Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 CRAPS GAME IMPROVEMENT
2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
3 1. Field of the Invention:
4 The present invention relates to a well known wagering game called "Craps"
and
more particularly to an improvement thereto referred to herein as a "FIRE
BETT""".
6 2. Description of the Prior Art:
7 Craps is a casino wagering game which is enjoyed for its fast pace and
excitement.
8 The standard rules of play for Craps are very well established, so that
there is no need to
9 inform those having ordinary skill in the art how Craps is played. However,
as a prelude
to discussion of the present invention, it is useful to provide a short
overview of the
11 standard rules pertaining to a Craps "Pass Line" bet.
12 Referring now to Figure 1, Craps is played on an elongated Craps table 10,
having
13 a horizontal table top 12 surrounded by a sidewall 14. The playing surface
16 is provided
14 with a lay-out 18 in the form of indicia indicative of the play of Craps.
The playing surface
16, may for example be a felt material having the indicia of the lay-out 18
imprinted
16 thereupon. The lay-out 18 includes indicia indicative of a pass line bet
area 20, indicia
17 indicative of a point number area 22 (a plurality of squares having,
respectively, therein the
18 numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10), and indicia indicative of a proposition bet
area 24.
19 In the play of Craps according to the standard rules, every player gets a
chance to
throw the dice. The person throwing the dice is called the "shooter". The
shooter must
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1 make a "pass line" (referred to also as a "line") wager (bet) by placing a
selected number
2 of chips representing the value of the wager within the pass line bet area
20. The shooter
3 then throws the dice for his or her initial toss, referred to as the
"initial come out". If a 7 or
4 an 11 was thrown, then a Pass Line wager wins and is paid even money; this
outcome is
referred to as a "natural winner". If a 2, 3, or 12 was thrown, then a pass
line wager loses
6 and is forfeited; this outcome is referred to as a "natural loser". If a
number is thrown other
7 than a 2, 3, 7, 11, or 12, then that number establishes the shooter's
"point" (this point is
8 either a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10). The shooter's point is then marked by a
dealer with a white
9 circular point marker 26 called a "puck" (in Figure 1, the puck is placed by
way of example
on the 5 number because the shooter has, merely by way of example, tossed a
number
11 5).
12 Once a point has been established, the shooter will continue to throw (that
is, roll
13 or toss) the dice until he or she either: 1) throws the point number again
(referred to as
14 "making the point"), or 2) throws a 7 (referred to as a "seven out" or
"sevening out"). If the
shooter "makes the point", then any player who made a pass line wager wins
even money,
16 and the shooter throws the dice for a repeat come out (this toss is not to
be confused with
17 the "initial come out"). If, however, the shooter "seven outs", then any
player who made
18 a pass line wager forfeits the money wagered, and the shooter forfeits his
or her turn and
19 passes the right to dice throwing to the next shooter (in clockwise order).
This next shooter
will then throw an initial come out after bets have been placed, as described
hereinabove.
21 While the game of craps played according to the standard rules is exciting
and
22 enjoyable to play, what remains needed in the art is an improvement in the
form of a
23 simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor the possibility
of a high pay-
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1 out relative to the value of the bet.
2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
3 The present invention is an improvement to the standard rules of craps in
the form
4 of a simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor the
possibility of a high
pay-out relative to the value of the bet, referred to hereinafter as a "FIRE
BETT""".
6 A FIRE BET is a proposition bet made in conjunction with a Craps game
otherwise
7 played according to conventional rules of play. The lay-out is modified to
include
8 sequentially labeled wager areas located in the center of the Craps lay-out
near the
9 customary proposition bet area, as well as to include a plurality of
mutually spaced player
betting areas located in front of each player position around the Craps lay-
out. The betting
11 areas are sequentially labeled around the lay-out in correspondence with
the sequential
12 labeling of the wager areas. A plurality of point markers are provided for
selective
13 placement at the point number area as points are made according to the
method of the
14 present invention. The outcome of a FIRE BET wager is determined according
to the
method of the present invention and is dependent upon the course of play of
the Craps
16 game, wherein all other wagers under conventional rules are independent of
whether or
17 not a FIRE BET is wagered.
