Gaming Method

• US 20070111772A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hoshiko LLC (Raoul Management LLC)
• Inventors: Shuster, Brian, Shuster, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2411 Input form cards, tapes, discs
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters

Abstract

A gaming method operates to provide expert card-counting information to some or all participants, in exchange for a premium. The premium may be a cash payment, a reduction in the prize amounts or betting odds, some combination of the foregoing, or any other useful remuneration. The house retains its edge via the premium. The method may be implemented for play at a physical or virtual card table.

Claims

1. A method of conducting card games, comprising:

dealing a plurality of playing cards from a fixed deck in rounds to a plurality of players during a series of games, each player receiving one or more cards in each round, each playing card having a defined value and suit;

recording the value and suit of public cards during each of the games, wherein public cards are certain ones of the playing cards that are revealed to all players; and

providing betting advice to at least one player during the games in exchange for a premium paid to a different player, wherein the betting advice is determined at least in part based on data comprising;

a composition to the fixed deck, a recorded value and suit of the public playing cards, and the value and suit of ones of the playing cards held by the at least one player just prior to providing the betting advice.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the different player to which the premium for the providing of betting advice is paid is a casino house.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the premium paid for the providing of betting advice comprises a monetary payment collected prior to each of the games.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the premium paid for the providing of betting advice comprises applying a lower payout schedule to the at least one player for each of the games in which the betting advice is provided.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the premium paid for the providing of betting advice comprises a portion of any winnings won by the at least one player.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising developing the betting advice by applying a card-counting algorithm to the data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the value and suit of the public cards by analyzing digital images of the public cards.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising imaging the public cards while the public cards are lying face up on a playing surface.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided betting advice comprises advice as whether to stand or hold.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided betting advice comprises a probabilistic estimate of the at least one player'"'"'s chances of holding a winning hand.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the provided betting advice further comprises a confidence indicator for the probabilistic estimate.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the betting advice via a private electronic display.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the betting advice via a private audio signal.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising dealing the plurality of playing cards via an electronic interface to the plurality of players.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising dealing the plurality of cards from the fixed deck, wherein the fixed deck comprises a plurality of 52-card playing decks.

16. For card games, a system for providing expert betting advice, comprising:

a computer operative to perform the steps of;

receiving a value and suit of public cards during each of a series of games in which a plurality of playing cards from a fixed deck are dealt in rounds to a plurality of players, each player receiving one or more cards in each round, each playing card having a defined value and suit, wherein public cards are certain ones of the playing cards that are revealed to all players; and

providing betting advice to at least one player during the games in exchange for a premium paid to a game host, wherein the betting advice is determined at least in part based on data comprising;

a composition of the fixed deck, a recorded value and suit of the public playing cards, and the value and suit of ones of the playing cards held by the at least one player just prior to providing the betting advice.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to collect the premium paid for the providing of betting advice comprising a monetary payment prior to each of the games.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative apply a lower payout schedule to the at least one player for each of the games in which the betting advice is provided as the premium.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to withhold a portion of winnings won by the at least one player as the premium for the betting advice.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to develop the betting advice by applying a card-counting algorithm to the data.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to determine the value and suit of the public cards by analyzing digital images of the public cards.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to provide the betting advice comprising advice as whether to stand or hold.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to provide the betting advice comprising a probabilistic estimate of the at least one player'"'"'s chances of holding a winning hand.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to provide the betting advice comprising a confidence indicator for the probabilistic estimate.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to provide the betting advice as a video signal for an electronic display.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to provide the betting advice as an electronic signal for audio output.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein the computer is further operative to deal the plurality of playing cards via an electronic interface to the plurality of players.

28. An article comprising an electronic storage medium holding software operative, when loaded into a suitably-configured computer, to perform the steps of:

recording a value and suit of public cards during each of a series of games in which a plurality of playing cards from a fixed deck are dealt in rounds to a plurality of players, each player receiving one or more cards in each round, each playing card having a defined value and suit, wherein public cards are certain ones of the playing cards that are revealed to all players; and

providing betting advice to at least one layer during the games in exchange for a premium paid to a game host, wherein the betting advice is determined at least in part based on data comprising;

a composition of the fixed deck, a recorded value and suit of the public playing cards, and the value and suit of ones of the playing cards held by the at least one player just prior to providing the betting advice.

29. A communication signal operative, when provided to a client computer, to perform the steps of:

providing a player interface operative for playing card games in which a plurality of simulated playing cards from a fixed deck are dealt in rounds to a plurality of players, each player receiving one or more cards in each round, each simulated playing card having a defined value and suit, wherein public cards are certain ones of the simulated playing cards that are revealed to all players

communicating a value and suit of public cards during each of the games; and

providing betting advice to at least one player during the games in exchange for a premium paid to a game host, wherein the betting advice is determined at least in part on;

a composition of the fixed deck, a recorded value and suit of the public playing cards, and the value and suit of ones of the playing cards held by the at least one player just prior to providing the betting advice.