Computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for playing a series of card games in sequence

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is adapted for playing a series of card games in sequence. Each of the card games is associated with a respective set of card rules, and requires a player and a virtual opponent to have a set of simulated cards. The simulated cards in each of the card games increase in number with the progression of the card games in the sequence. In the method, a gaming apparatus includes a user input unit and a display unit, and the player is allowed to place a bet via the user input unit. The card games are played in sequence such that the cards in a previous card game are combined with new cards to result in the cards of a succeeding card game. A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit and a processor unit is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for playing a series of card games in sequence, each of the card games being associated with a respective set of card rules and requiring a player to have a set of simulated cards, the simulated cards in each of the card games increasing in number with the progression of the card games in the sequence, said computer-implemented method comprising: 
 (a) providing a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit and a display unit;    (b) allowing the player to place a bet via the user input unit;    (c) playing one of the card games in the sequence, including the steps of dealing a number of the simulated cards to each of the player and a virtual opponent for playing said one of the card games, showing the simulated cards that were dealt on the display unit, determining the winner in said one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with said one of the card games, and adjusting a credit total for the player according to the result of said one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player;    (d) playing a succeeding one of the card games in the sequence, including the steps of dealing another number of the simulated cards to each of the player and the virtual opponent, said another number of the simulated cards being respectively combined with the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent in the previous one of the card games to result in the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent for playing the succeeding one of the card games, showing the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent on the display unit, determining the winner in the succeeding one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with the succeeding one of the card games, and adjusting the credit total for the player according to the result of the succeeding one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player; and    (e) repeating step (d) until all of the card games in the sequence have been completed.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further includes the step of allowing the player to raise or maintain the bet via the user input unit prior to dealing said another number of the simulated cards.  
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (f) awarding the player with bonus credit in the event that the player won in each of the card games in the sequence.    
     
     
         4 . A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit and a processor unit coupled to the user input unit and the display unit, said computer program product adapting the gaming apparatus for playing a series of card games in sequence, each of the card games being associated with a respective set of card rules and requiring a player to have a set of simulated cards, the simulated cards in each of the card games increasing in number with the progression of the card games in the sequence, said computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable storage medium comprising: 
 a first code that directs the processor unit to allow the player to place a bet via the user input unit;  
 a second code that directs the processor unit to control playing of one of the card games in the sequence, including a code that directs the processor unit to deal a number of the simulated cards to each of the player and a virtual opponent for playing said one of the card games, a code that directs the processor unit so as to show the simulated cards that were dealt on the display unit, a code that directs the processor unit to determine the winner in said one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with said one of the card games, and a code that directs the processor unit to adjust a credit total for the player according to the result of said one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player; and  
 a third code that directs the processor unit to control playing of a succeeding one of the card games in the sequence, including a code that directs the processor unit to deal another number of the simulated cards to each of the player and the virtual opponent, said another number of the simulated cards being respectively combined with the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent in the previous one of the card games to result in the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent for playing the succeeding one of the card games, a code that directs the processor unit so as to show the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent on the display unit, a code that directs the processor unit to determine the winner in the succeeding one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with the succeeding one of the card games, and a code that directs the processor unit to adjust the credit total for the player according to the result of the succeeding one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player.  
   
     
     
         5 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said third code further includes a code that directs the processor unit to allow the player to raise or maintain the bet via the user input unit prior to dealing said another number of the simulated cards.  
     
     
         6 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said computer readable storage medium further comprises a fourth code that directs the processor unit to award the player with bonus credit in the event that the player won in each of the card games in the sequence.  
     
     
         7 . A gaming apparatus for playing a series of card games in sequence, each of the card games being associated with a respective set of card rules and requiring a player to have a set of simulated cards, the simulated cards in each of the card games increasing in number with the progression of the card games in the sequence, said gaming apparatus comprising: 
 a user input unit;    a display unit;    means for allowing the player to place a bet via said user input unit;    means for playing one of the card games in the sequence including means for dealing a number of the simulated cards to each of the player and a virtual opponent for playing said one of the card games, means for showing the simulated cards that were dealt on said display unit, means for determining the winner in said one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with said one of the card games, and means for adjusting a credit total for the player according to the result of said one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player; and    means for playing a succeeding one of the card games in the sequence, including means for dealing another number of the simulated cards to each of the player and the virtual opponent, said another number of the simulated cards being respectively combined with the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent in the previous one of the card games to result in the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent for playing the succeeding one of the card games, means for showing the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent on said display unit, means for determining the winner in the succeeding one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with the succeeding one of the card games, and means for adjusting the credit total for the player according to the result of the succeeding one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player.    
     
     
         8 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said means for playing the succeeding one of the card games further includes means for allowing the player to raise or maintain the bet via said user input unit prior to dealing said another number of the simulated cards.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising means for awarding the player with bonus credit in the event that the player won in each of the card games in the sequence.  
     
     
         10 . A gaming apparatus comprising a user input unit, a display unit, a processor unit coupled to said user input unit and said display unit, and a computer program product for adapting said gaming apparatus for playing a series of card games in sequence, each of the card games being associated with a respective set of card rules and requiring a player to have a set of simulated cards, the simulated cards in each of the card games increasing in number with the progression of the card games in the sequence, said computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that includes: 
 a first code that directs said processor unit to allow the player to place a bet via said user input unit;    a second code that directs said processor unit to control playing of one of the card games in the sequence, including a code that directs said processor unit to deal a number of the simulated cards to each of the player and a virtual opponent for playing said one of the card games, a code that directs said processor unit so as to show the simulated cards that were dealt on the display unit, a code that directs said processor unit to determine the winner in said one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with said one of the card games, and a code that directs said processor unit to adjust a credit total for the player according to the result of said one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player; and    a third code that directs said processor unit to control playing of a succeeding one of the card games in the sequence, including a code that directs said processor unit to deal another number of the simulated cards to each of the player and the virtual opponent, said another number of the simulated cards being respectively combined with the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent in the previous one of the card games to result in the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent for playing the succeeding one of the card games, a code that directs said processor unit so as to show the simulated cards of the player and the virtual opponent on the display unit, a code that directs said processor unit to determine the winner in the succeeding one of the card games in accordance with the respective set of card rules that are associated with the succeeding one of the card games, and a code that directs said processor unit to adjust the credit total for the player according to the result of the succeeding one of the card games and with reference to the bet placed by the player.    
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said third code further includes a code that directs said processor unit to allow the player to raise or maintain the bet via said user input unit prior to dealing said another number of the simulated cards.  
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said computer readable storage medium further comprises a fourth code that directs said processor unit to award the player with bonus credit in the event that the player won in each of the card games in the sequence.