years. A deck of cards, a playing surface, and a few participants are all that is needed to provide a recreational few hours away from the stress and strain of daily life. Five card poker is a game with which many people are familiar and this game typically proceeds with the goal of maximizing a score based upon a well known priority or rank order of winning poker hands—namely, in descending rank, the poker hand is ranked highest if it is Royal Flush, or is otherwise ranked, in descending rank, according to whether the poker hand is a Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair or High card(s). Each player typically has an opportunity to attempt to form the best possible hand according to some pre-determined hierarchy of poker hand values. In some games, players are permitted to discard certain cards and receive new cards in an effort to form a better hand. While the play of poker games is obviously appealing to its many participants, it would be beneficial if a player could bring to bear the skills and experience acquired in playing poker to a card game format that can be played individually.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore desirable to provide a card game that is structured to reward a player for exercising good judgment based upon the player's experience and familiarity with a known card game, such as poker, while also being structured to reward a player for attempting calculated risks. It would also be desirable to provide a novel card game readily adaptable to being played individually and which is relatively simple to learn for a new player and which can be played quickly. It would also be desirable to provide a game which provides a player with opportunities to increase the points awarded for a session of play by using a target tally count that the player can seek to achieve during the session play.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of entertainment diversion comprising presenting a start array of playing cards, each playing card having a face value and the start array having at least two playing cards. Also a method is provided comprising presenting a series of “laid off” rounds, each “laid off” round including the presentation of at least one playing card. Further provided is a method for permitting a player to associate each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards. Additionally, a method is provided comprising following the association by the player of each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards, indicating the association of each laid off playing card with the respective start array playing card with which it has been associated. Another method is provided comprising presenting a last drawn playing card in a last draw round, and permitting a player to associate the last playing card with a respective start array playing card, each discrete group of a start array playing card and the respective playing cards that have been associated therewith forming a card hand, whereupon the number of card hands that are formed equals the number of start array playing cards.
An additional method is provided comprising following the association by the player of the last drawn playing card with a respective start array playing card, ascribing a card hand value to each card based upon a hierarchy system in which a selected combination of playing cards having one set of prescribed face values is ascribed a value different than another combination of playing cards having a different set of prescribed face values, and summing the card hand values to yield a preliminary count. Also, a method is provided comprising comparing the preliminary count is compared to an on-target count, whereupon a given one of the following tally conditions will exist: (a) the preliminary count will be equal to the on-target count, (b) the preliminary count will be less than the on-target count, or (c) the preliminary count will be greater than the on-target count.
Additionally, a method is provided comprising evaluating the preliminary count to arrive at a session score, the evaluating taking into account that one of the tally conditions is designated as a switchover tally condition, and in the event that the preliminary count results in a switchover tally condition, the evaluating including adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score, with the adjusting including either increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values or decreasing the preliminary count to a value less than the summation of the card hand values in accordance with a heuristic rule that is in effect with respect to the status of the tally condition being a switchover tally condition.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for providing an entertainment diversion, the device comprising a display unit for presenting a start array of playing cards, each playing card having a face value and the start array having at least two playing cards, the display assembly being operable to present a series of “laid off” rounds, each “laid off” round including the presentation of at least one playing card, the display assembly having an input interface via which a player can interact with the display assembly, the input interface being operable to receive input from a player such that the player can associate each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards, the display assembly being operable to indicate, following the association by the player of each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards, the association of each laid off playing card with the respective start array playing card with which it has been associated, the display assembly being operable to present a last drawn playing card in a last draw round, the input interface being operable to receive input from a player such that the player can associate the last playing card with a respective start array playing card, each discrete group of a start array playing card and the respective playing cards that have been associated therewith forming a card hand, whereupon the number of card hands that are formed equals the number of start array playing cards.
Additionally, the device includes a control unit, the control unit being operatively connected to the display unit and being operable to ascribe, following the association by the player of the last drawn playing card with a respective start array playing card, a card hand value to each card hand based upon a hierarchy system in which a selected combination of playing cards having one set of prescribed face values is ascribed a value different than another combination of playing cards having a different set of prescribed face values, the control unit being operable to sum the card hand values to yield a preliminary count, to compare the preliminary count to an on-target count, whereupon a given one of the following tally conditions will exist: (a) the preliminary count will be equal to the on-target count, (b) the preliminary count will be less than the on-target count, or (c) the preliminary count will be greater than the on-target count, and to evaluate the preliminary count to arrive at a session score, the evaluation by the control unit taking into account that one of the tally conditions is designated as a switchover tally condition and, in the event that the preliminary count results in a switchover tally condition, the evaluating including adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score, with the adjusting including either increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values or decreasing the preliminary count to a value less than the summation of the card hand values in accordance with a heuristic rule that is in effect with respect to the status of the tally condition being a switchover tally condition.
