Card game and method of playing same

Claim 1

A card game apparatus comprising a collection of fifty-two cards, said cards being comprised of six distinct groups of cards, every card of a group bearing upon its face an indicia distinctive of the cards of that group, one of said groups of cards having exactly twelve cards and said other five groups of cards having exactly eight cards each, said eight carded-groups bearing indicia according to a predetermined sequential coding system which establishes a ranking between said eight carded-groups, the cards within a given eight carded-group having the same ranking, said eight carded-groups also including indicia common to all cards of said groups consisting of eight cards, the cards of said twelve carded-group each being identically marked with indicia dissimilar from said eight carded-groups so as to be distinguishable from said eight carded-groups.

Claim 11

A method of playing a card game with at least two players and a deck of fifty-two cards or multiples thereof, at least one of said players being designated a dealer for dealing the cards, said deck of cards including six distinguishable groups of cards, a first group having exactly twelve cards and second through sixth groups each having exactly eight cards, said cards of said first group being identical indicia and being distinguishable from cards of said second through sixth groups, and said second through sixth groups bearing first indicia which sequentially ranks said second through sixth groups, said method comprising: (a) dealing by said dealer to all players two cards, one at a time, (b) dealing by said dealer a third card to each player including said dealer, having a potential scoring hand, not dealing a third card to a player not having a potential scoring hand, however, if said dealer has two cards of said first group then dealing no more cards, if a player other than the dealer has two cards of said first group and said dealer does not, then said dealer dealing to all players including said dealer not having two cards of said first group and having a potential scoring hand, a third card, a potential scoring hand being defined as the possibility of receiving one of the following card combinations by being dealt a third card: two cards from said first group; three cards, all from any one of said second through sixth groups; three cards, one of each from said second, third and fourth groups or said third, fourth and fifth groups or said fourth, fifth and sixth groups; (c) dealing at most three cards to each player; (d) scoring each player's cards according to a predetermined priority sequence, wherein said predetermined priority sequence for scoring each player's hand is as follows: two cards from said first group having the highest priority; three cards all from any one of said second through sixth groups having the second highest priority; three cards one of each from said second, third and fourth groups or said third, fourth and fifth groups or said fourth, fifth and sixth groups; and (e) using a card from said first group a substitute for a card from any one of said second through sixth groups when determining a potential scoring hand and when scoring a player's hand.

Claim 12

A method of playing a card game with at least two players and a deck of fifty-two cards or multiples thereof, at least one of said players being designated a dealer for dealing the cards, said deck of cards including six distinguishable groups of cards, a first group having exactly twelve cards and second through sixth groups each having exactly eight cards, said cards of said first group being identical indicia and being distinguishable from cards of said second through sixth groups, and said second through sixth groups bearing first indicia which sequentially ranks said second through sixth groups, said method comprising: (a) dealing by said dealer to all players two cards, one at a time, (b) dealing by said dealer a third card to each player including said dealer, having a potential scoring hand, not dealing a third card to a player not having a potential scoring hand, however, if said dealer has two cards of said first group then dealing no more cards, if a player other than the dealer has two cards of said first group and said dealer does not, then said dealer dealing to all players including said dealer not having two cards of said first group and having a potential scoring hand, a third card, a potential scoring hand being defined as the possibility of receiving one of the following card combinations by being dealt a third card: two cards from said first group; three cards, all from any one of said second through sixth groups; three cards, one of each from said second, third and fourth groups or said third, fourth and fifth groups or said fourth, fifth and sixth groups; (c) dealing at most three cards to each player; (d) scoring each player's cards according to a predetermined priority sequence, wherein said predetermined priority sequence for scoring each player's hand is as follows: two cards from said first group having the highest priority; three cards all from any one of said second through sixth groups having the second highest priority; three cards one of each from said second, third and fourth groups or said third, fourth and fifth groups or said fourth, fifth and sixth groups; and (e) using a card from said first group a substitute for a card from any one of said second through sixth groups when determining a potential scoring hand and when scoring a player's hand.