Device for instruction in the game of bridge and method of and device for dealing predetermined bridge hands

• US 4,159,581 A
• Filed: 08/22/1977
• Issued: 07/03/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward Lichtenberg
• Original Assignee: Edward Lichtenberg
• Inventors: Lichtenberg, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US05/826,774
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 35/8 B, 273/149 P
• US Class Current: 434/129
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/22 Games, e.g. card games

Abstract

A device and method for dealing predetermined bridge hands to facilitate the widespread use of competitive scoring commonly followed in duplicate or tournament bridge by using a conventional deck of playing cards and a programmed device for setting forth different cuts of the deck for the different hands, different deals of the cut deck, and different distributions of the dealt hand so that each player cannot identify the hands dealt to each of the other players for the successive deals. A device for instructional analysis of bidding and playing and for presentation of expected scores and contracts is coordinated with the programmed dealing device.

Claims

1. A device for use in the game of bridge comprising:

a plurality of first chart sheets each associated with a deal of bridge and supplying chart information for controlling the dealing of predetermined hands of cards to the four players of a bridge game without the players identifying the cards in the hands dealt to other players;

a plurality of second chart sheets individually associated with said first chart sheets, each for supplying the players with results of the deal corresponding to the associated first chart;

said first chart sheets including a first section for directing a cut of a pre-sorted deck of cards, a second section for directing the dealing of the cut deck into four identifiable hands of the deal, and a third section directing the distribution of the dealt hands to the four players in accordance with their positions around a bridge table.

2. A bridge game device as recited in claim 1 wherein:

said second chart sheets each include a printed section of the associated hands as dealt and distributed to the players, a printed section indicating an expected contract and score after play, and a printed section instructing in the bidding and play.

3. A bridge game device as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each of said second chart sheets are physically connected to the associated one of said first chart sheets.

4. A bridge game device as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each of said first chart sheets is separable into a portion that can be handled separate from the associated one of said second chart sheets.

5. A bridge game device as recited in claim 4 wherein:

each of said first and second chart sheets are joined along a line of perforations, and said first and second chart sheets are assembled in a pad glued along one common edge of both said first and second chart sheets, said second chart sheets also being glued along the opposing edges thereof,

whereby each of said first chart sheets, when the top sheet of said pad, may be detached and separated from said pad and the associated one of said second sheets which can remain secured to the pad until the playing of the deal is concluded.

6. A bridge game device as recited in claim 3 wherein:

said first and second chart sheets are assembled in a pad arrangement on a common backing sheet,

said first and second sheets have the associated deal identification information on the top faces thereof when assembled in said pad arrangement and have respectively said dealing and results information on the underfaces thereof so that said dealing and results information becomes available to the players upon removal from said pad.

7. In a bridge game, the method of dealing, in a plurality of deals, a deck of bridge cards in predetermined hands of cards to four players having certain positions around a table without the players identifying the cards in the hands dealt to the other players in each deal, said method comprising:

sorting the cards according to rank and suit for each deal;

using programmed charts to cut and deal the cards into hands and to distribute the hands;

and, by following the directions of programmed charts, performing the steps of;

(1) cutting the sorted deck of cards differently for the plurality of deals,

(2) dealing the cards of the cut deck into four identifiable hands differently for the plurality of deals, and

(3) distributing the dealt hands to the four players in accordance with their positions around a bridge table differently for the plurality of deals;

whereby, one or more groups of four players can play designated hands of bridge and compare their respective results with each other or with expected results.

8. In a bridge game, the method of dealing as recited in claim 7 wherein:

said step of cutting the deck by following said chart directions includes cyclically displacing a predetermined number of cards from the top of the sorted deck to the bottom thereof.

9. In a bridge game, the method of dealing as recited in claim 8 wherein:

said sorting the cards according to rank and suit includes sorting by rank within each suit from the highest to lowest rank starting at the bottom of the deck looking at the faces of the cards,

whereby after cutting the sorted deck, the higher rank cards of the bottom suit are covered by the cut cards.