Patent Application
20070194531
This invention relates generally to the field of card games, and more specifically to a combined word-spelling and poker card game.
The game of poker is widely played and known. Numerous poker games are played worldwide and the rules are well-established. Little flexibility is possible in the playing of the games.
Also well known are decks of cards wherein each card bears a letter or letters of an alphabet. Such cards are used to play word games in which players assemble groups of cards in side-by-side relationship so as to spell words. These games may or may not involve awarding point scores for the words created by the different players.
What is desired is a deck of cards that is useful for playing poker in concert with spelling words with the same cards in the same hand. Such cards and game would allow a player to compete in a Poker Mode only, a Spelling mode only, or both modes simultaneously.
It is intended that any other advantages and objects of the present invention that become apparent or obvious from the detailed description or illustrations contained herein are within the scope of the present invention.
The device is a card game which combines the features of a standard deck of playing cards with the 26 letters of the English alphabet. The cards are used to play games, such as poker, and to spell words. These two objectives are accomplished within a single card game. The cards include a standard value (Ace through Deuce) and suit (Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts and Spades) in the upper left corners, and an inverted letter of the alphabet in the lower right corner. Four additional cards, for a total of 56 cards, include the vowels A, E, I or O in the corners.
Each letter of the alphabet, except for J, Q, X, Z and the four vowels cards, appears at least once in the red suits and once in the black suits.
The cards can be used to play poker in the usual manner, but with a twist. Players can select whether to play a poker hand or to create a word with the letters. Players indicate the type of hand they will play and compete against those play the same type of hand. Poker hands are ranked according to the well-established rules of poker. Words are ranked according to the number of cards and letters used to spell the word. The more cards/letters used, the stronger the hand.
This card game utilizes the concepts and strategies of Poker and adds a new strategy based on the ability to use the dual function cards to spell words. The addition of wild cards for poker hands creates the non-typical poker situation where a 5-of-a-kind can occur. A 5-of-a-kind beats any normal poker hand, and a higher 5-of-a-kind beats a lower 5-of-a-kind.
The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.
The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.
The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention.
The letters are assigned to the cards 10 to create a balance between the distribution of vowels through the red and black suits while trying to maintain the traditional sequence of the alphabet as much as possible. The intent is to optimize the balance between the likelihood of having a good poker hand or a good word spelling hand in one deal of the cards.
Rules of the Game
The game starts by distributing a hand of cards to each of a plurality of players. Typically two to eight players can play at once. Each player is dealt five to seven cards, depending upon player or dealer preferences. Each player is also provided with two different tokens. One is a word token and the other is a poker token. Each player proceeds to organize and review his hand to determine which type of hand is strongest.
The strength of a player's hand is easy to determine. Poker players understand the basic hierarchy of poker hands, and these rules are unchanged. However, this game introduces a word-spelling feature to that game. The same cards include letters that can be used to spell words and create a spelling or word hand. The more cards a player uses from his hand to create a word, the stronger his hand.
In some cases a player may believe that both his word hand and his poker hand are strong. If he so desires, he can play both hands at the same time. Once each player has selected one or more hands to play, he indicates to the other players which type of hand will be played.
The tokens are used to indicate the type of hand each player will play. Where the player believes his poker hand is strong, he will place his poker token in his closed hand. Where the player believes his word hand is strong, he will place his word token in his closed hand. Where the player believes both his poker hand and his word hand are strong, he will place both tokens in his closed hand. When all of the players have their selected tokens in their closed hands, the players reveal their selections to each other at the same time.
In one embodiment, the players immediately show their hands to determine the winners for that hand. Alternatively, the players may wager among themselves regarding the strength of their hands. The players may wager against all other players or against only those who are playing the same type of hand. The winner of each type of hand takes half of the pot.
When the players show their hands, a winner is determined for the poker hand and for the word hand. In one embodiment, the winner of each hand is awarded a point value. For example, one point may be awarded to a player who has the strongest poker hand. The same may be done to the player with the strongest word hand. However, a player cannot win a poker hand or a word hand unless he placed his token for the poker hand or the word hand in view of the table.
In the case of a tie between two word-spelling hands, the player with the word beginning with the letter of the alphabet furthest from “A” wins (i.e., a word beginning with “Z” beats any other word of the same length). If two players have the same length word with the same beginning letter, each player gets 1 point.
If a player believes his poker hand and his word hand are both strong, he will place both his tokens in his closed hand (double down) and show both of them to the other players. If he wins both the poker hand and the word hand (double down) he is rewarded with four points. However, if he fails to win both hands he is penalized two points.
If the player loses the Double Down, the remaining players follow the normal process and receive the normal points for the best poker hand and best word-spelling hand. The losing Double Down player receives nothing.
Numerous variations are possible. The game may be played to 12 points with 2 players, 11 points with 3 players, 10 points with 4 players, 9 points with 5 players, 8 points with 6 players, 7 points with 7 players, and 6 points with 8 players. Of course other player number and winning score combinations are possible. If two players reach the winning total points in the same hand, there will be a sudden death playoff until one player has more points than the other.
If at any time a player can spell the name of the game with their hand (SPPOKER™) the player automatically wins the game regardless of the score.
The game can be played with poker chips and wagers can be made on the hands. Bets can be made both before declaring and after declaring. The game can also be played with any variation of conventional poker games, including the popular Texas Hold 'em. Any pot is to be split evenly between the Poker hand and Word-Spelling hand. Any odd chips are left in the pot for the next hand. In the case where there is no winner of the Poker pot, all chips go to the Spelling winner. In the case where there is no winner of the Spelling pot, all chips go to the Poker winner.
While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