18 A player can only make a FIRE BET wager before the initial come out dice
toss of
19 each shooter. Each player making a FIRE BET wager must do so by making a
FIRE BET
wager indication by placing his or her chips) on the appropriate player wager
area on the
21 lay-out directly below their gaming position. Once a FIRE BET is wagered by
placement
22 of at least one selected chip at each participating player's respective
player betting area,
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1 a dealer will retrieve the chips) and place the chips) upon the
corresponding wager areas,
2 designated for a "FIRE BET" in the proposition area. These FIRE BET wagers
will then
3 remain in the respective wager areas until the FIRE BET wagers are paid or
lost, wherein
4 FIRE BET wagers are won or lost based upon accumulation of "made points" in
response
to outcomes of dice throws by the shooter.
6 The shooter throws his or her initial come out toss. If the outcome is a
natural
7 winner or looser, there is no affect upon accumulation of made points, and,
in this scenario,
8 a shooter then repeats an initial come out throw. If the initial come out
toss result is a point
9 (a number 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) then the point is established, and the puck
is placed at the
point location of the point number area. The shooter then again tosses the
dice. If the
11 outcome is the point, then the point is made, the puck is removed and a
selected point
12 marker is placed at the point location of the point number area a point
marker is placed.
13 The shooter then continues to toss the dice. Additional points are
accumulated in the
14 same manner only if the outcome is a new point not already made. At any
time during the
course of play, if the outcome is a seven out the game is over.
16 A pay-out to the FIRE BET wagerers is won according to the schedule of a
17 predetermined pay-out table. For example, a pay-out may require
accumulation of 3
18 points, wherein if the game ends at an accumulated 0, 1 or 2 points, then
the FIRE BET
19 wager is lost; but, if 3 points are accumulated, then a pay-out is won
according to the
schedule of the pay-out table. In this example, if the game ended at the
accumulation of
21 points higher than 3, then the pay-out won is that only of the points of
the highest
22 accumulated points according to the schedule of the pay-out table.
23 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved Craps
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1 game having a simply executed proposition wager which provides the bettor
the possibility
2 of a high pay-out relative to the bet.
3 This, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the
present
4 invention will become apparent from the following specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
6 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a prior art Craps table and lay-out.
7 Figure 2 is a top plan view of a Craps table and lay-out incorporating a
FIRE BET
8 according to the present invention.
9 Figure 3 is a broken-away top plan first view of the Craps table and lay-out
of Figure
2, shown in operation according to the method of the present invention.
11 Figure 4 is a broken-away top plan second view of the Craps table and lay-
out of
12 Figure 2, shown in operation according to the method of the present
invention.
13 Figure 5 is a top plan view of the Craps table and lay-out of Figure 2,
shown in
14 operation according to the method of the present invention.
Figures 6A through 6L are top plan views of point markers according to the
present
16 invention.
17 Figures 7A and 7B are a flow chart expositive of the method according to
the
18 present invention.
19 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the Drawing, Figures 2 through 7B depict various aspects of
the
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1 present invention, wherein Figure 2 shows a plan view of a Craps table 100
having a Craps
2 lay-out 102 including FIRE BETT"" indicia 104 according to the present
invention. The
3 Craps table 100 is structurally conventional. The lay-out 102 includes
conventional wager
4 indicia pertaining to all conventional Craps wagers, including indicia
indicative of a pass
line bet area 106, indicia indicative of a point number area 108 (a plurality
of squares
6 having therein, respectively, numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10), and indicia
indicative of a
7 proposition bet area 110.
8 In addition to the aforesaid conventional wager indicia, the lay-out 102
has, as
9 above mentioned, FIRE BET indicia 104. In this regard, a plurality of
sequentially labeled
FIRE BET wager areas 112 are located in a FIRE BET wager area 114 at the
center of the
11 lay-out 102 near the proposition bet area 110, and a plurality of mutually
spaced FIRE BET
12 player betting areas 116 are located in front of each player position,
respectively, around
13 the lay-out. The FIRE BET player betting areas 116 are sequentially labeled
in clockwise
14 rotation around the lay-out 102, wherein the labeling is in one-to-one
correspondence with
the sequential labeling of the FIRE BET wager areas 112. In the preferred
embodiment,
16 both the FIRE BET wager areas 112 and the FIRE BET player betting areas 116
are
1? circles, 14 in number, having numeric labeling beginning with 1 and ending
with 14.
18 As shown at Figures 6A through 6E, a plurality of point markers 118 are
provided
19 for selective placement at the point number area 108 as points are made
according to the
method of the present invention. It is preferred for the point markers 118 to
be indicative
21 of the accumulated points, respectively. In this regard, it is preferred
for the point markers
22 118 to have indicia identifiably specific to the point accumulation, such
as point number
23 indicia, as indicated at Figures 6A through 6F. Also in this regard, it is
preferred for the
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1 point markers 118 to have indicia which is identifiably specific to the
accumulated points
2 pay-out amount based upon, for example, a $2.50 bet and the schedule of the
pay-out
3 table, as exemplified by Figures 6G through 6L (which embodiments are most
preferred),
4 wherein point marker118,' indicates no pay-out (since only a first point has
been made),
and wherein point markers 1182, 1183, 1184, 1185 and 1186 are associated with
6 accumulated points per the schedule of the pay-out table, for example 2, 3,
4, 5 and 6
7 accumulated made points, respectively. It is further preferred for the point
markers to be
8 clearly different from both the chips and the puck, as for example being a
unique color and
9 unique size intermediate of that the puck and chips. It is preferred that
during play each
point marker of each made point be displayed so as to avoid confusion over
which point
11 numbers have already been made. For example, if 1 point has been made, then
the point
12 marker indicative of 1 point is displayed. Subsequently, if 2 points are
made, then the point
13 marker indicative of 1 point remains and a point marker indicative of 2
points is also
14 displayed.
It is to be noted that the indication of points made may be by any mechanism
or
16 device, be that puck-like point markers (as shown at Figures 6A through
6L), or by some
17 other apparatus, such as for example an electronic indication. For example,
there may be
18 a point marker light embeded in the table and visible through the lay-out
at each point
19 number of the point number area, wherein any light may display any of the
accumulated
points indicia. In this example, a dealer presses a selected button switch to
illuminate a
21 point marker light, wherein the display is indicative of the accumulated
made points.
22 Alternatively, for example, rather than a light, or in addition thereto, a
screen may
23 electronically display the point marker information. In this electronic
form of point markers,
CA 02465766 2004-04-30
1 the dealer would choose to activate a light, display etc. appropriate to the
points made via
2 selection of a switch from a plurality of switches or by other electronic
data entry device.
3 The outcome of a FIRE BET wager is determined according to the method of the
4 present invention and is dependent upon the course of play of the Craps
game, wherein
all other wagers under conventional rules are independent of whether or not a
FIRE BET
6 is wagered.
7 According to the preferred method of the present invention, any player may
make
8 a FIRE BET wager, either by itself or independently accompanying a
conventional Craps
9 wager, wherein the player can only make a FIRE BET wager before the initial
come out
dice toss of each shooter. Each player making a FIRE BET wager must do so by
making
11 a FIRE BET wager indication by placing his or her chips) 122 on the
appropriate FIRE
12 BET player betting area 116 on the lay-out 102 directly below his or her
respective gaming
13 position. For example, Figure 3 depicts FIRE BET wagers made by three
players who
14 placed their chips 122 at their respective player position FIRE BET player
betting area 116
(any independently accompanying conventional Craps bet these players may have
also
16 made is not shown for simplicity). While the FIRE BET wager indication
placed by a player
17 at his or her respective FIRE BET betting area 116 may be any chip, it is
preferred for the
18 FIRE BET wager indication to be a unique FIRE BET chip having a
predesignated value,
19 preferably having a $2.50 value.
Once a FIRE BET is wagered, a dealer will retrieve the chips) 122 and place
the
21 chips) upon the corresponding FIRE BET wager areas 112 of the FIRE BET
wager area
22 114 adjacent the proposition area 110 (see Figure 4). These FIRE BET wagers
120 will
23 then remain in the respective FIRE BET wager areas 112 until the FIRE BET
wagers are
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1 either paid or lost. In this regard, FIRE BET wagers are won or lost based
upon
2 accumulation of "made points" in response to outcomes of dice throws by the
shooter. In
3 this regard, each successive made point is a numerical non-repeat made point
of all earlier
4 made points. The accumulated number of made points is the FIRE BET player's
"made
points" or simply, "points". Whether a loss (forfeit) or a pay-out occurs
depends upon the
6 number of points accumulated at the time the game ends based upon the
schedule of a
7 pay-out table.
8 Referring now in particular to Figures 7A and 7B, the methodology of play
according
9 to the present invention will now be detailed.
Execution block 130 represents the FIRE BET players placing their respective
FIRE
11 BET wagers according to the aforesaid methodology. Thereafter, as
represented by
12 execution block 132, the shooter throws his or her initial come out toss.
As represented
13 by decision block 134, if the outcome is a natural winner or looser, then
there is no affect
14 upon accumulation of made points, and, in this scenario, the course of play
returns to
execution block 132, whereat a shooter repeats an initial come out throw.
However, again
16 referring to decision block 134, if the initial come out toss result is a
point (a number 4, 5,
17 6, 8, 9, or 10) then, as represented by execution block 136, a point N, is
established,
18 wherein N, is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The puck is then placed by a
dealer at the
19 point location corresponding to N, of the point number area 108. For
example with
reference to Figure 5, the puck 124 has been placed at numeral 8 because a
number 8
21 was rolled (that is, in this scenario N, = 8).
22 As represented by execution block 138, the shooter then again tosses the
dice. If
23 the outcome, as represented by decision block 140, is a number 7, then the
shooter has
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1 sevened out and the FIRE BET wager is lost (forfeited), as represented by
block 142. If
2 not, then, as represented by decision block 144, if the outcome is the point
(that is, the
3 result equals N,), then, as represented by execution block 146, the first
point is made, and
4 the FIRE BET players now have one made point (or simply, one point).
Simultaneously,
the puck is removed by a dealer, and a selected point marker 118, is placed at
the point
6 location of the point number N, (ie., point number 8) of the point number
area 108 (see
7 Figure 2). Revisiting decision block 144, if, however, the outcome is other
than the point,
8 the shooter again rolls the dice, as represented by a return to execution
block 138.
9 As represented by execution block 148, the shooter then again tosses the
dice. As
represented by decision block 150, if the outcome is a number 7, then the
shooter has
11 sevened out and the FIRE BET wager, as represented by decision block 152,
is either lost
12 (forfeited), as represented by execution block 154, or is won, as
represented by execution
13 block 156. In this regard, a pay-out is won if the number of points made is
at least equal
14 to a preset number of made points (or simply, points) according to a
schedule of a pay-out
table, as exemplified by Pay-Out Tables A through I hereinbelow. Further in
this regard,
16 it is preferred that no pay-out be won for accumulation of just a single
made point (or
17 point). If the outcome is not a 7, then, as represented by decision block
158, if the
18 outcome is a point (that is, the result is N2 wherein N2 is any one of 4,
5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and
19 N2 ~ N,), then, as represented by execution block 160 the point is
established. The puck
is then placed by a dealer at the point location corresponding to N2 of the
point number
21 area in the manner aforesaid. Revisiting decision block 158, if, however,
the outcome is
22 other than the point, the shooter again rolls the dice, as represented by a
return to
23 execution block 148.
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1 The shooter, as represented by execution block 162, again tosses the dice.
As
2 represented by decision block 164, if the outcome is a number 7, then the
shooter sevens
3 out and the FIRE BET wager, as represented by decision block 166, is either
lost
4 (forfeited), as represented by execution block 168, or is won, as
represented by execution
block 170. As mentioned above, a pay-out is made if the number of points made
is at least
6 equal to a preset number of made points (or points) according to a schedule
of a pay-out
7 table, as exemplified by Pay-Out Tables A through I hereinbelow. For
example, if
8 according to the schedule a minimum number of points is 3, then in this
situation of play
9 all FIRE BET wagers are lost; and, even if according to the schedule the
minimum number
of points is 2, still no pay-out is won because in this situation of play the
second point has
11 only been established, but has not yet been made. If the outcome is not a
7, then, as
12 represented by decision block 172, if the outcome is the point (that is,
the result is N2),
13 then, as represented by execution block 174 the second point is made, and
the FIRE BET
14 players now have two made points (or two points). The puck is then removed
by a dealer,
and, with the first point marker remaining at the point number N,, a second
selected point
16 marker is placed at the point location of point number N2 of the point
number area, as
17 aforedescribed. For example with reference again to Figure 2, the puck 124
was placed
18 at point number 5 (because this was, in this example, the point number
established), and
19 since this point number has now been made, the puck will be removed and the
second
selected point marker 1182 has been placed thereat. Revisiting decision block
172, if,
21 however, the outcome is other than the point, the shooter again rolls the
dice, as
22 represented by a return to execution block 162.
