Duplicate card game

• US 5,879,233 A
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John R. Stupero
• Original Assignee: John R. Stupero
• Inventors: Stupero, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Application Number:
  US08/611,479
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 463/10, 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/22, 463/25, 463/40
• US Class Current: 463/11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing duplicate card games such as blackjack and poker. In operation, after shuffling an appropriately sized deck, each player is supplied with an identical first hand. From there, each player plays against the dealer or house directly and against each other indirectly. To ensure parity, the shuffled deck is duplicated in its exact order for each player so that each player uses the same identically ordered cards when playing against the dealer or house. Depending on how each player plays, the initially dealt cards (e.g., call, hold, etc.), the relative skill level between players may be measured. After each round played, the deck is reshuffled. A running total for all participants is maintained and each player may wager against the dealer or house in the normal fashion. The apparatus includes a processing unit connected to a plurality of displays each of which includes associated control buttons.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game between a first player and a second player comprising:

placing a bet to define a pot;

arranging a first player card group of playing cards in a first random order for the first player;

arranging a second player card group of cards for the second player in a second random order which is identical to the first random order;

dealing a first player hand of cards from the first player card group and a second player hand of cards from the second player card group;

consecutively dealing additional cards in accordance with a predetermined set of rules to the first player from the first player card group and consecutively dealing additional cards to the second player from the second player card group;

determining whether the first player is a round winner and determining whether the second player is a round winner;

recording a first player score and recording a second player score in accordance with the predetermined set of rules;

selecting a pot winning player by comparing the first player score to the second player score to identify the first player as the pot winning player if the first player score is greater than the second player score or to identify the second player as the pot winning player if the second player score is greater than the first player score; and

paying the pot to the pot winning player.

2. The invention of claim 1 further comprising placing a bet to define a round bet.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the first player score or second player score is changed by adding or subtracting a predetermined percentage of the round bet.

4. The invention of claim 2 further comprising changing the first player score or second player score by adding a predetermined number to the first player score if the first player is a round winner and adding the predetermined number to the second player score if the second player is a round winner.

5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising tabulating the number of times that the first player is a round winner and the number of times the first player is not a round winner prior to paying the pot.

6. The invention of claim 1 the predetermined set of rules comprising:

discarding cards from the first player hand by the first player and replacing each discarded card from the first player hand with a card called from the first player card group;

discarding cards from the second player hand by the second player and replacing each discarded card from the second player hand with a card called from the second player card group; and

allocating a first sum total to the first player hand and second sum total to the second player hand based on a predetermined ranking of card combination values.

7. An apparatus for simulating the playing of a duplicate card game in combination with a first player and a second player, the apparatus comprising:

a processing unit having a card shuffler, a card group copier, a memory, a buster, a comparator, a communicator, and a card transfer;

a memory in the processing unit comprising a plurality of fields including a first player field and a second player field;

a first player display connected to the processing unit, a second player display connected to the processing unit;

a bet receiver connected to the processing unit;

a payout connected to the processing unit;

a call button connected to the processing unit;

a hold button connected to the processing unit;

a means for representing a first player card group of playing cards having a first random order of cards and a top card in the memory;

a second player card group formed by the card group copier in communication with the first player card group, a second player card group having a second random order and a top card, the second random order being identical to the first random order;

a first player hand formed by the card transfer in communication with the first player card group and the first player field, a second player hand formed by the card transfer in communication with the second player card group and the second player field;

a means for playing a round of a card game by the first player using the first player card group and the second player using the second player card group; and

a means for selecting a round winner.

8. The invention of claim 7 further comprising an interlock in the processing unit whereby the transfer of cards by the card transfer is synchronized.

9. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a network extending from the first player display to the second player display, the network being in communication with the processing unit.

10. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a dealer display connected to the processing unit.

11. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a call button on the first player display and a call button on the second player display.

12. The invention of claim 7 further comprising a bet receiver on the first player display.

13. The invention of claim 7 further comprising:

a player score field in the memory having a first player score and a second player score;

a means for changing the first player score and the second player score;

a means for comparing the first player score to the second player score; and

a means for determining a pot winner.

14. A duplicate card game for simulating the playing of card game comprising:

a first and a second slot machine, each slot machine having a display, a call button and a hold button;

a control box having a processing unit comprising a memory and a card group copier, the memory having a first player field and a second player field;

a means for playing a round of card game in the processing unit;

a means for keeping score;

a bet receiver in communication with the processing unit;

a pot payout in communication with the processing unit;

a means for setting a game length comprising a predetermined number of rounds to be played in communication with the processing unit; and

a payout.

15. The invention of claim 14 further comprising:

a means for playing a predetermined number of rounds of the card game;

a pot;

a means for allocating a bet to the pot, the pot being connected to the processing unit; and

a means for selecting a pot winner whereby the pot is paid to the pot winner.

16. The invention of claim 15 further comprising a network connected between the processing unit and the first slot machine, the network also connecting the first slot machine to the second slot machine.

17. The invention of claim 14 further comprising a means for selecting a predetermined set of rules.

18. The invention of claim 16 further comprising a gambling table having a dealer display therein, the dealer display connected to the network and in communication with the processing unit.

19. The invention of claim 18 further comprising a first player display on the gambling table, the first player display connected to the network and in communication with the processing unit.