Instant three play game

Abstract

The present invention relates to a three-symbol casino card game. The game is played with one or a plurality of 48 card decks consisting of 16 cards marked with one of three symbols or names. Bets are placed before an initial deal of three cards to each player and the dealer. After reviewing their cards, the players may exchange one or two cards and the dealer may exchange cards according to the house rules. A hand of one card of each symbol wins against other hands or ties another such hand. If the dealer receives or builds a three-symbol hand, his hand pushes against player built three-symbol hand. If the dealer receives a hand with three cards of the same symbol, his hand loses to player three-symbol hand, but wins if the player fails to build a three-symbol hand. Side bets may be placed offering players high returns contingent on being dealt a statistically unlikely or specific hand.

1 . A three-symbol card game wherein each card in a deck of 48 cards bears one of three symbols, resulting in 16 cards of each symbol.  
   
   
       2 . A method of playing a casino-type three symbol card game comprising at least one said deck of said cards, wherein; 
 (a) a player makes an initial bet and is dealt a player hand of three said cards face up;    (b) a dealer deals a hand of three said cards face down to himself;    (c) said player views said player hand and elects to either keep said player hand, or exchange one or two cards from said player hand;    (d) said dealer views said dealer hand and elects to keep said dealer hand or exchange one card from said dealer hand according to established rules;    (e) if said player hand comprises one card of each symbol after said initial bet, and said dealer fails to assemble one card of each symbol in said dealer hand, said player wins an amount equal to twice said initial bet;    (f) if said player hand comprises one said card of each said symbol after said exchange, and said dealer fails to assemble one said card of each said symbol in said dealer hand, said player wins an amount equal to twice said initial bet;    (g) if both said player hand and said dealer hands comprise one said card of each said symbol, said player is returned said bet;    (h) if both said player hand and said dealer hand fail to assemble one said card of each said symbol, said player is returned said bet; and    (i) repeating said method with another said bet.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said dealer hand comprises any three said cards of the same said symbol.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein if said player hand comprises one said card of each said symbol after said bet, said player wins an amount equal to twice said bet.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein if said player hand does not comprise one said card of each symbol after said bet, said player loses said bet.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein bonus bets may be made by said player along with said initial bet; said bonus bets contingent upon said dealer dealing a specific combination of said cards.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks.