Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
N,IETHODS OF PRAYING CARD GA1V1~S
~1CKGROUN OF THE INVENT)iON
1. Fietd of he Invention
The present invention relates to methods of playing card games, aad more
particularly
pertains to variations of a conventional card gams known as Pai (3ow Poker.
2. Desc~~pJ;ion of the Related Technoloøv
The conventional game of Pai Gow Poker is played in many casinos. Tile game is
played
with a single standard deck of 52 playiag cards plus a Joker. The game is
typically started by
tech player placing an ante or bet and then a dealer doaling seven cards to
himself and to each
of up to six players. Usually, the dealer is a casino employee. As explained
hereinafter, the
players compete against tho casino via the dealer. A player forms two hands
from his seven-card
holding. One hand, called a Low Hand, consists of two of the player's seven
cards. The other
hand, callod a High Hand, consists of the remaining fve cards of the player's
original seven
cards. In a similar manner, the dealer forms a High Hand arid a Low Hand from
his seven cards.
The only requirement in fom~ing the hands is that the Low Hand miiust be of a
lower rank than
the High Hand. The ranking of a hand is the same as in traditional poker with
the exception that
tht Joker can he used to represent an Ace or to represent one card of either a
straight ox a flush.
Because of the Joker, five Aces is the hand with the highest possible rank_
When the player
forms his Low Hand and his High Hand so that they are respxtively higher in
rank than the Low
Hand and the High Haad of the dealer, the player is a winner and the dealer is
a loser.
Coxwcrsely, when the player forms his Low Hand and his High Hand so that they
era
respectively lower in rank than aglow Hand and a High Hand of the dealer, the
player is a loser
and the dealer is a winner. In cases where one of the player's hands is of the
sauce rank as a
1
r CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
corresponding one of the dealer's hands, the dealer's hand is deemed to be of
higher rank than
the player's hand. 'When the playor's Low Hand is of a higher rank than the
dealer's low Hand
and the player's High Hand is of lower rank than the dealer's High Hand, what
is known as a
push exists. Similarly, the push exists when the player's Lvw Hand is of a
lower rank than the
dealers Low Hand and the player's High bleed is of higher teak than the
dcalelrs High Hand.
When the push exists, thore is no winner. A determination of a winner
coneapondingly
determines the outcome of the bet between the player and the dealer. Hence,
the wager is neither
won nor lost when the push exists, but is rather refunded to the player.
A variety ofmethods of playing card games, includung methods of playing
variations of
Par Gow Poker, are zetlcctcd in the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Patent No. tnvantor a to
5,275,x11 Breeding January 4,1994 Pai Grow Poker Machine
5,584,486 Fzanlclin December 17,1996 Jackpot Pai Gow Poker
5,607,161 Skratulia March 4, 1997 Method ofplaying an improved
1 S version of the game of
Par Gow Poker
5,863,041 Boylan January 26,1999 Par gow poker with
auxiliary gatrte
5,93I,472 Ko August 3,1999 Par Gow gams
6,007,424 Evers December 28, 1999Pai Gow poker game
method,
device and system
for pushes
6,027,119 De Lisle February 22, Method for playing
2000 a card game
game
6,062,565 Chadband May i6, 2000 Method of bet placement and
wager distribution in double.
2
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
hand games
6,070,8'76 Ko June 6, 2000 Pai gow game
6,270,0 l8 Leone August 7, 2001 Method ofplaying an
improved version of the game of
Pai Gow Poker
6,113,103 Mostashari Septanber 5, 2000 Dragon poker
6,135,453 Srichayaporn October 24, 2000 Method and apparatus for
playing a high/Iow poker game
The entire disclosure of each of the foregoing patents is hereby incorporated
herein by
this reference.
Y
Methods of playing live and electronic versions of card games according to
exempla
preferred embodiments of the invention include the steps of (a} affording each
player an
opportunity to place an ANTE wager to participate in the game, (b) affordizsg
each player an
1 S oppoxtunity to make an optional EXTRA BET wager; (c) dealing seven cards
to each player and
to s dealer, (d) affording each player an opportunity to view their cards and
to divide their cards
into a two-card High Hand and a five-card )=,ow Hand according to
predetermined rules for
dividing cards; (c) affording each player as opportunity to either fold and
forfeit their ANTE
wager, or call by making a BET wager exactly twice the amount of the ANTE
wager; (fj
dividing the dealer's hand into a two-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand
according to
the predetcrnnined rules for dividing cards; (g) evaluating whether the
dealer's High Haad
quali~es by achieving a predeteemined poker rank of a pair of 6s or bettor;
and (h) settling
wagers by { 1) if the dealer's High Hand does not qualify, refunding the ANTE
and BET wagers
to each remaining player and paying each remaining playa who opted to make the
EXTRA
3
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
BET wager an aatount deten~nined by a predetermined pay table based on a point
value of the
player's Low Hand; (2) if the dealer's High Hand does qualify, comparing each
=emainimg
player's High Hand with the dealer's High Hand using poker xank as the
criterion for comp orison
and comparing each rcmaimingplaycr's Low Hand with the dealer's Low Hand using
point value
as the criterion for comparison, (1] wherein if the dealer wins both of the
High and Low Hands,
the house wins the ANTE and BET wagers and pays to each remaining player who
opted to
make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table
based on the
point value of the player's Low Hand; (ll) wherein if the dealer wins one of
the High and Low
Hands, the house refunds the .ANTE and BET wagers to each remaining playeK and
pays to each
remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by
a
predeterr4sirted pay table based an the point value of the player's Low Hand;
and (Iln wherein
if a player wins both of the Higk~ and Low Hands, the player wims the ANTE
wager and is paid
on the BET wager an amount according to a predetermined pay table based on the
point value
of the player's Low Hand and the house pays to each remaining player who opted
to make the
EXTRA $ET wager an amount determined by a predetern4ined pay table based on
tha point
value oFthe player's Low Hand.
Thcsc and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize
the
invantio~n are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and
forming a part
hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages,
and the objects
obtaiuned by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a
Rather part hereof,
and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and
described a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
H~ftIEF DESCRrPTiO~f~~' THE bRAW11~1G~
Figure I is a flow chart illustrating a method of playing a card game
according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a continuation of the flaw chart shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan view illustrating an example gaming table layout ~or use in
playing a
live casino version of a card game according to one embodiment of a method of
the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ]' PREh'1~.'RRED EM~~OD1M1;NT, fSl
Rtfcrring now to the drawings, and refernng in particular to Figure 3, one
embodiment
of a method of playing a card game according to the prescni invention may be
implcmeuted on
a conventional type of casino gaming table layout 10 of the type used in
casinos to play Twenty
One or Black Jack. Preferably, the table layout 10 includes a dealer position
20 adjacent a chip
rack 30, and six player positions 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 spaced around a
curved perimeter
of the layout 10, in a conventional manner.
IS As an alternative, the card game methods disclosed by the present invention
may be
implemented on an elec4ronic gaming device of the type employed by casinos for
playing
electronic card game simulations, for example of draw poker, stud poker,
Caribbean Stud T~
Poker, etc. Other alternative ways ofplaying card games according to the
mothods ofthe present
invention include software implementations on personal computers, either in
stand alone modes,
over local networks, or over the Internet. A still further implementation
contemplates printizig
card representations on lottery cards and scratching away covering portions of
the lottery card
to reveal card hands. Accordingly, in conjunction with the instant
application, the tenors "cards; '
"dealing," "hand" and the like should be understood as encompassing both live
card games with
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
a human dealer and one or more players, as well as electronic games with
electronic
rcpresentationa of cards displayed on a video screen. Similarly, the terms
'wager," "bet," and
"extra bet" should be understood as encompassing the use of currency, coins,
chips, tokens, or
electronic representations of value, in both live and electronic versions of
implementation.
The game begins with one or more players placing an ANTE wager as a
ttquirement to
playing the game. 1n connectibn with a live version of the game, this can ba
accomplished, for
example, by a player placing a conventional token or chip in an ANTE region
designated on the
felt surface 40 of the layout 10 of a conventional casino gaming table, as
shown in connection
with the player position 50, depicted in Figure 3. rn connection with an
electronic version, a
player may press an ANTE or WAGER button on an electronic gaming device, or
may touch
designated regions of a touch sensitive video screen.
As a preferred optional feature, all players that alert to play by placing the
ANTE wagtr
arc afforded an additional option to plane an EXTRA BET wager prior to the
deal of cards and
most preferably before any player views any dealt cards. The sequence of
placing the ANTE
wager and the EXTRA BET wager is preferably irrelevant. In a live casino
version of the game,
the EXTRA BET wager may be placed by a player positioning a token in a region
disposed on
a surface 40 of the layout 10 designated for the purpoee, as shown adjacent
player position 50
in Figure 3. 7n an electronic version of the game, the EXTRA BET wager may be
accomplished
by touching regions of a touch sensitive type of screen, or by pushing
appropriate buttons on the
electronic gaming device.
With reference to the flow chart shown in Figures 1 and 2, altar each of the
players has
placed the ANTE wager and decided whether to place an EXTRA BET WAGER, ouch
player
and the dealer are dealt seven cards from a preferably shuffled, standard 52-
card deck of
conventional playing cards. The use of a stapdard 52-card deck allows sevtn
card hands to be
6
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
dealt to each of six players and to one dealer. In connection with an
electronic version of the
game, the dealing involves displaying electronic regresentation of seven cards
on a video screen,
actuated, for example, by a player pressing a bEAL button on a video gaming
device.
players are then afforded an opportunity to view their seven cards, and to
divide the
seven cards into two separate and distinct hands: a so-called High Hand
consisting of two cards,
and a so-called Low Hand consisting of five cards. Preferably, players must
divide their seven
cards into the High and Low Hands according to predot~nined rules, which
regulate, at least
to some extent, the manner in which the cards can be allocated betwoar the
High and Low
Hands. According to ono embodiment of the invention, the pradetcrrninad rules
require that the
High Hand must use the best two available cards ~rom the total of saver cards
so as to make the
highest ranked High Hand possible. In this regard, the High Hands are ranked
fast according
to the highest pair, and next according to the highest cards. For example, Ace-
Ace beats King-
King, etc. according to the conventional poker ranking of conventional playing
cards, and Ace-
five boats king-Queen, and Ace-Ten beats Ace-five, ere. Thus, the High Hand
must contain the
highest pair from the original seven cards dealt, and, if the original seven
cards dealt do not
contain any pairs, than the two highest ranking cards must be allocated to the
High Hand. In the
case ofthe live casino version of the game, players accomplish the division or
allocation of cards
to the High and Low Hands by placing the cards in regions 4f the gsmdng table
layout surface
40 (Figure 3) specially designated for the purpose. For example, the table
layout 10 may include
indicia designating two squares for the reception of two standard playing
cards, in coajunctioa
with the indicia "High Hand" and may also include additional indicia
designating ~tve cards for
the reception of five standard playing cards, in conjunction with the indioia
"Low Hand."
Preferably, such indicia for the reception of the High and Low Hands is
provided at each of the
six player positions 50, G0, 70, 80, 90, and 100, as wall as at the dealer
position 20, as shown in
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
Figure 3. ~ connection with an electronic version of the game, card
designation may be
accomplished by touching regions of a kouch sensitive type of screen, or by
pushing appropriate
buttons on the electronic gaming device, or alternatively, a microprocessor
may be programmed
to arrange the cards into the High Hand and the Low ~Iand automatically.
ARer each player has been afforded an opportunity to view their cards, and to
allocate
their cards belwoan High and Low Hands, but before the dealer has boon
permitted an
opportunity to inspect the dealer's cards, each player is preferably afforded
an option to either
1;OLD and surrender their ANTE wager, or to continue play by placing a HET
wager. In one
ambodimesxt of the invention, the BET wager must be exactly twice the amount
of the ANTE
wager. In connection with the live version of the game, a player may make the
BET wager by
placing en appropriate token or other indicator in a region of the gaming
table layout Z O (Figure
3) designated for the purpose, as shown adj scent the player position 50. In
an electronic version
of the game, a player may make a SET wager by pressing an associated button on
an electronic
gaming devise, or by touching an appropriate region of a touch sensitive video
screen.
The timing of the BET option being made prior to inspection of the dealer's
cards
prevents the dealer from either intentionally or inadvertently communicating
information
regarding the dealer's hand to the players.
After each player has been afforded the option to either FOLD or place a BZrT
wager, the
dealer views the dealer's seven cards, and divides or allocates the seven
cards into a two card
High Hand and a five card Low Hand. Preferably, the dealer's seven cards must
be allocated
between the High and Low Hands according to the same predetermined rules
descn'bed above
with respect to allocation of the players' cards. 1n connection with the live
version of the game,
such allocation may ba accomplished by placement of the dealer's cards into
appropriately
designated regions on the surface of the gaming table layout 10, for exempla
designated by the
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
indieia LO W HAND and HIGH HAND as shown in Figure 3. In connoction with the
eloctronic
version of the game, such designation may be performed by a microprocessor
operating under
control of software or firmware and operative to roveal electronic card
representations from a
face down to a face up orientation, and to move such card representations to
designated regions
on a video screen for viewing by a game player. ,
Following allocation of the dealer's cards between a High Hand and a Low Hand
according to predetermined rules, one or both of the dealer's hands era
evaluated according to
predeterminod criteria to ascertain wlretlier one or both of the dealer's
hands have "qualified."
