Novel deck of playing cards and methods for use

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel deck of playing cards and to various games that can be played therewith. In some embodiments, the cards of the deck are distinguishable from each other based on three different dimensions, rank, suit, and family. Some embodiments include additional cards such as jokers or wildcards. Various new games and adaptations of existing games are also disclosed.

1 . A card deck comprising a plurality of families, each family comprising a two-dimensional array of cards, wherein the first dimension comprises thirteen ranks and the second dimension comprises four suits.  
   
   
       2 . The card deck of  claim 1 , wherein the thirteen ranks are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace.  
   
   
       3 . The card deck of  claim 1 , wherein the four suits are Star, Planet, Crescent, and Quasar.  
   
   
       4 . The card deck of  claim 1 , wherein the four suits are Club, Diamond, Heart, and Spade.  
   
   
       5 . The card deck of  claim 1 , wherein the number of families is two.  
   
   
       6 . The card deck of  claim 5 , wherein one family is black and one family is white.  
   
   
       7 . The card deck of  claim 1 , wherein the number of families is three.  
   
   
       8 . The card deck of  claim 7 , wherein one family is black, one family is white, and one family is red.  
   
   
       9 . The card deck of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional card designated as a Joker.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing poker comprising: 
 providing at least one deck of cards comprising a plurality of families, wherein each family comprises a two-dimensional array of cards, wherein the first dimension comprises ranks and the second dimension comprises suits;    dealing a plurality of cards from said deck of cards to a plurality of players so that each player has a poker hand; and    comparing the poker hands of at least two players and determining a hierarchy based at least in part on the families represented by the cards contained in the poker hands of said at least two players.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of dealing comprises giving each player at least five cards.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of dealing comprises giving each player at least seven cards.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of dealing comprises giving each player two cards and designating at least three additional cards as community cards.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of dealing comprises giving each player four cards and designating at least three additional cards as community cards.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein comparing the poker hands comprises evaluating whether at least three cards out of a five-card poker hand are in the same family.  
   
   
       16 . A method of playing 21 comprising: 
 providing at least one deck of cards comprising a plurality of families, wherein each family comprises a two-dimensional array of cards, wherein the first dimension comprises ranks and the second dimension comprises suits;    dealing a plurality of cards to a player hand;    dealing a plurality of cards to a dealer hand; and    comparing the cards of the player hand in each family to the cards of the dealer hand in the corresponding family.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the number of families within the deck is three.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein a player playing said player hand is given an option to receive at least one additional card without knowing the family of said additional card until it is dealt.