U.S. patent application number 11/101013 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-12 for method of conducting a card game with tiebreaker.
Invention is credited to Robert Saucier.
Application Number | 20060226604 11/101013 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37074020 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060226604 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saucier; Robert |
October 12, 2006 |
Method of conducting a card game with tiebreaker
Abstract
Players place one or more wager and opt whether to use
tiebreaker resolution. Players and a banker receive a hand that is
divided into two sets. If both sets of a player hand outrank the
corresponding sets of the banker hand, the player is rewarded on
his wager; if both sets of the banker hand outrank the
corresponding sets of a player hand, the player loses his wager. If
only one of the player's sets outranks the corresponding dealer
set, and the player elected tiebreaker resolution, the player
compares a third set, optionally shared among all players electing
tiebreaker resolution, to a banker third set. The player is
rewarded if two of the three player sets outrank the corresponding
banker's sets. In an optional embodiment, players may also place
proposition wagers for which the winning hands and the eligibility
for pay outs may depend upon the player's proposition wager.
Inventors: |
Saucier; Robert; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT RYAN MORISHITA;MORISHITA LAW FIRM, LLC
3800 HOWARD HUGHES PKWY,
SUITE 850
LAS VEGAS
NV
89169
US
|
Family ID: |
37074020 |
Appl. No.: |
11/101013 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; A63F
3/00157 20130101; A63F 2001/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20060101
A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A method for conducting a card game between a banker and at
least one player using one or more decks of playing cards, or
electronic representations thereof, comprising: the player placing
one or more wager; the player opting for tiebreaker resolution of
the player's hand; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the
banker; dividing each hand of cards into a first set and a second
set, said first and second sets mutually exclusive; for each player
hand, comparing said first set and second set of said player hand
to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand; for each player hand, if both said first set and second set
of said player hand outrank said corresponding first set and second
set of said banker hand, rewarding said player based on said one or
more wager; for each player hand, if both said first set and second
set of said banker hand outrank said corresponding first set and
second set of said player hand, collecting said one or more wager;
and for each player hand, if said only one of said first set or
second set outrank said corresponding first set or second set of
said banker hand, resolving said player hand as follows: (a) if
said player did not elect tiebreaker resolution of said hand,
returning said one or more wager and (b) if said player did elect
tiebreaker resolution of said hand, dealing a third set for the
player and a third set for the banker and, if two of the three sets
of the player hand outrank the corresponding sets of the banker
hand, rewarding the player based on said one or more wager,
otherwise collecting said one or more wager.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand prior to the beginning of the game
play.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after the beginning of the game
play but prior to dealing the player's hand.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after dealing the player's hand but
prior to comparing said first set and second set of said player
hand to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after comparing said first set and
second set of said player hand to said first set and second set,
respectively, of said banker hand.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said third set of said player
outranks said third set of said banker if the rank of said third
set of said player is greater than or equal to the rank of said
third set of said banker.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: before dealing said
player hands, said player opting whether to place a second wager on
the player hand compared to a predefined pay table of winning hands
and associated pay outs; and after dealing said player hands,
resolving each player's second wager by rewarding said player with
the associated pay out if said player's hand is a winning hand
according to said pay table.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein each said third set comprises two
playing cards.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards
into two sets; and randomly designating one of said sets the player
third set and one of said sets the banker third set.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein each player hand and the banker
hand are dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single
conventional deck of fifty-two cards plus one joker.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing the
four remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards
each.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising randomly designating
one of said two sets of two cards each the player third set and one
of said sets the banker third set.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein said the two sets of two cards
each are randomly designated by the outcome of the rolling of a die
or dice.
19. A method for conducting a card game between a banker and at
least one player using one or more decks of playing cards, or
electronic representations thereof, comprising: the player placing
one or more wager; the player opting for tiebreaker resolution of
the player's hand; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the
banker; dividing each hand of cards into a first set and a second
set, said first and second sets mutually exclusive; for each player
hand, comparing said first set and second set of said player hand
to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand; for each player hand, if both said first set and second set
of said player hand outrank said corresponding first set and second
set of said banker hand, rewarding said player based on said one or
more wager; for each player hand, if both said first set and second
set of said banker hand outrank said corresponding first set and
second set of said player hand, collecting said one or more wager;
and for each player hand, if said only one of said first set or
second set outrank said corresponding first set or second set of
said banker hand, resolving said player hand as follows: (a) if
said player did not elect tiebreaker resolution of said hand,
returning said player's wager and (b) if said player did elect
tiebreaker resolution of said hand, dealing a third set shared
among all players electing tiebreaker resolution and a third set
for the banker and, if two of the three sets of the player hand
outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand, rewarding the
player based on said one or more wager, otherwise collecting said
one or more wager.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand prior to the beginning of the game
play.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after the beginning of the game
play but prior to dealing the player's hand.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after dealing the player's hand but
prior to comparing said first set and second set of said player
hand to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the player opts for tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand after comparing said first set and
second set of said player hand to said first set and second set,
respectively, of said banker hand.
24. The method of claim 19 wherein said third set of said player
outranks said third set of said banker if the rank of said third
set of said player is greater than or equal to the rank of said
third set of said banker.
25. The method of claim 19 further comprising: before dealing said
player hands, said player opting whether to place a second wager on
the player hand compared to a predefined pay table of winning hands
and associated pay outs; and after dealing said player hands,
resolving each player's second wager by rewarding said player with
the associated pay out if said player's hand is a winning hand
according to said pay table.
26. The method of claim 19 wherein each said third sets comprise
two playing cards each.
27. The method of claim 19 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards
into two sets; and randomly designating one of said sets the player
third set and one of said sets the banker third set.
28. The method of claim 19 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
29. The method of claim 19 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
30. The method of claim 19 wherein each player hand and the banker
hand are dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single
conventional deck of fifty-two cards plus one joker.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
32. The method of claim 30 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing the
four remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards
each.
35. The method of claim 34 further comprising randomly designating
one of said two sets of two cards each the player third set and one
of said sets the banker third set.
36. The method of claim 35 wherein said the two sets of two cards
each are randomly designated by the outcome of the rolling of a die
or dice.
37. A method for conducting a card game between a banker and at
least one player using one or more decks of playing cards, or
electronic representations thereof, comprising: the player placing
one or more wager; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the
banker; dividing each hand of cards into a first set and a second
set, said first and second sets mutually exclusive; for each player
hand, comparing said first set and second set of said player hand
to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand; for each player hand, if both said first set and second set
of said player hand outrank said corresponding first set and second
set of said banker hand, rewarding said player based on said one or
more wager; for each player hand, if both said first set and second
set of said banker hand outrank said corresponding first set and
second set of said player-hand, collecting said one or more wager;
and for each player hand, if said only one of said first set or
second set outrank said corresponding first set or second set of
said banker hand, resolving said player hand by dealing a third set
for the player and a third set for the banker consisting of two or
more cards each and, if two of the three sets of the player hand
outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand, rewarding the
player based on said one or more wager, otherwise collecting said
one or more wager.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein said third set of said player
outranks said third set of said banker if the rank of said third
set of said player is greater than or equal to the rank of said
third set of said banker.
39. The method of claim 37 further comprising: before dealing said
player hands, said player opting whether to place a second wager on
the player hand compared to a predefined pay table of winning hands
and associated pay outs; and after dealing said player hands,
resolving each player's second wager by rewarding said player with
the associated pay out if said player's hand is a winning hand
according to said pay table.
40. The method of claim 37 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards
into two sets; and randomly designating one of said sets the player
third set and one of said sets the banker third set.
41. The method of claim 37 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
42. The method of claim 37 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
43. The method of claim 37 wherein each player hand and the banker
hand are dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single
conventional deck of fifty-two cards plus one joker.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
45. The method of claim 43 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
46. The method of claim 45 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
47. The method of claim 46 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing the
four remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards
each.
48. The method of claim 47 randomly designating one of said two
sets of two cards each the player third set and one of said sets
the banker third set.
49. The method of claim 48 wherein said the two sets of two cards
each are randomly designated by the outcome of a die or dice.
50. A method for conducting a card game between a banker and at
least one player using one or more decks of playing cards, or
electronic representations thereof, comprising: the player placing
one or more wager; dealing a hand of cards to each player and the
banker; dividing each hand of cards into a first set and a second
set, said first and second sets mutually exclusive; for each player
hand, comparing said first set and second set of said player hand
to said first set and second set, respectively, of said banker
hand; for each player hand, if both said first set and second set
of said player hand outrank said corresponding first set and second
set of said banker hand, rewarding said player based on said one or
more wager; for each player hand, if both said first set and second
set of said banker hand outrank said corresponding first set and
second set of said player hand, collecting said one or more wager;
and for each player hand, if said only one of said first set or
second set outrank said corresponding first set or second set of
said banker hand, resolving said player hand by dealing a third set
shared among all players and a third set for the banker consisting
of two or more cards each and, if two of the three sets of the
player hand outrank the corresponding sets of the banker hand,
rewarding the player based on said one or more wager, otherwise
collecting said one or more wager.
51. The method of claim 50 wherein said third set of said player
outranks said third set of said banker if the rank of said third
set of said player is greater than or equal to the rank of said
third set of said banker.
52. The method of claim 50 further comprising: before dealing said
player hands, said player opting whether to place a second wager on
the composition of the player hand compared to a predefined pay
table of winning hands and associated pay outs; and after dealing
said player hands, resolving each player's second wager by
rewarding said player with the associated pay out if said player's
hand is a winning hand according to said pay table.
53. The method of claim 50 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises: randomly dealing cards
into two sets; and randomly designating one of said sets the player
third set and one of said sets the banker third set.
54. The method of claim 50 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
55. The method of claim 50 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
56. The method of claim 50 wherein each player hand and the banker
hand are dealt from a deck of cards comprising a single
conventional deck of fifty-two cards plus one joker.
57. The method of claim 56 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
58. The method of claim 56 wherein each player hand and each banker
hand comprises seven cards.
59. The method of claim 58 wherein six player hands and one banker
hand are dealt.
60. The method of claim 59 wherein said step of dealing a third set
to said player and said banker comprises of randomly dealing the
four remaining cards in said deck into two sets of two cards
each.
61. The method of claim 60 randomly designating one of said two
sets of two cards each the player third set and one of said sets
the banker third set.
62. The method of claim 61 wherein said the two sets of two cards
each are randomly designated by the outcome of a die or dice.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to games of chance.
Specifically, the present invention is a method for conducting a
card game including an optional tiebreaker procedure selectable by
the player to eliminate "push" hands.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Card games such as pai gow poker have become increasingly
popular in casinos. Pai gow poker, for example, is played with a
standard deck of cards with a joker added. Typically the game is
started with each player placing an "ante" wager. The dealer deals
seven cards to each player position and to himself. Unoccupied
player positions are dealt cards, even though the cards are never
used in the actual play of the game. Since the typical pai gow
poker table has six player positions, there are normally forty-nine
cards dealt (seven hands, six players plus the dealer, of seven
cards each) with four cards remaining undealt. After all cards have
been dealt, face down, the dealer collects the cards from the
unoccupied player positions, and places them along with remaining
undealt into a discard stack.
[0003] Each player arranges his seven card hand into a five-card
component hand and a two-card component hand, using each card in
one component hand only, and places the component hands, face down,
in designated locations on the table. While attempting to maximize
the likelihood of winning at least one of the two hands, the
player's only restriction in arranging his cards is that the
five-card hand must have a higher poker ranking than the two-card
hand.
[0004] The dealer likewise arranges his seven card hand into a
five-card component hand and a two-card component hand, using each
card in one component hand only, and places the component hands,
face up, in designated locations on the table. The dealer typically
arranges his seven card hand according to a set of house rules that
are intended to standardize the setting of hands and remove any
discretion on the part of the dealer.
[0005] In conventional pai gow poker rules, the joker may represent
an ace or may be used to complete a straight or a flush. Typically
five aces is the highest ranking hand, below which other hands
follow standard poker rankings.
[0006] If the player's five-card hand and two-card hand outrank the
dealer's five-card hand and two-card hand, respectively, the player
wins, and is awarded an amount equaling his ante wager, often less
a house commission of typically 5%. If the dealer's five-card hand
and two-card hand outrank the player's five-card hand and two-card
hand, respectively, the player loses, and his ante wager is
collected by the dealer. If only one of the player's component
hands outranks the corresponding dealer's component hand, the
result is a "push" and neither the player nor the dealer wins. In
comparing either the five-card hands or the two-card hands, copy
hands, hands which are of equal rank, are won by the dealer.
[0007] Approximately forty percent of all pai gow poker hands
result in a push, and nobody wins. These are typically unsatisfying
to the player, although many players adopt a "push" strategy,
attempting to divide their cards so as to achieve at least a push,
i.e. playing to avoid a loss, rather than taking risks to attempt a
win. However, a method of breaking ties, where such method is of no
worse probability than the primary game, are highly desirable.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,302 entitled "Pai Gow Poker with
Tiebreaker Cards," discloses a method of breaking ties. Of the four
undealt cards, two are dealt into a tiebreaker section of the
table, one for the dealer and one for the players. Any pushes that
may occur are resolved by revealing the tiebreakers, with the
player winning where the player card is higher than the dealer
card, and the house winning where the dealer card is higher than,
or equal to, the player card. At tables which feature this
tiebreaker, its use is mandatory to resolve pushes, and totally
outside of the player's control. Furthermore, by using only a
single card, and having the house win in the event of a tie, the
player's overall odds are actually worsened.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The method of the present invention is directed to games in
which a player is dealt a player hand, and arranges the player hand
into sub-hands or component hands. Such games include pai gow
poker, but could also include many other games.
[0010] In an optional embodiment of the present game, the player
places one or more wager. The player also opts whether the hand
will be eligible for tiebreaker resolution. In an optional
embodiment, the tiebreaker resolution is optional and the player
may select whether or not the tiebreaker is used for that
particular player's hand.
[0011] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, the
player may also place an optional proposition wager. While the
specific winning hands and pay outs for the proposition wagers may
vary, it is contemplated that in an optional embodiment, the
quantity of winning hands and/or the eligibility of the player to
one or more supplemental pay outs may depend upon the amount
wagered by the player.
[0012] A hand of cards is dealt to each player and the banker.
Optionally, each hand contains seven cards. In a further optional
embodiment, six player hands and one banker hand is dealt without
regard to whether the all player positions are occupied.
Optionally, the hands are dealt from a standard fifty-two card deck
with an added joker.
[0013] Each of the players and the banker arrange their hands into
a first set and a mutually exclusive second set. Optionally, the
first set contains five cards and the second set contains two
cards.
[0014] The player's hand is compared to the banker's hand by
comparing the first set and second set of the player's hand to the
first set and second set, respectively, of the banker's hand. If
both the player's sets outrank the corresponding banker's sets, the
player is rewarded. If both the banker's sets outrank the
corresponding player's sets, the player's wager is collected.
[0015] If only one of the player's sets outranks the corresponding
banker set, resolution depends upon whether the player elected
tiebreaker resolution. If the player did not elect tiebreaker
resolution, the result is a push and the player's wager is
returned.
[0016] If the player did elect tiebreaker resolution, a third set
is assigned to the player and to the banker. Optionally, the third
set is shared among all players electing tiebreaker resolution. In
one optional version of such an embodiment, cards are dealt to two
sets and the sets are randomly assigned to the banker third set and
the player third set. Optionally, the two sets contain two cards
each.
[0017] If two of the three player sets outrank the corresponding
banker sets, the player is rewarded based on the player's wager.
Conversely, if two of the three banker sets outrank the
corresponding player sets, the player's wager is collected.
Optionally, in comparing the third set, the player third set
outranks the banker third set if the player third set is of equal
or greater rank to the banker third set.
[0018] In an optional embodiment including proposition wagers, the
proposition wagers are resolved by comparing the player hand to a
predefined table of winning hands and associated pay outs. If the
player's hand comprises a winning hand, the player is rewarded
based on his proposition wager. As noted above, the hands that
comprise a winning hand for purposes of receiving a pay out on the
proposition wager may optionally increase as the size of the
player's proposition wager increases. Additionally or
alternatively, a supplemental payout, such as a jackpot or
progressive, may be available only to players placing a proposition
wager of certain predefined quantity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a top view of a layout of a gaming table for play
of a card game according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
[0021] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are
referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring to FIGS. 1 and
2, the present invention is a method and device for playing and
conducting a card game. It is contemplated that the present game
could be conducted in any form including, for example, at a table
using physical playing cards, or at a table, at a personal
computer, at a kiosk, or at a gaming machine using electronic
playing cards.
[0022] For example, in the optional embodiment illustrated, a table
layout 100 is provided. The table layout 100 consists of six player
locations 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 and a dealer location
170.
[0023] In the optional embodiment shown, the dealer location 170
consists of dealer hand placement locations 171, 172 and a
tiebreaker area consisting of tiebreaker card locations 181, 182.
In the optional embodiment illustrated, each player location 110,
120, 130, 140, 150, 160 consists of a location to place a first
player set 201, a location to place a second player set 202, a
location to place the player's wager 203, and a location 205 for
the player to designate whether the player elects tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand. In an optional embodiment
including a proposition wager, each player location 110, 120, 130,
140, 150, 160 may also include a location (not shown) for the
player to place the proposition wager.
[0024] Turning to the method of the present invention, one optional
embodiment of which is illustrated in FIG. 2, each player places
300 one or more wager. It is noted that the game may be banked by
the house, or in an optional embodiment, a player-banker. It is
contemplated that, according to house rule, a player-banker may not
be permitted. However, in an optional embodiment in which a
player-banker is permitted, it is further contemplated that a
single player may serve as player-banker or the bank may rotate
among those players desiring to act as banker, with an optional
rule that the house may reclaim the bank at any time, such as
between each player-banker. In an optional embodiment in which a
player-banker is permitted, the player-banker may be identified at
the table using a "Banker" marker. In any event, the term "banker"
refers to the person or entity that is paying wining wagers and
collecting losing wagers and could refer to a house-banker or a
player-banker.
[0025] In one optional embodiment, each player also opts whether
the player desires tiebreaker resolution of the player's hand. In
such an optional embodiment, the election of tiebreaker resolution
could take place at any point during the game. For example, it is
contemplated that the player may opt for tiebreaker resolution of
the player's hand before commencing game play, i.e. before any
hands are dealt; before the player's hand is dealt; after the
player's hand is dealt but before the player's hand is compared to
the banker's hand; after comparing the player's hand to the
banker's hand; or any other point during the game.
[0026] In an optional embodiment, a player electing tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand indicates his or her selection
using a marker or button in front of the player's location. By
turning the marker or button in one direction, the player has
elected tiebreaker resolution, by reversing the marker or button,
the player has declined tiebreaker resolution.
[0027] In another embodiment, tiebreaker resolution is not optional
and each player hand may resolved using a form of tiebreaker
resolution if the player hand and banker hand cannot be resolved
using the first and second sets of the respective hands, as
described below.
[0028] An optional embodiment of the present method may also
include an optional proposition wager. In such an embodiment,
players electing to place the optional proposition wager place the
desired amount into a proposition wager location. As discussed in
greater detail below, the amount or quantity staked by the player
for a proposition wager may determine the criteria for the player
winning the proposition wager and/or the eligibility of the player
for certain pay outs or supplemental pay outs.
[0029] Each of the player and the banker are dealt 302 a hand of
cards. In the event that a player is acting as banker, the dealer
may optionally be included among the players. Optionally, the
present method is conducted using a standard deck of fifty-two
playing cards (deuce through Ace in each of four suits) plus a
single joker for a total of fifty-three playing cards. As known in
conventional pai gow and pai gow poker, the hands may be dealt to a
"wood pile" and a random determination, such as a dice roll or the
like, determines the distribution of the hands.
[0030] Optionally, each hand dealt consists of seven playing cards.
That is, in such an optional embodiment, each player and the banker
is dealt seven cards to a hand. Each player and the dealer arrange
304 his or her hand into two sets, a first set and a second set. As
noted above, the present method could be applied to any game.
However, in an optional embodiment similar to pai gow poker, the
players and banker arrange their hands into a first set of five
cards and a second set of two cards, where the sets are mutually
exclusive. Optionally, the player may arrange the first set and
second set in any manner desired, although the player may be
restricted to arranging the sets so that the rank of the five-card
hand is greater than the rank of the two-card hand. While there may
be any, or no, rules governing how players set their hands, the
banker may be required to set his or her hand according to a "house
way" or "house rules." In an optional embodiment in which a
player-banker banks the game, the dealer may function as a player
and resolve his or her hand against the player-banker. For example,
in one such embodiment, the dealer places a "wager" equal to the
most recent wager placed by the player acting as banker. Once the
cards are dealt, the player-banker establishes the first set and
second set for the player-banker hand. The dealer then reveals and
arranges his or her hand. If the player-banker's sets outrank both
corresponding sets of the dealer hand, the player-banker collects
the dealer's "wager," optionally less a commission. If both the
dealer's sets outrank the corresponding player-banker's sets, the
player-banker pays the dealer's wager. The player-banker's hand may
then be moved to the dealer hand placement locations 171, 172.
[0031] Each player's wager is resolved by comparing 306 the first
set and second set of the player hand to the first set and second
set, respectively, of the banker hand. If both the first set and
second set of the player hand outrank the corresponding first set
and second set of the banker hand, the banker rewards 310 the
player based on the player's wager. Optionally, the player is
rewarded at even money. While the player may be paid full even
money, in a further optional embodiment, the player is assessed a
commission, such as 5%, on winning hands.
[0032] Conversely, if both the first and second set of the banker
hand outrank the corresponding first set and second set of the
player hand, the banker collects the player's wager. Optionally, a
copy set, that is, where the player and banker have a set of equal
rank, are resolved in favor of the banker in comparing the first
and second sets. As discussed in greater detail below, this rule
may be different for a third set dealt in a tiebreaker.
[0033] In the event 308 that only one of the player sets outranks a
corresponding banker set and the other banker set outranks the
corresponding player set (commonly referred to as a push), in one
optional embodiment, resolution of the player's wager depends upon
whether tiebreaker resolution applies 312 to the particular hand.
As noted above, in one optional embodiment, tiebreaker resolution
may always apply to every hand, i.e. tiebreaker resolution is not
optional. In another optional embodiment, tiebreaker resolution is
optional and applies if the player elected tiebreaker resolution of
the player's hand. If the player did not elect 314 tiebreaker
resolution of the player's hand, the player's hand is a push and
the player's wager or wagers are returned.
[0034] If the player did elect tiebreaker resolution of the
player's hand, additional tiebreaker sets are dealt 316 to the
player and dealer. In one optional embodiment, a third set is dealt
for the player and a third set is dealt for the banker. Optionally,
all players electing tiebreaker resolution share the same third
set. In an optional embodiment, each of the player and banker third
sets contain two cards. For example, in one optional embodiment the
four cards remaining after dealing the seven, seven-card hands are
allocated to two sets. The sets are then randomly designated a
player third set and a dealer third set. The random designation
could occur in many different ways, but in an optional embodiment,
a die or other random generating means could be used.
[0035] The tiebreaker resolution continues by comparing the
player's sets, including the player's tiebreaker set, to the
banker's sets, including the banker's tiebreaker set. If a majority
of the player's sets outrank a majority of the dealer's sets, the
player wins and is rewarded 318. Thus, in an example in which each
player arranges his or her hand into two sets, and tiebreaker
resolution consists of dealing one additional set, the player's
three sets are compared to the banker's three sets. If two of the
three player sets outrank the corresponding banker sets, the player
wins and is rewarded on his or her one or more wager. In comparing
the third sets, optionally, the copy third sets, that is sets of
equal rank, are resolved in favor of the player. That is, in such
an optional embodiment, for the player third set to outrank the
banker third set, the player third set must have an equal or
greater rank than the banker third set. Such an optional rule may
be used when a commission is charged to the player for winning
hands. In another optional embodiment, typically where a commission
is not charged to the player for winning hands, copy third sets may
be resolved in favor of the banker.
[0036] In another optional embodiment, as noted above, tiebreaker
resolution is not optional and any player hand in which only one of
the player sets outranks a corresponding banker set is resolved
using a tiebreaker. In such an optional embodiment, tiebreaker
resolution would proceed substantially as previously described.
[0037] In an optional embodiment including proposition wagers, the
player's hand is compared to a predefined pay table of winning
hands and associated pay outs. If the player's hand includes a
winning hand, the player is rewarded on his or her proposition
wager. For example, the winning hands may include various five-card
hands. If the player's original seven cards, i.e. the cards used to
form the first set and second set, contain any of the five-card
winning hands, the player is paid on his or her proposition wager.
An example pay table is shown in Table 1 below: TABLE-US-00001
TABLE 1 Winning Hands Pay Out Five Aces 400:1 Royal Flush 150:1
Straight Flush 50:1 Four of a Kind 25:1 Full House 5:1 Flush 4:1
Three of a Kind 3:1 Straight 2:1
It is specifically noted that this example pay table should be
considered exemplary only and should not be considered limiting.
Specifically, it is noted that greater or fewer hand could be
eligible for a pay out and/or the pay out amounts could differ from
those shown.
[0038] In an optional embodiment, the amount staked by the player,
i.e. the amount of the player's proposition wager, may determine
the pay table. For example, by placing a wager of predetermined
quantity, the player may be eligible to be paid a supplemental pay
out in addition to the pay out listed on the pay table. Thus, in
such an example, a player wagering a first amount, less than a
threshold, who receives five aces is paid 400:1, whereas another
player wagering a second amount, greater than a threshold, who
receives five aces is paid 400:1 plus a bonus or progressive
jackpot.
[0039] In an optional embodiment, the quantity of a player's
proposition wager may change the quantity of winning hands. For
example, by placing a wager of predetermined quantity, the player
may be eligible to be paid for additional winning hands that are
not available to players not wagering the predetermined quantity.
Thus, in such an example, a player wagering a first amount, less
than a threshold, may be paid based on Table 1, whereas another
player wagering a second amount, greater than a threshold, may be
paid based on Table 1 supplemented by the hands of Table 2 below:
TABLE-US-00002 Winning Hands Pay Out Nine-High Pai Gow 40:1
Ten-High Pai Gow 5:1 Jack-High Pai Gow 1:1 Queen-High Pai Gow
Push
Since a "Pai Gow" is typically considered a weak hand, the optional
pay table of Table 2 may be viewed as a form of "insurance." Again,
however, the winning hands and pay outs of Table 2 should be
considered exemplary only and not limiting in the specific hands
paid, the types of hands paid (i.e. weak hands), or the pay outs.
Rather, it is contemplated that any hand, of any strength, may be
paid at any rate.
[0040] While certain embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described it is to be understood that the present
invention is subject to many modifications and changes without
departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented
herein.
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