According to one preferred embodiment, the dealer's High Hand must qualify by
achieving a
poker rank of a pair of 6s, or higher. Othor alternativo criteria for
qualification may be employed
within the scope of the unvention, For example, qualification may be based
upon the dealer's
High Hand achieving a poker rank other thaw a pair of 6s. Alternatively,
qualification may be
based upon the dealer's Low Hand achieving a point value above or below a
particular value.
As a still further alternative, qualification may be based upon both of the
dealer's hands. For
I 5 example, the dealtr may qualify by either achieving a High Hand of at
least a certain poker rank,
or by achieving a Low Hand having a point value of more or less than a
particular value, As
anothor example, the qualification criteria may require that both the dealer's
High Hand and the
dealer's Low Hand meet particular requirements. For purposes of illustration,
the methods of
playing card games according to the present invention era deaeribod below in
connectiaua with
an example embodiment wherein the qualification criteria consist of the
dealer's High Hand
achieving a poker rank of a pair of 6s or better.
If the dealer's High Hand does not achieve a poker rank of a pair of 6s or
highex, than
the dealer or house must refund both the ANTE and BET wagers of each remaining
player (each
player that did not elect to FOLD). However, each remaining player that
elected to place the
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
EXTRA BET wager is preferably paid a payout on the IyXTRA BET wager according
to a
predetermined Extra Bet Payout Tablo. A preferred exaruple Extra Bet Payout
Table appears
as TABL$ 2 below. Note that the pre~en~od Extra Bet Payout Table provides that
only certain
point values win a payout on the EXTRA BET, with the non-listed player hand
values resulting
in the EXTRA B$T wager being won by the house.
If the dealer's High Hand does qualify by achieving a poker rank of a pair of
6s or better,
each remaining player's High Hand is compared with the dealer's High Hand
using poker rank
as the criterion for comparison. Also, each remaining player's Law Hand is
compared with the
dealer's Low Hand using point value as the cziterion for comparison. If the
dealer wins both of
the High and Low Hands, the house wins the ANTE and BET wagers aad pays to
each remaining
player who opted to make the EXTRA, BET wager an amount determined by a
predetermined
pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hard. An exampto
preferred Extra Bet
Payout Table appears as TABLE 2 below. If the dealer wins only one of the High
and Low
Hands, the house refunds the ANTE and BLT wagers to each remaining player and
pays to each
remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA, BET wager an amount determined
by a
predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand. In
evaluating
whether one of the dealer's hands beats one of the player's heads, tie hands
ale preferably
awarded to the dealer. If a player wins both of the High and Low Hands, the
player wins the
ANTE wager and is paid on the $ET wager an amount according to a predetermined
pay table
based on the point value of the player's Low Hand and the house pays to each
remaining player
who opted to make the EXTRA BBT wager an amount determined by a predetermined
pay table
based on the point value of the player's Low Hand. An example preferred Bet
1'syout Table
appears as TABLir 1 below.
It should be understood that other payout tables or schedules for both the BET
aad
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
EXTRA )3ET wagers may be employed. Within the scope of the present invention,
the
tcrnainotvgy "predetermined payout table" should be understood as encompassing
both fixed,
randomly generated, and progressive payout amounts, as well as combinations of
fixed,
randomly generated, and pmgrcssive payout amounts. In addition to, in
combination with, or
as an alternative, the payouts may include electronic credits, gift vouchers,
free or reduced entry
into other contests, merchandise, services, etc.
1n totaling or ranking the Low Hands of players and the dealer, the following
point values
are preferably assigned:
Ice. ow l~uad Card ~'~int Va ues
Card Point Yalue
Acc 1
King 10
Queen 10
Jack 10
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
S 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
11
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
Any Pair, Triple, or 0
Four of a Kind
Suited Rwn 0
In connection will, the instant specification and the appended claims, the
tez~m "AnyPair"
is used in the conventional sense, such that a 9 of diamonds and a 9 of spades
contained with the
same Low Hand would total 0 points. The term "Suited Run" means any two or
morn
consecutively ranked cards of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs or
spades). For example,
Ace, 2, 3 suited; or King, Queen suited, etc. For purposes of a run an Ace can
be eombimed only
with a 2, and not with a King; in other words, for purposes of a run as Ace is
given only its low
rank.
