September Board and Card Game Patents

System and method for providing side wagering in multi-player wager-based games - This patent covers any player who is not involved in the game betting on the outcome. While you collect your jaw off the floor, I can only surmise that this passed because it gives as an example an Internet poker room, which must have confused the patent examiners into thinking that it was some sort of programming technique.

Maybe I've misread it, which would be a relief.

Card game - Each player is dealt five hole cards. Nine common cards are dealt into a 3x3 grid, with players discarding one hole card after each three common cards are turned up. Best poker hand at the end wins.

Method and device for playing a game in which values of game pieces are gradually revealed - A sliding door-like plastic thingie and a set of cards that allow you to slide the door and gradually reveal information about the card within.

Method, apparatus and article for hierarchical wagering - The problem: "Many games of chance, such as roulette, craps and twenty-one permit different wagers at different odds. The number of options may prove daunting to a beginner, discouraging new players from learning to wager. Additionally, many casinos have more patrons during busy times than can be adequately handled at the various wagering or playing positions in the casino."

Solution: Near as I can tell, it's an electronic system that let's you win or lose based on how someone else won or lost. In other words, if you like the way Person X is playing, you can simply bet on whether person X wins or loses, winning or losing with him or her. Automatically, I presume. If that's not enough, it allows you to do tertiary betting, betting on the success of some person Y who is also using the system.

Transcendental element card game using die - The principle of rock-paper-scissors in a card game. Not sure if this matters, but a die is included with the game to handle ties, if the players don't simply want to redraw. And text on the cards indicate something educational about the image ("20,000 tons of paper each year blah blah blah").

Method of playing a poker-type keno game - Texas Hold'em has a problem: "While watching people playing on these shows and at neighborhood gatherings, a novice to the game may feel overwhelmed and intimidated. This intimidation can take the form of feelings of embarrassment at not knowing how to play the games or not being able to play as fast or well as others, and can manifest itself by not trying the game or even in not gambling at all."

Solution: Five two-card hands are dealt out, and players bet on the hand they think is going to win.

Method of determining skill level in a tournament setting - Duplicate poker on a computer.

Biased card deal - Using a computer to a) deal equally valued hands to all players, and b) deal better hands to poorer players, rather than simply dealing out the cards randomly. Good luck with that.

Wagering game having a card propagation feature - From WMS Gaming, a game device that let's you hold cards from one round to the next.

No push card game - A three-card game of stud poker. Why this is original is beyond me.