Game Cards

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/564,916 filed Mar. 13, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to playing cards, and in particular, to cards for playing poker card and Hwatu card games.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Playing cards have been important in many cultures. Through the global cultural evolution, standard size and card values of poker cards have become universal. A standard deck of poker cards includes 52 cards divided into four different suits (i.e. spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds), and each suit has 13 numbered/ranked cards (numbered from Ace to 10, Jack, Queen, and King). The typical deck of poker cards also comes with 2 joker cards that are sometimes ignored or used as wild cards in certain games. Although the back of poker cards can be uniquely designed, the look and feel of poker cards are the same wherever you go in the world. The uniform size of poker cards are 2.5 inches×3.5 inches (6.35 cm×8.89 cm). The types of games that can be played with poker cards are too numerous to count, but certain games such as Texas Hold'em, Gin, 7-Card stud are ubiquitous.

In Asia, another type of playing cards was invented. Hwatu in Korean (or Hanafuda in Japanese) is a traditional playing card deck that translates to “flower cards.” Hwatu (or flower) cards are smaller than traditional poker cards, measuring 1.26 inches×2.13 inches (3.2 cm×5.4 cm), but are thicker and stiffer. The typical deck of flower cards includes 48 cards, divided into 12 suits of four cards each. Each suit represents a month of the year and has an image of a flower or plant associated with that month. The deck can also include up to 6 joker cards that can be added to the game. As with poker cards, a number of different games have been invented to use the flower cards. However, none is as popular as the Go-Stop game originating in Korea, which is the most popular gambling game using the flower cards. Go-Stop has an elaborate set of rules, where the goal is to earn points based on cards collected (with varying points based on different combinations of collected cards). Players capture cards from a central layout by playing a card of the same month. The aim is to collect scoring combinations among the cards captured. When a player's captures have a sufficient value, the player can stop the game and claim payment, or can continue the game (go) in the hope of winning more, but risking that an opponent will meanwhile win. It is this decision to stop or go that gives the game its name.

In Go-Stop, the only way to collect cards is to find matching pairs within a suit of cards, but points are calculated by the card types. There are 4 cards corresponding to each of the 12 months of the year, in most cases represented by a flower appropriate to the month. Some of these cards also show a ribbon, animal or other object, indicating a higher value. The cards are divided into four unequal groups: 5 Bright (kwang), 9 Animals (yul), 10 Ribbons (tti) and 24 Junk (pi). Bright cards have a red circle with a white Chinese character; Ribbon cards have a strip of ribbon with or without writing; Animal cards have animals, insects or flowers with more intricate designs; and Junk cards are basic cards with simple designs. There are a subset of Junk cards known as Double Junk (sang pi), which count as double value of a Junk card.

For reference, FIG. 2 shows a deck 10 of standard Hwatu or flower cards broken down in the 12 matching suits that are representative of each month of the calendar year. The different types of cards are associated with reference numbers. Specifically, the five Bright cards 20, the ten Ribbon cards 30, and nine Animal cards 40 are noted on FIG. 2. The subset of Junk cards known as Double Junk cards 50 (including two cards that are both Animal cards 40 and Double Junk cards 50) and the remaining Junk cards are also shown in FIG. 2.

Although Go-Stop is immensely popular in Asia, due to the unfamiliarity of the card deck in Western countries as well as a difference in the shape and feel of the cards, it has not entered Western casinos.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address these problems, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a single deck of cards that can be used to play both traditional poker card games and Hwatu or flower card games such as Go-Stop.

In embodiments of the present invention, a gaming apparatus that can be used to play poker card games and Hwatu card games includes a deck of cards that has at least 52 cards, in which each of the at least 52 cards has standard markings denoting one of 13 ranks and one of 4 suits in a standard deck of cards, and also has at least one specialty symbol denoting at least one of 5 types of a corresponding card in a Hwatu deck of cards. The at least one specialty symbol denoting the at least one type of corresponding Hwatu card is positioned near the standard markings denoting the one of 13 ranks and the one of 4 suits in the standard deck of cards. In addition, a set of 4 cards with the same one of the 13 ranks in the standard deck of cards corresponds to a set of 4 matching cards for one of 12 months in the Hwatu deck of cards. Further, 4 cards of one of the 13 ranks in the standard deck of cards correspond to additional Double Junk type of cards for use in Hwatu card games. In particular embodiments, the 4 cards of the rank of Kings in the standard deck of cards corresponds to the additional Double Junk cards for use in Hwatu card games.

