FORM-2
THE PATENT ACT,1970
(39 OF 1970)
AND
THE PATENT RULES, 2003
(As Amended)
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10;rule 13)
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A BETTING TRICK-TAKING CARD GAME"
PLAY GAMES24X7 PRIVATE LIMITED, an Indian Company, of 301, 3rd Floor, Palm Spring, Malad Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai, 400 064, India
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A BETTING TRICK-TAKING CARD GAME
BACKGROUND
[0001] Most popular gambling games conventionally have three elements: (1)
the games are fast-paced (with the exception of sports betting and lottery, neither of which is a casino-style game, people who like to wager money don't want to wait too long to see the results of their wager); (2) the games are either fully chance-based (slots or roulette, for example) or have a meaningful chance component (poker, for example); and (3) betting is an inherent part of the game.
[0002] A trick-taking game is a card game or tile-based game in which play of a "hand" centers on a series of finite rounds or units of play called tricks, which are each evaluated to determine a winner or "taker" of that trick. The object of such games may then be tied to the number of tricks taken, as in plain-trick games such as Whist, Contract Bridge, Spades, Napoleon, Rowboat, and Spoil Five, or tied to the value of the cards contained in taken tricks, as in point-trick games such as Pinochle, the Tarot family, Rook, All Fours, Manille, Briscola, and most "evasion" games like Hearts.
[0003] Trick-taking card games such as Oh Hell!, known by other names in other countries like L'Ascenseur in France, La Potrida in Latin America, Judgment in India, are fun and exciting games, but do not include all the elements of popular gambling games.
[0004] For example, in one of the many variations of Oh, Hell!, the game is played using a standard 52-card deck, with an ace (A) being the highest ranked card and a two (2) being the lowest ranked card. A game consists of a fixed number of hands, and each hand consists of dealing a certain number of cards to each player,

depending on the variation and the number of players. During a hand, each player bids for a number of tricks, then attempts to take exactly that many tricks during the hand.
[0005] The dealer deals out the cards one by one, starting with the player to his left, in a clockwise direction, until the required number of cards has been dealt. After the dealing is complete, the next card is turned face up, and the suit of this card determines the trump suit for the deal.
[0006] Following the deal, each player places a bid for the number of tricks the player believes he or she can win. The player to the left of the dealer bids first. Bidding is unrestricted except for the "screw the dealer" rule, namely, the number of - tricks bid cannot equal the number available. That is, every deal must in total be either overbid or underbid. For example, if five cards are dealt, and the first three bids are two, zero and one, then the dealer may not bid two. However, if five cards are dealt, and the first three bids are three, one and two, then the dealer is free to make any bid.
[0007] When every player has made a bid, the player to the left of the dealer makes the opening lead. Play then proceeds as usual in a trick-taking game, with each player in turn playing one card. Players must follow suit unless they have no cards of the led suit, in which case they may play any card. The highest card of the led suit wins the trick unless trumped. If a trump card is played, the highest trump card wins the trick.
[0008] In many variations of the game, each player scores 1 point per trick. A
player that wins the exact number of tricks bid receives an additional 10 points for making the contract. Players who miss their contract are thus encouraged to take as

many tricks as possible, which results in other players also missing their contracts.
The player who wins the trick leads to the next trick.
[0009] However, Oh Hell! tends to be a very long game. There are usually at
least 14 rounds in a game in which the number of cards dealt first increase from 1 to 7
and then decrease from 7 to 1. Additionally, many rounds require a substantial
amount of skill, which may not be desirable for some players. Moreover, gambling or
betting for money is not a component of the game.
[0010] In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an improved trick-taking card
game in an effort to overcome the aforementioned obstacles and deficiencies of
conventional trick-taking card games such as Oh Hell!
BRIEF DESCRIPTIPTION [0011] Figure 1 illustrates the Bidding phase. [0012] Figure 2 illustrates the Betting phase. [0013] Figure 2 illustrates to the Change Bid phase. [0014] Figure 4 illustrates the Card Play Phase. [0015] Figure 5 illustrates the Tie-Breaker Phase.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0016] The present disclosure relates to a trick-taking card game that includes betting or gambling for money. For example, some embodiments include a modified version of Oh Hell!, or the like, that may provide for fast-paced casino style play. [0017] In one embodiment, the play of Oh Hell! may be modified to be a one round, 5 card game, which may provide for faster game play (e.g., the game is finished in about 2 minutes instead of about 30 minutes). In various embodiments, a

player must make exactly the number of tricks bid - anything more or less results in a loss.
[0018] A 5 card game may be desirable because less skill is involved than in game play with more than 5 cards. However, even in a 5 card game with 4 players, 32 cards are out and the tough part of the game is calculating the probability of which cards might be out and which cards opponents might be holding based on game play as it evolves. A 10 card open deck of cards may be added in some embodiments so that the number of cards that are unknown is reduced substantially to increase the element of chance. For example, if all the 32 cards were opened up, then the player knows exactly which 20 cards are in play and how many tricks they can make is almost entirely dependent on the cards they get. The skill required is very minimal. [0019] In some embodiments, once players have finished bidding, the players may be given a chance to bet in a no-limit fashion like Texas Hold'em Poker. If a player successfully makes the number of tricks that he or she bid, depending on whether others successfully did the same thing or not, the player either takes the whole pot down or shares it with other winners. Players, like in poker, are free to bluff, get opponents to fold, and take down the pot. In a further embodiment, players can change their bid once the betting is over by paying an extra amount thereby increasing the likelihood of bluffs.
[0020] In some embodiments, the game may be modified to included fewer than 5 cards, or may be modified to include more than 5 cards. While a conventional 52 card deck is discussed in various embodiments, some embodiments may include any suitable deck of cards, which may be customized or of any conventional type. For example, some embodiments may include one or more deck having more or fewer

than 52 cards; more or fewer than 4 suits; and may include more or fewer face cards or numerical cards than a conventional deck of cards. Additionally, any suitable indicators may be used in various embodiments, including tiles, sticks, or the like. [0021] Additionally, while some embodiments discussed herein may relate to game play with physical cards, various embodiments include a computer implemented version of game play that can be played on a computer, smart phone, tablet, and the like. For example, players may play together on one or more device in a location, or one or more player may play against one or more virtual player. In some embodiments, players may play together via the internet or other network, and there may be a server that services game play and betting for the players. [0022] As a non limiting embodiment, Figure 1 relates to Bidding wherein a player has the option to drop out of the game ("Fold") during the bidding phase. The other key elements of the game are the Trump (seen in the north-east quadrant), the Pot (with $3000, in the north-west quadrant) and the set of open cards (in the southeast quadrant).
[0023] Figure 2 relates to Betting wherein all the betting options are available at this point, except one i.e., Raise, are seen here. Raise is applicable only if there is a previous bet, which is not the case here.
[0024] Figure 3 relates to Change Bid wherein the player can change his bid (after seeing what everyone else has bid, or after seeing what everyone else has bet, or even as a strategic move, or any combination of the above). The bids can be seen as follows: West - 1, East - 2, South - 1. The total Pot size is $81,000 which comprises of $27,000 chips from each of the players. The '$' sign is only an indicator and has not relation to the actual currency.

[0025] Figure 4 relates to card Play Phase wherein the West player has won the first trick and has lead the H5 to the second; the North player is folded, the East player has followed suit with the H5 and the South player is contemplating what to do. The rule to be applied is that a trick is won by the highest trump played to it, and if no trumps are played then the highest card in the suit of the first card played to it. A player is allowed to play a trump card only if she is out of cards in the suit of the first card played to the current trick.
[0026] Figure 5 relates to the Tie-Breaker Phase wherein in an event when all players lose, a tie-breaker is played out. This tie-breaker consists of a single trick and a bidding round for this trick.
EXAMPLE GAME RULES AND GAME PLAY OF ONE EMBODIMENT [0027] The game is played with 2 or more players.
[0028] Each player will have enough chips (or other currency) to play the game. [0029] The game is played using 1 or more card decks (standard 52-card decks). [0030] Each player is dealt 2 or more cards.
[0031] Once each player is dealt a pre-determined number of cards, a predetermined number of cards from the leftover cards are opened and placed on the table face-up. These cards make up the "Exposed Pile."
[0032] Similarly, a particular suit is chosen to be the "Trump Suit." All cards of this suit are treated as Trump cards and can beat any card of any of the other suits for taking tricks.
[0033] The number of decks used, the number of players, the number of cards dealt to each player and the size of the Exposed Pile are all related to each other so as to make only some combinations of these practically possible.

[0034] Each player makes an initial "bid" to indicate how many tricks he or she proposes to win during the game. The player then attempts to make exactly that many tricks during the card-play phase. Alternatively, the player may fold at this time. [0035] After all players have bid (or folded), the betting round ensues. One player must place an initial bet or fold. Each subsequent player may call, raise, fold or check the initial bet.
[0036] Calling a bet means the player matches the most recent amount bet or raised. A player who "raises" the bet may increase the size of the bet required to stay in the pot, forcing all subsequent players to call the new amount if they wish to remain in the game. A player who "folds" discards his or her hand and forfeits interest in the current pot. No further bets are required by the folding player, and the folding player does not participate in the trick-taking portion of the game and cannot win the pot. If no one has yet opened the betting round, a player may "check," which is equivalent to calling the current bet of zero. When checking, a player declines to make a bet; this indicates that he does not wish to open, but does wish to keep his cards and retain the right to call or raise later in the same round if an opponent opens. Each player is given at least one chance to call or raise the bet. The betting process concludes when all players have called the bet or have folded. [0037] The table can have an optional upper limit to the total amount that each player may bet in each hand. Players will not be able to raise their bets beyond this limit. Such tables or games may be called "Limit Tables." [0038] If a player does not have a sufficient amount to at least Call (match) the most recent bid, he has the option of going "All-in", in which case the Pot is treated as though every player currently playing has bet an amount equal to the All-in

amount of this player. All leftover chips are transferred to a "Side Pot." This
creation of Side Pots can happen as many times as required.
[0039] When the betting process concludes, one player begins the card-play
process by placing one of his or her cards face on the table. This player serves as the
game's opening leader. Play continues in a predetermined order until each player has
played one card, at which point a "trick" is completed.
[0040] The trick for each round is won by the player who either a) has played the
highest card in the original suit led by the first player, or b) has played the highest
card in the trump suit which has been designated for each round of the game.
[0041] For the purpose of the game, the highest card in a suit is the Ace, followed
by the King, Queen, Jack, Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three and Two.
[0042] Each subsequent trick is started by the player who won the previous trick.
[0043] Players continue to play additional tricks until a pre-determined number of
tricks have been played.
[0044] Players compete in a predetermined number of tricks. When all rounds
are completed, each player will have "Won" a certain number of tricks.
[0045] At this point, the game enters the "Settlement" phase.
[0046] If a player has made exactly as many tricks he has bid for, he is considered
to have "Made" his bid. If he has made either more or less tricks than his bid, he is
considered to have "Not Made" his bid.
[0047] Players who have made their bid get an equal share from all the Pots they
have participated in.
[0048] If a particular Pot has only players who have not made their bid, then
optionally a tie-breaker game is played, the winners of which share the entire pot.

Alternatively, a pre-determined "penalty" for not making the bid may be imposed such that these winning players do not take the entire pot. If no player wins the tiebreaker game, the entire pot is "lost to the house" and is not available to any of the players.
[0049] Once the Settlement is completed, the next game in the sequence repeats above where each player is dealt 2 or more cards.
[0050] The described embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, and specific examples thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the described embodiments are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary, the present disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives.

We claim:
1. A method of playing a trick- taking card game involving 2 or more players ('n') in a
number of hands , the method comprising
distributing a number of cards from a deck of cards amongst a number of players one
of whom is designated as a dealer;
creating an original pot and additional pots;
determining a trump suit for the hand by random selection;
bidding a number of tricks the player deems fit to win the hand;
discarding progressively, a card which is the suit of the card discarded by the first
player to the left of the dealer, by each player for the first trick; and , discarding a
trump or any other card in the absence of the same suit card;
specifying an initial ante and an optional upper limit to a bet amount;
playing a new trick by the winner of the previous trick;
determining the winner of the hand, wherein the number of winners is not limited to
one; and
settling the hand based on the number of bids
characterised in that, the step of determining the winner comprises the number of tricks bid to be exactly equal to the number of tricks actually made.
2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein there may or may not be open cards from the undistributed deck visible to all players.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the players can bid the number of tricks and also optionally fold at the start.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein betting involves giving each player a chance to either fold, check or place an initial bet after looking at their cards and the open cards if any.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein betting involves the player to observe the bid made by the other players and, the subsequent players to call, raise, fold or when there is no initial bet made, to check, fold or themselves place the initial bet.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein calling a bet involves the player matching the most recent amount bet.

7. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 6, wherein after betting, the players have an option to revise their bids.
8. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 7, wherein the player raising the bet may increase the size of the bet by an optional minimum amount, forcing all subsequent players to call the new amount if they wish to remain in the game.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding player can make no further bets.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the player checks the initial bet to zero if no player has bet as yet.
11. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 8, wherein each player has to mandatorily place the ante and, if he doesn't fold during betting, bet for none or some amount in the betting rounds.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the player calls or raises the bet in the subsequent betting round.
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of specifying the optional upper limit bars the players from raising the bet beyond the specified limit in subsequent bets.
14. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 6, wherein a player must bet the entire available amount with him if the player does not have sufficient amount to call the bet, or, at his discretion, fold.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the subsequent bets shall still consider the original required amount to call as the base for calling and / or raising their bets despite a player calling with his available amount short of the required amount to call. .
16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein if a player, who does not have sufficient amount to call the bet, calls with an amount less than the required amount to call.
17. The method as claimed in claim 1 and claim 16, wherein the original pot contains the lowest amount bet times, the number of active players at the time of creation of the new pot, and the combined bets of all players who have folded until the creation of the additional pot.
18. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the additional pot(s) are created for amounts bet in excess of amount comprising the existing pot(s) for each active player who calls the bet for a amount that is lower than what is required to call except when the lower call equals the amount of a previous lower call.

19. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 17, wherein the subsequent bets contribute to the additional pot and players can compete only for those pots to which they have contributed.
20. The method as claimed in claim 1, and 18 wherein there can be at most n-1 pots at a time during the game.
21. The method as claimed in claim 1, the player raises the bet by all the amount available where a minimum amount to raise is fixed and the player does not have the required amount to raise.
22. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of discarding the card is executed until each player has discarded a card and the trick is completed.
23. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the winner of the trick is determined by the player who has played the highest card in the trump suit for the trick or by the player who has played the highest card in the suit played first when no trumps are discarded.
24. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of playing a new trick is carried out until a pre-determined number of tricks have been played.
25. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of settling comprises selecting one or more players who made exactly the same number of tricks which were bid at first.
26. The method as claimed in claims 1 and 25, wherein a new hand is initiated where one or more tricks are to be bid for and made, with or without a reduction in the pot amount payable the winner if no players made the number of tricks that they bid for.
27. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game is repeated with distributing one or more card amongst players.