U.S. patent application number 10/658864 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for casino card game with parlay bet feature.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.. Invention is credited to Snow, Roger M..
Application Number | 20050051963 10/658864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226868 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050051963 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snow, Roger M. |
March 10, 2005 |
Casino card game with parlay bet feature
Abstract
A poker-type underlying game with a bonus game comprises a
player making an Ante wager to play in the poker-type underlying
game and placing an optional parlay side bet bonus wager on the
bonus game. At least a first number of cards is dealt to a parlay
bonus hand position, at least a second number of cards is dealt to
the player, and at least a third number of cards is dealt to the
dealer. When the player hand has at least a predetermined poker
hand rank, the player attains at least a first bonus amount level
on the player's placed optional side bet bonus wager. When the
player has the at least predetermined poker hand rank and the
dealer has at least a second predetermined hand rank, enhancing the
first parlay bonus amount level attained by the player, without any
additional wager being placed beyond the original parlay side bet
wager.
Inventors: |
Snow, Roger M.; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark A. Litman & Associates, P.A.
York Business Center, Suite 205
3209 West 76th Street
Edina
MN
55435
US
|
Assignee: |
Shuffle Master, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34226868 |
Appl. No.: |
10/658864 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00157
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 001/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a live casino card game with a bonus game
component comprising: a player raking a wager to play in the live
casino card game and placing an optional side bet bonus wager on
the bonus game component; a first number of cards are dealt to a
bonus hand position; a second number of cards are dealt to the
player, when the player hand has at least a predetermined winning
arrangement of cards, the player attains at least a first bonus
amount level on the player's placed optional side bet bonus wager;
when the player has a winning arrangement of cards and the first
number of cards has at least a winning arrangement of cards,
enhancing the first bonus amount level attained by the player,
2. The method of claim 1, and further comprising a third number of
cards dealt to the dealer, wherein the first number of cards, the
second number of cards and the third number of cards are a same
number of cards.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the live casino card game is a
poker-type game wherein the player must place at least the ante bet
and a first bonus bet to be able to place the optional side bet
bonus wager.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number of cards
comprises the first cards dealt in the game.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number of cards
comprises cards dealt to the bonus hand position after at least one
second number of cards has been dealt to a player.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least a predetermined poker
hand rank for the player hand is at least a flush.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the at least a predetermined poker
hand rank for the bonus hand is at least a specified pair.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least a predetermined poker
hand rank for the bonus hand is at least a specified pair.
9. A method of playing a casino table poker-type card game wherein
a bonus hand, a dealer's hand and a player's hand are dealt,
wherein the player plays against the dealer's hand for rank and the
player may have a bonus award to be paid on the player's hand
enhanced by a predetermined rank being present in the bonus
hand.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the player a) plays against the
dealer's hand for rank and b) the player may have a bonus award to
be paid on the player's hand against a pay table, wherein the bonus
award in b) can be enhanced by a predetermined rank being present
in the bonus hand.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the player first becomes aware of
the bonus award to be paid on the player's hand before the player
can become aware that the bonus award to be paid is enhanced by the
bonus hand.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the player first becomes aware of
the bonus award to be paid on the player's hand before the player
can become aware that the bonus award to be paid is enhanced by the
bonus hand.
13. The method of claim 2, wherein the live casino card game is a
poker-type game.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein a number of cards in the player
hand, dealer hand and bonus hand are equal and are selected from
the group consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 cards.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the live casino card game is
selected from the group consisting of THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card
game LET IT RIDE.RTM. card game and Blackjack.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number of cards in the
bonus hand position are cards specific to play in the bonus event
only and bonus hand position cards are not used in the play of the
live casino table card game.
17. The method of claim 3 wherein the first number of cards in the
bonus hand position are cards specific to play in the bonus event
only and bonus hand position cards are not used in the play of the
live casino table card game.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number of cards in the
bonus hand position are cards specific to play in the bonus event
only and player hand rank need not exceed bonus hand rank for the
player to receive an enhanced bonus amount.
19. The method of claim 3 wherein the first number of cards in the
bonus hand position are cards specific to play in the bonus event
only and player hand rank need not exceed bonus hand rank for the
player to receive an enhanced bonus amount.
20. A method of playing a live casino poker-type card game with a
bonus game component comprising: a player making a wager to play in
the live casino poker-type card game and placing an optional side
bet bonus wager on the bonus game component; only two hands are
dealt as between each player, a player hand and a bonus hand; a
first number of cards are dealt to a bonus hand position; a second
number of cards are dealt to the player as a player hand, when the
player hand has at least a predetermined winning poker rank of
cards, the player attains at least a first bonus amount level on
the player's placed optional side bet bonus wager. when the player
has a winning arrangement of cards and the first number of cards
has at least a winning poker rank of cards, enhancing the first
bonus amount level attained by the player.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to wagering games,
particularly wagering games with playing cards, wagering poker-type
games with playing cards, and either video-type wagering poker-type
games or casino table wagering poker-type games with multiple bet
placement capability.
[0003] 2. Background of the Art
[0004] Casinos design games and events to enhance the profitability
of their casino games. More particularly, new and improved casino
games allowing for faster-paced games, an increase in the betting
amount per game, an increase in the number of betting opportunities
and a rise in player interest and duration of play in a game
provide a direct basis for increased profits to the casinos.
[0005] In recent years, additional betting opportunities, other
than the standard single bet or wager, have been introduced in
casino games. Typically, such additional betting options give
players further opportunities to win prizes, tend to enhance the
interest of players in an underlying game, and enlarge the total
amount wagered on a play of the underlying game. Casino game
profitability is often enhanced as the hold percentage by the house
on multiple wagers tends to be higher than the hold percentage on
standard single wagers. The higher hold and the continued player
interest can be maintained because the return on these wagers tends
to be significantly higher than the returns to players winning the
single wager event. For example, typical returns on one-on-one
player versus dealer casino table card games (e.g., blackjack,
baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, etc.) are 1:1, or in the case of a
blackjack, 3:2. Although the likelihood of a win on any hand is
only slightly less than 50% in these games, amateur players tend to
favor games where extreme patience isn't required and where there
is the greater excitement of larger awards and instant large
winning events.
[0006] Some card games offer players the possibility of betting on
the occurrence that they will receive a predetermined hand of at
least a minimum (but relatively high) minimum rank during a play of
the underlying game, especially in poker game variants. These types
of games require that the player who wants to wager, participate in
a play of an underlying game and make an independent wager on an
event that may occur during play of the underlying game. One such
game is referred to as THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game. This game
is described in Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,916 and the content of
this disclosure is incorporated by reference.
[0007] In other card games, the bet made by the player is a bet on
a predetermined card hand received not by the player who made the
bet, but by the dealer during the play of the underlying game.
Consequently, for such games, a player who wants to wager on the
occurrence of a combination of card values within a specified hand
associated with the dealer, may make a wager without participating
in a play of an underlying game.
[0008] Finally, other card games offer players the option of
placing a bet on the occurrence of a predetermined hand associated
with either the player making the bet or the dealer, during the
play of the underlying game. There are many variations among these
side bet wagers, and some wagers and games include either multiple
player hands, multiple side bet capabilities, and other unique
variations.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,827 B1 (Lombardo et al.) describes a
casino table card game in which a greater number of cards are
provided to a dealer than to a player. The player provides a first
stake and designates a portion of his lesser number of cards to
correspond to that first stake. The cards dealt to a player (e.g.,
4 initial cards) are split into two hands, each of which has a
separate stake, and each of which plays against two hand segments
established by the dealer. The player may also rearrange cards in
the first segment, if the player's hand ties the dealer's hand.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,644 (Pickle et al.) describes a casino
table card game variant of three-card poker in which one or more
persons act as the dealer and banker. The game comprises the steps
of: (a) affording each player an opportunity to place an ante wager
to participate in said card game; (b) affording each player placing
an ante wager an option of placing a jackpot wager that player's
hand will match one of a predetermined schedule of hands, where a
plurality of hands are ranked according to predetermined rules; (c)
the dealer, from a standard fifty-two card poker deck, dealing
three cards face down to the player and three cards face down to
the dealer; (d) affording each player the opportunity to view only
his first two cards, player's third card remaining face down; (f)
affording each player the option to either fold and lose their ante
wager, or continue play by placing a second wager; (g) the dealer
revealing his three cards and if dealer's three-card hand does not
meet or exceed a predetermined rank, player wins a predetermined
amount based on the player's ante wager, player's second wager is
returned without having been acted upon, and player's third card is
revealed to settle jackpot wagers based on the rank of player's
three-card hand according to a predetermined jackpot payout table;
(h) if dealer's hand does meet or exceed a predetermined rank,
player's third card is revealed and dealer compares player's
three-card hand to dealer's three-card hand; (i) if dealer's hand
rank is higher than player's hand, the player loses both player's
ante wager and player's second wager; (j) if player's hand rank is
higher than dealer's hand, player wins a first predetermined amount
on the player's ante wager and player wins a second predetermined
amount on player's second wager; and (k) whether dealer's hand wins
or player's hand wins, dealer settles jackpot wagers based on the
rank of player's three-card hand according to a predetermined
jackpot payout table.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,128 (Hesse) describes a casino card game
in which cards are dealt on a playing surface, by a dealer to
players, the playing surface having indicia or symbols, on which
the players place their bets, with other symbols denoting
collection positions for the house. The deck of cards includes
numbered cards 2 through 6 and 9 along with the honor cards Ace,
King, Queen and Jack. The King, Queen and Jack effectively have
zero value, the Ace a value of "one" and the other numbered cards
have the face numerical value. A dealer deals each of the players
three cards, face up, with the objective being to hit a 9 in total
count or value.
[0012] A banker is selected and the banker receives two cards face
up and one card down. Wagering is effected against the bank wager
of the banker, with payment of wagers processed against the bank in
accordance with a pre-selected order obtained by the throw of dice
prior to the onset of the game. Additional cards may be drawn at
the option of the player subsequent to the opening deal, in the
hopes of obtaining a better value. The player has the options of
surrender, in which event he retains one-half his bet, or double by
adding an increment of bet up to the original bet, and drawing an
additional card. The game includes a two-tiered jackpot wherein one
jackpot amount is paid when a player has three 3's of the same suit
as his first three cards and a larger amount when the banker also
has a hand value of nine on his first three cards. There is a
partial revelation of the dealer's cards (2 of the dealer's three
cards) before the player must make additional wagers. A special
deck is used in the play of the game. This game therefore shows an
increased amount of bonus when the player and the dealer have hands
of specific count (not rank), but does not use a standard deck,
does not play poker of any variation, and requires dealer hand
partial disclosure.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,916 (Webb, assigned to Shuffle Master,
Inc.) discloses the basic play of THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game.
The game is a method of playing a three-card poker card game,
comprising the steps of: receiving a first wager that a player's
three-card hand will exceed a dealer's three-card hand; receiving
an optional second wager that said player's three-card hand will be
at least a first predetermined rank (PAIRS PLUS BET); dealing only
three cards each to said player and to said dealer; receiving an
optional third wager (Play bet) from said player, wherein if said
third wager is not received, said player forfeits said first wager
and any said second wager; determining whether said dealer's
three-card hand is at least a second predetermined rank, if said
dealer's three-card hand is not at least said second predetermined
rank, paying said player an amount based on said first wager and
returning said third wager to said player, if said dealer's
three-card hand is at least said second predetermined rank,
comparing said dealer's three-card hand with said player's
three-card hand; if said player's three-card hand is higher, paying
said player an amount based on both said first and third wagers,
and if said player's three-card hand is lower, said player
forfeiting both said first and third wagers; and paying said player
an amount in accordance with a predetermined scale when said second
and third wagers are received and said player's three-card hand is
at least said first predetermined rank.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,279 (Moody) describes a variant of
Three-Card poker. An initial hand of three cards is dealt to the
player and three community cards are dealt face down. The player
decides which cards to hold and which cards to discard. For each
card that is discarded, the player uses one of the community cards
as the replacement card. If the player discards one card, Card #1
is used as the replacement card. If the player discards two cards,
Card #1 and Card #2 are used as the replacement cards. If the
player discards all three cards, Card #1, Card #2 and Card #3 are
used as the replacement cards. After the player has made his
decision, all of the community cards are turned face up and the
outcome of the player's final three-card hand is determined.
Winning and losing outcomes are determined based on a pay table and
the amount of the player's wager.
[0015] Published U.S. Application No. 2003/0107176 describes a
method of playing a card game that includes providing a deck of
playing cards, assigning a position value to positions at a playing
area, dealing-a predetermined number of cards to at least one
player at least one pre-selected position, and determining if a
player is entitled to a payment and/or value based upon at least
one dealt card in either the player's hand or a house hand matching
at least one assigned position value. Alternatively, bonus values
are determined based upon cards dealt to the dealer as opposed to
being based upon playing positions. This reference shows bonuses
based on dealer cards, but not based on ranked player and dealer
hands.
[0016] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,836,553 (Suttle et al.) and 4,861,041
(Jones) describe the basic play of Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker. A
five-card hand is dealt to each player and to the dealer after an
ante wager is made by each player. One card from the dealer's hand
is exposed, and the player may place a wager that is a multiple of
the Ante to stay in the game after viewing the dealer's partially
disclosed hand (e.g., the up card). Bonus bets are paid in this
game, only when the player attains a ranked hand and beats the
dealer's hand. The dealer's hand has no effect on bonus events.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 (Webb) describes a casino table
poker game in which separate bets may be placed by a player that a
player's hand will either exceed a predetermined rank or beat the
dealer's hand. At least one, but not necessarily both bets may be
placed. A third optional bet is available that backs up the wager
as to whether the player's hand will exceed the rank of the
dealer's hand. Wild cards are available, and an initial hand of
four cards may be dealt to the player. The dealer's hand has no
effect on bonus events.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,719 (Webb) describes a three-part game,
which combines the play of Blackjack, three-card poker, and a side
bet. A dealer's card is combined into the player's first two cards
for the three-card poker play. The dealer's hand has no effect on
bonus events. Play continues with a game of blackjack.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,011 (Lott) describes a poker-type game
with multiple wagers, jackpots and insurance options. Multiple
players wager on a single five-card player hand which competes
against a seven-card dealer hand from which five dealer cards are
selected to form a dealer's hand. The dealer's hand has no effect
on bonus events.
[0020] In spite of the number of these games that have been
disclosed in the art, only a few games have become truly successful
in the casino table environment. It is desirable to provide new
games to the industry that have those unique features of play and
awards that lead to a commercially successful game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] A poker-type underlying game with a secondary bonus game is
described. According to the invention, each player makes a wager to
participate in play of the poker-type underlying game. Players
optionally place a PARLAY BONUS side bet wager on the bonus game. A
hand of cards is dealt to a bonus hand position. A hand of cards is
dealt to each participating player, and a hand is dealt to the
dealer.
[0022] When the player hand has at least a predetermined poker hand
rank, the player attains at least a first bonus amount level on the
player's placed optional side bet bonus wager. When the player
making a PARLAY BONUS side bet wager has the at least predetermined
poker hand rank and the bonus hand or dealer hand or both has at
least a second predetermined hand rank, this occurrence enhances
the first bonus amount level attained by the player, without any
additional side bet wager or play wager being placed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
[0023] FIG. 1 shows a casino play table surface that can be used in
at least one variant of a game according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] A poker-type underlying game is played. This is preferably a
multiple-card poker game (versus a One-Card poker game), and
comprises 2-Card poker, 3-Card poker, 4-Card poker, 5-Card poker,
6-Card poker or 7-Card poker, along with their variants, and
preferably these games are stud poker, or wild card poker, and not
draw poker games to conserve time, cards and space. The poker games
or their variants are played with a bonus game or bonus event of
the present invention is played with some, many or all of at least
the player's cards. The play of the game according to the invention
begins with a player making at least an Ante wager to play in the
underlying poker-type game. To play in the bonus event, the player
must place an optional side bet bonus wager on the bonus game. In a
first example of the invention, after the wager(s) have been
placed, at least a first number of cards are dealt to a bonus hand
position. This bonus hand position receives cards specific to play
in the bonus event only and are not used in the play of the
underlying game. At least a second number of cards is dealt to each
player that has made at least the Ante Wager, and at least a third
number of cards is dealt to the dealer. These numbers of cards may
be equal or different among the bonus hand, the dealer hand and the
player hands, depending upon the rules of the underlying game being
played. In one example of the invention, each player hand, the
dealer hand and the bonus hand consist of three cards.
[0025] When the player hand has at least a predetermined poker hand
rank that enables consideration of the parlay hand bonus side bet
wager game, the player attains at least a first bonus amount level
on the player's placed optional parlay side bet bonus wager. The
bonus amount in a preferred form of the invention increases with
increasing hand rank. When the player has the at least
predetermined poker hand rank and the dealer has at least a second
predetermined hand rank, this combination of events enhances the
parlay bonus amount level attained by the player, without any
additional wager being placed beyond the optional side bet parlay
wager. In a preferred form of the invention, the enhanced payouts
are increasingly greater with increasing bonus hand rankings.
[0026] The rules of the basic game of THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card
game are well known and will not be repeated here. The description
of the bonus side bet of the present invention in combination with
this game is described below:
[0027] 1) The player may place up to four separate wagers, the
three normal THREE CARD POKER.RTM. game wagers and the parlay bonus
side bet of the present invention.
[0028] 2) In a preferred variant of the game, to place the parlay
bonus side bet wager of the present game, the player must place at
least the Ante wager and the PAIR PLUS wager associated with the
THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game, although this bonus event may be
placed in some game variations independent of the placement of the
PAIR PLUS side bet or the ANTE bet.
[0029] 3) The first hand out of the dealer shoe (or any other hand,
either after players' hands and before dealer's hand, or after
players' hands and after dealer's hand, or even at a specified time
or position between players' hand as is done in Pai Gow poker) goes
to a bonus position, generally referred to herein as the PARLAY
BONUS hand. The cards are dealt face down.
[0030] 4) The players' hands and dealer's hands are then dealt in
the normal manner for the THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game, and the
Play wager or fold options are exercised by the player.
[0031] 5) A first effect of the bonus side bet wager is a potential
bonus based solely on the rank of a player's hand, on which a
player has placed the bonus side bet. If the rank of a player's
hand exceeds a minimum rank (e.g., a flush), a first bonus is
awarded. This bonus does not depend on the quality of the dealer's
hand.
[0032] 6) The player will then anticipate a potentially higher
bonus payout that is dependent upon the rank of the PARLAY BONUS
hand. This anticipation will extend through the play of all of the
players' hands.
[0033] 7) The PARLAY BONUS hand and in some forms of the invention,
a dealer's hand where there is no separate PARLAY BONUS hand, is
ultimately revealed, and if the PARLAY BONUS hand also exceeds a
minimum rank, an increased bonus is to be awarded. The player has
awaited revelation of the PARLAY BONUS hand with knowledge that the
player will receive at least one level of bonus and is anticipating
a potential level of bonus that significantly exceeds any bonus
available in normal play of the THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game.
There may be alternative bonus events based on the dealer's hand
also exceeding a predetermined minimum rank, or even a bonus based
solely on the dealer's hand exceeding a predetermined minimum rank
(with or without a PARLAY BONUS hand being dealt). Play without the
PARLAY BONUS hand has the advantage that, even though the player
may lose the underlying wager (and any additional play wager)
because of the dealer's high-ranking hand, the PARLAY BONUS wager
will be increased to the player for the same reason.
[0034] As can be seen from a comparison of the features and steps
of the present invention with the above-described prior art, there
are significant points of novelty between the underlying game of
this invention and particularly the THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game
with side bet bonus of this invention and the games described by
the prior art. Among these differences are:
[0035] 1) A table hand with which players do not compete that may
increase a player's bonus for a ranked hand when a side bet is
placed, or a dealer's hand with which the player's hand does not
compete in the PARLAY BONUS side bet wager game.
[0036] 2) A side bet bonus game in which a player may be initially
guaranteed a bonus and then must await and anticipate a
determination of a larger bonus without placing any further money
at risk.
[0037] 3) The deal (as a first hand or otherwise) of a BONUS HAND
that is used alone or in conjunction with a player's hand to
provide an increased bonus over that available from a player's
hand.
[0038] 4) The requirement of a player making an ante bet and a
first PAIRS PLUS bonus wager before allowing a player to make a
second PARLAY BONUS side bet wager that is distinct from the first
bonus wager and offers a higher bonus payout.
[0039] Reference to the FIGURE and examples of the play of hands
will be instructive in the practice of the invention.
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a casino game table 2 for play of at least one
variant of the present game. The table surface 4 is shown with an
automatic shuffling device 6, such as a Shuffle Master ACE.RTM.
shuffler (described in Grauzer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,154),
Shuffle Master KING.RTM. shuffler (described in Grauzer et al.,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,096), or as described in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/261,166 filed Sep. 27, 2002 entitled: Card
Shuffling Apparatus With Automatic Card Size Calibration. In the
variant of a THREE CARD POKER.RTM. card game PARLAY BONUS game
being discussed here, players place at least an ANTE wager on a
marked wager position 12. Marked wager position 10 is for a THREE
CARD POKER.RTM. card game PLAY Wager, and wager position 8 is for a
PAIR PLUS bonus wager. Wager position 14 is for placement of the
PARLAY BONUS wager according to a variant of the game described
herein.
[0041] Cards (not shown) are dealt from the shuffler 6 after wagers
have been placed by the players. Only four player positions 24, 26,
28 and 30 are shown, merely as a convenience to allow greater
detail in the FIGURE. Conventional casino tables allow up to about
seven players, and an individual player may be seated at a table to
play the present game. Cards are dealt in any desired order to each
of the player positions 24 26 28 and 30, the PARLAY BONUS hand
position 18 and the Dealer's Hand position 20. The game may also be
played with electronic displays and virtual cards in similar
positions, with player entry pads (not shown) at the player
positions 24 26 28 and 30, meters (not shown) displaying wagers and
awards, and the player positions 24 26 28 and 30 providing virtual
displays of cards. A video gaming apparatus (not shown) counterpart
may also be used with single player hands, single dealer hand, and
single PARLAY BONUS hand.
[0042] It will be assumed for purposes of this Example that the
Players have all placed ANTE Wagers 12, will make a PLAY Wager 10
in the progression of the play of the game, PAIR PLUS wagers 8, and
the PARLAY BONUS wager 14 in each hand in equal amounts of $10.00
for each wager. A first set of three cards is dealt to the first
player position 24, and then an additional three card hands are
consecutively dealt to each of the other player positions 26, 28
and 30. A three-card PARLAY BONUS hand is then dealt to the PARLAY
BONUS position 18 either before or during or after the other cards
are dealt, and the dealer's three-card hand is dealt to the
dealer's hand position 20. Each of the players reviews his hand and
makes the PLAY Wager.
[0043] The PARLAY BONUS Pay table for the exemplary game is
provided below, based on a flush being both the minimum player rank
hand and the minimum PARLAY BONUS rank hand to win the wager. The
following payout odds are guaranteed to the player prior to
revelation of the parlay hand.
1 PLAYER HAND SINGLE BONUS STRAIGHT FLUSH 20:1 THREE-OF-A-KIND 15:1
STRAIGHT 3:1 FLUSH 2:1
[0044] The bonus system is based on the player attaining one of a
predetermined number of winning hands, which is a relatively high
ranking bonus hand (by way of a non-limiting example, at least a
flush or better), and the PARLAY BONUS hand exceeding an at least
minimum rank (e.g., Pair of sixes, Pair of 10's, Pair of Aces,
Flush or Straight. The PARLAY BONUS predetermined rankings may be
the same or different then the Single Hand bonus rank. For example,
the pay tables could be based on at least a Pair for the Player and
at least a Pair for the dealer, any hand for the PARLAY HAND, at
least a particular rank pair for either or both the player and
dealer, or any other combination of particular minimum ranks for
the Players and dealers. The minimum rankings may not be equal.
Other such combinations and payouts are offered for exemplification
and consideration below.
2 Parlay Hand Parlay Bonus Hand Player Any Hand Pair Flush Straight
3-of-a-Kind Straight Flush Straight Flush 20:1 50:1 300:1 400:1
3000:1 5000:1 3-of-a-Kind 15:1 40:1 200:1 300:1 2000:1 3000:1
Straight 3:1 10:1 25:1 30:1 300:1 400:1 Flush 2:1 9:1 20:1 25:1
200:1 300:1
[0045] As can be seen, the selection of different predetermined
player minimum hands and different PARLAY BONUS hands can enable
the house to adjust the odds to make more attractive variations or
adjust the house hold on each game.
[0046] Although specific examples and equipment has been described
in certain aspects of the invention, alternatives, extensions and
equivalents are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art and
are intended to be included within the concepts and claims of this
invention. As non-limiting examples, wild cards may be added to the
deck, deuces may be wild, decks may be stacked with individual
cards (e.g., four additional Aces provided), additional (e.g.,
four) cards may be dealt to players or dealers from which a hand of
lesser cards (e.g., three cards) may be made, multiple decks could
be used, progressive jackpots for single player hands or
combinations of player and PARLAY BONUS hands (e.g., a jackpot for
at least two straight flushes with a PARLAY BONUS wager, or a
straight flush and three-of-a-kind). Play wagers may be the same as
or multiples of the ANTE wager, and other variations that can be
expected for use with casino table games. The PARLAY BONUS amounts
can be displayed on an electronic display, adding anticipation and
excitement to the game. The parlay bet can be a fixed amount, can
be a multiple of one or more wagers in the base game or can be any
amount up to the house limit.
[0047] Similarly, the base game can be another poker-type game such
as LET IT RIDE.RTM. stud poker as described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,288,081 or a variant thereof with a wild card(s), where each
player has a three card hand. The dealer could use his two
community cards plus the card burned at the beginning of play, the
community cards plus one dealt card, or a separate three card
PARLAY HAND.
[0048] The side bet game could also be adapted to use with
non-poker games such as Blackjack. The dealer could deal a three
card PARLAY HAND, and the side bet could be on the combined
rankings of the PARLAY HAND and the player's first two cards and
the dealer's up card.
[0049] Similarly, the PARLAY HAND need not be a separate hand. If
the base game is a game where the player competes against the
dealer, all or part of the dealer hand can also serve as a PARLAY
HAND.
[0050] The PARLAY HAND could also be randomly selected and
displayed on an electronic display device. This PARLAY HAND could
then be the same hand used on a series of tables connected via a
networking system.
[0051] All of the apparatus, devices and methods disclosed and
claimed herein can be made and executed without undue
experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the
apparatus, devices and methods of this invention have been
described in terms of both generic descriptions and preferred
embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations may be applied to the apparatus, devices and methods
described herein without departing from the concept and scope of
the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain
elements, components, steps, and sequences that are functionally
related to the preferred embodiments may be substituted for the
elements, components, steps, and sequences described and/or claimed
herein while the same of similar results would be achieved. All
such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those
skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope and concept of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *