U.S. patent application number 10/390077 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-25 for method and apparatus for playing casino poker game.
Invention is credited to Wirth, John E..
Application Number | 20040056418 10/390077 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46299067 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040056418 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wirth, John E. |
March 25, 2004 |
Method and apparatus for playing casino poker game
Abstract
A casino game, based on the rules of poker, wherein each player
is dealt five cards, with an option to utilize a sixth card to
improve the five-card hand. The game provides a player with three
opportunities to win: 1) head-to-head competition against the
dealer, with the higher poker hand winning; 2) competition for a
common pot among the players, the amount of the pot increasing
until a player has a hand in excess of a predetermined threshold
(e.g., three-of-a-kind or better; and 3) bonus payments for
long-odds hands (e.g., straight or better). Because no player has
an opportunity to increase his/her initial wager after the cards
are dealt, the game proceeds rapidly.
Inventors: |
Wirth, John E.; (Worth,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN LLP
6300 SEARS TOWER
233 S. WACKER DRIVE
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
46299067 |
Appl. No.: |
10/390077 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10390077 |
Mar 17, 2003 |
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10247987 |
Sep 20, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 273/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00157 20130101;
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F 2001/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/274 ;
273/292; 273/303 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00; A63F
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of playing a modified draw poker game comprising:
providing a table having a playing station for a dealer and playing
stations for a plurality of players, each player station comprising
a card playing area having first and second betting zones; each
player placing an ante wager in said first betting zone; the dealer
dealing an initial, five-card hand, face down, to himself and to
each player; the dealer placing a common card at a location on the
table; providing an opportunity for each player to fold or stay,
each player who folds forfeiting the wager in said first betting
zone to the dealer, and each player who stays placing a second,
predetermined wager in the player's second betting zone, said
wagers in the second betting zone comprising a Players pot;
providing an opportunity for each player to discard one card and to
utilize said common card to improve his or her poker hand; turning
all cards to a face up position: (a) the dealer collecting the ante
wagers in said first betting zone from each player whose poker hand
is lower in value than the dealer's hand; (b) the dealer: i)
returning the ante wager, and ii) paying an amount equal to the
ante wager in said first betting zone to each player who has a
higher poker hand than the dealer's hand; (c) increasing the amount
of the dealer's payment to a predetermined multiple of the ante
wager for each player whose hand comprises a premium hand, provided
that said premium hand comprises a higher poker hand than that of
the dealer; (d) if one or more players has a poker hand with a
value in excess of a predetermined threshold, the dealer paying the
amount in said Players pot, less a house rake, if any, to the
player having the highest poker hand; and (e) if no player has a
poker hand with a value in excess of the predetermined threshold,
the wagers comprising said Players pot are retained and form part
of the Players pot in the succeeding hand.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer collects a payment from
each player who discards one card.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the payment to discard and use the
common card is five dollars.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said common card is dealt
face-down.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial five card hands are
dealt to each player five-at-a-time.
6. The method of claim I wherein the initial five card hands are
dealt to each player one-at-a-time.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined wager in the
second betting zone is five dollars.
8. The method of claim I wherein said ante wager in said first
betting zone is a whole-dollar amount in the range of five dollars
to twenty-five dollars.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said Players pot comprises wagers
from at least one previously-dealt hand.
10. The method of claim 1, further including: providing an
opportunity for the dealer to discard one card and utilize said
common card, subject to the following conditions: a) if the
dealer's initially-dealt hand is a straight or better, the dealer
may not discard and utilize said common card; b) if the dealer's
initially-dealt hand comprises four cards to a flush, the dealer
must discard the odd card and utilize said common card; c) if the
dealer's initially-dealt hand comprises four cards to a straight,
the dealer must attempt to complete said straight by discarding one
card and utilizing said common card; and d) in situations other
than those set out at a, b and c, above, the dealer must discard
the lowest unmatched card and utilize said common card.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the dealer's initially-dealt
hand comprises four cards to a straight further comprising: if the
dealer's initially-dealt hand comprises four cards in sequence and
one card not in sequence, the dealer must discard the card which is
not in sequence and use the common card; and if the dealer's
initially-dealt hand comprises five cards of a sequence selected
from: X+(X+1)+(X+2)+(X+4) +(X+5); or X+(X+1)+(X+3)+(X+4)+(X+5),
where X is the lowest-value card, the dealer must discard card X
and utilize the common card.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein said premium hand comprises
three-of-a-kind or better.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said premium hand comprises a
straight or better.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined multiple
payment for a premium hand is based on the statistical rarity of
said hand.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein a premium hand comprises
three-of-a-kind or better, and wherein the multiple applied to the
following types of poker hands is:
2 Three of a Kind 2 to 1 Straight 3 to 1 Flush 5 to 1 Full House 7
to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Straight Flush 125 to 1 Royal Flush 250
to 1.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein a premium hand comprises a
straight or better, and wherein the multiple applied to the
following types of poker hands is:
3 Straight 3 to 1 Flush 5 to 1 Full House 7 to 1 Four of a Kind 20
to 1 Straight Flush 125 to 1 Royal Flush 250 to 1.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined threshold
comprises two pairs.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined threshold
comprises three-of-a-kind.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein the Players pot contains
undistributed funds from Y hands, where Y is a whole number greater
than or equal to 1, further providing the step: permitting a player
who has not previously made an ante bet in any of the hands which
resulted in funds in the Players pot to participate in play for
said Players pot by contributing a sum equal to Y times the amount
of said predetermined wager to said Players pot.
20. The method of claim 1 further providing an optional step which
permits a player to participate in a progressive pot, said pot
comprising funds contributed by players over a plurality of games,
said method comprising: permitting a player to make a separate, one
dollar bet at a predetermined region on the table prior to
inspection of the player's cards; and awarding the player the
accumulated value of said progressive pot if the player's hand
consists of a royal flush.
21. A gaming table for a casino poker game comprising: a recessed
area in said gaming table for a dealer's playing station: a
plurality of Players stations disposed around a generally arcuate
section of said gaming table, each player's station having a card
playing area and a betting area, said betting area comprising: a) a
first betting zone and a second betting zone marked on said table
in front of each player; b) a discard area marked on said table in
front of each player; and c) a marked area adjacent said dealer's
playing station for holding accumulated undistributed wagers from
hand to hand.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
10/247,987, filed Sep. 20, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,845,906 and 6,113,101, the text of which
is incorporated by reference herein, I described methods for
playing wagering games which were based, in substantial part, on
the rules of poker. As was the case with these earlier disclosures,
the present invention relates generally to a playing card wagering
game which is particularly applicable to a casino environment in
which multiple players compete with themselves and with the house.
The game in its variations can also be played in a home
environment.
[0003] Wagering games, particularly those intended primarily for
play in casinos, should provide players with a sense of
participation and control, the opportunity to make decisions, and
reasonable odds of winning, even though the odds favor the casino,
house, dealer or banker. The game must also meet the requirements
of regulatory agencies.
[0004] Wagering games, including wagering games for casino play
with multiple wagering opportunities, are known. In addition to the
above-mentioned patents, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,041 and 5,078,405
(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.
[0005] 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). Somewhat
similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,667,757 (to Holmberg) discloses a board
game and apparatus, including a way to allow the player to make a
choice with respect to several different alternative types of game
play and risk-bearing strategies. The alternative play is based on
providing cards with additional symbols and therefore, a new set of
odds. The game and apparatus disclosed by Holmberg requires new
sets of rules, relatively complicated procedures and time for a
player to learn the game.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,429 (to LeVasseur) involves the dealer
playing multiple hands against a player's single hand, whereby the
number of hands played in the same amount of time is increased.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,462 (to Breeding) discloses a
casino-type poker game wherein players are given an opportunity to
withdraw at least a part of their bets before all the cards are
dealt. The game employs at least one common card which can be used
by all of the players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a card game, in particular
to a card game suitable for use in casinos, and to tables for
playing the game. The game combines the concepts of draw poker with
simultaneous play against a dealer (the house) and play against
other players. Players who are dealt "premium hands" (as hereafter
defined) can receive bonus payments, depending on the value of the
hand. Because the players are not permitted to increase their
wagers, the game moves rapidly.
[0009] The game follows the rules of stud poker, and a single,
52-card deck is used. Each player's poker hand is made from 5 dealt
cards, with the right to use a common card to improve the dealt
hand if the player elects to discard and pay the house for the
privilege of using this common card. The dealer has same option as
other players, i.e., to make the best five-card hand from six
cards; however, the dealer does not pay to use the common card.
