U.S. patent application number 11/224517 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-15 for poker game.
Invention is credited to Rodney White.
Application Number | 20070060240 11/224517 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37855910 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070060240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
White; Rodney |
March 15, 2007 |
Poker game
Abstract
In commercial and recreational gaming environments, the
inventions provide variations on video poker games that encourage
longer play and higher wagers while decreasing the adverse
selection of gaming devices with preferred odds by experienced
players. The inventions describe the use of pot builders to
increase the number of betting propositions for a single play and
offer a range of payable events and their probabilities. The
inventions also describe the use of randomly distributed, randomly
occurring multipliers which are applied to the pay tables for the
pot builders to increase the number of opportunities for the
occurrence of low probability high value payable events.
Inventors: |
White; Rodney; (Crystal
Lake, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dean D. Niro;Niro, Scavone, Haller & Niro
Suite 4600
181 West Madison Street
Chicago
IL
60602
US
|
Family ID: |
37855910 |
Appl. No.: |
11/224517 |
Filed: |
September 12, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/013 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A software implemented method for the play of a poker type game
on an electronic device comprising: a wagering step that requires a
player to select and wager on a plurality of pot builders, each of
said pot builders having a pay table; a multiplying step that
selectively multiplies the odds of a pay table by a factor greater
than or equal to 1; and a factor assignment step wherein the most
probable value for said factor is 1.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said multiplying step comprises
the comparison of a randomly selected number from a range of
numbers to a table of values for said factor.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said factor increases in value
with a decreasing frequency of occurrence.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein said factor increases in value
with a decreasing frequency of occurrence.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the play of said poker type game
further comprises: a first distribution of two cards per player;
following said distribution, a display of five community cards; and
wherein the winning player is determined by identifying the best
five card poker hand obtainable from the combination of each of
said player's cards with said community cards.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The inventions described herein relate to software enabled
devices and methods for playing variations of poker and similar
card based games in commercial and recreational gaming
environments. The inventions generally provide, among other things,
alternative means for a gaming vendor to control the return
percentage of a given device and to customize the gaming experience
of each player to encourage longer play and higher wagers.
BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] In various forms, poker has been adapted for play on stand
alone electronic devices which are then installed in gaming
establishments as an alternative to multi-player table games with a
live dealer and live opponents. Video poker machines generally
simulate familiar versions of poker that can be played individually
against an electronic dealer or other opponent. More recently
similar opportunities to electronically play poker have become
available through the Internet. The play of electronic poker games
is not necessarily identical to common poker card games, but
instead retains a general feel and method of play that would be
familiar to casual poker players. Existing variations are abundant
and include forms of draw poker, stud poker, Pai Gow poker, Omaha,
Caribbean, Texas Hold 'Em and many others as are known in the
art.
[0003] Typically a gaming establishment will deploy a series of
identical video poker machines to satisfy the anticipated demand.
For each machine, the gaming establishment may determine a return
percentage (sometimes also referred to as the "hold") that reflects
the portion of the amount wagered that would be returned to the
gambler as an average over time if the gambler played with perfect
strategy. It is common for gaming establishments to use varying
return percentages in adjacent game installations as part of a
strategy to retain customer interest without reducing the overall
revenue expected from the full deployment of video poker
machines.
[0004] As required by law, each machine must identify the "pay
table" or the amount paid out for each different winning
combination as a multiple of the amount wagered. In the video poker
machines of the prior art, the pay table can be examined by a
skilled player and readily converted into the return percentage set
by the gaming establishment. The skilled player (the customer most
likely to play with perfect strategy) can then preferentially
isolate the video poker machine with the return that most favors
the player. As a result, the overall expected revenue for the
"house" from an installation of video poker machines is
disadvantageously affected. Therefore there is a need in the field
for new electronic poker devices and methods that prevent the ready
determination of the return percentage from the pay table for a
given device, while still complying with applicable gaming rules
and regulations.
[0005] The prior art devices have additional shortcomings related
to the manner in which the method of play affects customer
interest. Existing electronic poker based games typically suffer
from low win rates (the frequency of payouts to the customer),
particularly for the high value combinations like four of a kind,
straight flush or royal flush. In these games, customers often get
behind quickly and face long and discouraging odds to recover the
lost wagers. The low probability of high payouts tends to reduce
the amount of time a player spends at a given wagering location and
results in a lost opportunity for additional revenue to the gaming
establishment. Therefore there is a need in the field for methods
to increase the win rate and increase the frequency of high value
payouts to gaming customers without reducing the return percentage
set by the gaming establishment.
[0006] These and other related needs are addressed by the
inventions described in more detail below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The inventions described below are implemented in an
electronic environment that includes logic processors and circuitry
such as are found in computers, hand held devices, kiosks, network
terminals, interactive video systems, cell phones, Internet
appliances and similar products.
[0008] Generally, the inventions offer the customer the opportunity
to select payout conditions for each wager. At the start of each
hand, the customer can choose a number of "pot builders" (or "pot
raisers") that pay on the occurrence of events during a hand. In a
Texas Hold 'Em game, for example, the player may choose to wager on
different pot builders based on the cards shown on the deal, the
flop, the turn, the river, the opponent's hand or the best five
card hand. Each pot builder may have a different pay table. The
customer must still have the winning hand in order to receive a
payout, but the size of the pot paid to the winning customer
increases in this example depending on the content of each pot
builder wagered. One pot builder may pay 3 to 1 for a straight
occurring on the best five card hand, but a second pot builder may
pay 8 to 1 for a three card straight appearing on the flop in the
same hand. Each pot builder requires a separate wager. When
multiple pot builders are bet, it becomes substantially more
difficult to mathematically combine the separate pay tables and
determine the device's return percentage.
[0009] Combining pot builders and pay tables prevents the adverse
selection of favorable devices by offering favorable odds on
various pot builders for each device. Preferably the pot builders
are organized to require a player to place a series of wagers
before being able to place a wager on the pay table with the best
return percentage. Thus it is a feature and an advantage of the
subject inventions to employ a pot builder based method of play for
a poker type game that results in compound pay tables that reduce
the customer's ability to isolate the most favorable return
percentage for a particular device.
[0010] Employing a pot builder based technique also allows the
device operator greater flexibility in determining the frequency
and the size of the payouts for a given device. Since multiple bets
are played on the same hand, play may conclude with multiple
outcomes. The pot building options may be arranged to encourage the
player to bet on multiple pot builders in order to obtain the most
favorable odds. In common practice, the device may pay out on a
winning hand in an amount that is less than the total wager for all
pot builders. The player may correctly perceive the result as a win
because at least one pot builder proposition has been met and a
payout has been made by the device. The win also results in revenue
to the gaming establishment as a positive net of all bets made by
the player on the hand. Using this technique, the apparent win rate
can be substantially higher than conventional video poker machines.
Also, by choosing various pot builders the player has some control
over either the payout odds or the payout frequency, dictated by
each player's personal preferences.
[0011] A device of this type may be given additional customer
appeal by offering the possibility of a multiplier randomly applied
to the pay table of one or more pot builders during the play of one
hand. Through appropriate software (including firmware or
middleware), the house assigns a probability distribution for the
occurrence of a multiplier. The primary function of the multiplier
is to change the odds for a randomly selected pay table, preferably
after a wager has been made and preferably for the duration of one
hand of play. The multiplier may be any value and typically would
be a range of values rising from 1 (creating no change in the pay
table) to 2 (doubling the pay table for a single hand) to any upper
limit desired by the house. In a normal implementation, the most
probable outcome sets the multiplier at 1 with higher values
occurring with progressively diminishing frequency. The operation
of randomly occurring multipliers on randomly selected pot builders
creates variations on the return percentage for each hand played
and each pot builder wagered. Thus it becomes impossible for a
skilled player to determine the return percentage prior to making a
wager. The multiplier technique also increases the number of
possible high value payouts by episodically raising the odds for
more common outcomes like two pair, three of a kind or a flush.
Still, by setting the entire combination of pot builders and
multipliers, the house retains control over the return percentage
of the device as an average over time.
[0012] Although many alternative structural forms are contemplated
for the devices of the inventions described herein, a preferable
form houses the electronic elements in a kiosk type enclosure. The
kiosk is generally mobile allowing the system to be placed in a
preferred location. A mobile system provides flexibility to the
gaming operator, permitting the deployment of multiple devices in
the places most likely to appeal to its customers. It is also
within the understanding of the invention for implementation to be
accomplished within a virtual structure as would normally happen in
a virtual casino operated through a network such as the
Internet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating the control logic for
one embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exemplary display of an initial betting screen
for one embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exemplary display of an intermediate screen
showing play following the deal of the first four cards for one
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is an exemplary display of a result screen following
the completion of a hand for one embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exemplary display of an intermediate screen for
an embodiment of the invention that includes pay table
multipliers.
[0018] FIG. 6 is an exemplary display of a result screen following
the completion of a hand for an embodiment of the invention that
includes pay table multipliers.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an exemplary display of a start screen for an
embodiment of the invention that offers the selection of optional
playing conditions.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an exemplary embodiment of a housing for an
electronic device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Set forth below is a description of what is currently
believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the
claimed inventions. Future and present alternatives and
modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any
alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in
function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be
covered by the claims of this patent.
[0022] It is recognized that every software programmer adopts his
or her own style in authoring software directed to the
accomplishment of a defined task, choosing programming languages
and tools that best fit the programmer's style in light of the task
presented. The inventions described herein do not depend on the
application of any particular programming language or programming
style. As an aid to understanding one programmer's approach to
creating software that accomplishes the objectives of an embodiment
of the invention, a non-limiting example of source code written in
the Visual Basic programming language is referenced.
[0023] While the invention is understood to be applicable to any
variation of poker and any number of players, the following example
approximates the play of Texas Hold 'Em in a heads up (two player)
situation. In this embodiment, the player establishes a credit
value on the device by any of the known methods such as inserting
currency, inserting tokens, entering an access code, identifying a
pre-existing account (for example, by entering a login and password
combination), swiping a debit card, credit card or any other stored
value card. The player is then presented with a wagering screen
where pot builders 20 can be selected prior to the opening deal
11.
[0024] In one embodiment, the player may choose from five pot
builders 20. First, the player may wager on the value of the
opponent's best five card hand made from the opponent's initial two
cards plus the five card board. Second, the player may also wager
on the next three cards revealed during the flop step 14. If the
player has chosen both the first and second pot builders 20, the
player may also wager on the value of the first four cards revealed
during the initial deal 11. A fourth pot builder 20 allows the
player to wager on the value of the complete five card face up
board (the flop, plus the turn, plus the river). Finally, a fifth
pot builder 20 allows the player to wager on the value of the best
five card hand the player can assemble from the player's initial
two cards plus the five cards on the board. Each pot builder 20 may
be assigned a different pay table 21. Typically, pay conditions
follow the rules of poker and pay out in descending order for a
royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush,
straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair and high card. In
certain pot builders 20, some poker hands may not be possible or
may be more probable than in the outcome of standard poker play. In
these cases, the pay conditions are adjusted accordingly. Example
pay tables 21 for each of the five pot builders 20 are shown in
FIG. 2.
[0025] In this embodiment, it is preferred that the pot builders 20
are set to be serially conditional. A player cannot wager on the
second pot builder 20 unless a wager has been placed on the first
pot builder 20. A player cannot wager on the third pot builder 20
unless a wager has been placed on both the first and second pot
builder 20. The rule also applies to the fourth and fifth pot
builders 20 in the same fashion. Preferably the return percentage
increases with each pot builder 20 in a series, thus requiring the
player to make a maximum bet to obtain the most favorable odds. It
is recognized that within the invention other wagering conditions
may be applied to the pot builders 20, other pot builders 20 may be
defined and fewer or more pot builders 20 may be employed. Further,
it is recognized that the pay conditions within the invention may
include deviations from the standard pay conditions such as in
progressive poker games that require a minimum pair value before
paying.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a logical sequence of events in one
embodiment of the invention. In wagering step 10 of this
embodiment, the player chooses the number of pot builders 20 in
play for the current hand and selects the number of credits wagered
on each pot builder 20. Once the wagering step 10 is complete, the
deal 11 is made and the device displays four cards face up to the
player via a reveal step 12. From the reveal step 12, the device
determines the value of the four face up cards and compares the
value to the available pot builders 20. If a pay table condition is
met, the device assigns the pay table value (based on the amount
wagered and the stated odds) to the pot in a first pay table step
13.
[0027] After the pot is set, the player selects two cards from the
four face up cards as the player's held cards. The two cards not
selected by the player are assigned to the player's opponent. After
the first four cards are assigned, a second deal 11 results in the
display of an additional three cards face up via a flop step 14.
From the flop step 14, the device determines the value of the three
face up cards from the flop and compares the value to the available
pot builders 20. If a pay table condition is met, the device adds
the pay table value (based on the amount wagered and the stated
odds) to the pot in a second pay table step 13.
[0028] Since this embodiment does not require further player
decisions after the flop step 14, the device proceeds to complete
the five card face up board common to Texas Hold 'Em in a second
reveal step 12. From the second reveal step 12, the device
determines the value of the five face up cards and compares the
value to the available pot builders 20. If a pay table condition is
met, the device adds the pay table value (based on the amount
wagered and the stated odds) to the pot in a third pay table step
13.
[0029] After updating the pot based on the pay table value for the
board, the device determines the value of the opponent's hand and
compares the value to the available pot builders 20. If a pay table
condition is met, the device adds the pay table value (based on the
amount wagered and the stated odds) to the pot in a fourth pay
table step 13.
[0030] After updating the pot based on the pay table value for the
opponent's hand, the device determines the value of the player's
hand and compares the value to the available pot builders 20. If a
pay table condition is met, the device adds the pay table value
(based on the amount wagered and the stated odds) to the pot in a
fifth pay table step 13. The completion of the fifth pay table step
fixes the size of the pot that is available to be paid out on a
winning hand.
[0031] After the pot is fixed, a compare step 15 checks the value
of the player's hand against the value of the opponent's hand to
determine whether to pay the player. If the value for the player's
hand is higher than the value for the opponent's hand, the player
is paid the value of the pot. If the value for the player's hand is
equal to the value for the opponent's hand, the player is paid one
half the value of the pot. If the value for the player's hand is
less than the value for the opponent's hand, no payment is made to
the player. After the compare step 15 is completed, the game resets
to wagering step 10.
[0032] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the same
general method of play described in the prior embodiment is
followed with the same number of pot builders 20 and the same
payout conditions. However, the play is enhanced by the inclusion
of a randomly generated multiplier which is applied to the pay
table 21 for each pot builder 20. Preferably after the player makes
a wager and selects which of the pot builders 20 are live for the
hand, the device executes a subroutine for generating and applying
multipliers to the pay tables 21. One example of such a subroutine
is shown below: TABLE-US-00001 Dim CreditsRemaining As Integer Dim
MaxBet As Integer Dim Pot As Integer Dim Multiplier As Byte Sub
Check For Multiplier( ) Multiplier 100x Count = 1 Multiplier 20x
Count = 4 Multiplier 10x Count = 8 Multiplier 5x Count = 16
Multiplier 4x Count = 20 Multiplier 3x Count = 40 Multiplier 2x
Count = 289 Multiplier 1x Count = 4622 Shuffle 5000 Multipliers
Randomly Choose 5 Multipliers For Each Multiplier > 1x Update
Paytable Flash Multiplier End For End Sub
[0033] In this embodiment, the multiplier result is displayed only
for the active pot builders 20. However, it is also within the
invention for the multipliers to be displayed to the player for
every pot builder 20 whether it was bet by the player or not.
Randomly occurring multipliers on the pay tables 21 for the pot
builders 20 increase the number of ways in which a high value
payout may be earned by the player, thus encouraging longer play
and larger wagers per play. For example, a 10.times. multiplier on
the pot builder 20 for the player's best hand makes the payout on
three of a kind the same as if the player held four of a kind in a
game with no multiplier.
[0034] As an added advantage to the house, the multipliers
substantially increase the difficulty of identifying the return
percentage set by the house for each device. If the multiplier is
not displayed until after the player's wager, it becomes impossible
to determine the return percentage prior to betting. The house may
also set the probability distribution for the multipliers
differently for each device, further reducing the adverse selection
of the most favorable device by the experienced player. Since the
size of the multiplier and the probability distribution remains
within the control of the house, the return percentage remains
selectable for each device by methods that are known in the field
of the inventions. Each device also may include administrative
functions as are known in the field for tracking usage and editing
the return percentage and other conditions of play such as have
been described above.
[0035] It is recognized that within the invention additional
wagering steps and pay outs may be added such as bonus rounds,
super bets, wild cards, options to raise or fold and other features
as are known in the field of the invention. It is further
recognized that the display to the player may be presented in a
variety of ways as are known in the field including multiple
screens, multiple windows within a screen, supplemental lights,
sirens, sounds and other visceral indicia.
[0036] A series of representative screens displayed to the player
during standard operation for one embodiment of the invention are
shown in FIGS. 2-7.
[0037] An initial screen displays the general layout of a virtual
gaming table (see FIG. 2). The display identifies five pot builders
20, the pay table 21 for each pot builder 20 and the amount wagered
on each pot builder 20. The bottom of the screen includes six
player controls 22 for betting and initiating play. The controls 22
are preferably operated by touch screen technology. The "Max Bet"
button is a quick play option that allows the player to
automatically place the highest permitted wager on all the pot
builders 20 and proceed immediately to the deal 11. The "Bet"
button allows the player to select a wager from a predetermined
range of credit intervals (e.g. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50) and applies the
bet to each selected pot builder 20. The "# of Pot Builders" button
is preferably a toggle control 22. Repeated hits on this button
serially increase the active pot builders 20 beginning with
"Opponent Hand" and running through "Player's Hand" if all pot
builders 20 are activated. The "Credits Per Pot Builder" button
offers a more granular control for wagers on each pot builder 20
(e.g. 1, 2, 3, . . . 50) than is offered by the "Bet" button. A
speed control button is preferably another toggle control 22 that
allows players who are more familiar with the game to play at a
faster pace.
[0038] The screen also includes three status fields 23 that
indicate the value assigned to each credit, the number of credits
available to wager and the number of credits won in any given hand.
Preferably credit value is set by the house for each machine,
although it is within the invention to offer the player a
selectable range of choices for credit value.
[0039] An intermediate display screen (see FIG. 3) identifies the
four cards from the deal to the player and requires player
interaction to select the player's hand and the opponent's hand.
Preferably, the player touches the cards desired for the player's
hand and selection indicia 31 (e.g. "Hold") are displayed
indicating the choices made by the player. Preferably the player
may unselect and reselect by repeating the touch of a given card
until the player is satisfied with his choices. Play resumes after
the player's hand has been selected when the player operates the
"Deal" button.
[0040] The intermediate screen also indicates to the player the
number of pot builders 20 selected and the amount wagered on each
pot builder 20. Active pot builders 20 are preferably indicated by
a change in background color or intensity. Also, if a payable event
32 has occurred, the intermediate display highlights the payable
condition and indicates the size of the pot to the player. In the
example of FIG. 3, the first four cards included a pair which pays
2 to 1 (see FIG. 2) on a 20 credit bet. Thus 40 credits are added
to the pot and displayed to the player.
[0041] A result screen displays the flop, the turn and the river to
the player (see FIG. 4). Preferably, the display indicates all
payable events 32 from the hand whether the player wagered on the
pot builder 20 or not. However, only the pot builders 20 in play
for the hand contribute to the pot total. In this example, the
Opponent Hand has a pair which is a payable condition at 1 to 1 on
a 20 credit bet. The player also wagered on the pot builder 20 for
the First 4 Cards and the pot total has been updated to show the
combination of payable events 32 from the Opponent Hand and from
the First 4 Cards. The result screen also indicates to the player
that payable events 32 occurred for two pot builders 20 not wagered
by the player. As in FIG. 3, the payable events 32 are
highlighted.
[0042] Also shown on the result screen is a win flag 33 indicating
that the player holds the winning hand. The status fields 23 for
credits won and credits available are updated to show that the
player won 60 credits for the hand, and the 60 credits have been
added to the player's total. The player can immediately repeat the
same bet and have a new hand dealt by selecting the deal button.
Alternatively, the player can change the amount wagered or the
number of pot builders 20 selected by operating the other wagering
controls 22 before selecting the deal button.
[0043] In an embodiment using a pay table multiplier, an
intermediate screen (see FIG. 5) also displays the occurrence and
magnitude of a multiplier with a multiplier flag 34 associated with
a particular pot builder 20. The intermediate screen also
preferably displays an updated pay table 21 that applies the
multiplier to the standard pay table values. In similar fashion to
a non-multiplier embodiment, a results screen (see FIG. 6) displays
and highlights the occurrence of a payable event 32 and updates the
pot value based on the updated pay table 21.
[0044] In another embodiment of the invention, a start screen (see
FIG. 7) may provide the player with the opportunity to determine
certain playing conditions such as the value of each credit or
whether to play with or without multipliers. Preferably in a manner
similar to the initial screen described above (see FIG. 2),
selectable player controls 22 are displayed to the player to
determine the desired playing conditions.
[0045] The inventions described above are not dependent on any
specific structural form and may even be virtual structures rather
than physical structures when operated within a virtual gaming
environment. For illustrative purposes, this section describes one
non-limiting structure that is considered compatible with a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0046] The structure supporting the invention is preferably a kiosk
type structure. FIG. 8 presents a kiosk 40 comprised of a housing
41 of suitable construction materials, a display device 42, an
input interface 43, a power supply and the essential elements of a
computer 45 including one or more microprocessors and suitable
memory elements. If the invention is deployed in a network
environment, each kiosk would also include a communications link
and may alternatively obtain the required computing resources from
a remotely located source such as a client server.
[0047] The display device 42 may comprise a video screen, a
monitor, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT),
a projection screen, or any other device suitable to provide a
display function. The input interface 43 may comprise, either alone
or in combination, a keyboard, touchpad, touchscreen, mouse,
trackball, stylus, light pen, voice recognition device, puck,
tablet or other device suitable to provide an input function. The
power supply may comprise, either alone or in combination, an AC
outlet connection, one or more batteries, an uninterruptible power
supply (UPS) or other means suitable to provide power to the
system. If included, the communications link can include any of
several technologies, including a telephone link, satellite link,
radio-frequency link, infra-red link, Internet link, facsimile
link, fiber-optic link, coaxial cable link and television link.
[0048] The software elements of the invention are preferably stored
and executed on the computer 45, either within the kiosk 40 or in
remote communication with it. For efficient maintenance and
operation, the kiosk 40 also includes an access interface for the
device manager preferably including a file transfer device such as
a CD drive, zip drive, diskette drive or similar device.
[0049] The above description is not intended to limit the meaning
of the words used in the following claims that define the
invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in
structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial
changes and that all such unsubstantial changes in what is claimed
are intended to be covered by the claims.
* * * * *