The following examples serve to further illustrate the preferred predetermined
rules for
allocation of cards into the High and Low hands, as well as the manner of
evaluatizrg the rank
of High Hands aad the point value of Low Hands. '
Example No. 1:
Original 7 Cards: Ace (spades), rCing (clubs), Queen (clubs), Ace (hearts), 8
(spades), 10
(spades), 7 (spades)
High Hand: Ace (spades), Ace (hearts)
Low Hand: King (clubs), Queen (clubs), 10 (spades), 8 (spades), 7 (spades)
Total Point Yalue of Low Hand: 10, because suited, consecutive King (clubs)
sad Queen
(clubs) count as 0 points; I O (spades) counts 10 points; and suited,
consecutive 8 (spades) and
7 (spades) count as 0 points.
Exampk No. 2:
Original 7 Cards: King (diamonds), 9 (clubs),10 (spades), 9 (diamonds), 8
(diamonds) Queen
(hearts), Ace (clubs)
12
. CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
High Hand: 9 (clubs), 9 (diamonds)
Low Hand: Ace (clubs), King (diamonds), Queen (hearts),10 (spades), 8
(diamvonds)
Total Point Value ofLow Hand: 1+10+10+10+8 ~ 39 points. Note that the Low Hand
does
not contain any pairs nor any suited, consecutive cards.
TABLE 1 below reflects the payout ratio associated with particular point
values of a
player's Low Hand for the BET wager. p'or example, if a player's Low Hand had
a point value
of 6 and the player wagered $2 for the BET wager, the player would be paid $6
(3:1 payout ratio)
if the player met the conditions for winning the BET wager.
TABL,JE 1- Bet Pny~ut
Low Hand Point Value 16+ 1 I-15 6-10 2-S 0 Ace 48 or 49
Payout Ratio 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 S:1 11:1 0
TABLE 2 below xoflects the payout ratio associated with particular point
values of a
player's Low Hand for tho EXTRA BET wager. For example, if a player's Low Hand
had a
point value of 5 and the player wagered $1 for the EXTRA BET wager, the player
would be paid
1 S $7 (7:1 payout ratio) if khe player met the conditions for winning the
EXTRA BET wager.
TA,B>L,~ ~ 2 - Extra Bet PaX,zut
Low Hand Point Value 16-20 11-15 6-10 2-5 0 Ace 48 or 49
Payout Ratio push I :1 2:1 7:I 15:1 15:I 100:1
TABLE 3 below reports statistical payback calculations based upon a computer
simulation and the BBT and EXTRA BET payout ratios indieatecL
TABLE 3 -. >Pa~ bac Statistics
Low Hand Point Value 16-20 11-15 6-10 2-5 0 Ace 48 or 49 Paybaek
Bet Payout Ratio 1:1 2:1 3:1 4:1 S:1 11:1 0 96.30%
Extra Bet Payout Ratio push 1:1 2:1 7:1 15:I 15:1 100:1 96.75%
13
CA 02417078 2003-O1-23
Alternate Extra Bet 0 3:1 4:1 8:1 15:1 15:1 100.1 9G.b7%
Payout Ratio
The above tables illustrate particular calculated statistical paybacks
obtained in
connection with particular preferred payout tables for the HET and EXTRA BET
wagers, Other
S alternative payout tables may be employed within the scope of the invention.
The EXTRA BET
wager may be paid independently of whether the dealer qualifies, and
independently of whether
the player's hands beat the dealer's hands. Alternatively, cenain
preconditions may be required
for a player to win the EXTRA SET wager. For example, the method of playing
the game may
require that the dealer qualify to make a player eligible to win the EXTRA BET
wager. Or the
I O method of playing the game may require that one or both of the player's
hands beat one or both
of the dealer's hands in order to make a player eligible to win the EXTRA BET
wager.
As an alternative to dividing the seven player and dealer cards into a two-
card High Hand
and a five-card Low Hand, the High Hand may consist of two cards dealt as the
High Hand and
the Low Hand may consist of five cards draft as the Low Hand. Also, a greater
or lesser number
15 of cards than seven may be employed. For example, each hand may consist of
eight cards
divided into a three-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand. Also, the game
may be played
with the player having an option to place either the ANTE wager or the EXTRA
BET wager or
both and may be played with tha player required to place both wagers.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and
20 advantages of the present invention have bear set forth in the foregoing
description, together
with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and
changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and
arrangement of parts
within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning
of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
14