In some embodiments, the at least one specialty symbol is a Kwang symbol denoting a Bright type of card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The Kwang symbol may be of a first color denoting a first Bright card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The Kwang symbol may also be of a second color denoting a second Bright card in the Hwatu deck of cards, in which cards having Kwang symbols of the first color earn different points from cards having the Kwang symbol of the second color. In additional embodiments, the at least one specialty symbol is an animal or object

symbol denoting an Animal type of card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The animal symbol may be of a first color denoting a first Animal card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The animal symbol may also be of a second color denoting a second Animal card in the Hwatu deck of cards, in which cards having animal symbols of the first color earn different points from cards having the animal symbol of the second color.

In other embodiments, the at least one specialty symbol is a ribbon symbol denoting a Ribbon type of card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The ribbon symbol may be of a first color denoting a first Ribbon card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The ribbon symbol may also be of a second color denoting a second Ribbon card in the Hwatu deck of cards, in which cards having ribbon symbols of the first color earn different points from cards having the ribbon symbol of the second color.

In further embodiments, the at least one specialty symbol is a letter symbol denoting a Junk type of card in the Hwatu deck of cards. The at least one specialty symbol may also be a double-letter symbol denoting a Double Junk type of card in the Hwatu deck of cards. In yet other embodiments, the deck includes at least 53 cards, one of which is a Joker in the standard deck of cards that corresponds to at least one Double Junk type of card for use in Hwatu card games.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

FIG. 1a illustrates a complete deck of cards for playing poker card games and Hwatu card games in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1b illustrates a complete deck of cards for playing poker card games and Hwatu card games in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a deck of traditional Hwatu or flower cards found in the prior art for reference.

FIG. 3 is a table listing a standard deck of poker cards and corresponding Hwatu cards according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4a is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of diamonds in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4b is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of diamonds in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4c is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of clubs in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4d is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of clubs in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4e is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of spades in FIG. 1a according to an

embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4f is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of spades in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4g is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of hearts in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4h is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of hearts in FIG. 1a according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5a is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of diamonds in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5b is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of diamonds in FIG. 1b according

to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5c is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of clubs in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5d is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of clubs in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5e is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of spades in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5f is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of spades in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5g is an enlarged view showing the Ace to 10 of hearts in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5h is an enlarged view showing the Jack to King of hearts in FIG. 1b according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the Jokers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a single card deck that can be used for all poker games as well as Hwatu or flower card games. In preferred embodiments, the deck of cards includes at least 52 cards with typical poker card numbers/ranks and suits as well as specialty markings or symbols for purposes of Hwatu or flower card games such as Go-Stop. The deck of cards may also include and use the 2 jokers in the standard deck for the Hwatu card game. The enclosed figures in this application show various embodiments of the cards. However, different correspondence between the standard poker cards and Hwatu cards is within the scope of this invention. The inventive concept is the combination of the two completely different card decks in a single card deck.

As seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a corresponding Hwatu card is made for each poker card in a standard deck of cards. FIG. 1a shows a deck 100 of cards in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, in which a corresponding Hwatu card is pictured on each poker card, making it easy to correlate the Hwatu cards to the poker cards. Corresponding Hwatu symbols are also pictured in the corners of each poker card near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. FIG. 1b shows another deck 100′ of cards in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which corresponding Hwatu symbols are pictured in the corners of each poker card near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. Since matching pairs within the same month are important during gameplay in Go-Stop, a set of the same numbered/ranked cards of all suits (i.e. diamonds ♦, clubs , spades , and hearts ♥) represent one set of matching cards within the same month for Go-Stop. Specifically, the Aces are one set of matching cards, 2s are another set of matching cards, 3s are another matching set, etc. The Kings have no directly corresponding Hwatu card, but are denoted as Double Junk (PP) in the Go-Stop game. For case of reference in this application, individual cards are referred to by their respective number/rank and suit symbol, such as Ace of spades is designated A , 2 of hearts is designated 2 ♥, Jack of clubs is designated J , King of diamonds is designated K ♦, etc.

FIG. 3 shows a table listing a standard deck of poker cards and corresponding Hwatu cards according to embodiments of the present invention. Specialty markings include corresponding Hwatu symbols on the cards to represent the different types of Hwatu cards (e.g, Bright, Animal, Ribbon, Junk/Double Junk). The Hwatu symbols include Kwang symbols for the Bright cards, miniature versions of the respective animal or object pictured on the Hwatu card for the Animal cards, different colored ribbons for the Ribbon cards, a “P” designation for the Junk cards, and a “PP” designation for the Double Junk cards. The figures and accompanying description in this application illustrate Hwatu symbols in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, but in alterative embodiments, other symbols or characters may be used for the Hwatu symbols to denote the different types of Hwatu cards.

Generally, poker card suits rank in decreasing value from spades, hearts, clubs, to diamonds, with spades being of the highest value and diamonds being of the lowest value. Similarly, in different variations of Go-Stop, the types of Hwatu cards have decreasing point values with Bright cards having the highest point values, then Animal cards, then Ribbon cards, and Junk cards having the lowest or no point values. Thus, the Bright cards generally correspond to cards with spades, the Animal cards correspond to cards with spades (for months/ranks with no Bright card) or hearts (for months/ranks with Bright cards), the Ribbon cards correspond to cards with hearts, and the Junk and Double Junk cards correspond to cards with clubs and diamonds. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Kings are all denoted as Double Junk cards.

As seen in FIGS. 4a-4h, the cards in the deck 100 shown in FIG. 1a are enlarged to show the corresponding Hwatu card pictured on each poker card, making it easy to correlate the poker cards to the Hwatu cards. Referring to FIGS. 1a and 2, the Aces correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 1^st month of January, the 2s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 2^nd month of February, the 3s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 3^rd month of March, the 4s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 4^th month of April, the 5s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 5^th month of May, the 6s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 6^th month of June, the 7s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 7^th month of July, the 8s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 8^th month of August, the 9s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 9^th month of September, the 10s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 10^th month of October, the Jacks correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 11^th month of November, and the Queens correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 12^th month of December. The Kings have no directly corresponding Hwatu card, but are denoted as Double Junk (PP) cards for the Hwatu deck of cards. In some variations of Go-Stop, collecting all the cards for a particular month can earn additional points. For example, collecting all the Hwatu cards for the month of October can earn additional points, and in the illustrated embodiment, the Hwatu cards for October are easily identified as the 10s because October is the 10^th month. In this manner, corresponding ranks of the poker cards to months of the Hwatu cards facilitates differentiating between the different Hwatu cards in a certain month during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. However, in alternative embodiments, different correspondence may be used between the ranks of the poker cards and the months of the Hwatu cards as long as the four cards belonging to a selected rank of poker cards correspond to the four cards belonging to a certain month of Hwatu cards. Referring to FIG. 6, the Joker cards also have no directly corresponding Hwatu card, but are denoted as Double Junk (PP) cards for the Hwatu deck of cards. In various embodiments, the Joker cards may be included in, or may be omitted from, the deck 100 of cards.