23 With the second point made, the methodology of play continues in the manner
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1 hereinabove described, as represented by execution block 176. In this
regard, the third
2 point is established when N3 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N3 is
any one of 4, 5, 6,
3 8, 9 or 10 and N3 # N, # N2, and wherein the third point is made when N3 is
again rolled
4 before a 7 is rolled; the fourth point is established when N4 is rolled
before a 7 is rolled,
wherein N4 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N4 # N, ~ N2 # N3, and
wherein the fourth
6 point is made when N4 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled; the fifth point
is established when
7 N5 is rolled before a 7 is rolled, wherein N5 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or
10 and N5 # N, #
8 N2 # N3 $ N4, and wherein the fifth point is made when N5 is again rolled
before a 7 is
9 rolled; and finally, the sixth point is established when N6 is rolled before
a 7 is rolled,
wherein N6 is any one of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10 and N6 ~ N, ~ N2 ~ N3 ~ N4 # N5,
and wherein
11 the sixth point is made when N6 is again rolled before a 7 is rolled.
12 The schedule of a predetermined pay-out table is critical information prior
to play
13 because: 1 ) it specifies the minimum number of points for a pay-out (any
lesser number
14 of points results in a loss (forfeit) of the FIRE BET wager), wherein only
the pay-out
corresponding to the accumulated point is paid out (all pay-outs for lesser
point numbers
16 are not paid); 2) it specifies the pay-out odds, and, consequently the pay-
out per the
17 accumulated points; and 3) it inherently defines the house odds edge.
18 Pay-Out Tables A through I define preferred pay-out schedules, Pay-Out
Table I
19 being most preferred. An exact probability analysis was performed to derive
the probability
distribution of all points made. The accuracy of the analysis was verified by
a one-billion
21 roll computer simulation. In that a shooter could, in theory, have an
infinitely long streak
22 of making points without sevening out, approximations were made. However,
the error is
23 estimated to be within an insignificant 0.000002%.
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Pay-Out Table A
(House edge: 17.12%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
6 points 2,000 for 1 0.0162435
points 200 for 1 0.163993
4 points 20 for 1 0.879818
Pay-Out Table B
(House edge: 24.16%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
6 points 2,000 for 1 0.0162435
5 points 200 for 1 0.163993
4 points 12 for 1 0.879818
Pay-Out Table C
(House edge: 19.39%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
6 points 3,000 for 1 0.0162435
5 points 100 for 1 0.163993
4 points 10 for 1 0.879818
3 points 2 for 1 3.343420
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Payr-Out Table D
(House edge: 19.99%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
6 points 1,000 for 1 0.0162435
points 200 for 1 0.163993
4 points 20 for 1 0.879818
3 points 4 for 1 3.343420
Pair-Out Table E
(House edge: 15.39%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
5 points 200 for 1 0.180237
4 points 40 for 1 0.879818
3 points 4 for 1 3.343420
Payr-Out Table F
(House edge: 14.34°!0)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
5 points 280 for 1 0.180237
4 points 40 for 1 0.879818
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Payr-Out Table G
(House edge: 22.07%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
points 200 for 1 0.180237
4 points 40 for 1 0.879818
3 points 2 for 1 3.343420
Payr-Out Table H
(House edge: 21.55%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
5 points 240 for 1 0.180237
4 points 40 for 1 0.879818
Payr-Out Table I
(House edge: 24.87%)
Number of points made:Pay-out odds: Probability:
6 points 1,999 to 1 0.0162435
5 points 200 to 1 0.163993
4 points 10 to 1 0.879818
It is to be understood that by the term "shooter" means a person or persons
who
shoot from an initial come out to a seven out. In that the person who is
serving as the
shooter may leave the game in mid-play, any player who serves thereupon in
substitution
as shooter in his or her place is included by, and within the meaning of, the
term shooter.
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To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, the above
described
preferred embodiment may be subject to change or modification. Such change or
modification can be carried out without departing from the scope of the
invention, which
is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
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