U.S. patent application number 10/271669 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-17 for method of playing wagering games.
Invention is credited to Friedman, Stacy A..
Application Number | 20030073476 10/271669 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26955061 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030073476 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friedman, Stacy A. |
April 17, 2003 |
Method of playing wagering games
Abstract
The embodiments of the present invention provide a method of
playing wagering games. According to a first embodiment the present
invention, one or more players place a wager and a dealer deals
four cards to the players and to the dealer. The players and dealer
then inspect their four cards and arrange them into two separate
two-card hands. After the arrangement is complete, five cards are
dealt face-up as community cards to be used in conjunction with
each of the players' and the dealer's two separate two-card hands.
The players' wagers are then resolved by evaluating the players'
two separate two-card hands and the dealer's two separate two-card
hands in a predetermined fashion according to the conventional
rules of poker. Various modifications to the first embodiment of
the present invention are set forth herein.
Inventors: |
Friedman, Stacy A.; (San
Francisco, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUIRK & TRATOS
3773 HOWARD HUGHES PARKWAY
SUITE 500 NORTH
LAS VEGAS
NV
89109
US
|
Family ID: |
26955061 |
Appl. No.: |
10/271669 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60329608 |
Oct 15, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3293 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of playing a card game, comprising the steps of:
accepting first wagers from one or more player; dealing at least
two cards to said one or more players; dealing at least two cards
to a dealer; said one or more players arranging said at least two
cards into at least two separate hands; said dealer arranging said
at least two dealer cards into at least two separate hands; dealing
at least one additional common card; determining a strength of each
player's at least two separate hands in combination with said at
least one common card; determining a strength of said dealer's at
least two separate hands in combination with said at least one
common card; comparing the strength of each player's at least two
separate determined hands with the strength of said dealer's at
least two separate determined hands; and paying each player a
predetermined payout should the strength of each player's separate
determined hands in comparison to said dealer's at least two
separate determined hands be of a predetermined character.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of arranging
each player's at least two separate hands and the dealer's at least
two separate hands by strength and comparing each player's highest
hand and lowest hand with a dealer's highest and lowest hand
respectively.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein each player is awarded the payout
when the player's highest hand is stronger than the dealer's
highest hand and the player's lowest hand is stronger than the
dealer's lowest hand.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein each player is awarded the payout
when either the player's highest hand or lowest hand is stronger
than the dealer's highest hand or lowest hand respectively and the
player's other separate hand is equal to the dealer's corresponding
other separate hand.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein each player is awarded the payout
when the player's highest hand is weaker than the dealer's highest
hand and the player's lowest hand is weaker than the dealer's
lowest hand.
6. The method of claim 2 wherein each player is awarded the payout
when the player's highest hand is stronger than the dealer's
highest hand or the player's lowest hand is stronger than the
dealer's lowest hand.
7. The method of claim 1 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of increasing their first wager once
each player has received their two or more cards.
8. The method of claim 1 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of folding their hand by forfeiting a
portion of their first wager once each player has received their
two or more cards.
9. The method of claim 1 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of receiving additional cards for an
increased wager.
10. The method of claim 1 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option to replace one or more dealt
cards.
11. A method of playing a card game, comprising the steps of:
affording one or more players an opportunity to make a first wager;
dealing four cards to said one or more players; dealing four cards
to a dealer; said one or more players arranging said four cards
into two separate two-card hands; said dealer arranging said four
dealer cards into two separate two-card hands; dealing five
additional common cards; determining a strength of each player's
two separate two-card hands in combination with said five common
cards; determining a strength of said dealer's two separate
two-card hands in combination with said five common cards;
comparing each player's highest and lowest determined hand with the
dealer's highest and lowest determined hand respectively; and
paying each player a predetermined payout should the comparison of
the player's hands to the dealer's hands result in a predetermined
relationship between the player's hands and the dealer's hands.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein each player is awarded the
payout when the player's highest hand is stronger than the dealer's
highest hand and the player's lowest hand is stronger than the
dealer's lowest hand.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein each player is awarded the
payout when the player's highest hand is stronger than the dealer's
highest hand or the player's lowest hand is stronger than the
dealer's lowest hand.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein each player is awarded the
payout when either the player's highest hand or lowest hand is
stronger than the dealer's highest hand or lowest hand respectively
and the player's other separate hand is equal to the dealer's
corresponding other separate hand.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein each player is awarded the
payout when the player's highest hand is weaker than the dealer's
highest hand and the player's lowest hand is weaker than the
dealer's lowest hand.
16. The method of claim 11 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of increasing their first wager once
each player has received their four cards.
17. The method of claim 11 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of folding their hand by forfeiting a
portion of their first wager once each player has received their
four cards.
18. The method of claim 11 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of surrendering at least a portion of
their first wager after each player has received their four cards
and before the exposure of the five common cards.
19. The method of claim 11 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option of receiving cards in addition to
their four cards for an increased wager.
20. The method of claim 11 further including a step wherein each
player is afforded the option to replace one or more of their four
dealt cards.
21. An electronically implemented method of playing a card game
comprising the steps of: providing means for accepting a player
wager; displaying at least two player cards; displaying at least
two dealer cards; providing means for said player to arrange said
at least two cards into at least two separate hands; arranging, by
means of a processor unit, said at least two dealer cards into at
least two separate hands; displaying at least one additional common
card; determining, by means of the processor unit, a strength of
said player's at least two separate hands in combination with said
at least one common card; determining, by means of the processor
unit, a strength of said dealer's at least two separate hands in
combination with said at least one common card; comparing, by means
of the processor unit, the strength of said player's at least two
separate determined hands with the strength of said dealer's at
least two separate determined hands; and paying, by means of the
processor unit, said player a predetermined payout should the
strength of one or more of the player's separate determined hands
in comparison to said dealer's at least two separate determined
hands be of a predetermined character.
22. The electronically implemented method of claim 21 wherein said
means for said player to arrange said at least two cards into at
least two separate hands is a touch screen display.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/329,608, filed Oct. 15, 2001.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The embodiments of the present invention relate to wagering
games. More specifically, wagering games in which a player
separates an initial set of playing cards into multiple hands, and
where a final evaluation of said hands is based on the cards in
said multiple hands in combination with one or more community
cards.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The game of Texas Hold'Em poker is widely played in casinos
and cardrooms. In Texas Hold'Em, players play against each other to
win the pot. Following several initial "blind" bets, each player is
dealt two cards from a standard deck of playing cards. A round of
betting ensues during which each player may increase the bet, match
the bet, or fold. Then three community cards, known as the "flop",
are dealt face-up in the center of the table. The game continues
with another round of betting, then a fourth and fifth community
card, each followed by a betting round, are dealt. The players who
have not folded their cards during the numerous betting cycles show
their cards and the highest-ranking poker hand wins the money in
the pot.
[0004] The game of Pai Gow poker, also known as Double Hand poker,
is also well known in the casino industry. In casino Pai Gow poker,
each player makes a wager against the casino and initially receives
seven cards from a standard deck of playing cards which must be
divided into a two-card "front" hand and five-card "back" hand. The
house likewise receives seven cards and arranges them similarly.
The player wins if the player's front and back hands rank better
than the dealer's front and back hands, respectively. The player
loses if the player's front and back hands rank worse than the
dealer's front and back hands, respectively. Any other event is a
push, and the player neither wins nor loses.
[0005] Although popular, both Texas Hold'em and Pai Gai poker
suffer from disadvantages for both the casino and players.
[0006] For example, a disadvantage of Texas Hold'Em for the casino
is that it is not played directly against the casino such as
Blackjack. Players play against each other and the casino takes a
fee from each pot generated. This tends to lower both the
excitement level of the players and the casino's overall income.
Moreover, another disadvantage of Texas Hold'Em is that a single
game of Hold'em can take several minutes to play. Since the casino
makes its money on a per hand basis, lengthy playing times
negatively affect the casino's overall income.
[0007] A significant disadvantage of Pai Gow poker is that the
player must set the player's front and back hands such that the
player's back hand outranks the player's front hand. If the
player's front hand accidently outranks the player's back hand, the
casino declares a foul and the player's wager is forfeit.
SUMMARY
[0008] The embodiments of the present invention address the
disadvantages of Texas Hold'em and Pai Gow poker games.
Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention provide a
game with a relatively short duration thereby increasing casino
profits, provide a game which has several features similar to the
popular poker game of Texas Hold'em, but which is played against
the casino rather than against other players thereby increasing
both player excitement and casino profits, and provide a game which
involves multiple player hands wherein the player cannot
automatically forfeit due to incorrect game play as with Pai Gow
poker. Other advantages and features of the embodiments of the
present invention will become evident from the abstract, detailed
description, drawings and claims set forth herein.
[0009] The embodiments of the present invention provide a method
for playing wagering games. According to a first method of play, a
player places a wager and a dealer deals four cards to the player
and to the dealer. Alternatively, other gaming indicators selected
or dealt from a set of gaming indicators, including a plurality of
gaming indicators or bearing indicia designating a series of
ordered rank, such as dice, dominoes, or numbered tokens may be
employed. Once the four cards are received, the player is afforded
the opportunity to inspect the four cards and to arrange them into
two separate two-card hands while the dealer does the same. After
the arrangement is complete, five cards are dealt face-up as
community cards to be used in conjunction with each of the two
separate two-card hands. The player's wager is then resolved by
evaluating the player's two seven card hands and the dealer's two
seven card hands in a predetermined fashion. Various modifications
of the method of the first embodiment are discussed herein.
[0010] These and various other features which characterize the
embodiments of the present invention are recited with particularity
in the claims annexed hereto and which form a part hereof. However,
for a better understanding of the embodiments of the present
invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use,
reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part
hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there
is illustrated and described numerous embodiments of the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating the steps in playing a
wagering game according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps in playing a
wagering game according to a more generalized second embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective front view of a traditional
gaming machine that may be used to implement the embodiments of the
present invention in an electronic version.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1, a method of playing a wagering game
according to a first embodiment of the present invention is
described. In the first embodiment of the invention, a single
fifty-two card standard deck of playing cards is employed.
Alternatively, a standard deck plus additional cards, or a
non-standard deck of cards may be used.
[0015] The game may be played by one or more players, in electronic
video formats, on personal computers, over a global computer
network, or in a live casino table game setting. It is reiterated
that other ranked tokens, beside playing cards, or indicators may
be employed, such as dice or dominos or numbered tokens or tiles.
Such ranked indicators or tokens may comprise tangible physical
objects, or electronic representations appearing on an electronic
video gaming device or computer monitor. For the sake of brevity,
playing cards are the preferred choice for describing the
embodiments of the present invention.
[0016] In a card game format, each of the one or more players is
first afforded an opportunity to place a wager 100 to participate
in the game. Each player and a dealer is then dealt four cards 110.
After inspecting their cards, each player and dealer arranges their
four cards into two separate two-card hands each in a face down
fashion 120. The order of dealing cards to the players and the
dealer can follow any pattern so that each player and the dealer is
provided with four initial cards. For example, the dealer may give
each player and herself a single card in a revolving fashion until
each of the players and the dealer possess four cards.
Alternatively, each player and the dealer may be dealt four cards
in a row until each of the players and the dealer possess four
cards. The selected dealing pattern is not critical to the
embodiments of the present invention as long as each player and the
dealer receive four cards in a random fashion. However, it is
preferred that the players and dealer arrange their four cards into
two separate two-card hands in confidence from one another. Once
each player and the dealer has their initial four cards, the dealer
deals five cards as community cards 130. Next, each player's two
separate two-card hands are revealed and evaluated by the dealer
140 as follows:
[0017] 1. Each two-card hand is combined with the five community
cards to form a seven-card hand;
[0018] 2. From each seven-card hand, the best five-card poker hand
is determined using traditional poker rankings;
[0019] 3. Of the player's two separate two-card hands, the
higher-ranking hand is designated "High", and the lesser-ranking
hand "Low";
[0020] 4. The dealer then evaluates her own hands using the
aforementioned method and proceeds to resolve the player's wagers
as follows:
[0021] a. If the player's High hand ranks higher than the dealer's
High hand, and the player's Low hand ranks higher than the dealer's
Low hand, the player wins the wager and is paid off at even
odds;
[0022] b. If one of the player's hands ranks higher than the
dealer's corresponding hand and the other player's hand ranks equal
to the dealer's corresponding hand, the player wins the wager and
is paid off at even odds;
[0023] c. If one of the player's hands ranks higher than the
dealer's corresponding hand and the other player's hand ranks less
than the dealer's corresponding hand, the player pushes the wager;
and
[0024] d. If neither of the player's hands rank higher than the
dealer's corresponding hand, the player loses the wager.
[0025] Additional embodiments of the present invention are set
forth below. The various alternative options discussed below may be
employed alone or in any combination or permutation.
[0026] Instead of being dealt four cards, the players may each be
dealt any number of cards sufficient to arrange them into multiple
hands. Moreover, the dealer may deal any number of additional cards
for use as community cards as long as the total number of cards
does not cause the determination of the strength of the separate
hands to become overly complicated and time consuming. For example,
players and the dealer may each be dealt six cards to be divided
into two separate three-card hands. Thereafter, the dealer exposes
four additional common cards. Each seven-card hand is then
evaluated as described previously.
[0027] In another embodiment, the players and dealer are each dealt
four cards to be divided into two separate two-card hands.
Thereafter, the dealer exposes three additional common cards. Each
five-card hand is then evaluated as described previously. In
another embodiment, the players are dealt four cards to be divided
into two hands containing any number of cards, and the dealer
subsequently exposes five additional cards. From each player hand,
the best five-card hand is determined and evaluated as described
previously.
[0028] It is also contemplated that the initially dealt cards may
be separated into more than two hands. For example, players and the
dealer may each be dealt six cards which are separated into three
separate two-card hands. The best three five-card hands are then
determined and evaluated as described previously.
[0029] The first embodiment indicates that the wager is resolved in
the player's favor only when one or more of the player's hands
outrank the corresponding dealer's hands, and none rank lower.
However, the player may win the wager if another predetermined
winning relationship exists between the player's multiple hands and
the dealer's multiple hands. One such predetermined relationship
requires that all of the player's hands rank lower than the
corresponding dealer's hands.
[0030] Although an even money payout has been described heretofore,
the aforementioned predetermined relationships allow for payout
variations such that a different payoff amount may be assigned to
any of the predetermined winning relationships. The major
limitations with respect to the payout is that they appear
attractive to players and provide the casino with an advantage.
[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG.
2, the player may be afforded the option 115, or may be required
to, modify an initial wager before or after the common cards have
been dealt. The modification may include, but is not limited to
increasing the wager or forfeiting the hand and initial wager,
removing part of the wager and surrendering the remainder of the
wager, increasing the wager and subsequently receiving additional
cards, increasing the wager to purchase additional cards, and
increasing the wager to replace existing cards.
[0032] By way of example, the common cards can be dealt
individually or in a predetermined pattern with betting rounds
after each common card or series of common cards are dealt. In a
style reminiscent of Texas Hold'em, each player is required to
place an additional wager to see the next common card or series of
common cards. Only those players which place all required wagers
have their cards evaluated according to the rules set forth
above.
[0033] In another example, players may optionally increase their
wager once they see their dealt cards. In this manner, players may
attempt to increase their potential winnings once they see the
strength of their dealt cards.
[0034] In another example, players may be required to increase
their initial wager once they inspect their dealt cards. In other
words, each player must increase their wager to see the common
cards. In this manner, players may decide, based on their dealt
cards, to drop out of the game prior to seeing the common
cards.
[0035] In yet another example, players may optionally pay monies to
replace one or more of their dealt cards. In this manner, players
may attempt to improve the strength of their hand.
[0036] It should be understood that the embodiments of the card
game disclosed herein are also ideal for implementation in an
electronic gaming machine. It is well known to utilize gaming
machines, controlled by processing units, for operating wagering
games. The processing unit is typically a computer microprocessor.
The first embodiment of the present invention will be used to
describe a gaming machine implemented version of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective front view of a traditional
gaming machine that may be used to implement the embodiments of the
present invention. The gaming machine includes a screen display 5,
selection buttons 10, card reader 15, coin slot 20, and wager
buttons 25.
[0038] The gaming machine may also incorporate a wager accepting
means, such as a bill acceptor in addition to the coin slot 20,
such that a player may place one or more wagers. Once a wager is
accepted, a gaming machine processor causes four randomly selected
cards to be dealt and displayed to the player and the dealer. The
cards are displayed on a gaming machine display unit such as a CRT
screen, plasma screen, video screen, etc. The gaming machine
includes means for the player to arrange his four cards into two
separate two card hands. The arrangement means may be in the form
of a touch screen or panel selection buttons 10. The processing
unit arranges the dealer's cards in a preprogrammed fashion or in a
random fashion. Thereafter, the processing unit causes the player's
hands to be compared to the dealer's hands to determine whether a
payout is due. If so, the player is paid in credits or coins. Each
of the embodiments of the present invention can be practiced by
means of an electronic gaming machine, personal computer or in a
live setting at a wagering table.
[0039] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics of the present invention have been set forth in the
foregoing description, together with an explanation of various
possible embodiments and modifications thereto, this disclosure is
illustrative only and changes may be made within the spirit of the
invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning
of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *