GB2066086A - Dice game - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for playing a game of chance, comprises: a pair of dice and a board marked with a plurality of spaces to accommodate markers or money to signify that a bet has been placed, the spaces being marked as shown. In a modification, the board is semi-circular with 20 betting spaces. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A game of chance This invention relates to a game of chance.

People have played games of chance with one another throughout recorded history. The methods used by such persons in playing these games have varied from the simplest toss of a coin to the most complex electrical, mechanical and electromechanical devices. Games have been devised not only for two persons to play against one another, but for a number of persons to play against each other and for a number of persons to play against one person, often referred to as representing the "House". In such a game as that last mentioned, each person other than the one representing the House actually is playing a sub-game with the House representative rather than with the other persons, although there may be some common use of parts used for playing the collective game.

One of the most popular games that has been devised of this latter type, where there is a person representing the House, is the game of "craps". The rules of this game are widely published, but generally the game involves the use of a pair of dice wherein the thrower of the dice tries to make a "point", a selectable combination ofthe numbers on the dice determined by a first throwing of the dice. If he throws his "point" before he throws a "7", he wins; otherwise, he loses. However, he also wins if he throws either a "7" or"11" on the first throw of each new round and loses if he throws a "2" on the first throw of a round. Once he loses a round, the thrower passes the dice to another player.

Both the thrower and others can bet with the person representing the House whether the thrower wins or loses. Odds can be changed once the "point" has been established, since the possibilities of throwing some "points" are much smallerthan throwing others, there being fewer combinations of numbers on the dice for some "points" than for others.

Although the game of craps is extremely popular, there are relatively few betting options. Furthermore, a thrower throws the dice until he loses and therefore the dice is not passed from playerto player in very rapid succession.

Another extremely popular game that has been devised for allowing a number of players to play against a person reperesenting the house is the game of roulette, the rules of which are also widely published. This game does provide more betting options tham the game of craps, but the game involves somewhat complicated hardware, not always readily available. The hardware involves a rotatable wheel having a plurality of alternately coloured numbered slots. The wheel is turned to spin freely in a first direction and a ball is spun simultaneously in a track to rotate in the opposite direction to that of the wheel, the track being above the slots and being open on one side to permit the ball to fall out when the centrifugal force of the relative spinning of wheel and ball diminishes as their respective rotations slow down.As a result, the ball falls into one of the slots and determines the criteria for winning.

Players can bet normally on an individual number (paying off at very high odds), on whether the number is odd or even, or on whether the coloured slot is black or red. Another exciting aspect of the game is that many players will bet different ones of these betting options at the same time.

It should be noted that, in addition to the relatively complex hardware just described, another disadwn- tage of this game in the opinion of many players is that the wheel and the ball are always spun by the person representing the House. This is in contrast to every player having an opportunity to throw the dice (with the exception of the person representing the House) in the game of craps described above.

Therefore, in spite of the immense popularity of both craps and roulette, each has drawbacks in the opinion of many players. However, in spite of the fact that each has been played for many, many years by literally millions of persons and in spite of advances in interest and technology which have brought new games to the marketplace in increasing numbers, no game is known prior to that of the invention described herein that has combined the popular characteristics of the games of craps and roulette and has eliminated the perceived shortcomings of both described above.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved game of chance in which the betting options are similar to those of roulette and the playing of the game involves simple hardware similar to that used in the game of craps.

According to this invention, there is provided an apparatus for playing a game of chance, the apparatus comprising: a pair of dice, each dice being marked on each face with the representation of a number; and a board marked with a plurality of spaces to accommodate markers, moneyorthe like placed on the board by a player to signify that a bet has been placed; some of the said spaces being marked with a respective indicium representative of one of the possible sums of two numbers dictated by the dice when the dice have been rolled so that a player placing his marker or money on such a space subsequently wins if the sum indicated on the said space is dictated by the dice; at least one of the spaces being marked with an indication of numerical oddness and at least another being marked with an indication of numerical evenness, so that a player placing his marker or money on said at least one space or said at least another space wins if the sum of the numbers shown on the dice is either a sum selected from a predetermined group of odd numbers, or a sum selected from a predetermined group of even numbers, respectively; and at least two further spaces, each being marked with an indication of a respective further predetermined group of possible sums dictated by the dice so that the player placing his marker or money on such a space wins if the sum of the two numbers dictated by the dice is within the respective predetermined group of possible sums.

