US4397469A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of reducing predictability in card games
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-08-02
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Granted: 1983-08-09
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Expires: 2002-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A method for reducing predictability in card games such as blackjack and twenty-one in which play is periodically interrupted, played cards are shuffled, some or all of the shuffled played cards are divided into groups and the groups are returned to the stack of unplayed cards at predetermined positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Bartus Carter, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:59
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63F; A63F1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of reducing the predictability in card games in which each successive round of play utilizes cards from a stack of unplayed cards while played cards are segregated and not returned to the stack after each round of play, which method comprises: (a) interrupting play at such time as the aggregate of played cards approximates and prior to the time said aggregate significantly exceeds a value of about n/d, where n equals the total of all cards, played and unplayed, and d is an integer of from 2 to 20; (b) shuffling said played cards; (c) dividing at least some of said shuffled, played cards into x number of roughly equivalent or nonequivalent groups where x is an integer having a value of at least 2; and (d) returning one of said groups of cards to said stack of unplayed cards at the point most distal from the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption of play and returning each of the remaining said groups to a different point in said stack of unplayed cards, each of said points being removed from the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption of play, and being further removed from any other point at which another group is returned, by at least one card.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
The method of reducing the predictability in card games in which each successive round of play utilizes cards from a stack of unplayed cards while played cards are segregated and not returned to the stack after each round of play, which method comprises: (a) interrupting play at such time as the aggregate of played cards approximates and prior to the time said aggregate significantly exceeds a value of about n/d, where n equals the total of all cards, played and unplayed, and d is an integer of from 2 to 20; (b) shuffling said played cards; (c) dividing at least some of said shuffled, played cards into x number of roughly equivalent or nonequivalent groups where x is an integer having a value of at least 2; and (d) returning one of said groups of cards to said stack of unplayed cards at the point most distal from the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption of play and returning each of the remaining said groups to a different point in said stack of unplayed cards, each of said points being removed from the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption of play, and being further removed from any other point at which another group is returned, by at least one card.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein d has a value of 4 to 10.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein only a portion of said shuffled played cards is divided as therein defined, the remainder being left as segregated, played cards to be combined with any played cards from subsequent rounds of play.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein a first of the remaining groups of shuffled played cards is returned to a general front area of said stack behind the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption, and the remaining group or groups are returned to areas intermediate thereto and to said most distal unplayed card.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein n has a value of 312, 364 or 416 and d has a value of 6, 7 or 8 respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 5 wherein x is 3.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein n has a value of 416 and d is 8.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein all of said shuffled played cards are divided into x groups and each of said group is returned to said stack of unplayed cards as therein defined.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein a first of the remaining groups of shuffled played cards is returned to a general front area of said stack behind the unplayed card which was to be played prior to said interruption, and the remaining group or groups are returned to areas intermediate thereto and to said most distal unplayed card.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein n has a value of 312, 364 or 416 and d has a value of 6, 7 or 8 respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 10 wherein x is 3.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 wherein n has a value of 416 and d is 8.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the remaining two groups are returned to areas in said stack removed from said unplayed card by approximately one third and two thirds, respectively, of all of said unplayed cards.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a number of unplayed cards are treated as played cards and divided with cards actually played as therein defined.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-08-08 | 1987-02-07 | 1987-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-08 | 1991-02-07 | 1991-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-08 | 1995-02-07 | 1995-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |