U.S. patent application number 10/040644 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for method of playing a poker game.
Invention is credited to Wells, Jeffrey Michael.
Application Number | 20020125639 10/040644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26717257 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020125639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wells, Jeffrey Michael |
September 12, 2002 |
Method of playing a poker game
Abstract
A poker variation game involving multiple wagers and the
utilization of a wild card. Cards are dealt by the dealer, two
cards face down to each player and one community wild card dealt
face up. Players inspect their cards and determine whether to fold,
or to make a second bet. The variation provides the improvements of
allowing the rank of the wild card to be different for every deal,
and provides that each player gets at least one wild card on every
hand. All bets are ultimately resolved according to a predetermined
payout schedule.
Inventors: |
Wells, Jeffrey Michael;
(Colorado Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jeffrey M. Wells
3166 Oak Creek Dr. -E
Colorado Springs
CO
80906
US
|
Family ID: |
26717257 |
Appl. No.: |
10/040644 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60259935 |
Jan 8, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2001/005 20130101;
A63F 3/00157 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/274 |
International
Class: |
A63F 003/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of playing a poker variation card game involving
multiple wagers using a single standard deck of cards, with said
game involving standard poker hand rankings when a wild card is
utilized and comprising the steps of: each player placing a wager
to participate in the game; a dealer dealing cards face down to
each player and at least one community card face up for use by all
participating players; restricting all participating players to the
option to either play or fold; requiring all players who wish to
continue to play a hand to make a second bet exactly equal to twice
the amount of the players initial wager; a dealer dealing
additional cards to each player that has made a bet; determining
the highest poker hand held by each player; determining what
payout, if any, each player is entitled to receive according to
that player's wagers and the pre-determined payout schedule.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the community wild card
and any card of the same rank in the players' hand are wild.
3. The method according to claim 1, providing that each player will
have at least one wild card on every hand.
4. The method according to claim 2, allowing the rank of the
community wild card to be different for every deal.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the community wild card
and any card of the same rank in the players' hand shall be
considered to be of whatever suit and rank that will give the
player the highest poker hand.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the participating
players are not playing against each other or against the
dealer.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein each player shall have
the option to wager an additional bonus bet.
8. The method according to claim 7, of resolving players bonus bets
comprising the steps of: determining which players, if any, have
made a bonus bet wager; determining the highest poker hand held by
each player; determining what payout, if any, each player is
entitled to receive according to that player's wager and the
pre-determined bonus payout schedule.
9. The method according to claim 1 and providing apparatus for
playing the game, said apparatus including a playing surface having
wager receiving areas, a discard area, and a common card-receiving
area for receiving and showing the community card.
10. A method of playing a poker variation card game involving
multiple wagers using a single standard deck of cards, with said
game involving standard poker hand rankings when a wild card is
utilized and comprising the steps of: each player placing a wager
to participate in the game; a dealer dealing two cards face down to
each player and one community card face up for use by all
participating players as a wild card; restricting all participating
players to the option to either play or fold; requiring all players
who wish to continue to play a hand to make a second bet exactly
equal to twice the amount of the players initial wager; a dealer
dealing two additional cards to each player that has made a bet;
determining the highest poker hand held by each player when the
player's four cards are combined with the community wild card;
determining what payout, if any, each player is entitled to receive
according to that player's wagers and the pre-determined payout
schedule.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the community wild
card and any card of the same rank in the players' hand are
wild.
12. The method according to claim 10, providing that each player
will have at least one wild card on every hand.
13. The method according to claim 11, allowing the rank of the
community wild card to be different for every deal.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the community wild
card and any card of the same rank in the players' hand shall be
considered to be of whatever suit and rank that will give the
player the highest poker hand.
15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the participating
players are not playing against each other or against the
dealer.
16. The method according to claim 10, wherein each player shall
have the option to wager an additional one-dollar bonus bet.
17. The method according to claim 16, of resolving players bonus
bets comprising the steps of: determining which players, if any,
have made a one-dollar bonus bet wager; determining the highest
poker hand held by each player when the player's four cards are
combined with the community wild card; determining what payout, if
any, each player is entitled to receive according to that player's
wager and the pre-determined bonus payout schedule.
18. The method according to claim 10 and providing apparatus for
playing the game, said apparatus including a playing surface having
wager receiving areas, a discard area, and a common card-receiving
area for receiving and showing the community wild card.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/259,935 filed on Jan. 8, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a method for playing a
poker variation card game involving the utilization of a wild card
and multiple wagers. The game can be played with a standard deck of
cards or by video machine technology in a casino or home
environment. In particular, it relates to a method for playing a
wagering game, wherein the game is a variation of stud poker and
provides players with the opportunity to determine when additional
wagers will be made. Further, the particular invention provides the
improvements of allowing the wild card rank to be different for
every deal, and of giving each player at least one wild card every
hand.
[0004] 2. Background Art
[0005] There are numerous wagering games used for gambling. Such
games should be simple to understand, yet exciting to play, and
should give the player the opportunity to determine when they will
make successive wagers. The addition of a wild card that the player
can use to symbolize any other card increases the player's
excitement. Exciting play, the opportunity that the wild card rank
may change for every hand, the ability to determine when they will
wager certain bets, and the ability to have at least one wild card
on every deal, all contribute to enhance the player's interest and
enjoyment of the game.
[0006] Gambling games intended primarily for play in a casino
setting, should provide players with an enhanced sense of
participation and control, the opportunity to make decisions that
affect the outcome of their wager, and a reasonable chance of
winning, despite the odds being in favor of the casino or house.
Wagering games that utilize the concept of common or community
cards to complete a player's hand are known (See generally "Scarnes
Encyclopedia of Games", John Scarne, Harper & Row, 1973.
Wagering games, including wagering games for casino play, with
multiple wagering opportunities are also known. U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,861,041 and 5,087,405 (both to Jones et al.) disclose methods and
apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming, respectively. The former
patent discloses that a player may make an additional wager at the
beginning of a hand, the outcome of the additional wager being
determined by a predetermined arrangement of cards in the player's
hand. U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,553 (to Suttle and Jones) discloses a
modified version of a five card stud poker game. See also U.S. Pat.
No. 5,288,081 (to Breeding), which discloses that a player may make
a wager at the beginning of a hand and then later retrieve a
portion of the wager. Also, additional symbols may be added to the
usual means of playing a game to increase wagering opportunities.
This is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,107 (to Boylan et al).
Similar as to the foregoing see also U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,430 (to
Aramapakul et al) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,216 (to Jones). U.S. Pat.
No. 5,845,907 (to Wells) discloses that a player may disregard
usual discard rules to declare an immediate winner determined by
predetermined arrangements of cards in the player's hand.
[0007] The desired attributes of wagering games outlined above are
in large measure provided by the method and apparatus for a
wagering game in accordance with the present invention. The game is
uncomplicated, exciting, and provides the player with the
opportunity to determine when they will make successive wagers.
More significantly, the present invention provides the improvements
that the wild card rank may change for every hand and that the
player will receive at least one wild card on every deal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The wagering game of the present invention is played with a
single, standard fifty-two card poker deck and broadly involves the
generally well recognized and accepted set of rules and procedures
relative to stud and hold'em poker when a wild card is utilized.
The present invention is a method for playing a poker variation
card game involving multiple wagers. The object of the game is for
each player to combine the four cards from the player's hand with
the community wild card in front of the dealer to create a winning
poker hand. Players do not play against other players or against
the dealer.
[0009] The game method comprises each player making an initial ante
to participate in the game. When offered, all players may also
place an additional $1 bonus bet in the area marked bonus.
Following the shuffle and cut, cards are dealt by a dealer, two
down to each player and a community wild card is placed in front of
the dealer. During each hand the community wild card and any card
of the same rank in a player's hand are wild, and shall be
considered to be of whatever suit and rank that will give the
player the highest poker hand.
[0010] After a player has received two cards, and the wild card has
been determined the player has the option to either play or fold.
If the player does not believe that the player's initial two cards
when combined with the community wild card and the two additional
player cards to be dealt to the player will lead to a winning poker
hand, the player may place both of the player's initial two cards
in the area marked "FOLD" and surrender the player's initial ante
and any bonus bet.
[0011] If the player wishes to continue play on the hand and
receive two more cards from the dealer, the player must place, in
the area marked "BET", an additional bet exactly equal to twice the
amount of the player's ante.
[0012] After all players have made their choice to either play, by
making the double bet, or to fold, the dealer will deal two
additional cards to each player that has made a bet. The dealer
will then examine each of the player's hands and determine the
highest poker hand held by each player when the player's four cards
are combined with the community wild card. The dealer then
determines what payout, if any, each player is entitled to receive
according to that player's wagers and the pre-determined payout
schedule. Payouts are made to players with winning hands and the
losing wagers are collected.
[0013] On all winning hands the player is paid 1 to 1 on the amount
of the player's ante, and the bet is paid according to the payout
schedule posted at the game table. The dealer will also determine
for all players with a winning hand and who also made the
additional $1 bonus bet, what bonus payment, if any, that player is
entitled to receive according to the pre-determined bonus bet
payout schedule posted at the game table.
[0014] Apparatus is disclosed for playing the wagering game
according to the method outlined above. A typical gaming table,
with a playing surface, is modified to include specific areas that
provide locations for placing the wagers (ante, bet, and bonus),
folded hands, and for displaying the community wild card. A display
devise may be associated with the apparatus for displaying game
information.
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
exciting and interesting wagering game that is easy to learn and
that is largely based on stud and hold'em poker principals as
modified when a wild card is utilized.
[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide new
variations and improvements to known wagering games by both
allowing the wild card rank to be different for every deal, and by
providing that each player has at least one wild card every hand.
These improvements are made while still providing the player with
the opportunity to determine when additional wagers will be
made.
[0017] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a wagering game that is easy to learn, yet demands skill of players
in making strategic decisions about when and upon which cards to
make second bets. A further object of the present invention is to
provide a unique, exciting card game for play in casinos or at home
and on various media including casino tables, video poker machines,
video lottery terminals or home computers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts the table layout and apparatus used in
playing the wagering game of the present invention,
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts an individual player's game board on the
table layout, and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram representing the flow of play in
the game.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The Preferred Embodiment or Best Mode of Use is as
follows:
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for the wagering game of
the present invention includes a typical casino gambling or gaming
table 10. The table 10 has a curved side 11 for accommodating six
to seven players and a straight side 12 for accommodating the
dealer. The table 10 has a flat surface 13 covered with felt or
other appropriate material. Although six playing positions or
locations 14a-f for individual players are provided, it is not
essential to the game that exactly six persons play and as many as
twelve players may participate. For casino play, a maximum of six
or seven players provides for a game that is easily manageable by
the dealer and house, and one in which the individual players feel
more involved. A house dealer position 15, including an area
suitable for displaying the community wild card 16, is
provided.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, the player's game board consists of two
primary and one secondary, separate and distinct wagering or
betting areas, the Ante 21 the Bet 22 and the optional Bonus 24.
Each player position also includes an area for the player to "Fold"
23 and a printed pre-determined payout schedule 25.
[0024] Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 3, the initial step in
playing the game of the present invention is preparing or shuffling
a standard deck of cards represented at block 30. Next, each player
will make an initial wager, block 31, by placing a bet in the
betting area marked "Ante", 21 on the player's game board. After
each player has placed a wager the cards are dealt by a dealer,
block 32, two cards being dealt face down to each player and one
community wild card is placed face up in front of the dealer in
area 16. The first player to receive cards is the player to the
left of the dealer.
[0025] After each participating player has received two cards and
the community wild card has been determined each player has the
option to either Bet or Fold, block 33. If the player believes that
the player cannot make a winning hand, the player may place both
cards in the card area marked "Fold", 23, and surrender the
player's ante, 21 and any bonus bet, 24. If the player wishes to
continue to play the hand, the player must place a second wager,
exactly equal to twice the amount of the initial ante, in the area
marked "Bet", 22.
[0026] After all players have made their choice to either play or
fold, the dealer will deal two additional cards to each player that
has made a Bet, block 34. The dealer will then examine each
player's hand and determine the highest poker hand held by each
player when the player's four cards are combined with the community
wild card, block 35. The community wild card and any card of the
same rank in the players' hand are wild, and shall be considered to
be of whatever suit and rank that will give the player the highest
poker hand.
[0027] The dealer then determines what payout, if any, each player
is entitled to receive according to that player's wagers and the
pre-determined payout schedule, block 36. On all winning hands the
player is paid 1 to 1 on the amount of the player's ante, and the
bet is paid according to the payout schedule, 25 posted at the game
table.
[0028] A typical payout schedule is as follows:
1 Payout Schedule Ante is Paid 1 to 1 on all winning hands The Bet
is paid as follows: Natural Royal Flush 1000 to 1 Four Wilds 100 to
1 Wild Royal Flush 20 to 1 Five of a Kind 10 to 1 Straight Flush 5
to 1 4 of a Kind 3 to 2 Full House 3 to 2 Flush 1 to 1 Straight 1
to 2 3 of a Kind 1 to 2
[0029] In offering the present invention the retail licensee
(Casino) may, but shall not be required to, offer the players the
additional option of qualifying for a $1 bonus bet payout. Payer's
electing to make this optional bet do so by placing a $1 bet in the
betting area designated "Bonus", 25, on the player's game board.
This additional bet qualifies the player to win a bonus payout on
that hand. Bonus payouts, when offered, are paid to the player in
addition to the regular ante and bet payouts.
[0030] Player hands qualifying for the Bonus Jackpot shall be paid
according to a pre-determined Bonus payout schedule, which shall be
prominently posted at the table:
[0031] A typical bonus payout schedule is as follows:
2 Bonus Payout Schedule Natural Royal Flush 5000 to 1 Four Wilds
400 to 1 Wild Royal Flush 100 to 1 Five of a Kind 25 to 1 Straight
Flush 10 to 1 4 of a Kind 3 to 1 Full House 2 to 1 Flush 2 to 1
Straight PUSH 3 of a Kind PUSH
* * * * *