Preferably said two further spaces marked with an indication of two further predetermined groups of numbers are marked with representations of colours, each said colour being associated with a respective further predetermined group of possible sums.

Suitably substantially half of the said spaces which are marked with possible sums of numbers dictated by the dice are each marked with the representation of one of the said two colours.

Conveniently at least some of said spaces are each associated with a respective ratio indicating the betting odds relating to a bet placed on the space.

Advantageously each player of the game is represented by a respective player space on the board so that a player may, by placing his money or marker on such a player space, bet on whether the player represented by that space will win or lose.

Preferably a betting odds ratio of 1:1 is associated with each said player space.

Conveniently the apparatus further comprises a vertical dice barrier of which the dice are thrown for each round of play.

Suitably the marking of the dice is such that the said sum of two numbers is inclusively between "2" and "12".

Advantageously each sum from "2" to "12" inclusive is represented by at least one respective space on the board.

Preferably the said spaces marked with numbers inclusively between "2" and "11" are each associated with the said first or the said second colour.

Conveniently the said spaces marked with num bers "3", "4", "6", "9" and "11" are associated with the colour red and the said spaces marked with numbers "2","5","7", "8" and "10" are associated with the colour black.

Advantageously the ratio on the space marked "2" and on the space marked "12" is 18:1; on the spaces marked respectively "3" and "11" is 12:1; on the spaces marked respectively "4" and "10" is 6:1; on the spaces "5" and "9" is 5:1; on the spaces marked "6" and "8" is 4:1; and on the space marked "7" is 3:1.

Suitably the said first colour is red and the said second colour is black.

Preferably the space marked with the indication of the first colour and the space marked with the indication of the second colour are respectively additionally marked with the ratio 1:1.

Conveniently the said predetermined group of odd numbers comprises 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and the said predetermined group of even numbers comprises 2, 4,6,8and10.

Advantageously the board is marked with spaces respectively indicating the pairing of two identical numbers, one number being chosen from each dice.

Suitably the sum of the said two identical numbers is in each case one of the following "2", "4", "6", "8" or "10".

Conveniently each space indicating a pair is additionally marked with the ratio 18:1.

So that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, a game in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the markings present on a rectangular board and a perspective view of two dice used for playing a game in accordance with the invention; and FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the markings present on a semicircular board, and a perspective view of two dice used for playing another game in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows the layout of a board used for play- ing a game, in accordance with the invention, to be described hereinafter. The board may be paper, cloth, painted on a table top or presented in any other convenient arrangement, and comprises thirty separate areas arranged in a six-by-five matrix. The top row of six individual areas includes five areas, 10 to 14, marked respectively with the following num erals: "2", "4", "6", "8" and "10". Area 16, which is the left-hand area of the top row, is marked "18/1", which is the betting odds for any of the numbers in the top row. The significance of the markings of the board will be described later.

The second row down includes areas 20 to 24, respectively marked with the following numerals: "3", "4", "6", "9" and "11". These areas are col- oured red and each area indicates a respective payoff odds as follows: for "3", "12/1 "; for "4", "6/1"; for "6", "4/1"; for"9", "5/1"; and for"11", "12/1". Area 26, which is the left-hand of the row is marked "PAYS 1/1 ANY NO.", which applies to betting the colour of the row.

The third row includes areas 30 to 34 which are respectively marked with the following numerals: "2","5", "7", "8" and "10". In addition, each of these areas is coloured black and includes in the area the payoff odds as follows: for "2", "18/1"; for "5", "5/1"; for"7", "3/1"; for"8", "4/1"; and for"l0", "6/1". Area 36, which is the left-hand area of thins row, is marked "PAYS 1/1 ANY NO.", which signifies the payoff odds for playing or betting the colour black.

The fourth row includes an area 40 marked "RED LINE NO.1/1"; an area 41 marked "BLACK LINE NO.

1/1"; an area 42 marked "EVEN NO. 1/1"; an area 43 marked "ODD NO. 1/1"; and an area 44 which is marked "HOUSE 12 18/1". These areas provide betting on various options of the game.

Finally, the six areas 50 to 55 of the bottom row are marked respectively "Player 1", "Player 2", "Player 3", "Player4", "Player 5", and "Player6".

A pair of conventional dice 60 and 61 are used to determine the winning events for each round of play; In a fashion typical for the game of craps, the dice are rolled on a designated surface (not shown) against a barrier so that the dice bounce off the barrier on each roll. The surface may include a mound over which the dice roll in addition to bouncing off the barrier. In any event, the number which is shown on the top faces of the dice constitutes the criterion for determining whether persons who play the various betting options win or lose with respect to the bets they have placed.

The first betting option that the players have is with respect to betting the individual numbers shown in the second and third rows and in area 44.

For example, a player betting on the number "4" would win at the odds of 6-to-1 on a throw of dice such as illustrated in Figure 1. Were the thrower two th row a "2" or a "12" on which the player had bet, payoff would be at 18-to-1. Similarly, the payoff would be as indicated in the lower left-hand corner of the respective areas for playing the respective selectable numbers "2" to "12" on these areas.

The second betting option for a player of the game is to bet either the red line by placing his bets in area 40 or by playing the black line by placing his bets in area 41. If the number "3", "4", "6", "9" or "11" is thrown and the player has played in area 40, then he is paid at even odds by the person representing the House. Likewise, if he played area 41 and any ofthe numbers "2", "5", "7", "8" and "10" were thrown, the person representing the house would pay the player at even odds.

The third option of play involves betting that the thrower of the dice will throw either an even number ("2", "4", "6", "8" or "10") or an odd number ("3", "5", "7", "9" or "11 "). The player, if he thought an even number would be thrown, would bet in area 42.

Otherwise, if he thought an odd number would be thrown he would bet in area 43.

It should be noted that in betting the colour options and in betting the even-odds option, the number "12" is excluded from play. In other words, should a "12" be thrown, the players playing under these options would lose to the House.

The fourth option of play involves "betting with the thrower of the dice". If the betting playing is of the opinion that the thrower will win his bet, then he plays the appropriate area 50 to 55 which is in front of him to signify to the person representing the House that he is playing with the thrower. If the thrower then wins, the player who is playing with him also wins.

Finally, the fifth option of play involves playing one of areas lotto 14,the so-called "hard" numbers.

It should be noted that each of these numbers can only be made by throwing "doubles", or a number which is identical on each of the two dice. For exampie, if each die had a "2" on it to represent the number"4", a person playing in area 11 would be paid off at 18-to-1 odds. However, if any other number was thrown by one die indicating "1" and the other die indicating "3", then the player playing area 11 would lose.

An individual player playing this game can play one or more options as outlined above and can even play more than one number, if he so chooses.

After each throw, which constitutes a round of play, the dice are handed to the next person in sequence until all players have thrown the dice. The dice are usually passed from left to right. The person representing the House is not included in the players throwing the dice.

Figure 2 illustrates a different layout of a board for playing the present game invention, wherein the board is semi-circular. The person representing the House would be normally seated just beyond a bar rier70 and the individual players would be seated around the semi-circular edge of the playing board.

Although five player areas are marked, the number may be less or greater than that. In this arrangement dice 71 and 72 are thrown against the barrier 70 and come to rest in area 73, which is the internal concentric area about which the betting areas are arranged.

Whilst two particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made and will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the colours red and black have been chosen as the two colours for which betting is applied, and the drawings are shaded to represent these colours. Different or additional colours may be included on any particular board. Also the colour betting has been arranged so that the numbers "3", "4", "6", "9" and "11 " are grouped and the numbers "2", "5", "7", "8" and "10" are grouped. As will be noted by count- ing the payoff odds in the respective areas, this arrangement provides an even betting situation.

However, other arrangements or groupings can be made to obtain the same result. Furthermore, the odds themselves which are indicated are useful odds; however, these odds can be changed in any particular board arrangement.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an improved game of chance in which the betting options include the betting options of the game of roulette as well as those of the game of craps and wherein the rounds of the game are by a throw of a pair of dice such that each successive throw is by a different player. The game combines features of the game of craps and the game of roulette and to provide at least one additional betting option not included in either game.

Claims (21)

1. An apparatus for playing a game of chance, the apparatus comprising: a pair of dice, each die being marked on each face with the representation of a number; and a board marked with a plurality of spaces to accommodate markers, money or the like placed on the board buy a player to signify that a bet has been placed; some of the said spaces being marked with a representative of one of the possible sums of two numbers dictated by the dice when the dice have been rolled so that a player placing his marker or money on such a space subsequently wins if the sum indicated on the said space is dictated by the dice; at least one of the spaces being marked with an indication of numerical oddness and at least another being marked with an indication of numerical evenness, so that a player placing his marker or money on said at least one space or said at least another space wins if the sum of the numbers shown on the dice is either a sum selected from a predetermined group of odd numbers, our a sum selected from a predetermined group of even numbers, respectively, and at least two further spaces, each being marked with an indication of a respective further predetermined group of possible sums dictated by the dice so that the player placing his marker or money on such a space wins if the sum of the two numbers dictated by the dice is within the respective predetermined group of possible sums.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said two further spaces marked with an indication of two further predetermined groups of numbers are marked with representations of colours, each said colour being associated with a respective further predetermined group of possible sums.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein substantially half of the said spaces which are marked with possible sums of numbers dictated by the dice are each marked with the representation of one of the said two colours, and the remainder of the said spaces are marked with the second colour.

4. An apparatus for playing a game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least some of said spaces are each associated with a respective ratio indicating the betting odds relating to a bet placed on the space.

5. An apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein each player of the game is represented by a respective player space on the board so that a player may, by placing his money or marker on such a player space, bet on whether the player represented by that space will win or lose.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a betting odds ratio of 1:1 is associated with each said player space.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a vertical dice barrier of which the dice are thrown for each round of play.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the marking of the dice is such that said sum of two numbers is inclusively between "2" and "12".

9. An apparatus according to any one of the pre ceding claims wherein, each sum from "2" to "12" inclusive is represented by at least one respective space on the board.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein, the said spaces marked with numbers inclusively between "2" and "11" are each associated with the said first or the said second colour.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein, the said spaces marked with numbers "3", "4", "6", "9" and "11" are associated with the colour red and the said spaces marked with numbers "2", "5", "7", "8" and "10" are associated with the colour black.

12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein, each of the spaces of claim 9 is marked with a ratio such that: the ratio on the space marked "2" and on the space marked "12" is 18:1; on the spaces marked respectively"3 and "11" is 12:1; on the spaces marked respectively "4" and "10" is 6:1; on the spaces marked "5" and "9" is 5:1; on the spaces marked "6" and "8" is 4:1; and on the space marked "7" is 3:1.

13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the said first colour is red and the said second colour is black.

14. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the space marked with the indication of the first colour and the space marked with the indication of the second colour are respectively additionally marked with the ratio 1:1.

15. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said predetermined group of odd numbers comprises 3, 5,7,9 and 11 and the said predetermined group of even numbers comprises 2,4,6,8 and 10.

16. An apparatus to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the board is marked with spaces respectively indicating the pairing of two identical numbers, one number being chosen from each dice.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein, the sum of the said two identical numbers is in each case one ofthe following: "2", "4", "6", "8" o r " 10".

18. An apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein, each space indicating a pairing is additionally marked with the ratio 18:1.

19. Apparatus for playing a game of chance substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

20. Apparatus for play a game of chance substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

21. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.