Referring to FIGS. 1a, 3, and 4a-4h, with FIGS. 4a-4h showing enlargements of the cards in the deck 100 illustrated in FIG. 1a, the cards include corresponding Hwatu symbols pictured in the corners near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. For the five Bright cards, four Bright cards A 370, 3 390, 8 440, and J 470 include a Kwang symbol 372, 392, 442, and 472 of a first color, and one Bright card Q 480 includes a Kwang symbol 482 of a second color, which distinguishes it from the other Bright cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. For example, the four Bright cards A 370, 3 390, 8 440, and J 470 can include a red Kwang symbol 372, 392, 442, and 472, and the other Bright card Q 480 can include a black Kwang symbol 482. However, in alternative embodiments, Kwang symbols of other colors may be used. Also, different symbols than the Kwang symbol may be used to denote the Bright cards as long as the same symbol is used to denote all the Bright cards. In different variations of Go-Stop, each Bright card can earn points, or collecting three or more Bright cards can earn points. In some variations, collecting the Bright card Q 480 with the black Kwang symbol 482 in combination with two Bright cards A 370, 3 390, 8 440, and/or J 470 with the red Kwang symbol 372, 392, 442, and/or 472 can earn less points than collecting three Bright cards A 370, 3 390, 8 440, and/or J 470 with the red Kwang symbol 372, 392, 442, and/or 472. In this manner, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Bright cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules.

For the nine Animal cards, seven Animal cards 2 380, 4 400, 6 420, 7 430, 8 570, 10 460, and Q 610 include a miniature animal 382, 402, 422, 432, 572, 462, and 612 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The corresponding Hwatu symbols 382, 402, 422, 432, 572, 462, and 612 picture small animals similar to the animal 384, 404, 424, 434, 574, 464, and 614 pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. For example, the 2 380, 4 400, and Q 610 include pictures of birds 382, 402, and 612, the 6 420 includes a butterfly 422, the 7 430 includes a boar 432, the 8 570 includes three birds 572, and the 10 460 includes a deer 462. In some embodiments, the Q card 610 includes a black bird 612, which distinguishes it from the other Animal cards including colored animals 382, 402, 422, 432, 572, and/or 462 during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. However, in alternative embodiments, animal symbols of other colors may be used.

The other two “Animal” cards (5 410 and 9 450) include a miniature object 412 and 452 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The corresponding Hwatu symbols 412 and 452 picture small objects/plants similar to the objects/plants 414 and 454 pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. As illustrated, the 5 410 and 9 450 cards also include a Double Junk (PP) symbol 416 and 456 in the corners of each card, since these cards can be counted as Animal cards or Double Junk cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. In different variations of Go-Stop, each Animal card can earn points, or collecting five or more Animal cards can earn points. In some variations of Go-Stop, collecting the Animal card Q♥ 610 with the black bird 612 is excluded from earning additional points. For example, the set of three Animal cards 2 380, 4 400, and 8♥ 570 with colored birds 382, 402, and 572 designate a set of cards that earns special points during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules, but the Animal card Q♥ 610 with the black bird 612 is excluded from being counted as part of this special set despite including a picture of a bird. In this manner, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Animal cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. In alternative embodiments, different symbols than the particular animals or objects may be used to denote the Animal cards.

The ten Ribbon cards include a ribbon of a particular color as the corresponding Hwatu symbol in the corner of each card near the number/rank and suit portion of each card. Three Ribbon cards (A♥ 500, 2♥ 510, and 3♥ 520) include a ribbon of a first color 502, 512, and 522; another three Ribbon cards (6♥ 550, 9♥ 580, and 10♥ 590) include a ribbon of a second color 552, 582, and 592; another three Ribbon cards (4♥ 530, 5♥ 540, and 7♥ 560) include a ribbon of a third color 532, 542, and 562; and the last Ribbon card (Q♦ 220) includes a ribbon of a fourth color 222, which distinguishes it from the other Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a, 3, and 4a-4h, the Ribbon cards A♥ 500, 2♥ 510, and 3♥ 520 include a red ribbon 502, 512, and 522 that is similar to the red ribbon with writing 504, 514, and 524 pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The Ribbon cards 6♥ 550, 9♥ 580, and 10♥ 590 include a blue ribbon 552, 582, and 592 that is similar to the blue ribbon with writing 554, 584, and 594 pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The Ribbon cards 4♥ 530, 5♥ 540, and 7♥ 560 include a green ribbon 532, 542, and 562 to represent the red ribbon without writing 534, 544, and 564 pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The last Ribbon card Q♦ 220 includes a black ribbon 222, which distinguishes it from the other Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. However, in alternative embodiments, ribbon symbols of other colors may be used. Also, different symbols than the ribbon symbol may be used to denote the Ribbon cards as long as the same symbol is used to denote all the Ribbon cards. In different variations of Go-Stop, the red, blue, and green ribbons on the corners of their respective cards designate sets of three cards that earn special points during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. For example, collecting all three cards A♥ 500, 2♥ 510, and 3♥ 520 with the red ribbons, all three cards 6♥ 550, 9♥ 580, and 10♥ 590 with the blue ribbons, or all three cards 4♥ 530, 5♥ 540, and 7♥ 560 with the green ribbons earns additional points during scoring. Additionally, each Ribbon card can earn points, or collecting five or more Ribbon cards can earn points, but in some variations, collecting the Ribbon card Q♦ 220 with the black ribbon 222 is excluded from earning points. In this manner, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules.

Other than the Bright, Animal, and Ribbon cards, the remaining cards are Junk cards that include a P designation as the corresponding Hwatu symbol in the corners near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. A subset of the Junk cards are designated as Double Junk cards that include a PP designation as the corresponding Hwatu symbol in the corners near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. The Double Junk (PP) cards are counted as two Junk cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. However, in alternative embodiments, different letters or symbols may be used to denote the Junk and Double Junk cards as long as the same symbols are used to denote all the Junk and Double Junk cards respectively. Again referring to FIGS. 1a, 3, and 4a-4h, with FIGS. 4a-4h showing enlargements of the cards in the deck 100 illustrated in FIG. 1a, the Junk cards A♦ 110, 2♦ 120, 3♦ 130, 4♦ 140, 5♦ 150, 6♦ 160, 7♦ 170, 8♦ 180, 9♦ 190, 10♦ 200, J♦ 210, A 240, 2 250, 3 260, 4 270, 5 280, 6 290, 7 300, 8 310, 9 320, 10 330, and J 340 include a P designation 112, 122, 132, 142, 152, 162, 172, 182, 192, 202, 212, 242, 252, 262, 272, 282, 292, 302, 312, 322, 332, and 342 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The Double Junk cards J♥ 600, Q 350, 5 410, and 9 450 include a PP designation 602, 352, 416, and 456 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. Because a traditional Hwatu deck includes 48 cards and a traditional poker deck includes 52 cards, all four King cards (K 490, K♥ 620, K360, and K♦ 230) in the illustrated deck of cards are also designated as Double Junk (PP) cards and include a PP designation 492, 622, 362, and 232 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. This variation on the Go-Stop game is a unique way to handle the additional cards of a standard poker deck versus the Hwatu deck of cards, where the use of the Double Junk (PP) cards fits well into the scoring system of Go-Stop. As previously mentioned, the 5 410 and 9 450 cards include both the Double Junk (PP) designation with the PP Hwatu symbols 416 and 456 as well as the “Animal” designation with the small objects/plants Hwatu symbols 412 and 452. Referring to FIG. 6, the Joker cards 700 are also designated as Double Junk (PP) cards and include a PP designation 702 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. In various embodiments, the Joker cards 700 may be included in, or may be omitted from, the deck 100 of cards. In different variations of Go-Stop, collecting ten or more Junk cards can earn points, and the Double Junk cards count as two Junk cards, or alternatively, the Junk and Double Junk cards earn no points. In this manner, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different designations (P and PP) facilitates differentiating between the Junk and Double Junk cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. Also, designating all four King cards (K, K♥, K, and K♦) as Double Junk (PP) cards facilitates using the illustrated poker deck of cards for both poker-type games and Go-Stop or other Hwatu-type games.

As seen in FIGS. 5a-5h, the cards in the deck 100′ shown in FIG. 1b are enlarged to show generally typical poker cards with the number/rank and suit portions in opposite corners of the cards along with the corresponding number of suit symbols (♥♦) pictured on the cards, instead of the corresponding Hwatu card pictured on each card as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 4a-4h. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 4a-4h, the cards shown in FIGS. 1b and 5a-5h include corresponding Hwatu symbols pictured in the corners near the number/rank and suit portions of each card, with FIG. 3 again listing a standard deck of poker cards and corresponding Hwatu cards in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 5a-5h. As described above, specialty markings include corresponding Hwatu symbols to represent the different types of Hwatu cards (e.g, Bright, Animal, Ribbon, Junk/Double Junk).

Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 4a-4h, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 5a-5h shows a set of the same numbered/ranked cards of all suits in the standard deck corresponds to one set of matching cards within the same month for the Hwatu cards. The Aces correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 1^st month of January, the 2s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 2^nd month of February, the 3s correspond to the Hwatu cards for the 3^rd month of March, etc. Again, the Kings have no directly corresponding Hwatu card, but are denoted as Double Junk (PP) for the Hwatu deck of cards. Also, referring to FIG. 6, the Joker cards have no directly corresponding Hwatu card, but are denoted as Double Junk (PP) cards for the Hwatu deck of cards. In various embodiments, the Joker cards may be included in, or may be omitted from, the deck 100′ of cards.

Referring to FIGS. 1b, 3, and 5a-5h, with FIGS. 5a-5h showing enlargements of the cards in the deck 100′ illustrated in FIG. 1b, the cards also include corresponding Hwatu symbols pictured in the corners near the number/rank and suit portions of each card. The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1b and 5a-5h uses similar reference numbering to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1a and 4a-4h for ease of reference to similar elements within the embodiments.

For the five Bright cards, four Bright cards A 370′, 3 390′, 8 440′, and J 470′ include a Kwang symbol 372′, 392′, 442′, and 472′ of a first color, and one Bright card Q 480′ includes a Kwang symbol 482′ of a second color, which distinguishes it from the other Bright cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. For example, the four Bright cards A 370′, 3 390′, 8 440′, and J 470′ can include a red Kwang symbol 372′, 392′, 442′, and 472′, and the other Bright card Q 480′ can include a black Kwang symbol 482′. Similar to other embodiments, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Bright cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules.

For the nine Animal cards, seven Animal cards 2 380′, 4 400′, 6 420′, 7 430′, 8♥ 570′, 10 460′, and Q♥ 610′ include a miniature animal 382′, 402′, 422′, 432′, 572′, 462′, and 612′ as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The corresponding Hwatu symbols 382′, 402′, 422′, 432′, 572′, 462′, and 612′ picture small animals similar to the animal pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. For example, the 2 380′, 4 400′, and Q♥ 610′ include pictures of birds 382′, 402′, and 612′, the 6 420′ includes a butterfly 422′, the 7 430′ includes a boar 432′, the 8♥ 570′ includes three birds 572′, and the 10♥ 460′ includes a deer 462′. In some embodiments, the Q♥ card 610′ includes a black bird 612′, which distinguishes it from the other Animal cards including colored animals 382′, 402′, 422′, 432′, 572′, and/or 462′ during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. The other two “Animal” cards (5 410′ and 9 450′) include a miniature object 412′ and 452′ as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The corresponding Hwatu symbols 412′ and 452′ picture small objects/plants similar to the objects/plants pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. As illustrated, the 5 410′ and 9 450′ cards also include a Double Junk (PP) symbol 416′ and 456′ in the corners of each card, since these cards can be counted as Animal cards or Double Junk cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. Similar to other embodiments, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Animal cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules.

