Apparatus and method for memorization poker

• US 8,062,119 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Stern, Kenneth O., Wishart, Michael, Michaelson, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US12/023,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/22, 463 11- 13
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/02 Cards; Special shapes of cards card-printing methods B41K, B41M
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

New apparatuses and methods for introducing varying levels of skill into wagering games that have historically been games of luck or strategy are provided. A card value and suit is invisible or hidden to a player initially and associated with a value and suit dealt to the player. The game enables the player to elect to display the associated value and suit. If the player exercises the option, the associated value and suit is displayed and a poker or blackjack evaluation is made based on the displayed associated value and suit. In various embodiments, the same associations are maintained for a single hand or play, multiple hands or plays or on a long term fixed basis. Associated symbols are also implemented with the game of slot.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) use data representing a first deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, and data representing a second deck of the same plurality of playing cards to randomly form data representing a third deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards of the third deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, and

(ii) for each of a first quantity of plays of a card game, the first quantity being at least one;

(a) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the third deck,

(b) for each of a plurality of said dealt playing cards;

(A) at a first point in said play of the card game, display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(B) at a second point in said play of the card game, enable a player to choose whether to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card if the player chooses to do so,

(c) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(d) display any determined awards, and.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof and the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of:

(a) the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card, and (b) the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the third deck includes the different value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first and second decks for a duration which is:

(i) static for a predetermined number of plays of the card game;

(ii) static until a designated event occurs;

or

(iii) static for a designated period of time.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, at the second point in the play of the card game, the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to, for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, for each of said plurality of said dealt playing cards, display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card in response to a designated player input.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein, for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, any determined awards are based on at least one of the playing cards dealt from the third deck.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card game is selected from the group consisting of:

poker, draw poker, stud poker, blackjack, and slot.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first quantity is more than one.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:

(i) randomly form data representing a fourth deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards of the fourth deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the fourth deck and the third deck being different,

(ii) for each of a second quantity of plays of the card game, the second quantity being at least one;

(a) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the fourth deck,

(b) for each of a plurality of said dealt playing cards;

(A) at a first point in said play of the card game, display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(B) at a second point in said play of the card game, enable the player to choose whether to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt, playing card if the player chooses to do so,

(c) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(d) display any determined awards.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the second quantity is more than one.

11. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(i) use data representing a first deck of a first plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, and data representing a second deck of a second plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, to randomly form data representing a third deck of a plurality of playing cards, a designated quantity of the playing cards of the third deck each including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the designated quantity being at least one, and

(ii) for each of a first quantity of plays of a card game, the first quantity being at least one;

(a) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the third deck,

(b) for at least one dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(A) display one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card, and

(B) after a designated player input, display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing caret, and

(c) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(d) display any determined awards.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof and the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof.

13. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein at least one of:

(a) the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card, and (b) the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein each playing card of the designated quantity of the third deck includes the different value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first and second decks for a duration which is:

(i) static for a predetermined number of plays of the card game;

(ii) static until a designated event occurs;

or

(iii) static for a designated period of time.

15. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the value and suit combination from the playing card of the first deck of said at least one dealt playing card is displayed at a first point in the play of the game and the value and suit combination from the playing card of the second deck of said at least one dealt playing card is displayed at a second, subsequent point in the play of the game.

16. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, for each of a plurality of dealt playing cards of the designated quantity;

(i) display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(ii) after a designated player input, display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card.

17. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, for each dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(i) display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(ii) after a designated player input, display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card.

18. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the designated quantity includes a plurality of the playing cards of the playing cards of the third deck.

19. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the card game is selected from the group consisting of:

poker, draw poker, stud poker, blackjack, and slot.

20. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the first quantity is more than one.

21. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:

(i) randomly form data representing a fourth deck of a plurality of playing cards, a designated quantity of the playing cards of the fourth deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the designated quantity being at least one, the fourth deck and the third deck being different,

(ii) for each of a second quantity of plays of the card game, the second quantity being at least one;

(a) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the fourth deck,

(b) for at least one dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(A) display one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card and do not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card, and

(B) after a designated player input, display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card,

(c) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(d) display any determined awards.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the second quantity is more than one.

23. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to use data representing a first deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, and data representing a second deck of the same plurality of playing cards to;

(i) randomly form data representing a third deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards of the third deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, and

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of a first quantity of plays of a card game, the first quantity being at least one;

(i) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the third deck,

(ii) for each of a plurality of said dealt playing cards;

(A) at a first point in the play of the card game, operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card,

(B) at a second point in the play of the card game, operate with at least one input device to enable a player to choose whether to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and operate with the at least one display device to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card if the player chooses to do so,

(iii) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(iv) operate with the at least one display device to display displaying any determined awards.

24. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the first and second decks of playing cards such that the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof and the second deck playing cards includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the first and second decks of playing cards such that the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card and the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card.

26. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the third deck with the different value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first and second decks for a duration which is:

(i) static for a predetermined number of plays of the card game;

(ii) static until a designated event occurs;

or

(iii) static for a designated period of time.

27. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to for each of the first plurality of plays of the card game, for each of said plurality of said dealt playing cards, display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card after receiving a designated player input.

28. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device and at least one input device to, for each of the first plurality of plays of the card game, receive a designated player input at the second point in the play of the game, and based on the received player input, display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card.

29. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select the game from the group consisting of:

poker, draw poker, stud poker, blackjack, and slot.

30. The method of claim 23, which includes providing (a) to (e) through a data network.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the first quantity is more than one.

32. The method of claim 23, which includes:

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly form data representing a fourth deck of a plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards of the fourth deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the fourth deck and the third deck being different, and

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of a second quantity of plays of the card game, the second quantity being at least one;

(i) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the fourth deck,

(ii) for each of a plurality of said dealt playing cards;

(A) at a first point in the play of the card game, operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card,

(B) at a second point in the play of the card game, operate with at least one input device to enable a player to choose whether to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and operate with the at least one display device to display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card if the player chooses to do so,

(iii) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(iv) operate with the at least one display device to display any determined awards.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the second quantity is more than one.

46. The method of claim 30, wherein the data network is the internet.

34. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to use data representing a first deck of a first plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, and data representing a second deck of a second plurality of playing cards, each of the playing cards having a different value and suit combination, to;

(i) randomly form data representing a third deck of a third plurality of playing cards, a designated quantity of the playing cards of the third deck each including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the designated quantity being at least one, and

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for a first quantity of plays of a card game, the first quantity being at least one;

(i) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the third deck,

(ii) for at least one dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(A) operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card, and

(B) operate with the at least one display device and at least one input device to receive a designated player input and, after receiving said designated player input, display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card,

(iii) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(iv) to operate with the at least one display device to display any determined awards.

35. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the first and second decks of playing cards such that the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof and the second deck playing cards includes fifty-two playing cards or a multiple thereof.

36. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the first and second decks of playing cards such that the first deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card and the second deck includes fifty-two playing cards and at least one joker playing card.

37. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide each playing card of the designated quantity of the third deck with the different value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first and second decks for a duration which is:

(i) static for a predetermined number of plays of the card game;

(ii) static until a designated event occurs;

or

(iii) static for a designated period of time.

38. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card at a first point in the play of the game and display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card at a second, subsequent point in the play of the game.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, for each of a plurality of dealt playing cards of the designated quantity;

(i) operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(ii) operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to receive a designated player input and, after receiving said input, display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) for each of the first quantity of plays of the card game, for each dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(i) operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card, and

(ii) operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to receive a designated player input and, after receiving said input, display displaying the other one of the value and suit combinations of said dealt playing card.

41. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the third deck such that the designated quantity includes a plurality of the playing cards of the third deck.

42. The method of claim 41, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide each of the playing cards of the third deck with different value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first and second decks for a duration which is:

(i) static for a predetermined number of plays of the card game;

(ii) static until a designated event occurs;

or

(iii) static for a designated period of time.

43. The method of claim 34, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select the card game from the group consisting of:

poker, draw poker, stud poker, blackjack and slot.

44. The method of claim 34, which includes providing (a) to (e) through a data network.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the data network is the internet.

47. The method of claim 34, wherein the first quantity is more than one.

48. The method of claim 34, which includes:

(a) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly form data representing a fourth deck of a plurality of playing cards, a designated quantity of the playing cards of the fourth deck including a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the first deck and a different one of the value and suit combinations of the playing cards of the second deck, the designated quantity being at least one, the fourth deck, and the third deck being different, and

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of a second quantity of plays of the card game, the second quantity being at least one;

(i) deal a plurality of the playing cards from the fourth deck,

(ii) at least one dealt playing card of the designated quantity;

(A) operate with the at least one display device to display one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card and not display the other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card, and

(B) operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to receive a designated player input and, after receiving said designated player input, display said other one of the value and suit combinations of said at least one dealt playing card,

(iii) evaluate the displayed value and suit combinations of each of said dealt playing cards and determine whether any awards are associated with said displayed value and suit combinations, and

(iv) operate with the at least one display device to display any determined awards.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the second quantity is more than one.