Each player plays head-to-head against the dealer for one part of
the wager, and against the other players or another part of the
wager (the "common pot" or "Players Pot"). A bonus or "premium pot"
provides the players with an opportunity to win a multiple of their
ante wagers. The game is designed to encourage players to play for
several hands or rounds.
[0010] Premium or bonus pots have become very popular with the
gaming public. This game incorporates a premium pot, but unlike
conventional games (e.g., Caribbean Stud) where players contribute
to the makeup of that pot, the present game has a bonus system
which does not require a direct contribution by the players. Casino
games which provide bonus payouts for extraordinary hands generally
limit such payments to truly outstanding hands--a straight or
better. Although the practice of limiting premium payments to
straights or better could be maintained in the present game,
statistical analysis indicates that the game will generate a profit
to the house even if payouts are made to players having poker hands
as low as three-of-a-kind. Accordingly, as used herein, a "premium
hand" refers to poker hands of three-of-a-kind or better, or a
straight or better, depending on the threshold set by the
house.
[0011] No matter which threshold is adopted--three-of-a-kind or
straight--a player will receive a bonus or premium payment from the
house only if the player's hand is higher than that of the dealer.
For example, if a player holds a straight and the dealer holds a
flush, the player will loose his bet with dealer and no bonus
(premium) payout will be made.
[0012] In cases where a premium hand is eligible for a bonus
payment, the amount of the bonus payment is based on the
statistical rarity of the hand. For example, if a first player has
a hand containing three-of-a-kind, and a second player has a hand
containing a straight flush (both hands higher than that of the
dealer), the second player would receive a higher bonus payout than
the first player. As the forgoing example illustrates, more than
one player may receive a bonus payment in a given round.
[0013] From the house's perspective, providing an opportunity for a
bonus payment for hands as low as three-of-a-kind should attract
additional players to the table. Statistical analysis of the game
demonstrates that the funds required to make the bonus payouts can
be generated from the monies paid to the dealer (house) when
players buy the right to employ a sixth card.
[0014] Although the amount or cost of the right to discard and use
the sixth card can be varied, the suggested price in this game
would be $5.00. Because premium payouts will not be an every-game
occurrence, sufficient funds to seed and maintain this bonus pool
can easily be obtained from amounts paid over the course of many
hands.
[0015] The game would proceed as follows. The dealer (house)
operates from a table playing station which provides easy access to
the players. In addition to the dealer, the game can be played by
as many as six players around the table, each operating from a
playing station which has a card playing area and a betting area.
Each player's betting area contains at least two wager zones: a
first Ante zone, and a second zone for wagers which form the
"Players Pot." Each player's playing area might also contain a
marked region or regions for placing a discarded card and for
paying the dealer for the right to make such a discard. The Players
stations also contain a region or zone where cards can be
dealt.
[0016] The dealer's playing station is somewhat different than that
of the players. In addition to a region or zone for placing the
five cards dealt to the dealer, in a preferred embodiment, the
dealer's playing station contains a zone for placement of a common
card which can be utilized by any of the players who opt to make a
discard. In a preferred embodiment, the dealer's playing station
also contains a region or zone for maintaining a common Players
Pot.
[0017] In a preferred method, play would commence as follows: Each
player would place a wager in a first Ante zone at his/her station
on the table. The suggested minimum amount for an ante bet for this
game would be $5.00, but the player would have the right to
increase this wager up to a maximum of $25.00 in whole
dollar-amounts. These minimum and maximum limits are given for
purposes of illustration only, and could be higher or lower at
house discretion.
[0018] Five cards are dealt to each player, starting with a player
adjacent to the dealer; the dealer being dealt last. The cards may
be dealt from right-to-left or left-to-right. The cards are dealt
one-at-a-time, unless a machine is used, in which case the cards
may be dealt five-at-a-time. Individual players are permitted to
play only one hand at a time.
[0019] At some point in the deal, the dealer places a single card
in a "common card" zone region of the table. All cards--Players,
dealer's and the common card--are dealt face down.
[0020] The players look at their five cards and determine if they
are going to play. If a player opts to fold, he or she indicates
this by discarding all five cards to the dealer. Dealer then picks
up the ante wager in the player's first Ante zone and the five
cards dealt to the folding player. The forfeited ante wager belongs
to the house.
[0021] If a player opts to continue, he or she indicates this by
placing a second wager in the second, "Players Pot" zone at his/her
playing station. Unlike the ante bet, the amount of this second
wager is fixed--preferably at a $5.00 level.
[0022] At this point, the player has two options: standing pat, or
discarding one card in the hopes of improving the hand by use of
the as yet undisclosed common card. A player who opts to use the
common card must place one of the dealt cards in a discard zone at
his/her playing station, together with a payment to the dealer
(e.g., $5.00) for the right to make this discard. In the next stage
of play, the dealer would pick up the extra card payments and
discards from each of the players who have opted to utilize the
common card (viz., from all players except those who have opted to
stand pat). As was the case with ante wagers collected from players
who have decided not to continue, the extra card payments go to the
house.
[0023] All cards returned to the dealer are placed in a discard
area on the table or into a discard slot in the table. A preferred
method would involve placing the discards in a holding area
provided on the table, adjacent the dealer's playing station.
[0024] As noted above, it is envisioned that the receipts from
players who opt to use the extra or common card will off-set any
payments the house may make to players who have poker hands
comprising three-of-a-kind or better. Players having these types of
hands (a "bonus" hand) are entitled to a bonus or premium in
addition to any wagers they may recover from the dealer or from
other players through the "Players Pot." One over-riding limitation
on the right to receive a bonus payout is that the player's hand
must be higher than that of the dealer. For example, a player
holding a hand containing three fours, would not only loose to a
dealer holding three fives, but that player would also not be
entitled to a bonus payout. However, as described below, the player
holding three fours could prevail in play against the other players
and be entitled to the funds in the Players Pot.
[0025] At this point in the game, each of the remaining players
will have two wagers on the table at his/her playing station--one
wager in the Ante zone and a second wager in the Players Pot zone.
As will be described in greater detail below, the wager in the Ante
zone represents a bet between the player and the dealer. The wager
in the player's second or Players Pot zone represents a bet with
each of the remaining players, apart from the dealer. That is to
say, except for a service charge or "rake" (described hereafter),
the dealer is generally not eligible for any portion of the Players
Pot (with one exception, described below).
[0026] Although the dealer does not participate as a player, the
house may be entitled to a portion of the Players Pot as a service
charge or "rake". A commonly-used rake for casino card parlors is
5% of the pot. However, statistical analysis of the present game
suggests that a rake would not be necessary to ensure a profit to
the house. Should the house decide to impose a "rake," it would
only be imposed for pots in excess of $60 in value, and would
preferably be limited to one or two dollars. The "rake" (if any)
would be paid to the house when "Players Pot" is finely won by a
player. These suggestions concerning the amount of the house "rake"
are for illustration only, and variations could be made at the
option of the house.
[0027] With respect to the bets placed on each player's "Players
Pot" zone, these wagers could either be left in place until
completion of the current hand, or gathered by the dealer in the
common Players Pot region on the table to be combined with any
previously-undistributed Players Pot wagers.
[0028] When the dealer has finished collecting discards from the
players, he or she would turn over and expose the five cards which
were dealt to the dealer. The dealer's subsequent actions are
governed as follows: 1) If the dealer has a straight or better, the
dealer stands pat, and may not discard and used the common card; 2)
If the dealer has four cards to a flush, the dealer must discard
the odd card, even if this results in breaking up a pair; 3)
Similarly, if the dealer has four cards to a straight, he holds
these cards, and discards the odd card, subject to the following
rules: 3a) if the dealer has the choice between holding an open
straight draw and an inside straight draw, he will hold the open
straight draw; and, 3b) if the dealer has the choice between two
inside straight draws, he will hold the higher of the two; 4)
Finally, in all other cases, the dealer must discard the lowest
unmatched card.
[0029] An example of situation 3a is as follows: if the dealer has
the following dealt hand--3, 4, 5, 6, 8--he should discard the "8",
because this gives him two possibilities (a "2"or a "7") to fill
the straight; discarding the "3" would give him only one such
possibility (a "7"). An example of situation 3b is the
following--2, 3, 4, 6, 7. Although the dealer has only one
possibility to improve this straight (a "5"), he should discard the
"2" and not the "7" because a 7-high straight is better than a
6-high straight.
[0030] Stated mathematically, if "X" is the lowest value card in
the hand which is initially dealt to the dealer, type 3b hands can
be represented as: X+(X+1)+(X+2)+(X+4)+(X+5); or X
+(X+1)+(X+3)+(X+4)+(X+5). In either situation, card X must be
discarded by the dealer.
[0031] After the five cards dealt to the dealer have been exposed,
and the dealer has made a discard (if required) in accordance with
the above-outlined procedures, the dealer exposes the common card.
Irrespective of the result of this turn-over on the value of the
dealer's hand, all dealer hands must play.
[0032] After the dealer's hand has been exposed, the dealer turns
up each player's hand, starting from his left to right. The dealer
pays an amount equal to the Ante wager in the first betting zone to
each player who has a higher poker hand than the dealer, and
collects the Ante bets from all of the players with lower hands
than the dealer. In a preferred embodiment, if the player's hand is
both: 1) higher than the dealer's hand; and, 2) of the type which
constitutes a "bonus" hand, then the player would receive a
multiple of his bet. For example, if the player had anted $20, the
dealer has a pair, and the player has two pairs, the player would
receive his original $20 bet, plus $20 from the dealer. Given the
same situation, but the player's hand comprising a full house, the
player would receive his original $20 bet, plus $140 from the
dealer (a 7:1 return in accordance with the following table). In
those situations where a player and the dealer have hands of the
same value, these hands result in a "push", and no money is
exchanged between the player and the dealer.
[0033] As to the amount of the bonus, in the preferred method, the
bonus payouts by the dealer would be based on the amount a player
has anted. Suggested payouts based on this system are as
follows:
1 Three of a Kind 2 to 1 Straight 3 to 1 Flush 5 to 1 Full House 7
to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Straight Flush 125 to 1 Royal Flush 250
to 1
[0034] Using the above table, and assuming that the player's hand
is higher than that of the dealer, a player who has anted the
minimum of $5.00 who holds a flush would be entitled to a payment
of $25.00 from the dealer, plus return of the $5.00 ante bet.
[0035] The foregoing table of bonus payouts has been provided by
way of example, only, and could be varied at the discretion of the
house. In particular, the house might well decide to start the
bonus payouts at hands comprising a straight or better.
[0036] The final stage of play involves head-to-head competition
among the players. Any player who has not folded will have anted
money into a second betting zone on the table. The wagers in this
second zone, plus any previously-undistributed wagers from prior
hands, form a common, Players Pot. This pot will be paid to the
player who has the highest poker hand, provided that the hand
exceeds a predetermined threshold. While setting this threshold at
three-of-a-kind or better should permit the Players Pot to build up
to attractive levels over several rounds of play, the threshold
could be set as low as two pairs at the option of the house.
[0037] If more than one player has a hand whose value meets or
exceeds the predetermined threshold, the player with the highest
poker hand will receive the Players Pot. If no player has a hand
which meets or exceeds the threshold, the current hand's Players
Pot wagers are added to any previous wagers in the Common Players
Pot, and the pool continues to succeeding hands until someone
obtains a hand which satisfies the minimum threshold of either two
pairs or three-of-a-kind. As noted above, the dealer does not
normally participate in the Players Pot (apart from the house
"rake").
[0038] In the event that a new player (i.e., an individual who has
not previously placed an ante bet) would like to enter the game
after a Players Pot has started (i.e., while there are
undistributed funds in the Common Players Pot), he/she may do so by
contributing an amount proportional to as many hands that have been
played. For example, if three hands have been played, each current
player who has not folded along the way will have contributed $15
to the Common Players Pot (3.times.$5). A new player who wishes to
enter the game at this juncture could do so by contributing $15 to
the Common Players Pot prior to the start of the next hand. If a
new player does not want to make a contribution to the Common
Players Pot, his/her participation in the game is limited to
head-to-head play against the house (including the right to receive
a bonus payment for premium hands as defined by the rules of the
game) until the then-current common Players Pot is won.
[0039] There is one exception to the rule that the dealer is not
eligible for the Common Players Pot. In the event that only one
player is at the table, the house may contribute an amount equal to
$5 times y (where y is the number of previously-played hands
without a Players Pot payoff). This exception would only apply in
the case where only one player is left at the table.
[0040] In summary, under the method described above, a player has
three opportunities to win: 1) by having a higher poker hand in
one-on-one play with the dealer; 2) by having the highest poker
hand among all of the players at the table (subject to a threshold
of two pairs or three-of-a-kind); and, 3) by having a "premium" or
"bonus" hand (e.g., three-of-a-kind or better) which entitles the
player to a premium payout from the house. Operation of the game
can be further understood with reference to the description of
apparatus for playing the game.
