Appeal No. 2004-1219 Page 3
Application No. 10/115,632
In the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION section of the application (pp. 2-4), the
appellant teaches that:
In the conventional game of craps, two standard, matched dice are used.
The players start the game by rolling for "high dice" and the player who rolls the
highest total on the two dice plays the game first, becoming the "shooter" (or the
"roller" or "caster") Variations on the casino play of the game are discussed more
fully below.
Initially, the shooter may bet any desired amount. He announces his bet and
places it on the playing surface, generally in the center of the surface being played
upon. The shooter's bet may be accepted, or "faded", in whole or in part, by any
other player. Each player, in turn to the caster's left, may take (fade) as much of the
shooter's bet as he wishes, with precedence accorded to a player willing to fade the
entire bet.
When the bet is faded, the shooter rolls the dice from his bare hand, no cup
ever being used, shaking them before rolling, generally producing clicking to assure
the other players that he is not casting them in a preset position or mode.
Under the rules of the game, if the faces of the two dice add up to 7 or 11 on
the first roll, that is termed a "natural", and the shooter wins immediately. He
collects the bets and keeps the dice, and the betting and fading proceed to the next
roll of dice.
However, if the total on the dice at the first cast is 2, 3 or 12, that outcome
event is termed "craps" or "crapping out", and the shooter loses, but he keeps the
dice.
If the total shown on the first roll is any other of the possible numbers--4, 5,
6, 8, 9 or 10--the number shown on the dice becomes the shooter's "point". At this
stage of play, the shooter has neither won nor lost. He continues to roll until either:
(a) the dice repeat the same number, that is, he makes his point, in which case he
wins, or (b) the dice rolled total 7, in which case he loses and the dice pass to the
next player on his left, who becomes the new shooter.
A winning roll, whether from a natural or from making a point, is called a
"pass". After each pass, the shooter may change his bet.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007