Method and device for playing a game using a grid

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for playing a card game using a grid in which game pieces are placed in a grid configuration. Hands are selected from the game pieces. A value is determined from the selected hand. For example, the grid configuration can include a triangular grid configuration, square grid configuration, outer square grid configuration, right angle triangular grid configuration, diamond grid configuration or stacked grid configuration. In one embodiment, rows of game pieces are individually added by rows to determine a grid configuration. In one embodiment a grid configuration includes one or more rows places around an inner or outer circle. In one embodiment, a hand can be selected from three game pieces having each of the game pieces adjacent to another game piece. A betting board can be used with the game.

1 . A method for playing a game comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing game pieces in one or more rows to determine a grid configuration;    b) selecting one or more hands of game pieces from the grid configuration; and    c) determining a value for the selected hand in a first round.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hand having the value which is highest is a winner.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein one or more bets are placed on the selected hand before determining the value of a plurality of said hands and a payout is paid to the winner.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the payout is equal to an amount of the bet.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the payout is greater than an amount of the bet.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein three game pieces are selected.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said grid configuration is assigned to each of said players before step (a).  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a player selects said grid configuration before step (a).  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first said row contains one or more pairs of said game pieces and one of said game pieces is selected from said one or more pairs of game pieces and a second said row contains one said game pieces positioned adjacent each of said one or more pairs of said first row wherein in step (b) hands are formed by combining said selected game piece from said first row with the adjacent game piece of the second row.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the step of adding a common row of one of said game piece, said game piece of said common row is used in each of said one or more hands of game pieces of said grid configurations.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein one or more bets are placed on one of said game pieces placed in said first row and a player wins if a bet was placed on a game piece which is included in a hand having a highest determined value in step (c).  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein one or more bets are placed on one of said game pieces placed in said second row and a player wins if a bet was placed on a game piece which is included in a hand having a highest determined value in step (c).  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein one or more of said bets are placed on one of said game pieces placed in said first row are moved to one or more of said game pieces placed in said second row and a player wins if a bet was placed on a game piece which is included in a hand having a highest determined value in step (c).  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the first row is placed around an outside circle of grid configuration, the second row is placed around a first inner circle of the grid configuration, wherein the first inner circle is positioned inside said outer circle and said common row is placed at a center circle in the center of said first inner circle.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the step of spinning said outer circle and/or said inner circle in either direction.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a bet is placed on one of said hands before or after said step of spinning said outer circle and/or said inner circle.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of spinning is performed randomly to randomly change positions of said one or more game pieces.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of spinning is performed selectively to change positions of said one or more game pieces.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game pieces are one or more cards of a deck of 52 cards, the value of the hand being matched to a value of a conventional card game.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game pieces are one or more die, each face of the die is assigned a point value equaling the dots, the value of the hand being a total of the assigned point values for an upward face of each of the one or more die.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game pieces are one or more Mah Jongg tiles, each type of Mah Jongg tile is assigned a point value being determined from symbols on the Mah Jongg tile, the value of the hand being a total of the assigned point values.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said game pieces is placed in a face-up position and at least one of said game pieces is placed in a face-down position.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game is played in a casino.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of operating the game on a video machine.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising operation the game through a data network.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the data network is the Internet.  
   
   
       26 . A device for playing a game comprising: 
 a playing area having one or more first betting locations configured to receive one or more bets; and    a dealer station having a grid configuration configured to receive game pieces in one or more rows.    
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising: 
 a controller for selecting one or more positions in said grid configuration to determine a hand.    
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said controller comprises a video display having a touch surface marked with positions of game pieces in said grid configuration and after one of said positions of said game pieces in said grid configuration is selected with said controller, said corresponding one of said positions of game pieces in said grid configuration is marked on said touch surface is illuminated or marked.  
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising one or more second betting locations configured to receive one or more bets of a bonus feature.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 26  wherein said controller comprises a video display having a touch surface marked with positions of game pieces in said configuration and after one of said positions of said game pieces in said grid configuration is selected with said controller for a bonus feature said corresponding one of said positions of game pieces in said grid configuration is marked on said touch surface is illuminated or marked.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 26  further comprising: 
 means for indicating positions in said grid configuration to form possible hands.    
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the betting locations and said dealer station are located on a gaming table.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the game is played in a casino.  
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the game is played on a video machine.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 26  wherein the game is played over a data network.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 35  wherein the data network is the Internet.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 26  wherein a first said row contains one or more pairs of said game pieces and one of said game pieces is selected from said one or more pairs of game pieces and a second said row contains one said game pieces positioned adjacent each of said one or more pairs of said first row wherein in the step (b) hands are selected by combining said game piece from said first row with said game piece of the second row positioned adjacent said selected game piece from said first row.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 26  wherein a first said row is placed around an outer circle of the grid configuration, a second said row is placed around an inner circle of the grid configuration, wherein the inner circle is positioned inside said outer circle and a common row is within said first inner circle.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said first row is positioned on a first rotating position which can rotate in either direction and said second row is positioned on a second rotating portion which can rotate in either direction.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 37  further comprising locking means for locking said first rotating portion and/or said second rotation portion after rotation.