[0041] Finally, it should be possible to add a "progressive pot"
option to the present game. Progressive pots, which are familiar to
participants in casino poker games, provide a player with an option
of contributing a small wager (e.g., $1.00) for the opportunity to
win a relatively large sum of money in the event the player holds a
royal flush. The normal procedure with respect to this option is to
allow funds to accumulate over a long period of time, and to award
the accumulated value of the progressive pot (less expenses and a
house rake) to any player who has such a hand. In straight poker,
the odds of being dealt five cards comprising a royal flush are in
the neighborhood of 650,000:1. While providing players an
opportunity to use a sixth card will reduce these odds, somewhat,
nonetheless, statistics would predict a payout of several hundred
thousand to one, which could further enhance the allure of the
game.
[0042] Although certain apparatus constructed in accordance with
the teachings of the invention is described herein, the scope of
coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary,
this patent covers all embodiments of the teachings of the
invention fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims
either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0043] FIG. 1 is a plan view depicting a table which can be used
for playing the casino poker game of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0044] Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 discloses a casino
poker table at 10. Table 10 has a generally semi-circular shape and
is provided with a recessed area 11 where a dealer can stand and
have access to the cards and wagers of the players around the
table. Immediately in front of recessed area 11 is a dealer's
playing station 11a where the dealer's cards can be dealt.
[0045] Six player areas or playing stations 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, 12e
and 12f are disposed along the arcuate side of table 10, across
from dealer station 11a. Each player's station 12a through 12f has
corresponding player's card playing areas 13a through 13f, first
betting zones 14a through 14f, second betting zones 15a through
15f, and discard areas 19a through 19f. Betting zones 14, 15 and
discard areas 19 are defined by indicia (not shown) on the top of
table 10.
[0046] In front of dealer's playing station 1a is a dealer's card
area 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e for display of dealer's initial five
cards, and a separate card area 17 for display of a sixth (common)
card. The region in front of the dealer also contains a Players Pot
zone 18 for holding chips or cash. Zone 18 could be labeled
"Players Pot" to indicate its function.
[0047] As described in the preceding paragraphs, play commences by
each player placing an ante wager in first betting zone 14. In one
embodiment of the invention, the dealer then deals five cards to
each of the players who has made an ante wager, placing five of the
dealt cards in each player's card playing area 13. Cards are dealt
from dealer's left to right, one-at-a-time. All cards, including
those in dealer's area 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d, 16e and 17 are dealt in
a face-down position. After inspection of their cards, players who
decide to continue signify this fact by placing a second wager in
second betting zone 15. Those players who opt not to play, will
push the cards in zone 13 toward the dealer and will forfeit the
wager in zone 14 to the dealer.
[0048] Thereafter, any player desiring to improve his or her
original hand may discard one card by placing it and an appropriate
fee in his/her discard area 19, and utilize the sixth card at zone
17 as part of the hand. Any cards and wagers in player zones
19a-19f are collected by the dealer. In a preferred embodiment, the
wagers in second betting zones 15a-15f would be moved by the dealer
to Players Pot zone 18 and combined with any funds already
there.
[0049] Once each player has opted to stay or to fold, and has made
a decision as to standing pat or using the sixth card at zone 17,
play commences by the dealer turning the dealer's five cards in
areas 16a-16e to a face-up position. At this point the sixth card
at location 17 is turned over, as are all of the Players hands.
Depending on the nature of the poker hand formed by the cards in
area 16a-16f, the dealer may have the option of discarding and
using the sixth card in area 17.
[0050] The dealer's hand is compared with the hands of each of the
players, in turn. If a player has a higher-value poker hand than
the dealer, the wager at zone 14 will be returned to the player,
together with an equal amount from the dealer. If the player has a
premium hand (as defined above), he or she will receive a bonus
payment from the dealer. On the other hand, if a player's hand is
lower in value than that of the dealer, the wager at zone 14 will
be surrendered to the dealer.
[0051] Finally, if at least one of the players has a poker hand in
excess of the predetermined threshold (e.g., three-of-a-kind or
better), his or her hand will be compared with the hands of the
other players and the funds in Players Pot zone 18 (less any house
rake) will be awarded to the player having the highest value hand.
If no player has a hand which meets the predetermined threshold,
the wagers in Players Pot zone 18 will remain on the table and form
part of the pot in the next hand.
[0052] Although a preferred embodiment has been described in
detail, it should be understood that various changes and
alterations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention.
* * * * *