U.S. patent application number 10/261365 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-27 for multi-hand poker game.
Invention is credited to Tarantino, Elia Rocco.
Application Number | 20030038425 10/261365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25183913 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030038425 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tarantino, Elia Rocco |
February 27, 2003 |
Multi-hand poker game
Abstract
A multi-hand poker game is disclosed. In one embodiment, the
game includes the steps of dealing a set of cards and selecting one
or more or all of the cards from the set to be used in a first hand
and selecting one or more or all of the cards from the set to be
used in at least one additional hand. Cards are added to the first
hand and each additional hand, as necessary, to create hands of a
predetermined number of cards. It is then determined if any of the
hands are winning hands. In one embodiment, the hands are five card
poker hands. In one embodiment, the game is implemented on a
computing device and a computer may select the cards to be
duplicated and the cards to be held. In one embodiment, the game is
a wager-type game.
Inventors: |
Tarantino, Elia Rocco; (Las
Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
R. Scott Weide
Weide & Miller, Ltd.
11th Floor, Suite 1130
330 South 3rd Street
Las Vegas
NV
89101
US
|
Family ID: |
25183913 |
Appl. No.: |
10/261365 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10261365 |
Sep 30, 2002 |
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09802515 |
Mar 8, 2001 |
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6474645 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F
2001/008 20130101; A63F 2001/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 463/13 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00; A63F
003/08 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of playing a game comprising: dealing a set of cards;
selecting cards from said set of cards to be used in a first hand
and displaying those cards as part of a first hand of cards;
selecting cards from said set of cards to be used in a second hand
and displaying those cards as part of a second hand of cards;
adding cards to said first hand to complete said first hand of a
predetermined plurality of cards; adding cards to said second hand
to complete said second hand of a predetermined plurality of cards;
and determining if said first or second hands comprise a
predetermined combination of winning cards.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
placing a wager.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 including the step of
paying an award if said first or second hand comprises a
predetermined combination of winning cards.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and
second hands each have five cards.
5. The method in accordance with claim 1 including the step of
placing a first wager associated with said first hand and a second
wager associated with said second hand.
6. The method in accordance with claim 2 including the step of
paying a first winning amount for a predetermined winning
combination received in a hand on which a wager was placed and
paying a second winning amount for said predetermined winning
combination received in a hand on which a wager was not placed.
7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said second
winning amount is less than said first winning amount.
8. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a first set of
predetermined hands comprises a winning outcome for said first hand
and a second set of predetermined hands comprises a winning
outcomes for said second hand and said step of determining said
first or second hands comprise a predetermined combination of
winning cards comprises determining if said first hand comprises
one of said first set of predetermined hands and determining if
said second hand comprises one of said second set of predetermined
hands.
9. A method of playing a game comprising the steps: placing a
wager; dealing a set of five cards; selecting one or more cards
from said set of five cards to be used in a first hand and
displaying the selected cards as part of a first hand of five
cards; selecting one or more cards from said set of five cards to
be used in at least one additional hand and displaying the selected
cards as part of at least one additional hand of five cards; adding
cards, as necessary, to said first hand to complete said first hand
of a five cards; adding cards, as necessary, to each additional
hand to complete each additional hand of five cards; and
determining a poker hand ranking of said first hand and at least
one additional hand.
10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said dealt set of
five cards is dealt as said first hand and said step of selecting
comprises holding one, one or more cards from said cards dealt as
said first hand as cards to be retained in said first hand.
11. The method in accordance with claim 9 including the step of
paying an award or winning for a predetermined combination of
winning cards.
12. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said set of cards
are dealt face up.
13. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said dealt and
additional cards are from a single deck of cards.
14. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said method is
implemented on a computer controlled gaming machine having a
display.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/802,515 filed Mar. 8, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to card games, and more
particularly to poker-type card games.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Poker is a popular card game which has many variations of
play. As is known, the game of poker has been adapted for play on
electronic gaming devices commonly referred to as "video poker
machines." In the game of video poker, a player attempts to obtain
a hand of cards which comprise one or more predetermined winning
card combinations. For example, the winning card combinations may
comprise a pair of Jacks or better. The player attempts to obtain a
hand including cards of at least a pair of Jacks or better.
[0004] In order to maintain the interest of players, a wide variety
of game options have been presented. For example, in some games the
amount which may be wagered or paid out varies. In other games, the
hands which comprise predetermined winning hands varies.
[0005] One video poker game variation which is currently popular is
known as TRIPLE PLAY.TM.. In accordance with one arrangement of
this game as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,873, a player is
dealt a hand of cards. The player elects which of the cards in that
first hand to hold. The cards held in the first hand are then
duplicated to other hands, the number of additional hands depending
generally on the amount bet by the player. This forms a number of
hands each containing the exact same cards. The non-held cards in
the first hand are then replaced to form a new first hand, and
cards are added to the additional hands to complete those hands.
The poker rank of each hand is then determined.
[0006] This poker game variation offers players the chance to
increase the excitement of play by playing several hands of cards
at the same time. On the other hand, a disadvantage of the game is
that the cards which form the base or initial set of cards of each
of the hands is always the same: the cards which were held from the
first hand. Thus, the player in essence plays two or more of the
same base hand and simply attempts to obtain additional cards which
will make one of those base hands a winner.
[0007] It is desired to provide a game of poker which offers
players the excitement of playing more than one hand of cards
simultaneously, with greater excitement than present games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention comprise a method of playing a game.
In one embodiment, the game is a poker-type game which involves the
play of more than one hand of cards.
[0009] In one embodiment of a method, a set of cards are dealt.
Cards are selected from the set of cards to be used in a first
hand, the selected cards displayed as part of a first hand of
cards. Cards are also selected from the set of cards to be used in
a second hand, and those cards are displayed as part of a second
hand of cards. Next, cards are added to the first and second hands
to complete first and second hands of a predetermined number of
cards. It is then determined if the first and/or second hands of
cards comprise a predetermined winning combination of cards.
[0010] In one embodiment, the set of cards are dealt as the first
hand and cards are selected from the first hand to be used in a
second hand. Cards are then selected to be held in the first hand.
The non-held cards from the first hand are discarded. The discarded
cards in the first hand are then replaced to complete the first
hand. Cards are also added, as necessary, to the second hand to
complete the second hand of a predetermined plurality of cards. In
one embodiment, the second hand also has five cards. In one
embodiment, the outcome of the game is determined by comparing the
first and second hands to predetermined combinations of winning
cards.
[0011] In one embodiment, none, one or more, or all of the cards of
the first hand may be used in the second hand, and none, one or
more, or all of the cards in the first hand may be held. The cards
which are selected for use/duplication and the cards which are held
may be different.
[0012] In one embodiment, a number of additional hands of cards
other than the first hand may be played. The player is allowed to
select none, one or more, or all of the cards from the first hand
to be duplicated into each additional hand. The cards which are
duplicated into the additional hands may be different from one
another.
[0013] One embodiment of the invention comprises a multi-hand poker
game where different rules apply to one or more of the hands. In
one embodiment, the rules define different winning combinations of
cards.
[0014] In one embodiment, the games of the invention may be
implemented on a computing device and a computer may select the
cards to be duplicated and the cards to be held.
[0015] One embodiment of the invention comprises a multi-hand card
game in which a player is required to place a wager for each hand
to be played. Winnings may be paid based on the amount wagered.
Greater winnings may be paid for higher ranked hands.
[0016] In another embodiment, the player is permitted to play a
plurality of hands based on a single wager. In this embodiment, the
payout for receiving a winning hand in other than the first hand
and/or the criteria for determining if a winning hand is received
in other than the first hand may be varied.
[0017] Further objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed
description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the
attached figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming device of the type which may be
used to implement a game in accordance with the invention for play
by a player;
[0019] FIG. 2(a) illustrates a first hand of cards dealt in
accordance with an example of a step of a method of the
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2(b) illustrates an example of cards selected from the
first hand illustrated in FIG. 2(a) for duplication into a second
hand and the discarding of non-held cards in the first hand in
accordance with steps of a method of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2(c) illustrates resulting first and second hands after
a replacement card has been dealt for the discarded card in the
first hand and after additional cards have been dealt to complete
the second hand of FIG. 2(b) in an example of steps of the method
of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 3(a) illustrates a dealt first hand of cards and a
second and third hand of cards into which cards from the first hand
have been duplicated in an example of a method of the
invention;
[0023] FIG. 3(b) illustrates resulting first, second and third
hands after replacement and additional cards have been dealt to the
hands illustrated in FIG. 3(a)
[0024] FIG. 4(a) illustrates a first hand of cards dealt in
accordance with an example of a step of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 4(b) illustrates an example of cards selected to be
used in a second hand and selected to be held in the first hand
illustrated in FIG. 4(a) in accordance with steps of a method of
the invention; and
[0026] FIG. 4(c) illustrates resulting first and second hands after
additional cards have been dealt to the hands illustrated in FIG.
4(b).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] The invention is a method of playing a game. In the
following description, numerous specific details are set forth in
order to provide a more thorough description of the present
invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art,
that the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details. In other instances, well-known features have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.
[0028] In general, the invention comprises a method of playing a
card game, and more particularly a multi-hand poker-type card game.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a first set of
cards is dealt. A player may select none, one or more of the cards
from that set of cards to be used in a first hand, and may select
none, one or more of the cards from that set of cards to be used in
a second hand. Additional cards are dealt, as necessary, to the
first and second hands for completing the first and second hands.
The outcome of each hand is determined by comparing the hand to
predetermined winning hands.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the one or more games of the
invention are implemented or presented to a player with a gaming
machine. FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming machine 20 in accordance with
the invention. As illustrated, the gaming machine 20 includes a
housing 22 for enclosing/supporting various components of the
gaming machine. The gaming machine 20 includes a display 24 for
displaying images of cards or other indicia. Speakers (not shown)
or other devices may be provided for generating sound associated
with the game.
[0030] In one embodiment, the game is played as a wager-type game
which requires that a player place a bet or wager to play the game.
Preferably, if the player is a winner of the game, then the player
is provided an award, such as a monetary payout (such as coins) or
other prizes. As illustrated, the gaming machine 20 may include a
bill validator/acceptor 26 for accepting paper currency, and a coin
acceptor 28 for accepting coins. Other means of payment, such as a
credit card reader may be provided. An award of winnings in the
form of coins may be paid to the player via a coin tray 30.
[0031] Preferably, the gaming machine 20 includes means for a
player to provide input. In one embodiment, this means comprises
one or more buttons. For example, a plurality of card "hold" or
"select" buttons 32 may be provided for permitting a player to
hold/select cards in a hand. A deal/draw button 34 permits a player
to indicate that they wish the game to start or to draw replacement
cards. A bet button 36 is provided for a player to select the
amount to bet on a particular game.
[0032] A game controller (not shown) is provided for controlling
the various devices of the gaming machine and for providing game
information. For example, the game controller may be arranged to
generate video and audio data for presentation by the display and
speakers of the gaming machine 20. The game controller may be
arranged to detect a signal from the coin acceptor indicating the
receipt of coins, and may be arranged to cause a coin delivery
mechanism to deliver coins from a coin hopper to the coin tray
30.
[0033] It will be appreciated that the gaming machine 20 may have a
variety of configurations and the gaming machine 20 illustrated and
described above is but an example of a device for implementing the
game of the present invention. In one or more embodiments, the
gaming machine 20 may be associated with a network and receive game
information remotely and may transmit information, such as payout
and game play information, to a remote location.
[0034] One embodiment of a game in accordance with the present
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2(a)-(c). In
accordance with one method of playing a game, a first hand of cards
100 is dealt to a player. The cards may be dealt from a "deck"
comprising a single deck of cards, or a plurality of decks of
cards. In the preferred embodiment, the act of dealing comprises
the generation of card information and the display of the card(s)
to the player with the display. In this arrangement, the "deck"
does not comprise a physical set of cards, but simply data
regarding such cards.
[0035] In one embodiment, the first hand of cards 100 comprises
five cards. Preferably, the cards are dealt face-up. In the example
illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the player has been dealt the Jack of
Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, Queen of Diamonds, King of Diamonds, and
King of Hearts.
[0036] Next, a player is permitted to use none, one or more, or
all, of the cards of the first hand of cards 100 in a second hand
of cards 200. Referring to FIG. 2(a), when the first hand of cards
100 is dealt, spots or spaces for the cards of the second hand of
cards 200 may be illustrated. In one embodiment, the second hand of
cards 200 will comprise five cards. The selected cards from the
first hand of cards 100 are displayed in the second hand of cards
200. In one embodiment, the card positions of the first and second
hand of cards 100,200 are aligned in vertical columns. The selected
cards from the first hand of cards 100 are duplicated or re-used
(such as by displaying) in corresponding card positions of the
second hand of cards 200. In other embodiments, the card positions
need not align, and the cards which are duplicated or re-used need
not be provided in matching or similar card positions. As
illustrated in FIG. 2(a), the player has selected the Jack of
Diamonds, Queen of Diamonds and King of Diamonds.
[0037] It will be understood that by the terms duplicating or
re-using it is meant that the same card having the same rank/value
and the like is associated with the second (or other additional)
hand. In one embodiment, the card need not be "duplicated" in the
sense that it is reproduced, although this is the most convenient
method of illustrating to the player the association of that
particular card with a hand. For example, the hands need not be
displayed simultaneously, in which event, the duplicated card is
not visually duplicated.
[0038] The player is also permitted to hold none, one or more, or
all, of the cards of the first hand of cards 100. The held cards
may be entirely different from the cards which were duplicated or
re-used in the second hand of cards 200. As illustrated, the player
has selected to hold the Jack of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, the King
of Diamonds, and the King of Hearts. The player has elected to
discard the Queen of Diamonds.
[0039] Next, any non-held cards from the first hand of cards 100
are discarded and replaced. Any cards needed to complete the second
hand of cards 200 are dealt or added to the second hand of cards
200. In the example illustrated, a single card is necessary to
replace the discarded Queen of Diamonds in the first hand of cards
100. In addition, three cards are necessary to complete the second
hand of cards 200. In one embodiment, the cards which are dealt in
this step are from the same deck of cards from which the cards were
dealt to the first hand of cards 100.
[0040] In the example illustrated, a King of Clubs has been dealt
to the first hand of cards 100 to replace the discarded Queen of
Diamonds. A Ten of Diamonds, a Jack of Diamonds, and an Ace of
Diamonds have been dealt to the second hand of cards 200 to
complete this hand.
[0041] Next, it is determined if the player is a winner of the
game. Preferably, each hand of cards is evaluated against a one or
more winning hands or combinations of cards. If either or both
hands of cards comprises a predetermined winning hand of cards,
then the player is declared a winner. The combinations of cards
comprising predetermined winning hands of cards may be varied. The
predetermined winning hands may comprise one or more of the
well-known card combinations in poker, having the also well-known
hand rankings. For example, in one embodiment, a hand of cards
having a ranking greater than a pair of Jacks may be declared a
winning hand. In another embodiment, at least two pair may be
required to obtain a winning hand. An embodiment of such a game is
disclosed in more detail below.
[0042] In the example illustrated in FIG. 2(c), the player's first
hand of cards 100 and second hand of cards 200 may comprise a
winning hand. The resulting first hand of cards 100 comprises a
Full House (three Kings and two Jacks). The resulting second hand
of cards 200 comprises a Royal Flush (Ten, Jack, Queen, King and
Ace of the same suit).
[0043] If a hand comprises a predetermined winning hand, the player
may be awarded a payout or winning. The amount of the winning or
size of the prize may vary depending upon a number of criteria. A
player may be awarded a larger prize or winning for placing a
larger bet. A player may also be awarded a larger prize or winning
for a higher ranked winning hand.
[0044] Many unique and exciting aspects of the game will now be
appreciated. First, a game is provided which comprises the
generally simultaneous play of at least two hands of cards, and
which also provides the opportunity for more than one winning
event.
[0045] Second, a game is provided which allows a player to select
cards from a first hand of cards to be used in a second hand of
cards. Moreover, the selected cards need not be the same as those
the player ultimately elects to play in the first hand of cards.
This has several advantages. A player may form a particular
strategy for attempting to form winning hands by varying the cards
which are used in the first and second hands. For example, in the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2(a)-(c), the player elected to try
for a Royal Flush in the second hand of cards, and a Full House in
the first hand of cards. In this manner, the player attempted to
try for a low percentage hand (Royal Flush), and a higher
percentage odds hand (Full House). It will be appreciated that the
ability to hold/select different cards for the first and second
hands also allows a player to avoid trying to receive the same
combination of cards in both hands, when once the cards are dealt
and the winning hand is received in one hand, the other hand can
not be the same. For example, if the player elected to use the
Jack, Queen and King of Diamonds in both hands illustrated in FIG.
2(b), then after the cards are dealt, both hands can not result in
a Royal Flush, since only a single Ace and Ten of Diamonds remain
(when using a single deck of cards). The remaining cards dealt to
the other hand would then not result in the other hand comprising a
Royal Flush.
[0046] In accordance with the present invention, the player is
provided with an opportunity to see five of the cards of the deck
and select particular cards to use in a second hand and to hold in
a first hand to generate a plurality of optimized winning
possibilities.
[0047] The method of the invention may be extended to the play of
more than one hand of cards in addition to the first hand. FIG. 3
illustrates such an example of this embodiment of the game. As
illustrated, the game includes three hands of cards, a first hand
of cards 100a, a second hand of cards 200a, and a third hand of
cards 300a.
[0048] The method of game play is similar to that described above,
except that the player is permitted to select none, one or more, or
all, of the cards from the first hand of cards 100a to be used in
the second hand of cards 200a. The player is also permitted to
select none, one or more, or all of the cards from the first hand
of cards 100a to be used in the third hand of cards 300a. The cards
which are selected to be used in the second hand of cards 200a need
not be the same as the cards which are selected to be used in the
third hand of cards 300a. Further, the cards which the player
elects to hold in the first hand of cards 100a need not be the same
as the cards selected to be used in either or both of the second
and third hands of cards 200a, 300a.
[0049] In the example illustrated, the player has been dealt a
first hand of cards 100a comprising a Jack of Diamonds, Eight of
Diamonds, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Hearts, and Seven of Diamonds.
The player has selected the Diamonds cards (the Jack, Eight, Ace
and Seven of Diamonds) to be reused in the second hand of cards
200a. The player has selected the Jack of Diamonds, Ace of Diamonds
and Ace of Hearts to be used in the third hand of cards 300a. The
player may elect to hold none, one or more, or all of the cards
from the first hand of cards 100a. Referring to FIG. 3(b), the
player elected to hold the Seven, Eight and Jack of Diamonds.
[0050] An example of the resulting hands after replacement cards
have been dealt to the first hand of cards 100a and additional
cards have been dealt to the second and third hand of cards 200a,
300a is illustrated in FIG. 3(c). As illustrated, the first hand of
cards 100a resulted in a straight (Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten and
Jack). The second hand of cards 200a resulted in a Flush (all cards
of the suit of Diamonds). The third hand of cards 300a resulted in
a Full House (a pair of Aces and three Jacks).
[0051] It will be appreciated that the principles of the invention
may be applied to games including more than three hands of
cards.
[0052] In one or more embodiments, the number of hands which a
player is permitted to play may be dependent upon the size of bet
or wager. As an example, a player may be required to place a first
bet amount to play a game including two hands of cards. The player
may be required to place a second, larger bet to play a game
including three hands of cards.
[0053] In another embodiment of the invention when the game is
presented on a gaming machine including a controller/computer, the
computer may automatically select none, one or more cards from the
first hand to be duplicated into the second hand (and cards to be
duplicated into other hands, such as a third hand, a fourth hand or
the like if additional hands are being played). The computer also
selects the none, one or more cards from the first hand which are
to be held. Replacement cards are then dealt in place of discarded
cards in the first hand and additional cards are dealt as necessary
to fill the second or other additional hands. In this embodiment,
the method of play is generally the same, except that the selection
of cards to be duplicated and cards to be held is automated and
performed by the computer instead of the player. In this
embodiment, the computer may be programmed to select cards in a
variety of fashions, including based upon odds of receiving hands,
payouts for winning hands, or other criteria.
[0054] In another embodiment of the invention, a player may not be
required to place a bet to participate in the play of hands other
than the first hand. However, the payout for receiving a winning
hand in other than the first hand and/or the criteria for
determining if a winning hand is received in other than the first
hand may be varied.
[0055] In one embodiment, a player is only required to place a
single bet, but may participate in more than one hand, such as two
or three hands as desired. In such event, the play of the hands is
as described above. However, the determination of whether a winning
hand has been received differs. If the player receives a
predetermined winning hand in the first hand, i.e. the hand which
the player paid to play, then the player is paid an award in the
normal fashion. Any additional hands other than the first hand are
not deemed to comprise a winning hand unless the hand is a
predetermined winning hand and has a ranking greater than the
ranking of any cards which were duplicated in to that hand from the
first hand.
[0056] As an example, the player may be dealt a first hand
comprising Ace, Ace, Seven, Eight, King. The player may elect to
duplicate the two Aces into the second hand. After additional cards
are dealt to the player, the resulting second hand may comprise
Ace, Ace, Two, Three, Jack, or a hand rank of a pair of Aces.
However, this pair of Aces was received by duplication from cards
of the first hand, and therefore the second hand is not deemed a
winning hand. On the other hand, after additional cards are dealt
to the player, the resulting second hand may comprise Ace, Ace,
Jack, Jack, Jack, or a Full House. In such event, the resulting
hand is greater in rank than the rank of any hand which could be
formed from the cards which were duplicated (i.e. a Full House has
a greater rank than a pair of Aces). Therefore, the second hand is
deemed a winning hand.
[0057] In a preferred arrangement of this embodiment, when the
player receives a winning hand in other than the first hand, the
player is paid a winning which is reduced in comparison to a
winning which is paid for a hand of the same rank when received
when the player has placed a bet to play the additional hand. For
example, in one embodiment, a player may be paid a winning amount
of 100 coins for receiving a Four of a Kind in other than the first
hand when the player has placed a single coin bet on that
additional hand. In the embodiment where the player has placed a
bet on only the first hand and receives a Four of a Kind winning
hand in the second hand (i.e. not simply as a result of card
duplication from the first hand), the player may only be paid 50
coins.
[0058] In another embodiment, when the player has not placed a bet
on the additional hand, the combination of cards or the hands which
are deemed to comprise predetermined winning combinations may
comprise fewer combinations of cards. For example, when a player
has placed a bet on a hand, a hand having a rank as low as a pair
of Jacks may be deemed a winning hand. In the event a player has
not placed a bet, a winning hand may only be a hand having a rank
of two pair or greater.
[0059] In one or more embodiments of the invention, the first
and/or additional hands may comprise other than five cards. For
example, the first hand may comprise seven cards and the other
hands five cards. This provides a player with a greater number of
cards to select from for duplication into other hands. The outcome
of the first hand may be based upon the best five card hand.
[0060] In one embodiment, there may be no "draw" on the first hand.
For example, after the player has selected cards for duplication to
the additional hands, cards are added to those hand(s). The outcome
of the first hand is the best five card hand as originally
dealt.
[0061] In one embodiment, cards may be dealt face-down and then
turned over instead of being dealt face-up.
[0062] In one embodiment, one or more cards may be pre-dealt to the
second or other additional hands. The player may then select the
cards from the first hand which, when used with the pre-dealt cards
in the second hand, form the best second hand.
[0063] In one or more embodiments, indicia other than cards may be
used in the play of the game. For example, a variety of symbols may
be used. In that event, the outcome of each "hand" or combination
of symbols may be made by comparison to combinations of symbols
which are deemed winning combinations.
[0064] One embodiment of the invention comprises a multi-hand poker
game in which different rules apply to at least two of the hands.
In one embodiment, these rules define different sets of
predetermined winning combinations. In one embodiment, the
different rules are associated with different variations of poker.
Those versions may include the use of different cards or cards
having different values, such as wild cards including Jokers,
One-eyed Jacks or the like. The rules may correspond to well known
versions of poker such as, for example, Jacks or Better, Jokers
Wild, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild and others.
[0065] In this embodiment of the invention, a player may attempt to
structure each of their hands with regard to the particular version
of poker or the rules which apply to that hand. A specific example
will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A through 4C. In the
embodiment, the rules of Jacks or Better apply to a first hand 100b
while any pair is a winning in a second hand 200b.
[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the player has been dealt a hand
which provides no winning combination of cards in the first hand 1
00b. The player has been dealt a pair of Sevens, however, which
define a winning hand if those cards were in the second hand 200b.
As such, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the player selects the Sevens
and moves those cards to the second hand 200b. As illustrated in
FIG. 4B, the player has also discarded all but the Jack of Diamonds
from the first hand 100b.
[0067] Once the remaining cards are dealt to fill the first and
second hands 100b, 200b, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, the player has
received a pair of Jacks in the first hand 100b, and still has a
pair of Sevens in the second hand 200b. As a result, the player has
obtained a winning combination of cards in both hands 100b,
200b.
[0068] It will be appreciated that this embodiment of the invention
may be applied to a multi-hand poker game such as described above
and also may apply to other multiple-hand poker games. Such other
games may include those where two or more hands are dealt and
played separately, or where one hand is dealt and-cards are
selected from that hand which are used in that hand every
additional hand.
[0069] It will be appreciated that the manner by which different
cards are used in the hands may vary. For example, in one
embodiment, the replacement or additional cards which are dealt to
each hand may be dealt from different decks or sets of cards. One
deck may include Jokers, for example, while the deck or sets that
another hand's replacement/additional cards are dealt may not.
[0070] It will be understood that the above described arrangements
of apparatus and the method therefrom are merely illustrative of
applications of the principles of this invention and many other
embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
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