US20060087082A1

US20060087082A1 - Poker game method

Info

Publication number: US20060087082A1
Application number: US11/296,136
Authority: US
Inventors: Shenli Ko
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2005-12-07
Publication date: 2006-04-27

Abstract

A method is set forth for playing a Poker game where each player makes a wager and a dealer is dealt N cards and each player is dealt N−1 cards, where N is greater than or equal to 4. The wager placed may be split into a first wager and a second wager. Each player has the option to discard and receive replacements for his best hand of N−1 cards. Replacement cards may be dealt as community cards, with a number of sets of cards being dealt, and the player having the choice of the best set of cards to use. The dealer reveals his hand and assembles the highest ranking hand of N−1 cards which are compared to the player's hand to determine the outcome of wagers placed according to a paytable associated with each wager. Where the wager has been split, the first wager is paid at even money or better, and the second wager is paid at even money or less. If the dealer's hand does not have at least a predetermined ranking, each player is paid based upon each of their wagers at odds based upon the player's hand. The player may make an optional dealer hand wager that the dealer hand will be of a rank below a predetermined ranking. The player may also make a player hand side wager that the player's hand will be one of a predetermined schedule of winning hands.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/783,670, filed Feb. 20, 2004 by applicant herein, entitled “Poker Game Method” which, in turn, claimed the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/449,256 filed Feb. 21, 2003, entitled “4Fun Poker (Four Card Draw Poker)” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/449,310 filed Feb. 21, 2003, entitled “Fun 3 Poker (Three Card Poker).”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to card games. More specifically, the present invention is a method for conducting a card game against a dealer in which at least one player places a wager and forms a final hand, the dealer forms a final hand, each player receiving a reward for having a final hand outranking the dealer hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There has been a proliferation of new poker derivatives since the advent of Caribbean Stud Poker, described in Suttle et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,553 issued Jun. 6, 1989. In this game, the player makes a first ante wager and a hand of five cards is dealt to the dealer and to each of the players. If the player, after looking at his hand, wants to play, the player places a second bet. If the player wishes to fold, he forfeits his ante wager. The dealer and player hands are then revealed. If the dealer's hand does not have a qualifying holding, e.g. Ace-King or higher, the player is paid on the ante wager and the second wager is returned to the player. If the dealer's hand is at least of the qualifying holding, the player hand and dealer hands are resolved by comparing the rankings. If the dealer hand outranks the player hand, the player loses both bets. If the player hand outranks the dealer hand, he is paid a first amount based upon the ante wager and a second amount based upon the second bet and the ranking of the player hand.
Folding is an option that can be exercised in Caribbean Stud Poker and Three Card Poker (disclosed in Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774). When the player thinks he has a poor hand, he can fold and forfeit the bet. A Caribbean Stud Poker player will fold 46.97% of the time, almost every other hand. A Three Card Poker player will fold 32.58% of the time, almost one in three hands. Although it is an option that gives the player a chance to cut his loss, it takes all the fun away from the game.
When a player folds, not only will he lose his bet but he also must wait until all other players complete their hands and the dealer resolves their bets. While in a lousy mood and bored, the player sits there hoping the next round will begin soon so that he can win it back.
Also, the fact that the games require risking additional bets may intimidate some conservative players who do not want to put more money on the table. In Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker, the players must put up one or two additional bets to stay in the game. These players may lose more often than they should because they often deviate from the optimal strategy.
Another problem with Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker is the dealer hand qualifier. A dealer hand qualifier is built into a game to give the house an edge over the player. In Caribbean Stud Poker the dealer must qualify with an Ace-King, or the dealer cannot open his hand to compete against the player. When the dealer fails to qualify, the player automatically wins the ante and the raise bet pushes. The house edge is obvious. When the dealer gets a poor hand that can be beat most of the time, the dealer won't compete against the player and the player will be paid less. In Three Card Poker the dealer must qualify with a Queen-high or the dealer cannot play against the player. When the dealer fails to qualify, the ante is paid but the “play” bet pushes. It evidently looks unfair if you don't pay or “short pay” the player when they beat you since you take all their money when you beat them. Neither game pays the raise bet when the dealer disqualifies. It spoils the excitement if you don't pay them when they have increased their bet on a good hand that can beat you.
Four Card Poker is a new table game played in some casinos in Mississippi. All players must place an ante wager at the start of each hand. The players are dealt five cards face down and the dealer gets six cards face down. Each player and the dealer will use the best four cards in their hand to make a four-card hand. If the player dislikes his hand, he can fold and forfeit the ante. Otherwise, he must make the play bet in order to stay in the game. Due to the huge advantage the six-card dealer hand has over the five-card player hand, the player has to fold 47.4% of the time, almost every other hand. Also, the player will be stuck with a poor hand since they cannot replace any card to improve it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,162 issued Jan. 28, 1997 to Franklin discloses a card game that allows the player to replace one card twice in succession. Each player places a first bet. A dealer deals himself four cards, only the last of which is dealt face-up; the dealer also deals each player three cards. Each player may then elect to stay or trade one of his three cards. Each player may then elect to stay or trade a card again. If the player elects to trade a card, he must place a second bet. Each player hand is then compared to the best three-card hand of the dealer, with the party having the highest hand winning the bet.
There are some drawbacks with this card game. First, trading a card twice not only slows the game down very much but also makes the playing strategy too complex. A slow game will reduce the casino's profit because the time to cycle each hand of play is slowed reducing the amount of money per unit time put at risk in the game. A slow game also annoys the players especially when they are dealt a premium hand and have no patience to wait for other players to complete trading their cards. Second, when trading a card the first time, the player must consider how to “pave the way” for the second trade so that he has a better chance of improving his hand. Consequently, the playing strategy becomes unobvious and difficult to memorize. Third, the fact that the second trade requires risking an additional bet may intimidate some conservative players who do not want to put more money on the table. These players may lose more often than they should because they often deviate from the optimal strategy. Fourth is that novice players may become intimidated by the game and either slow the play or choose not to play at all.
There is an additional drawback with games in which the dealer gets more cards than the player, even where the player is then given a card replacement option. The dealer advantage in such cases is considerable and, even where the player may recoup some of the edge by appropriate paytables, player interest is lost when the dealer wins a large predominance of the hands. A method is needed which allows the player to win a reasonable percentage of the hands, and which still maintains a house advantage which justifies the game to a casino.
There is a need for a game which provides entertainment instead of boredom and frustration. The suspense and excitement aroused during play should never be stripped off of any gambling game. One should try to keep the player in the game to the end. The player should always have a hope that they have a chance to win.
In addition, unlike Blackjack where there is a common “enemy” (the dealer), when a dealer qualifier is required, some players may be hoping the dealer has a hand good enough to qualify, while others want the dealer to have a bad hand, so they can win with their own poor hand. Thus, the camaraderie present in many other games is often missing.
It is an object of the present invention to improve upon the above card games. The game of the present invention does not allow for a second trade nor does it require any additional bet just to stay in the game. In addition, it may enhance player appeal by paying the player automatically when the dealer has a preset poor hand. It may also enhance player appeal by allowing the player: (1) to bet that the dealer will receive a poor hand and (2) to increase their bet against a poor dealer up card. Furthermore, in one embodiment, it will enhance player appeal by letting the player's wager push if the player hand worsens with the replacement cards after trade. Finally, it may enhance player appeal by allowing the player to win a larger percentage of the hands played, using wager bifurcation and specialized paytables to create the proper house edge.
Unlike Three Card Poker where the player's additional raise bet cannot win if the dealer hand is less than queen-high, in the card game of the present invention the player's bet is always in action. Furthermore, if the dealer hand is worse than a predetermined minimum, e.g., 10-high, the dealer automatically loses and all players are paid, potentially at odds greater than 1-to-1. So, the invention can turn a disappointment into a pleasant surprise when both the player hand and the dealer hand are less than 10-high.
Unlike Three Card Poker or Caribbean Stud where the player has no choice but to fold a poor hand, the player of the invention can draw a card to improve his hand.
Unlike any other side bets that do not allow the player to increase his bet once the bet is made, the player not only can double his side bet but they can also do it after seeing a weak dealer up card. This is kind of like doubling down in blackjack, but is more exciting and straightforward because the doubling is on a poor dealer hand without the player hand having to beat the dealer hand to get paid.
Unlike other games in which the dealer wins the vast majority of the hands, under the present invention, the player replacement methodology is such that the player has a substantial probability of winning any given hand. In fact, in some optional embodiments, the player's probability of winning a hand may actually exceed that of the house.
Finally, unlike 5-card games, a game which only involved three cards, particularly where there is a replacement, cannot offer a large jackpot, as the universe of potential hands is not sufficiently large. (While there are nearly 2.6 million five-card hands, there are just over 22 thousand three-card hands.) A method by which additional cards are implicated, thereby justifying a large jackpot, would help create excitement and interest in the game.
The card game of the invention not only is rid of the bad design found in many poker games today, but also adds more fun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention a card game that combines a poker derivative game with at least one and optionally two proposition games. Each player places at least a Poker wager to compete against a house dealer. N cards are dealt to a dealer position, one of which is dealt face up. In an optional embodiment, N is at least 4 and, more specifically, may be 4 or 5. Each player also receives a hand face down of N−1 cards. Each player examines his or her initial player hand and may then elect to stand on the initial hand of cards making the initial player hand the final player hand or the player may discard and receive replacements for one or more of his cards to define the final player hand of N−1 cards. Optionally, discarding and receiving replacements is done without having to either make an additional bet or fold.
Optionally, the replacement method involves the dealing of a plurality of community cards, the plurality consisting of a plurality of sets of replacement cards, each set of replacement cards containing a quantity of cards equal to the number of cards discarded, with each player who has discarded being allowed to utilize one such set of the community cards. The player would select such set of community cards as maximize the ranking of the generated final hand. The dealer exposes his hand and assembles the highest ranking hand of N−1 cards. Each final player hand is then revealed and compared to the final dealer hand. The Poker wager is then resolved according to the following rules:
If the final player hand outranks the final dealer hand, an award is issued to the player based upon the Poker wager; otherwise, if the final player hand has a ranking above a prespecified rank and the final dealer hand outranks the final player hand, the player loses the Poker wager. In an optional embodiment, if the final player hand has a ranking above a prespecified rank and the final dealer hand equals the final player hand, the player retains the Poker wager. In a further optional embodiment, if the final player hand has a ranking below a prespecified rank, the player's Poker wager either pushes or is issued an award.
In another optional embodiment, the player's Poker wager is allocated between a first poker wager and a second poker wager. A first poker wager paytable is defined with at least one award greater than, or equal to, even money and a second poker wager paytable is defined with at least one award less than, or equal to, even money. If the final player hand has a predetermined ranking, and the final player hand outranks the final dealer hand, the player is awarded on the first poker wager at greater than, or equal to, even money, and on the second poker wager at even money. Conversely, if the final player hand does not have a predetermined ranking, and the final player hand outranks the final dealer hand, the player is awarded on the first poker wager at greater than, or equal to, even money, and on the second poker wager at less than even money. In an optional embodiment, if the dealer hand outranks the player hand, the player loses both the first poker wager and the second poker wager.
Optionally, the player may also be offered one or both of a dealer hand side wager and player hand side wager. If the player makes the dealer hand wager and the dealer's hand has a ranking below a predetermined ranking, the player is issued an award. In an optional embodiment, the player may increase a dealer hand wager after an exposed card in the dealer's hand is dealt, but before the dealer's hand is completely revealed. Optionally, the award for the dealer hand wager is based upon a schedule of awards based upon the composition of the final dealer hand.
The player may also make a player hand wager that the player hand will have one of a predetermined schedule of card combinations, which wager will optionally be paid according to the player's hand as determined by the player's hand wager in conjunction with the size of the player's wager. The player hand wager may be based upon the initial or the final player hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an optional embodiment of the playing and wagering areas for the invention claimed.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. The method of the present invention can be played in a live format, e.g., at a live gaming table with one or more players and a dealer or can be played in an electronic form using a digital table or a single machine, as would be known in the art.
In the optional embodiment illustrated, the method uses a standard deck of fifty-two playing cards, or electronic indicia thereof. In alternate embodiments, variations on the deck or electronic indicia may be used, such as a Spanish deck or other such subset, or a deck augmented with jokers. In additional alternate embodiments, the deck may include duplication of individual cards or indicia.
Play is performed upon a playing layout 100 such as that shown in FIG. 1. In the optional embodiment illustrated, the playing layout 100 includes a dealer area 110, a player area 160, and a community card area 190. To begin play each participating player places a Poker wager at a Poker wager position 175 to compete against the dealer. When all players have placed the Poker wager, N cards are dealt to the dealer at dealer card positions 121-124 and N−1 cards are dealt to each player at player card positions 181-183. Optionally, N≧4. More specifically, N may equal 4 in one optional embodiment and N may equal 5 in another optional embodiment. A portion of the cards of the dealer hand 121-124 are dealt face down 121-123, with at least one card 124 being turned over and revealed to the players. The player's initial cards 181-183 are optionally dealt face down.
In the optional embodiment illustrated, the Poker wager 175 may be allocated between a first poker wager 176 and a second poker wager 177, each such first poker wager 176 and second poker wager 177 potentially to be paid according to a separate paytable. In one optional embodiment, the second poker wager 177 must be at least as great as the first poker wager 176. In an alternate optional embodiment, the second poker wager 177 must be at least a prespecified m times the first poker wager 176, m≧1. For example, in one optional embodiment, the second poker wager equals the first poker wager; in another optional embodiment, the second poker wager is at least twice the first poker wager. In the optional embodiment illustrated, where the final player hand is of higher rank than the final dealer hand, the first poker wager 176 will be paid at odds greater than or equal to even money, while the second poker wager 177 may be paid at odds less than or equal to even money. More specifically, in one optional embodiment, if the final player hand is above a predefined minimum rank, and outranks the final dealer hand, the player is rewarded at least at even money on the first poker wager, and at least at even money on the second poker wager. In such an optional embodiment, if the final player hand is below a predefined minimum rank, and outranks the final dealer hand, the player is rewarded at least at even money on the first poker wager, and at most at even money on the second poker wager. This optional embodiment is described in more detail below.
After looking at the initial cards, the player has the option to (1) stand on the cards of the initial hand whereupon the initial hand becomes the player's final hand or (2) discard at least one card and receive replacements dealt from the remaining deck of cards. Optionally, a quantity of replacements is equal to the quantity of discards. The player's hand, including any replacements, becomes the player's final hand. To discard and receive replacements, the player need not make any additional wager.
In the optional embodiment illustrated, the replacement cards are dealt as community cards. Optionally, the final player hand is formed from the cards retained from the initial player hand, along with the community card or cards forming the highest ranking hand possible. Alternatively, the player may be required to select the community card or cards used. In a further optional embodiment, a plurality of sets of community cards are dealt and the player is required to select a set of community cards and select the community card from the selected set, to form a final player hand. For example, in an optional embodiment, where k cards are to be replaced, where k≧1, replacement cards are dealt as a plurality of sets of cards, each set containing a quantity of k cards. The player then selects the subset of such cards with the strategy of selecting a set that, when combined with the retained cards gives the poker hand of highest rank, such sequence of rankings being prespecified.
In an optional embodiment, folding of a poor hand is not an option for the player. Further, the player need not increase the Poker wager to continue play of the hand. In the optional embodiment illustrated, the player may discard and replace zero or one card of the initial hand. In alternate optional embodiments, greater or fewer card replacements may be permitted, up to the initial hand in its entirety.
In another optional embodiment, if the rank of the final player hand is below a prespecified rank then the player may be guaranteed to win or push, but not lose, the Poker wagers.
In another optional embodiment, the rank of the final player hand after replacement relative to the initial player hand may be used in resolving Poker wagers. For example, in one optional embodiment, if the player replaces one or more cards, and the rank of the final player hand is lower than the rank of the initial player hand, i.e. the player hand worsened, the player may be guaranteed to win or push, but not lose. In another optional embodiment, if the player replaces one or more cards, and the rank of the final player hand is lower than the rank of the initial player hand, the player may be guaranteed to win or push, but not lose, only where the rank of the final player hand is below a certain predetermined rank.
Once the player has completed the generation of the final player hand, the dealer then reveals the previously undisclosed cards of the dealer's hand. From the set of N dealer cards the dealer identifies the N−1 cards which form the best hand N−1 card poker hand. Where N=4, implicating use of three-card poker hands for both the dealer and the player, the ranking of the three card hands could be, from highest to lowest:

- Straight Flush
- 3 of a Kind
- Straight (AKQ is the highest straight and A23 is the lowest)
- Flush
- One Pair
- High Card

Where N=5, implicating use of four-card poker hands for both the dealer and the player, the ranking of hands from highest to lowest could be:

- Four of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Three of a Kind
- Flush
- Straight (where A-K-Q-J is the highest straight and A-2-3-4 is the lowest straight)
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card

Resolution of the Poker Wager
After the dealer has designated the final dealer hand of N−1 cards, the player's Poker wager is resolved according to the following rules:
In one optional embodiment, the player automatically wins if the final dealer hand is below a predefined minimum rank. For example, in one optional embodiment, if the final dealer hand has a rank lower than ten-high, the player automatically wins. While the award for such a win could vary, in one optional embodiment, the player receives is paid at least 1:1 (or even money).
The player wins if the final player hand is of higher rank than the final dealer hand. In the optional embodiment illustrated, the Poker wager is allocated between a first poker wager and a second poker wager. Each of the first poker wager and second poker wager is rewarded according to a prespecified paytable, where the first poker wager and the second poker wager may be determined based upon different prespecified paytables. Optionally, the first poker wager and second poker wager have a predetermined ratio relationship, r, such that the second poker wager is at least r times the first poker wager.
In one optional embodiment, the first poker wager may be rewarded at odds greater than 1:1, and the second poker wager may be rewarded at odds equal to 1:1 for final player hands above a predetermined rank that outrank a final dealer hand. In such an optional embodiment, the first poker wager may be rewarded at odds greater than 1:1, and the second poker wager may be rewarded at odds less then 1:1, for final player hands below a predetermined rank that outrank a final dealer hand. For example, a game in which N=4, the player may be rewarded on the first poker wager 176 according to Table 1a when the final player hand, with the holding listed, outranks the final dealer hand, and on the second poker wager according to Table 1b when the final player hand, with the holding listed outranks the final dealer hand:

TABLE 1a

Award on

Winning Player Hand first poker wager

Straight Flush 4:1

3 of a Kind 2:1

Straight or below 1:1

	TABLE 1b


		Award on second
	Winning Player Hand	poker wager

	Straight Flush	1:1
	3 of a Kind	1:1
	Straight or below	Push (or 1:2 in an
		alternate embodiment)

Where N=5 the game could be conducted in substantially the same way. For example, in an optional embodiment, the player may be paid based upon the player final hand according to Tables 2a and 2b.

TABLE 2a

Award on

Winning Player Hand first poker wager

4 of a Kind 5:1

Straight Flush 2:1

3 of a Kind or below 1:1

	TABLE 2b


	Winning Player Hand	Award

	4 of a Kind	1:1
	Straight Flush	1:1
	3 of a Kind or below	Push (or 1:2 in an
		alternate embodiment)

If the player final hand is outranked by the final dealer hand, the player loses the Poker wager. In an embodiment in which the Poker wager is allocated between a first poker wager and second poker wager, the player loses both the first poker wager and second poker wager.
However, in certain optional embodiments, a consolation may be offered such that if the final player hand is below a prespecified minimum rank, the player is rewarded even if the final dealer hand outranks the final player hand.
For example, if the player final hand has a ranking above the prespecified minimum rank and the dealer final hand has a higher ranking than the player final hand, the player loses the entire Poker wager. For example, in one optional embodiment, the minimum rank is 8-5-x. In such an optional embodiment, a player with a player final hand higher than 8-5-x but lower than the dealer final hand loses his or her entire Poker wager. However, in such an optional embodiment, if the player final hand is below a prespecified minimum rank and the dealer final hand outranks the player final hand, the Poker wager (or a portion thereof, such as the first poker wager and/or second poker wager, in an embodiment where the Poker wager is allocated) is rewarded according to prespecified paytables. For example, in one optional embodiment, where the player final hand is less than 8-5-x, and the dealer final hand outranks the player final hand, the result is a “push” and the Poker wager (or the first poker wager and/or the second poker wager components thereof) are returned to the player.
In a further optional embodiment, if the player final hand has a ranking of least the prespecified minimum rank and the dealer final hand is equal to the player final hand, the hand results in a “push” and the entire Poker wager is returned to the player. As noted, in one optional embodiment, the minimum rank is 8-5-x. Thus, in such an optional embodiment, a player final hand equaling a dealer final hand higher than 8-5-x would result in a push and a return of the entire Poker wager.
In yet another optional embodiment, if the poker hand formed by the player's initial cards has a certain ranking prior to replacing a card, and the replacement results in a lower ranking, the player's Poker wager (or the first poker wager and/or the second poker wager components thereof) may be returned. In a further optional embodiment, the player in such a situation, the player may be rewarded on at least a portion of the Poker wager, for example the first poker wager, second poker wager, or both.
Dealer Hand Side Wager
Before any cards are dealt, each participating player has the option to place a dealer hand wager on the rank of the final dealer hand at a dealer hand wager area. In the optional embodiment illustrated, the dealer hand wager is referred to as a “Gotcha” wager. In the optional embodiment illustrated, where N=4 (three card Poker hands) the player wins the dealer hand wager where the dealer final hand is King-high or less, or where N=5 (four card Poker hands) the player wins the dealer hand wager where the dealer final hand is Queen-high or less. Optionally, where the player has placed the dealer hand wager, the player wins and is issued an award based upon the dealer hand wager according to a dealer hand paytable as illustrated in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3

(where N = 4)

Pay on dealer

Dealer Hand hand wager

6-High 10

7-High 6

8-High 5

9-High 4

10-High 3

J-High 2

Q- or K-High 1

Dealer up card = Ace Push
Optionally, the player may increase the dealer hand wager after seeing the dealer's face-up card. To double the dealer hand wager, the player places a bet increment by the dealer hand wager. In the option embodiment, the dealer hand wager may be doubled. After all players have made their dealer hand wager decisions, the dealer exposes the previously unexposed dealer cards. If the dealer final hand is greater than the prespecified minimum rank, then the player loses the dealer hand wager; otherwise the player is paid according to the dealer hand paytable. For example, and with reference to Table 3, suppose the player bets $5 and then matches his dealer hand wager upon seeing a weak dealer up card of five. If the final dealer hand turns out to be 9-6-5, the player will be paid ($5+$5)×4=$40.
Optionally, if the dealer's face-up card is an ace, then the dealer hand wager is a push with no money changing hands.
Optionally, where N=5 (four card Poker hands) the dealer hand wager is paid according to Table 4:

TABLE 4

(where N = 5)

Pay on dealer

Dealer Hand hand wager

7-High 40

8-High 25

9-High 10

10-High 6

J-High 4

Q-High 2
For example, suppose the player bets $5 and then matches his dealer hand wager upon seeing a weak dealer up card 124 of five. If the dealer hand turns out to be 9-6-5-4, the player will be paid ($5+$5)×10=$100.
Player Hand Bonus Wager
Optionally, a player hand wager may be offered that will be rewarded where the player hand is one of a prespecified schedule of winning hands. To participate in the player hand wager, the player places a player hand wager before the hand is dealt. The player hand wager will be resolved according to a prespecified player hand paytable.
Optionally, where N=4 (three card Poker hands) the player hand wager is rewarded for player hands having at least a rank of a pair of Jacks, as indicated by the following optional player hand paytable:

TABLE 5

(where N = 4)

Pay on player

Final player Hand hand wager

Pair of Jacks or Better 1

Flush 1

Straight 3

3 of a Kind 11

Straight Flush 12

AKQ Suited 50
Optionally, where N=5 (four card Poker hands) the player hand wager is rewarded for player hands having at least a rank of a pair of Kings, as indicated by the following optional player hand paytable:

TABLE 6

(where N = 5)

Pay on dealer

Final player Hand hand wager

Pair of Kings or Better 1

Two Pair 2

Straight 3

Flush 4

3 of a Kind 5

Straight Flush 10

4 of a Kind 15

AKQJ Suited 50
Optionally, a jackpot may be offered, paying considerably higher odds for hands based upon the combination of the player hand and the initially exposed dealer card. For example, in an optional embodiment, a payout of 5000:1 on the player hand wager may be offered for hands where the dealer up card is the Ace of Spades, and the player initial hand contains three additional Aces.
The game may be played with all, some, or none of the optional side wagers as described above.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a card game between a dealer and at least one player using a deck of cards comprising the steps of:

each player making a Poker wager;

dealing a dealer hand of N cards to said dealer from said deck of cards, where N≧4, at least one of said cards of said dealer hand being dealt exposed;

dealing an initial player hand of N−1 cards to said player from said deck of cards;

each player examining said initial player hand and opting to form a final player hand by either standing on said initial player hand as said final player hand or discarding and replacing at least one card of said initial player hand to form said final player hand, said replacement received from said deck of cards;

said dealer exposing all of said dealer's cards and forming from said N cards the highest ranking hand of N−1 cards, said N cards being designated as final dealer hand; and

resolving said Poker wager, said resolution comprising:

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said Poker wager and at least one prespecified Poker wager paytable of final player hands and associated awards, or else if said final dealer hand outranks said final player hand, said player forfeiting said Poker wager, or else if said final dealer hand has a rank equal to that of said final player hand, said player retaining said Poker wager.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of resolving said Poker wager further comprises if said final dealer hand has a ranking below a prespecified minimum rank, automatically paying said player an award of at least even money based upon said Poker wager.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of resolving said Poker wager further comprises if said final player hand has a ranking below a prespecified minimum rank, said player receiving at least a return of said Poker wager.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one card, but fewer than N cards, of said dealer hand is dealt exposed and the remaining cards of said dealer hand are not dealt exposed, further comprising:

defining a dealer hand paytable of final dealer hands and associated awards;

at least one player opting to place a dealer hand wager prior to dealing said initial player hand and said dealer's hand;

said player having the option of increasing said dealer hand wager after viewing said player's initial hand and after viewing said at least one card of said dealer's hand that was dealt exposed but before the remaining cards of said dealer hand are exposed;

exposing the remaining cards of said dealer hand after said player opts whether to increase said dealer hand wager; and

resolving said dealer hand wager according to said final dealer hand, said dealer hand wager, and said dealer hand paytable.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the player may increase said dealer hand wager by matching said initial dealer hand wager.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said player is rewarded on said dealer hand wager if said final dealer hand is below a prespecified rank.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

defining a player hand paytable of player hands and associated awards;

at least one player opting to place a player hand wager prior to dealing said initial player hand; and

rewarding said player according to said player hand, said player hand wager, and said player hand paytable.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising awarding a jackpot award based upon said player hand wager and said player hand in combination with said cards of said dealer hand that are dealt exposed.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

allocating at least a portion of said Poker wager into at least a first poker wager and a second poker wager;

defining at least one first poker wager paytable of at least one final player hand and an associated award on said first poker wager, wherein said awards are paid at odds greater than or equal to even money;

defining at least one second poker wager paytable of at least one final player hand and an associated award on said second poker wager, wherein said awards are paid at odds less than or equal to even money;

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand and said final player hand has a ranking above a prespecified minimum rank, issuing an award to the player based upon said first poker wager and at least one first poker wager paytable and issuing an award to the player based upon said second poker wager and at least one second poker wager paytable, wherein said award on said second poker wager is equal to even money;

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand and said final player hand has a ranking below a prespecified minimum rank, issuing an award to the player based upon said first poker wager and at least one first poker wager paytable and issuing an award to the player based upon said second poker wager and at least one second poker wager paytable, wherein said award on said second poker wager is less than even money; and

if said final dealer hand outranks said final player hand, said player forfeiting said first poker wager and said second poker wager.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising defining a ratio r, such that said Poker wager is allocated with said second poker wager at least r times said first poker wager.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of replacing of said at least one card includes dealing of at least one community card shared among said players.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said step of replacing of said at least one card further comprises:

dealing a plurality of sets of community cards each containing a quantity of cards greater than or equal to the quantity of cards to be replaced; and

utilizing at least one of said cards from only one of said sets of community cards to generate said final player hand.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said player selects the set of community cards used to generate said final player hand.

14. A method of conducting a card game between a dealer and at least one player using at least a deck of cards comprising the steps of:

each player making a Poker wager;

resolving said Poker wager, said resolution comprising:

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said Poker wager and at least one prespecified Poker wager paytable of final player hands and associated awards, or else if said final player hand has a ranking below a prespecified minimum rank, at least returning said Poker wager, or else if said final player hand has a ranking above said prespecified minimum rank and said final dealer hand outranks said final player hand, said player forfeiting said Poker wager, or else if said final player hand has a ranking above said prespecified minimum rank and said final dealer hand has a rank equal to that of said final player hand, said player retaining said Poker wager.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said player may replace only one of said cards constituting said player's initial hand.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein at least one card, but fewer than N cards, of said dealer hand is dealt exposed and the remaining cards of said dealer hand are not dealt exposed, further comprising:

defining a dealer hand paytable of final dealer hands and associated awards;

at least one player opting to place an initial dealer hand wager prior to dealing said initial player hand and said dealer's hand;

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the player may increase said dealer hand wager by matching said initial dealer hand wager.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said player is rewarded on said dealer hand wager if said final dealer hand is below a prespecified rank.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein only one card of said dealer hand is dealt exposed, said dealer hand wager resolved as a push if the exposed card dealt to said dealer hand after said player places said dealer hand wager is an Ace.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

defining a player hand paytable of player hands and associated awards;

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising awarding a jackpot award based upon said player hand wager and said player hand in combination with said cards of said dealer hand that are dealt exposed.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising paying a jackpot award on said player hand wager at odds of 5000:1 where said dealer hand includes an exposed card of the Ace of Spades and said player hand includes the Ace of Clubs, the Ace of Diamonds, and the Ace of Hearts.

23. A method of conducting a card game between a dealer and at least one player using at least a deck of cards comprising the steps of:

each player making a Poker wager, wherein at least a portion of said Poker wager is allocated to a first poker wager and at least a portion of said Poker wager is allocated to a second poker wager;

defining a first poker wager paytable of at least one final player hand and an associated award on said first poker wager, wherein said awards are greater than or equal to even money;

defining a second poker wager paytable of at least one final player hands and an associated award on said second poker wager, wherein said awards are less than or equal to even money;

resolving said Poker wager, said resolution comprising:

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand and said final player hand has a ranking above a prespecified minimum rank, issuing an award to the player based upon said first poker wager and said first poker wager paytable and issuing an award to the player based upon said second poker wager and said second poker wager paytable, wherein said award on said second poker wager is equal to even money;

if said final player hand outranks said final dealer hand and said final player hand has a ranking below a prespecified minimum rank, issuing an award to the player based upon said first poker wager and said first poker wager paytable and issuing an award to the player based upon said second poker wager and said second poker wager paytable, wherein said award on said second poker wager is less than even money; and

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising defining a ratio r, such that said Poker wager is allocated with said second poker wager at least r times said first poker wager.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of replacing of said at least one card includes dealing of at least one community card shared among said players.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of replacing of said at least one card further comprises:

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said player selects only one set of community cards and selects only one card from the selected set to generate said final player hand.