Pinochle proposition

Abstract

A method is provided for playing a card game using a deck of cards with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, in accordance with an example. The method may include distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer. A main wager may be received from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player and a side wager may be received from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player. When the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match a defined combination of cards, the player may be rewarded for the side wager.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (Canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A method for playing a card game using a deck of cards with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, the method comprising:
 distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer;   receiving a main wager from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player;   receiving a side wager from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player;   determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match a defined combination of cards for winning the side wager; and   rewarding the player for the side wager when the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards further comprises determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards match one of a plurality of defined combinations of cards, the plurality of defined combinations being fewer in number than a total number of possible card combinations. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the card game is played using playing cards and the plurality of defined combinations include at least the following card combinations:
 a Jack of diamonds card and a Queen of spades card;   a King card and a Queen card of a same card suit; and   a King card and a Queen card of different card suits.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising revealing one of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer and designating a suit of the one of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer as a trump suit, and wherein the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit card combination includes the following two card combinations:
 the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit, the same card suit of the King card and the Queen card matching the trump suit; and   the King card and the Queen card of the same card suit, the same card suit of the King card and the Queen card being different from the trump suit.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the card combinations further include a combination of a ‘9’ card in the trump suit combined with any other card. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager with one of a plurality of rewards selected based at least in part on which of the card combinations corresponds to the first two of the plurality of cards. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager when the main wager is lost and the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager when the main wager is won and the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the card game is Blackjack, the main wager relates to a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player or the dealer, and the side wager relates to specific card combinations defined in part by a suit of the plurality of cards distributed to the player, the method further comprising withholding a reward to the player for the side wager regardless of whether the main wager is won or lost when the plurality of cards distributed to the player are different than the defined combination of cards. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the side wager is received when the main wager is received. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the side wager is received before distributing the plurality of cards distributed to the player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of cards distributed to the player comprises at least three cards. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the player comprises a plurality of players. 
     
     
         16 . A method for playing a card game using representations of cards on a video terminal using a processor and a memory, with rules to define a value of the cards, comprising:
 virtually distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer on the video terminal;   receiving a main wager from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player;   receiving a side wager from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player;   determining whether the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player on the video terminal match a defined combination of cards for the side wager; and   rewarding the player for the side wager when the plurality of cards distributed to the player match the defined combination of cards.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein rewarding the player for the side wager is independent of rewarding the player for the main wager. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the defined combination of cards includes a plurality of combinations of cards fewer in number than a total number of potential card combinations and defined at least in part by a suit of the cards, the method further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager based at least in part on which of the plurality of combinations of cards matches the first two of the plurality of cards. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rewarding the player for the side wager differently depending on a suit of a face up card of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer. 
     
     
         20 . A method for playing a card game using a deck of cards, with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, the method comprising the steps of:
 distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer;   receiving a plurality of different wagers from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player, including a first wager for a total value of all of the plurality of cards distributed to the player and the dealer, and a second wager for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player;   determining whether to reward the player for the first wager based at least in part on the total value of all of the plurality of cards distributed to the player and the dealer; and   determining whether to reward the player for the second wager based at least in part on whether the first two of the plurality of cards correspond to one of a plurality of defined combination of cards;   wherein determining whether to reward the player for the second wager is independent of determining whether to reward the player for the first wager, and wherein the reward for the side wager varies dependent upon a suit of a face up card of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising rewarding the player for the first and second wagers based on a result of the determining steps. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising withholding a reward for the second wager from the player when more than the first two of the plurality of cards are distributed to the player before the player announces a correspondence of the first two of the plurality of cards to the one of the plurality of defined combinations of cards.