Patent Application
20060214373
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1. Field of the invention
This invention relates to games of wagering similar to the game of craps played in casinos, but using special cards and playing field.
Background of this invention goes back in the late 1800's when the game of craps was introduced using dice.
Casinos have utilized the game of craps since its introduction and profited quite well. The game is exciting with many variations to the betting, but is intimidating and confuses many players. Players must stand throughout the playing phase.
Players in a game of craps handle and throw the dice which has led to cheating and other abuses.
In some states, casinos are prevented from using any dice game. As gar back as the mid-1940's, there have been various attempts at using a deck of cards to play craps, but none has been successful, until now.
The standard craps table is very large and can accommodate up to twenty-four (24) people, thus requiring four (4) casino personnel to manage, and even then problems and confusion often occur.
The wagering game contained in this invention utilized all the benefits of craps and removes all the objectionable aspects. This invention is played on a conventional style blackjack table having the same configuration. The layout of the table is usually on felt or a type of cloth for maximum duration. The indicia on the layout contain all the betting elements of a standard craps game which includes: pass, don't pass, field, come, don't come, numbers and all proposition bets. These wagering areas are paid the same as a standard craps game.
Cards are used in place of dice. There are 6 cards to a set, and 8 sets to a deck. Each card face is identical to the faces of a die, namely 1 dot, 2 dots, 3 dots, 4 dots, 5 dots and 6 dots arranged in the same manner as on the face of a die. The game is played with at least six decks of 48 cards.
The dealer acts in all instances as the “shooter” so no players ever touch the cards. The dealer pulls two cards from an automatic shuffler as the initial throw. If a shoe is used, the dealer will always “burn” a first card. This pair of cards total is the “come out” roll. Subsequent play is continued as in regular craps.
Two dealers are normally used, each controlling his side of the table with a maximum of 5 players per side. These procedures prevent cheating, confusion, abuse and collusion. After 8 to 16 betting decisions, the second dealer returns the cards to the shuffler if used, or the deck is run to the “cut” card in the case of a shoe being used.
Players may all be able to sit on chairs as in blackjack since the table utilizes that configuration. A customized rail is used on the perimeter of the table. This rail contains two “barrels” such as a craps rail, for holding the players' chips. There is a cushion behind the barrels for the players' comfort. Between each barrel playing area is a drink holder section to divide the barrels and the individual playing area. There is a large space between the barrels and the first betting area, which is the pass line. No player's hands may infringe into this first betting area except between throws, when the dealer indicates betting may be done.
Objectives of this invention are: overcome the use of dice, reduce risks, reduce confusion, simplifies, make more comfortable and provides the same playing excitement and rewards as craps.
The cards used in this invention are shown in
On opposite corners of each card in
The cards in
The wagering and play of this invention is carried out on a table or other similar surface which is covered with a layout as in
The playing surface in
From the players' edge 101 and 102 approximately 8 to 10 inches begins a line following the configuration of this table. This line marks the outer border of the pass line 103.
At the center of the table in the area 105 is the proposition bet area. This is a rectangle extending ninety degrees (90°) from the rear dealer edge 100, at about 10 inches from the edge. This area is located exactly in the middle of the table and divides the table into halves. All proposition bets are located within this area 105 and comprise the any craps (106), horn bets (107), any seven (108) and the hardways (109). Bets in this area 105 are paid off by the odds marked in each section.
On either side of the proposition area 105 are those areas for wagering as in a standard craps table. The pass line area 104 is the first section following the outline of the players' edges 101 and 102.
Adjacent to the pass line 104 is the don't pass area 110 which follows the linear placement of the table edges 101 and 102.
To the dealer edge 100 side of the don't pass line, to the side of the proposition area 105 and in an irregular trapezoid is the area 111, the field area. The field 111 has indicia identical to the field area of a craps table showing the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and the wording “FIELD.” On the 2 is a circle with 2:1 odds posted and on the 12 a circle with 3:1 odds written. The field area has printed at the players' side wording “ONE HAND ONLY.”
Adjacent to the field area 111 and towards the players' edge 101 is the irregularly shaped trapezoid area 112, the come area.
From the dealers' side and at the corner of the proposition area 105, a line extends to the dealers' edge 100 at the rear of the don't pass 110. Extending forward to the players' edge 102 is a rectangular section 113 which comprises the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10, each in a rectangle of itself These rectangles are separated by lines, and each section marked as stated above. At the dealers' edge of these numbers is another line parallel to the rear line of 113, in which the odds of payoff for each number is located.
In a triangular area between the proposition area 105 and the numbers area 113 is the don't come area 114.
The area behind the proposition area 105 to the dealers' edge 100 is a rectangle 115, where cards are placed when they are “rolled” from the shuffler.
On either side of 115 is a dealer's tray 116, where each dealer maintains the house chips.
Behind the right side dealer tray 116 and behind the dealer's edge 100 is optimally a shuffle machine or a shoe 117 where a minimum of 8 decks are placed. If a shoe, then a cut card is placed between ½and ¾ of the decks and the decks reshuffled when this cut card appears. If an automatic shuffler is used, after cards from 115 are ready for discard, they are placed in a card holder 118 by the second dealer on the left side of the table edge 100.
The lines delineating the separate areas are to be in white. The don't pass and don't come words are to be in black. The come word is to be in red. The proposition cards are to be white background with red dots. Generally, pass, field and number words will be in yellow. All other words and numbers to be in white. All colors could be changed to complement the general background of the layout which is optimally green.
Seating around the player edges 101 and 102 will be equally divided for a maximum of 10 players, optimally 9.
Two “barrels” 201 are on the inner edge of the rail which are ½ of a circle and allow the players to place chips on edge in the barrel. These barrels are optimally made of stained wood. These barrels 201 and the cushion area 202 extend around the table on the players' sides of 101 and 102.
On the outer edge of the barrels 201 is a cushion area 202 extending over the outer edge and to below the table. This allows the players a soft area to rest. This cushion 202 is optimally a vinyl material over a foam padding.
Between each section of barrels 201 is a trapezoid piece of wood 203 with a circular centered area for drinks. This 203 pieces serves to divide individual player's areas, allows for an area for players' drinks and provide for the circular pattern of the rail.
The play and payoffs of wagering is exactly as in the game of craps. Betting is done at the same times as in casino-played craps. But instead of a player “rolling” the dice, the dealer acts as the players by pulling 2 cards from the shuffler to present the number as though he were the “shooter” in craps. When paying off a wager, the dealer starts on his left and works his way to the right, either paying or collecting bets. When this is complete, he indicates to the other dealer, and when the table action is clear, the next pair of cards is removed from the shuffler and play is resumed.
The second dealer removes the cards from the table and places them in a card holder after each decision. After completion of 8 to 16 decisions, when using an automatic shuffler, he returns them to the shuffler. If a shoe is used, the cards stay in the holder until the cut card is removed from the shoe.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and departing from the central attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to all the claims, drawings, specifications and procedures for the scope of this invention.
Any and all specifications of this invention may be introduced into software and applied to computers or slot machines as though they were part of this embodiment with all the claims within this invention.
