Apparatus for a card game with certain fixed actions

• US 7,824,255 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2009
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Alderucci, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Niconovich; Alexander R
• Application Number:
  US12/623,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 345 Days
• Field of Search: 446 11- 13, 446/31, 446/42, 446/43, 273/292, 273/303
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Some embodiments include a card game in which a set of rules for the card game require a player of the game to perform an action in a particular set of circumstances. For example, in a poker game, rules of the poker game may require a human player to bet in a particular set of circumstances.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

deal a first set of cards displayed on a video screen to a first player of a poker game, wherein the first player is a person;

deal a second set of cards to a second player of the poker game;

determine, based on a set of game rules and based on the first set of cards, one first action, wherein the one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

automatically perform the one first action on behalf of the first player;

determine, based on the set of game rules and based on the second set of cards, one second action;

determine a size of a pot based on the one first action and based on the one second action;

determine a first poker ranking based on at least the first set of cards;

determine a second poker ranking based on at least the second set of cards;

determine a winning player of the poker game from amongst the first and second players based on the first poker ranking and based on the second poker ranking; and

determine an amount to be awarded to the winning player, wherein the amount is based on the size of the pot; and

wherein the set of game rules require a particular human player of the poker game to bet in a particular set of circumstances, the particular set of circumstances comprising at least one of the following;

(a) a poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is above a first threshold ranking, (b) the particular human player has more than a predetermined probability of achieving an eventual poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards above a second threshold ranking, (c) the particular human player has a possibility of achieving a predetermined particular poker hand with the particular human player'"'"'s cards, and (d) the particular human player'"'"'s cards comprise one or more predetermined cards.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a video poker machine, the video poker machine comprising the video screen, the at least one processor, and the memory.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises at least a first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device comprising the video screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a computer network in communication with at least a first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device comprising the video screen, the computer network comprising the at least one processor and the memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

display the first set of cards to the first player on the video screen; and

display the second set of cards to the second player on a second video screen.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

receive an ante from the first player; and

receive an ante from the second player.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the one first action comprises:

determining a corresponding poker ranking of the first set of cards; and

determining the one first action, based on the set of game rules and based on the corresponding poker ranking of the first set of cards.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of game rules requires a particular human player to check if the poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is less than a second threshold ranking, and to bet otherwise.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein determining the one first action comprises:

determining a corresponding poker ranking of the first set of cards; and

determining the one first action, based on the set of game rules, based on the corresponding poker ranking of the first set of cards, and based on at least one of the second set of cards, community cards, cards in an electronic dealer'"'"'s hand, a betting history of the poker game, an amount of money that the first player has remaining, a number of cards still to be dealt, a table position of the first player, and an order in which the first player is designated to act.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of game rules requires a particular human player to fold if the poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is less than a second threshold ranking, to call if the poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is less than a third threshold ranking but greater than or equal to the second threshold ranking, and to raise otherwise.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

automatically perform the second action on behalf of the second player.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

deal a third set of cards displayed on the video screen to the first player; and

deal a fourth set of cards to the second player.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein determining the first poker ranking comprises:

determining the first poker ranking based on the first set of cards and based on the third set of cards;

and

wherein determining the second poker ranking comprises;

determining the second poker ranking based on the second set of cards and based on the fourth set of cards.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

determine, based on the set of game rules and based on the first set of cards and the third set of cards, at least two potential actions to be taken by the first player, wherein the first player is prohibited from taking at least one of the at least two potential actions and the first player must take a required action of the at least two potential actions.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

automatically perform the required action on behalf of the first player.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

deduct an amount from the pot as a rake.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining the size of the pot comprises:

determining the size of the pot based on the one first action, based on the one second action, and based on the rake.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

provide to the first player an indication of the one first action.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

provide to the second player an indication of the one second action.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second player is a person.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of game rules prohibit at least the first player from folding during the poker game.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

deal additional cards displayed on the video screen to the first player; and

determine, based on the set of game rules and based on at least the additional cards, an additional action.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

automatically perform the additional action on behalf of the first player.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

indicate to the first player that the first player is required to take the additional action.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

indicate to the first player that the first player should take the additional action.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for any dealing of cards to the first player subsequent to dealing the first set of cards, deal a respective set of additional cards displayed on the video screen to the first player;

for each dealing of each of the respective set of additional cards, determine, based on the set of game rules and at least the respective set of additional cards, a one respective additional action; and

automatically perform each one respective additional action on behalf of the first player so that the first player has no discretion to take action in the poker game subsequent to the dealing of the first set of cards and prior to the determining the amount to be awarded to the winning player.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

for each of a plurality of human players of a poker game, deal a respective set of cards displayed on a respective video screen to the human player;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine, based on a set of game rules and based on the respective set of cards, a respective one first action, wherein the respective one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

for each of the plurality of human players, indicate to the human player that the respective one first action must be taken;

determine a first size of a pot based on all of the respective one first actions;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine a respective first poker ranking based on at least the respective set of cards;

determine a winning player of the poker game from amongst at least the plurality of human players based on all of the respective first poker rankings; and

determine an amount to be awarded to the winning player, wherein the amount is based on the first size of the pot.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of video poker machines, the plurality of video poker machines comprising the at least one processor, and the memory.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of mobile gaming devices, wherein each of the plurality of mobile gaming devices comprises the respective video screen.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus comprises a computer network in communication with a plurality of mobile gaming devices, wherein each of the plurality of mobile gaming devices comprises the respective video screen, and wherein the computer network comprises the at least one processor and the memory.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, automatically perform the respective one first action on behalf of the human player.

32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

deal a second set of cards to an electronic dealer; and

determine a second poker ranking based on at least the second set of cards;

and

wherein determining the winning player comprises determining the winning player based on all of the respective first poker rankings and based on the second poker ranking.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

determine, based on the set of game rules and based on the second set of cards, one second action;

automatically perform the one second action as the electronic dealer; and

determine a second size of the pot based on the first size of the pot and based on the one second action;

and

wherein determining the amount to be awarded comprises determining the amount to be awarded to the first player if the first player has won, wherein the amount is based on the second size of the pot.

34. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, perform the respective one first action in response to input from the human player.

35. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, for each of the plurality of human players, determining the respective one first action comprises:

determining a respective corresponding poker ranking of the respective set of cards; and

determining the respective one first action, based on the set of game rules and based on the respective corresponding poker ranking of the respective set of cards.

36. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein, for each of the plurality of human players, determining the respective one first action comprises:

determining a respective corresponding poker ranking of the respective set of cards; and

determining the respective one first action, based on the set of game rules, based on the respective corresponding poker ranking of the respective set of cards, and based on at least one of community cards, cards in an electronic dealer'"'"'s hand, a betting history of the poker game, a respective amount of money that the human player has remaining, a number of cards still to be dealt, a respective table position of the human player, and a respective order in which the human player is designated to act.

37. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the set of game rules requires a particular player of the poker game to bet in a particular set of circumstances, the particular set of circumstances comprising at least one of the following:

(a) a poker ranking of the particular player'"'"'s cards is above a first threshold ranking, (b) the particular player has more than a predetermined probability of achieving an eventual poker ranking of the particular player'"'"'s cards above a second threshold ranking, (c) the particular player has a possibility of achieving a predetermined particular poker hand with the particular player'"'"'s cards, (d) the particular player'"'"'s cards comprise one or more predetermined cards; and

(e) a current poker ranking of the particular player'"'"'s cards is currently higher than a current poker ranking of any other player'"'"'s cards.

38. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the set of game rules requires a particular player to check if a poker ranking of the particular player'"'"'s cards is less than a threshold ranking, and to bet otherwise.

39. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the set of game rules requires a particular player to fold if a poker ranking of the particular player'"'"'s cards is less than a first threshold ranking, to call if the poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is less than a second threshold ranking but greater than or equal to the first threshold ranking, and to raise otherwise.

40. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, deal respective additional cards displayed on the respective video screen to the human player; and

for each of the plurality of human players, determine, based on the set of game rules and based on at least the respective additional cards, a respective additional action.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, automatically perform the respective additional action on behalf of the human player.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, indicate to the human player that the human player is required to take the respective additional action.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:

for each of the plurality of human players, indicate to the human player that the human player should take the respective additional action.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

display a first set of cards on a video screen to a first player of a poker game, wherein the first player is a person;

indicate to the first player that one first action must be taken, the one first action having been determined based on a set of game rules and based on the first set of cards, wherein the one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

automatically perform the one first action on behalf of the first player; and

indicate to the first player an amount to be awarded to a winning player of the poker game, the winning player being determined from amongst the first player and a second player based on the first poker ranking and based on a second poker ranking of a second set of cards of the second player, the first poker ranking being based on at least the first set of cards, the amount being based on a size of a pot, the size of the pot having been determined based on at least the one first action; and

wherein the set of game rules requires a particular human player of the poker game to bet in a particular set of circumstances, the particular set of circumstances comprising at least one of the following;

(a) a poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is above a first threshold ranking, (b) the particular human player has more than a predetermined probability of achieving an eventual poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards above a second threshold ranking, (c) the particular human player has a possibility of achieving a predetermined particular poker hand with the particular human player'"'"'s cards, and (d) the particular human player'"'"'s cards comprise one or more predetermined cards.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the apparatus comprises a video poker machine, the video poker machine comprising the video screen, the at least one processor, and the memory.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the apparatus comprises at least a first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device comprising the video screen.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the apparatus comprises a computer network in communication with at least a first mobile gaming device, the first mobile gaming device comprising the video screen, the computer network comprising the at least one processor and the memory.

48. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium, the non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

deal a first set of cards displayed on a video screen to a first player of a poker game, wherein the first player is a person;

deal a second set of cards to a second player of the poker game;

determine, based on a set of game rules and based on the first set of cards, one first action, wherein the one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

automatically perform the one first action on behalf of the first player;

determine, based on the set of game rules and based on the second set of cards, one second action;

determine a size of a pot based on the one first action and based on the one second action;

determine a first poker ranking based on at least the first set of cards;

determine a second poker ranking based on at least the second set of cards;

determine a winning player of the poker game from amongst the first and second players based on the first poker ranking and based on the second poker ranking; and

determine an amount to be awarded to the winning player, wherein the amount is based on the size of the pot; and

wherein the set of game rules require a particular human player of the poker game to bet in a particular set of circumstances, the particular set of circumstances comprising at least one of the following;

(a) a poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards is above a first threshold ranking, (b) the particular human player has more than a predetermined probability of achieving an eventual poker ranking of the particular human player'"'"'s cards above a second threshold ranking, (c) the particular human player has a possibility of achieving a predetermined particular poker hand with the particular human player'"'"'s cards, and (d) the particular human player'"'"'s cards comprise one or more predetermined cards.

49. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium, the non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

for each of a plurality of human players of a poker game, deal a respective set of cards displayed on a respective video screen to the human player;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine, based on a set of game rules and based on the respective set of cards, a respective one first action, wherein the respective one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

for each of the plurality of human players, indicate to the human player that the respective one first action must be taken;

determine a first size of a pot based on all of the respective one first actions;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine a respective first poker ranking based on at least the respective set of cards;

determine a winning player of the poker game from amongst at least the plurality of human players based on all of the respective first poker rankings; and

determine an amount to be awarded to the winning player, wherein the amount is based on the first size of the pot.

50. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium, the non-transitory tangible computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

for each of a plurality of human players of a poker game, deal a respective set of cards displayed on a respective video screen to the human player;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine, based on a set of game rules and based on the respective set of cards, a respective one first action, wherein the respective one first action consists of one of (a) a bet, (b) a raise, (c) a call, (d) a check, and (e) a fold;

for each of the plurality of human players, indicate to the human player that the respective one first action must be taken;

determine a first size of a pot based on all of the respective one first actions;

for each of the plurality of human players, determine a respective first poker ranking based on at least the respective set of cards;

determine a winning player of the poker game from amongst at least the plurality of human players based on all of the respective first poker rankings; and

determine an amount to be awarded to the winning player, wherein the amount is based on the first size of the pot.