Multi-deck playing card set and method of playing card games using same

Abstract

A multi-deck playing card set includes a combination of at least two standard fifty-two card decks, each card having a front side, a back side, and a top portion and a bottom portion on each side. The multi-deck card set also includes a mark or indicia, either in color, black and white, shades of color, or shades of black and white, on each individual card, located on at least one side of the card to distinguish cards belonging to a particular individual deck of cards. Each individual deck has a unique mark or indicia distinguishing all cards from the particular deck. The multi-deck card set also may be adapted for use in table games or video card playing machines and/or systems.

1 . A multi-deck playing card set comprising: 
 a combination of at least a portion of at least two standard fifty-two playing card decks;    each card in the standard fifty-two card deck having a front face, a back side, a top portion and a bottom portion, each card also having an imprinted design on the front face and back side of the card, the design on the front face of each card indicating a value and a suit;    the combination of at least two standard fifty-two card decks having a mark or indicia on the front face of each individual card, the mark or indicia being separate from the value and suit indicators to distinguish cards belonging to a particular individual one of the decks of the multi-deck playing card set.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the mark or indicia is selected from the group consisting of a pre-selected color, black and white, a shade of a pre-selected color, and shades of black and white.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the multi-deck card set comprises a replacement deck for any traditional card game using a standard fifty-two card deck.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein each standard fifty-two card deck includes additional cards, such as, but not limited to joker cards and wild cards.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the cards of the individual decks forming the multi-deck card set are marked with a unique mark for each individual deck.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 5  wherein a combination of at least three standard fifty-two card decks includes at least three unique marks.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the design on the back side of each card is similar to the design on the back side of all other cards, each card in the deck being indistinguishable from other cards when viewed from the back side.  
   
   
       8 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein each standard playing card is associated with a suit indicated by said suit indicator, such as, but not limited to, spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs, each suit having a unique insignia for easier recognition of the suit indicated on each card.  
   
   
       9 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein each standard playing card is associated with a number between two and ten, inclusively, or a letter A, K, Q, or J.  
   
   
       10 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the mark comprises a bar selected from the group consisting of a color-coded bar, a black and white bar, a shaded color bar, and a shaded black and white bar.  
   
   
       11 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the mark comprises a multi-striped band selected from the group consisting of a colored striped band, a black and white striped band, a shaded color multi-striped band, and a shaded black and white multi-striped band.  
   
   
       12 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  wherein the mark comprises a plurality of symbols.  
   
   
       13 . A method of playing card games using a multi-deck card set, each card in the card set having a mark placed thereon in addition to indicia indicating the value and suit of each card, comprising the steps of: 
 combining at least two individual standard fifty-two card decks into a multi-deck card set;    shuffling the cards together to form a multi-deck card set;    dealing a number of cards to each player in a group of players;    each player selecting a number of initial received cards to be possibly discarded;    exchanging discarded cards with replacement cards from the original multi-deck set;    analyzing the combination of cards and marks obtained by the player.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a player is dealt five cards.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a plurality of suitable card and mark combinations can be developed as at least one winning combination.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein a player who achieves a winning combination is provided with an award.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the winning combinations are established based on the mathematical probability of achieving certain card combinations.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 1  adapted for use in video card playing systems.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 18  wherein the video card playing system is an electronic video gaming machine.  
   
   
       20 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 19  wherein the electronic video gaming machine is selected from the group consisting of a video poker machine, a video blackjack machine, a video lottery machine, and other equivalent equipment, each gaming machine having a display screen for viewing available cards.  
   
   
       21 . The multi-deck card set of  claim 18  wherein each mark is associated with one of a particular sound and feel, each mark adapted to allow individual card decks associated with a specific mark to be associated with the particular sound or feel when a card from a respective deck is displayed on the display screen.  
   
   
       22 . The multi-deck card set game of  claim 20 , the display screen providing a visual indication alerting a player of the presence of a winning card combination.  
   
   
       23 . The multi-deck card game of  claim 22  where the visual indication is selected from the group consisting of flashing cards on the screen, a pop-up box indicating an amount won, and a chase function simulating a circle around the cards on the display screen.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the card game is adapted to be played on an electronic video card playing system.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the cards forming the multi-deck card set are electronically shuffled and viewable by a player on a video display screen.