The ten Ribbon cards include a ribbon of a particular color as the corresponding Hwatu symbol in the corner of each card near the number/rank and suit portion of each card. Three Ribbon cards (A♥ 500′, 2♥ 510 40 , and 3♥ 520′) include a ribbon of a first color 502′, 512′, and 522′; another three Ribbon cards (6♥ 550′, 9♥ 580′, and 10♥ 590′) include a ribbon of a second color 552′, 582′, and 592′; another three Ribbon cards (4♥ 530′, 5♥ 540′, and 7♥ 560′) include a ribbon of a third color 532′, 542′, and 562′; and the last Ribbon card (Q+220′) includes a ribbon of a fourth color 222′, which distinguishes it from the other Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1b, 3, and 5a-5h, the Ribbon cards A♥ 500′, 2♥ 510′, and 3♥ 520′ include a red ribbon 502′, 512′, and 522′ that is similar to the red ribbon with writing pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The Ribbon cards 6♥ 550′, 9♥ 580′, and 10♥ 590′ include a blue ribbon 552′, 582′, and 592′ that is similar to the blue ribbon with writing pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The Ribbon cards 4♥ 530′, 5♥ 540′, and 7♥ 560′ include a green ribbon 532′, 542′, and 562′ to represent the red ribbon without writing pictured on the corresponding Hwatu card. The last Ribbon card Q♦ 220′ includes a black ribbon 222′, which distinguishes it from the other Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. Similar to other embodiments, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different colors facilitates differentiating between the different Ribbon cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules.

The remaining cards are Junk cards that include a P designation as the corresponding Hwatu symbol, and a subset of the Junk cards are designated as Double Junk cards that include a PP designation as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. Again referring to FIGS. 1b, 3, and 5a-5h, with FIGS. 5a-5h showing enlargements of the cards in the deck 100′ illustrated in FIG. 1b, the Junk cards A♦ 110′, 2♦ 120′, 3♦ 130′, 4♦ 140′, 5♦ 150′, 6♦ 160′, 7♦ 170′, 8♦ 180′, 9♦ 190′, 10♦ 200′, J♦ 210′, A 240′, 2 250′, 3 260′, 4 270′, 5 280′, 6 290′, 7 300′, 8 310′, 9 320′, 10 330′, and J 340′ include a P designation 112′, 122′, 132′, 142′, 152′, 162′, 172′, 182′, 192′, 202′, 212′, 242′, 252′, 262′, 272′, 282′, 292′, 302′, 312′, 322′, 332′, and 342′ as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. The Double Junk cards J♥ 600′, Q 350′, 5 410′, and 9♦ 450′ include a PP designation 602′, 352′, 416′, and 456′ as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. Similar to other embodiments, all four King cards (K 490′, K♥ 620′, K 360′, and K♦ 230′) in the illustrated deck of cards are also designated as Double Junk (PP) cards and include a PP designation 492′, 622′, 362′, and 232′ as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. This variation on the

Go-Stop game is a unique way to handle the additional cards of a standard poker deck versus the Hwatu deck of cards, where the use of the PP fits well into the scoring system of Go-Stop. As previously mentioned, the 5 410′ and 9 450′ cards include both the Double Junk (PP) designation with the PP Hwatu symbols 416′ and 456′ as well as the “Animal” designation with the small objects/plants Hwatu symbols 412′ and 452′. Again referring to FIG. 6, the Joker cards 700 are also designated as Double Junk (PP) cards and include a PP designation 702 as the corresponding Hwatu symbol. In various embodiments, the Joker cards 700 may be included in, or may be omitted from, the deck 100′ of cards. Similar to other embodiments, utilizing corresponding Hwatu symbols of different designations (P and PP) facilitates differentiating between the Junk and Double Junk cards during scoring according to the Go-Stop rules. Also, designating all four King cards (K, K♥, K, and K♦) as Double Junk (PP) cards facilitates using the illustrated deck 100′ of cards for both poker-type games and Go-Stop or other Hwatu-type games.

The advantage of the present invention is that the handling of poker cards is well known by casino dealers. Once the rules of Hwatu-type card games such as Go-Stop are taught to the dealers, Go-Stop or other Hwatu-type card games can actually be played at casinos using standard sized and shaped poker cards with specialty markings including corresponding Hwatu symbols according to embodiments of the present invention. Existing card shufflers for poker cards can also be used.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.