Card game

Abstract

A card game comprises a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth, the gaming cloth providing; a dealer area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer and a plurality of player areas, where cards may be dealt to one or more players, each player area including an area in which the or each player may place an initial bet; one or more players placing a bet to participate in the game; hands having two playing cards then being dealt to the or each player and to a dealer, in turn; the hand dealt to the or each player then being compared to the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the bet by; determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank; where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of the dealer, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.

1 - 52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . A card game comprising a set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; 
 wherein the gaming cloth provides; 
 a plurality of player areas, where cards may be dealt to one or more players;  
   the game comprising: 
 dealing hands having two playing cards to each player; and  
 comparing the hands dealt to each player to determine the outcome of the game by: 
 determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and  
 two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank;  
 where hands are of the same level, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.  
 
   
   
   
       54 . The card game according to  claim 53 , wherein the gaming cloth further provides: 
 a dealer area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer;    the or each player area including an area in which the or each player may place an initial bet;    the hand dealt to the or each player being compared with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the initial bet.    
   
   
       55 . The card game according to  claim 53 , wherein the set of playing cards consists of one or more conventional packs of fifty two playing cards.  
   
   
       56 . The card game according to  claim 53 , wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.  
   
   
       57 . The card game according to  claim 53 , wherein if two hands have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each hand are compared with one another and the low cards of each hand are compared with one another, and both the high and low cards of one hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.  
   
   
       58 . The card game according to  claim 57 , wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.  
   
   
       59 . The card game according to  claim 53 , wherein each area has a play line, and the play line enabling the rank of the hand to be displayed by placement of the cards dealt to the dealer and/or player relative to the play line.  
   
   
       60 . The card game according to  claim 59 , wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line.  
   
   
       61 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a call area in which, after seeing the two cards he is dealt but before the dealer's hand is revealed, a player may place a call bet in order to continue in the game.  
   
   
       62 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a set bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a set bet, a player placing a bet in the set bet area winning the bet if the player's hand is above a specified rank.  
   
   
       63 . The card game according to  claim 62 , wherein a player winning a set bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.  
   
   
       64 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a high half-hand bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a high half-hand bet, a player placing a bet in the high half-hand bet area winning the bet if: 
 the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or    the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's high card beats the dealer's high card.    
   
   
       65 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a low half-hand bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low half-hand bet, a player placing a bet in the low half-hand bet area winning the bet of: 
 the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or    the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's low card beats the dealer's low card.    
   
   
       66 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the dealer area further includes a dealer high bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer high bet, a player placing a bet in the dealer high bet area winning the bet if: 
 the second card dealt to the dealer is of higher rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or    if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.    
   
   
       67 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the dealer area further includes a dealer low bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer low bet, a player placing a bet in the dealer low bet area winning the bet if: 
 the second card dealt to the dealer is of lower rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or    if the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.    
   
   
       68 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a low-ball bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low-ball bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the low-ball bonus bet area winning the bet if the player is dealt a hand having two cards of different rank, both cards having ranks falling within a specified range.  
   
   
       69 . The card game according to  claim 68 , wherein a player winning a low-ball bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the specified range within which the ranks of the player's cards fall.  
   
   
       70 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a four suit bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a four suit bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the four suit bonus bet area winning the bet, if the four cards including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer are of different suit.  
   
   
       71 . The card game according to  claim 70 , wherein a player winning a four suit bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the four cards.  
   
   
       72 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes a 2's up bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place a 2's up bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the 2's up bonus bet area winning the bet if a three card hand, including the two cards dealt to the player and an additional card dealt at the end of the game, has a rank of one pair cards of the same rank, or better.  
   
   
       73 . The card game according to  claim 72 , wherein a player winning a 2's up bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the three card hand.  
   
   
       74 . The card game according to  claim 54 , wherein the or each player area further includes an AA bonus bet area in which, before the cards are dealt, a player may place an AA bonus bet, a player placing a bet in the AA bonus bet area winning the bet if a five card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and three additional cards dealt at the end of the game, has a poker rank of a pair of aces, or better.  
   
   
       75 . The card game according to  claim 74 , wherein a player winning an AA bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the poker ranking of the five card hand.  
   
   
       76 . A method of playing a card game in which: 
 one or more players place a bet to participate in the game;    hands having two playing cards are dealt to the or each player participating in the game and to a dealer; and 
 comparing the hand dealt to the or each player with the hand dealt to the dealer to determine the outcome of the bet by: 
 determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and  
 two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank;  
 where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of the dealer, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.  
 
   
   
   
       77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the cards are dealt from set of playing cards comprising at least one conventional pack of fifty two playing cards.  
   
   
       78 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.  
   
   
       79 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein if both the dealer and the player both have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each of the player's hand and the dealer's hand are compared with one another and the low cards of each of the player's hand and the dealer's hand are compared with one another, both the high and low cards of one of hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.  
   
   
       80 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.  
   
   
       81 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein at least one of the dealer area and the or each player area has a play line, the cards dealt to the dealer and/or player being placed relative to the play line in order to display the rank of the hand.  
   
   
       82 . The method according to  claim 81 , wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line.  
   
   
       83 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein after a player has seen the cards dealt to him, but before the dealer's cards are exposed, a player places a call bet in order to continue in the game.  
   
   
       84 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a set bet, and the player winning the set bet if the player's hand is above a specified rank.  
   
   
       85 . The method according to  claim 84 , wherein the player winning a set bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.  
   
   
       86 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a high half-hand bet, and the player winning the high half-hand bet if: 
 the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or    the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's high card beats the dealer's high card.    
   
   
       87 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low half-hand bet, and the player winning the low half-hand bet if 
 the player's hand consists of a pair of cards of the same rank, or two cards of consecutive rank, and beats the dealer's hand; or    the both the player and the dealer have two cards of different non-consecutive rank and the player's low card beats the dealer's low card.    
   
   
       88 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer high bet, and the player placing a dealer high bet winning the bet if: 
 the second card dealt to the dealer is of higher rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or    the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.    
   
   
       89 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a dealer low bet and the a player placing a dealer low bet winning the bet if: 
 the second card dealt to the dealer is of lower rank than the first card dealt to the dealer; or    the dealer is dealt a pair of twos, threes, kings or aces.    
   
   
       90 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a low-ball bonus bet, and the player placing a low-ball bonus bet winning the bet if the player is dealt a hand having two cards of different rank, both cards having ranks falling within a specified range.  
   
   
       91 . The method according to  claim 90 , wherein a player winning a low-ball bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the specified range within which the ranks of the player's cards fall.  
   
   
       92 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a four suit bonus bet, and the player placing a four suit bonus bet winning the bet if the four cards including the two cards dealt to the player and the two cards dealt to the dealer are of different suit.  
   
   
       93 . The method according to  claim 92 , wherein the player winning a four suit bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the four cards.  
   
   
       94 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt a player may place a 2's up bonus bet, and the player placing a 2's up bonus bet winning the bet if a three card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and an additional card dealt at the end of the game, has a rank of one pair cards of the same rank, or better.  
   
   
       95 . The method according to  claim 94 , in which the player winning a 2's up bet is paid out at odds depending on the rank of the three card hand.  
   
   
       96 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein before the cards are dealt, a player may place a M bonus bet, and the player placing an AA bonus bet winning the bet if a five card hand including the two cards dealt to the player and three additional cards dealt at the end of the game, has a poker rank of a pair of aces, or better.  
   
   
       97 . The card game according to  claim 96 , wherein a player winning an AA bonus bet is paid out at odds depending on the poker ranking of the five card hand.  
   
   
       98 . A method of playing a card game in which: 
 a plurality of players place a bet to participate in the game;    hands having two playing cards are dealt to each of the players participating in the game; and 
 the hand dealt to each player is compared with the hands dealt to the other players to determine the outcome of the game by: 
 determining the level of each hand whereby; a pair of cards of the same rank will beat two cards of different rank; and  
 two cards of consecutive rank will in turn beat two cards of different, non-consecutive rank;  
 where the hand of a player is of the same level as that of another player, comparing the hands on the basis of the rank of the cards constituting the hand, the hand with the higher ranking cards winning.  
 
   
   
   
       99 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein the cards are dealt from set of playing cards consists of at least one conventional pack of fifty two playing cards.  
   
   
       100 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein two cards of consecutive rank and the same suit will beat two cards of consecutive rank but of different suit, regardless of the rank of the cards.  
   
   
       101 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein if two or more players have two cards of different, non-consecutive rank, the high cards of each of the player's hands are compared with one another and the low cards of each of the player's hands are compared with one another, both the high and low cards of one of hand having to be of higher rank than the corresponding cards of the other hand, in order to win.  
   
   
       102 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein if one of the high or low cards of one hand is of higher rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, while the other of the high or low cards is of lower rank than the corresponding card of the other hand, then the bet is carried over to a next game.  
   
   
       103 . The method according to  claim 98 , wherein each player area has a play line, the cards dealt to each player being placed relative to the play line in order to display the rank of the hand.  
   
   
       104 . The method according to  claim 103 , wherein a hand consisting of a pair of cards of the same rank is placed above the play line, a hand consisting of two cards of consecutive rank is placed on the play line, while a hand consisting of two cards of different, non-consecutive rank is placed below the play line.