System, method, and device for card games utilizing secondary identifiers

Abstract

A method, system, and device are directed to a card game. In an optional embodiment, secondary identifiers are associated with playing cards. The secondary identifiers are selected to provide only partial information about a primary characteristic, such as value, suit, color, or the like, about the playing card. Optionally, the secondary identifiers are concealed from the player and are only perceivable through the use of a reader and display. A game is conducted according to its base game rules using the playing cards with secondary identifiers.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A random outcome-generating apparatus comprising a set of at least
 48 playing cards having a face side and a back side;   the face side of each of the at least 48 playing cards having symbol indicators selected from the group consisting of rank symbols and point symbols,   the symbol indicators comprising a complete set of at least 12 different rank symbols or 12 different point symbols;   the at least 12 different rank symbols or 12 different point symbols having at least two distinct and different sets of rank symbols or point symbols, wherein each distinct and different set contains known rank symbols or point symbols, with no rank symbols or point symbols occurring within multiple distinct and different sets;   the back side of each of the at least 48 playing cards having one of at least two but fewer than 6 visually different secondary symbol indicators; and   each of the at least two visually different secondary indicators on playing cards having a specific one of the at least two distinct and different sets.   
     
     
         2 . The random outcome-generating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the set of at least 48 playing cards comprises at least 52 playing cards wherein the symbol indicators on faces of each playing card comprising four distinct card suits and 13 consecutive ranks of playing cards in each suit. 
     
     
         3 . The random outcome generating apparatus of  claim 1  wherein there are three distinct and different sets of rank symbols or point symbols and the back side of each of the at least 52 physical playing cards having one of three and fewer than 5 visually different secondary symbol indicators, and each of the at least three visually different secondary indicators on playing cards having a specific one of the three distinct and different sets on faces of the at least 52 playing cards. 
     
     
         4 . The random outcome-generating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the at least three distinct and different sets on the faces of the at least 52 physical playing cards comprise ranks of 2, 3, 4 and 5, ranks of 6, 7, 8 and 9 and ranks of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. 
     
     
         5 . The random outcome generating apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the three visually different secondary symbol indicators are viewable and distinguishable by a naked human eye. 
     
     
         6 . The random outcome generating apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the three visually different secondary symbol indicators are viewable and distinguishable by a naked human eye. 
     
     
         7 . The random outcome generating apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the three visually different secondary symbol indicators are viewable and distinguishable by a naked human eye. 
     
     
         8 . A method of executing a competition between total point count or rank of at least two hands of playing cards, wherein at least two playing cards are dealt to each of two hand-holding positions, with at least one of the at least two playing cards having a back of the playing card visible to the at least two hand-holding positions, wherein all playing cards are provided from a random outcome-generating apparatus comprising a set of at least 48 playing cards having a face side and a back side;
 the face side of each of the at least 48 playing cards having symbol indicators selected from the group consisting of rank symbols and point symbols,   the symbol indicators comprising a complete set of at least 12 different rank symbols or 12 different point symbols;   the at least 12 different rank symbols or 12 different point symbols having at least two distinct and different sets of rank symbols or point symbols, wherein each distinct and different set contains known rank symbols or point symbols, with no rank symbols or point symbols occurring within multiple distinct and different sets;   the back side of each of the at least 48 playing cards having one of at least two visually different secondary symbol indicators; and   wherein each of the at least two visually different secondary indicators on playing cards having a specific one of the at least two distinct and different sets is used by a player at least one of the two hand-holding positions to infer a range of playing card rank or point value based on viewing of at least one of the at least two visually different secondary indicators on backs of dealt playing cards; and   resolving the competition by a) determining which hand has a highest point count using symbols or numbers exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions or b) determining which hand has a highest poker rank using symbols or numbers exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the random outcome generating apparatus of comprises three distinct and different sets of rank symbols or point symbols and the back side of each of the at least 52 physical playing cards having one of three visually different secondary symbol indicators, and each of the at least three visually different secondary indicators on playing cards identifying a specific one of the three distinct and different sets on faces of the at least 52 playing cards, and wherein each of the at least three visually different secondary indicators on playing cards identifying a specific one of the at least three distinct and different sets is used by a player at at least one of the two hand-holding positions to infer a range of playing card rank or point value for specific ones of the at least 52 physical playing cards based on viewing of at least one of the at least three visually different secondary indicators on backs of dealt playing cards. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein all dealt playing cards are positioned at the at least two hand-holding positions with only backs of playing cards and their respective ones of the three visually different secondary symbol indicators exposed for viewing. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least three distinct and different sets on the faces of the at least 52 physical playing cards comprise a first set of ranks A of 2, 3, 4 and 5, a second set of ranks B of 6, 7, 8 and 9 and a third set of ranks C of 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein in a point count competition, one hand-holding position identifies a possible range of point counts in a different hand-holding position by summing up a possible range of point count in the different hand-holding position by identifying total numbers a, b and c, respectively of each viewed at least three visually distinct and multiplying a sum of each of the total numbers for each of the possible range of point values. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the summing up a possible range of point count is performed by a×A (2-5) plus b×B (5-9) plus c×C (0 or 10 {for 10, Jack, Queen and King and 1 or 11 for Aces) to determine a possible total range of point count in a single hand-holding position, 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the competition is a poker rank competition in which is resolved by determination of which of the at least two hand-holding position has a highest poker rank using symbols and numbers and suits exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the competition is a poker rank competition in which is resolved by determination of which of the at least two hand-holding position has a highest poker rank using symbols and numbers and suits exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the competition is a poker rank competition in which is resolved by determination of which of the at least two hand-holding position has a highest poker rank using symbols and numbers and suits exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the competition is a poker rank competition in which is resolved by determination of which of the at least two hand-holding position has a highest poker rank using symbols and numbers and suits exposed on faces of all individual playing cards in each of the at least two hand-holding positions. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the at least two playing cards are dealt to all hand-holding positions that place a wager and resolution of the competition also resolves the wagers in a final playing card hand poker rank versus final playing card hand. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the at least two playing cards are dealt to all hand-holding positions that place a wager and resolution of the competition also resolves the wagers in a final playing card hand poker rank versus final playing card hand. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the at least two playing cards are dealt to all hand-holding positions that place a wager and resolution of the competition also resolves the wagers in a final playing card hand poker rank versus final playing card hand.