The present invention provides, in one aspect thereof, a method of providing an entertainment diversion and the steps of this method, hereinafter referred to as the game playing method, will now be described in connection with
The game playing method proceeds with the step of presenting a start array 110 of individual playing cards 112 that are drawn one at a time from the playing card deck 102, each playing card having a face value and the start array having at least two playing cards. The “face value” of a playing card is deemed to be, solely for the exemplary purpose of illustrating the exemplary single playing session of the game playing method, the actual printed denomination of a playing card—i.e., 1, 2 . . . 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace, it being understood that other face values can be assigned to the “game piece” representations or surrogates. For example, “wild card” denominations can be assigned in a traditional card play sense—i.e, a printed denomination of the numeral “9” on a playing card can be deemed to be a “wild card” permitting a player to assign that playing card any face value that the player determines best facilitates the card play situation.
The start array 110 may include any number of playing cards as dictated by the operational rules agreed to be applied by the player or players; in the exemplary single playing session of the game playing method shown in
The game playing method proceeds with the presentation of a predetermined number of “laid off” rounds, with the predetermined number being selected in accordance with the operational rules agreed to be applied by the player or players. The action of presenting the “laid off” rounds may be effected by the player in that the player successively draws the next available (i.e., topmost) playing card of the card deck or a dealer may successively draw the next available (i.e., topmost) playing card of the card deck and place the freshly drawn playing card at a prescribed location at which the player may take control of the playing card for the further steps of the session. This step of presenting a series of “laid off” rounds follows the step of presenting the start array 110 of playing cards 112. Each “laid off” round includes the presentation of at least one playing card; as shown in
The game playing method further proceeds with the step of permitting the player to associate each playing card that has been laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards that have been organized in the start array of playing cards in row R-1. As shown in
Returning again to
The game playing method includes the step of indicating the association of each laid off playing card with the respective start array playing card with which it has been associated following the association by the player of each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards. The indication that the eight of diamonds has been placed or “laid off” into CI-DD in association with the start array playing card of CI-DD of the three of diamonds is effected via placing the eight of diamonds vertically below and in alignment with the start array playing card of CI-DD of the three of diamonds.
The “laid off” rounds are thus performed in accordance with the operational rules agreed to be applied by the player or players until the predetermined number of these rounds has been reached.
After the predetermined number of “laid off” rounds in accordance with the operational rules agreed to be applied by the player or players have been performed, the game playing method proceeds with the step of presenting a last drawn playing card in a last draw round. As shown in
The game playing method then proceeds with the step of ascribing a card hand value to each card hand based upon a hierarchy system in which a selected combination of playing cards having one set of prescribed face values is ascribed a value different than another combination of playing cards having a different set of prescribed face values following the association by the player of the last drawn playing card with a respective start array playing card. As noted, the hierarchy system in effect for the exemplary single playing session of the game playing method is the hierarchy system by which a traditional poker hand is evaluated. Points are awarded in correspondence with the traditional hierarchy of poker hand values. A traditional hierarchy of poker is as follows, in descending rank with a “Royal Flush” being the highest winning hand:
-
- 1. Royal Flush
- 2. Straight Flush
- 3. Four of a Kind
- 4. Full House
- 5. Flush
- 6. Straight
- 7. Three of a Kind
- 8. Two Pair
- 9. One Pair
- 10. High Card in Hand
The game playing method includes the step of summing the card hand values to yield a preliminary count. Thus, applying the hierarchy system by which a traditional poker hand is evaluated to the card hands formed or “built” in the columns CI-AA-CI-EE, it can be seen with reference to
The game playing method now progresses to the step of comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count. In this connection, in accordance with the method of the present invention, a given one of the following tally conditions will exist upon comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count: (a) the preliminary count will be equal to the on-target count, (b) the preliminary count will be less than the on-target count, or (c) the preliminary count will be greater than the on-target count. The game playing method includes a final step of evaluating the preliminary count to arrive at a session score and the player can choose to conclude the play of the game playing method with no further sessions or may thereafter play additional sessions until, for example, achieving or exceeding a cumulative session score count. The evaluating step includes the act of taking into account that one of the tally conditions is designated as a switchover tally condition in accordance with the operational rules agreed to by the player or players. In accordance with the game playing method, in the event that the preliminary count results in a switchover tally condition, the evaluating step includes adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score, with the process of adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score including either increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values or decreasing the preliminary count to a value less than the summation of the card hand values in accordance with a heuristic rule that is in effect with respect to the status of the tally condition being a switchover tally condition.
The step of comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count can be illustrated with continued reference to the exemplary session of the game playing method that has reached the placement of the twenty-sixth card on the card location matrix as shown in
In accordance with the game playing method, the process of adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score includes either increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values or decreasing the preliminary count to a value less than the summation of the card hand values in accordance with a heuristic rule that is in effect with respect to the status of the tally condition being a switchover tally condition. As noted, the heuristic rule in effect for a preliminary count that is greater than the on-target count, which has thus been designated as a switchover tally condition, is an adjustment of the preliminary count by a multiplier of two (2) and, in connection with the exemplary single playing session of the game playing method, this results in an adjustment of the preliminary count of thirty-two (32) to yield a modified session score of sixty-four (64), which is twice the preliminary count of thirty-two (32).
As seen in
If, then an operational rule regarding the points values to be ascribed to poker hands sets a point value of twenty-six (26) for a “full house” poker hand, it can be seen that the session conclusion shown in
As seen in
A variation of the present example with respect to
It is envisioned that the playing game can be offered in all suitable formats—traditional playing cards, electronic image playing cards such as on kiosks or mobile telephones, or on lottery tickets such as scratch-off tickets.
External data controller 256 interfaces one or more external data storage elements to the system bus 248. These external data storage elements may be flash memory such as 262, internal or external hard drives such as 260, or CD-ROM or DVD (digital video disks) drives such as 258. A display interface 264 interfaces with display 240 and permits information from the bus 248 to be displayed on the display 240. Communications with the external devices can occur on communications port 266. Memory media components such as a flash memory stick, or a CD-ROM, or a digital video disk may contain the program information for controlling the computer to execute the game playing method.
Housing 312 encloses and supports the components of the game unit 310. Player controls 314 allow a player to provide the player input that has been described with reference to
Images can be displayed and updated on display screen 316 by a game processor that can be configured as a suitable version of the computer system 218 or other controllers by methods known to those skilled in the art. Coin slot 312 is provided for the player to insert one or more coins before starting a game and can be implemented as described above. Other monetary input devices, such as card readers, can be provided in other embodiments. A multiple player version of the game unit 310 can be used in a variety of gaming environments. For example, game unit 310 can be configured in a compact configuration that allows the game unit to be provided as a “bar top” game in a bar, restaurant, gaming arcade, or similar environments and locales. The award chit dispenser 322 can be configured to issue a printed item—i.e., a “chit”—indicating a single session score or a multiple session score. The game unit 310 can offer one of several different versions of the game playing method utilizing images displayed on display screen 316. Multi-use game unit 310 can also be configured for linked or networked game play utilizing a suitable communication device 328. A single game unit 310 can be linked with one or more other game units 310 to allow multiplayer games.
The teachings of this application are not to be construed as being limited to any entertainment diversion. While various embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of providing an entertainment diversion comprising:
- presenting on a display a start array of playing cards, each playing card having a face value and the start array having at least two playing cards;
- presenting on the display a series of “laid off” rounds, each “laid off” round including the presentation of at least one playing card;
- permitting a player to associate each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards;
- following the association by the player of each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards, indicating the association of each laid off playing card with the respective start array playing card with which it has been associated;
- presenting a last drawn playing card in a last draw round;
- permitting a player to associate the last playing card with a respective start array playing card, each discrete group of a start array playing card and the respective playing cards that have been associated therewith forming a card hand, whereupon the number of card hands that are formed equals the number of start array playing cards;
- following the association by the player of the last drawn playing card with a respective start array playing card, ascribing a card hand value to each card hand based upon a hierarchy system in which a selected combination of playing cards having one set of prescribed face values is ascribed a value different than another combination of playing cards having a different set of prescribed face values;
- summing the card hand values to yield a preliminary count;
- comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count, whereupon a given one of the following tally conditions will exist: (a) the preliminary count will be equal to the on-target count, (b) the preliminary count will be less than the on-target count, or (c) the preliminary count will be greater than the on-target count;
- evaluating the preliminary count to arrive at a session score, the evaluating taking into account that one of the tally conditions is designated as a switchover tally condition and, in the event that the preliminary count results in a switchover tally condition, the evaluating including adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score, with the adjusting including either increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values or decreasing the preliminary count to a value less than the summation of the card hand values in accordance with a heuristic rule that is in effect with respect to the status of the tally condition being a switchover tally condition; and
- indicating the session score or providing a message that varies as a function of the session score.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of ascribing a card hand value to each card hand based upon a hierarchy system includes applying a hierarchy system by which a traditional poker hand is evaluated.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of permitting a player to associate each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards includes only permitting a player to associate each playing card laid off in a “laid off” round with a respective one of the start array playing cards in a non-reversible manner during the session.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of evaluating the preliminary count to arrive at a session score includes taking into account that two tally conditions are each designated as a switchover tally condition.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein each traditional poker hand is ascribed a point value and the step of comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count includes comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count that has a value greater than any individual point value of the possible poker hands that can be formed during the session.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count includes comparing the preliminary count to an on-target count that has a value of twenty-six.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of evaluating the preliminary count to arrive at a session score includes, in the event that the preliminary count results in a switchover tally condition, adjusting the preliminary count to yield a modified session score, with the adjusting including increasing the preliminary count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values in the event that the preliminary count is equal to the on-target count and increasing the preliminary count in the event that the preliminary count is greater than the on-target count to a value greater than the summation of the card hand values but less than the respective value by which the preliminary count would have been increased if the preliminary count had been equal to the on-target count.
8-14. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2010
Publication Date: May 3, 2012
Inventor: Andrew Sanderbeck (Waynesville, NC)
Application Number: 12/915,309
International Classification: A63F 1/00 (20060101); A63F 9/24 (20060101);