U.S. patent application number 11/229798 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-22 for poker game.
Invention is credited to Shawn Michael Van Asdale.
Application Number | 20070066377 11/229798 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37884920 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070066377 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Van Asdale; Shawn Michael |
March 22, 2007 |
Poker game
Abstract
The method of the present invention involves a new multi-handed
poker game. In the poker game the player selects a number of hands
greater than one to be played. The player is then dealt an initial
hand and selects cards to be held. Additional hands are then
created by creating additional cards that are based upon the held
cards but that may differ in either the rank or suit. Preferably
the created cards follow a natural progression of increasing rank.
The initial hand and all created hands are then completed and the
resulting poker hands evaluated. Preferably the player receives
payouts based on a pay table for each poker hand.
Inventors: |
Van Asdale; Shawn Michael;
(Reno, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Lena T. Van Asdale
2573 Rampart Terrace
Reno
NV
89509
US
|
Family ID: |
37884920 |
Appl. No.: |
11/229798 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3293 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/013 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a game of poker comprising: (a) accepting a
wager from a player; (b) dealing a first poker hand to the player
consisting of at least a plurality of first cards, wherein each
card has a rank and a suit; (c) selecting a number of the first
cards as cards to be held; (d) discarding the first cards that were
not selected to be held; (e) completing the first hand by drawing
additional cards; (f) creating an additional hand of cards, said
additional hand at least having one card corresponding to each card
selected to be held in the first hand, wherein each of said cards
in the additional hand has a rank or a suit that was selected
based, at least in part on the rank and suit of a corresponding
card in a previous hand according to a predefined progression; (g)
completing the second hand by drawing additional cards; (h)
evaluating the poker hand rankings of all completed hands; (i)
making a payout to the player based on the evaluated poker hand
rankings, a pay table and the wager.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wager determines a number of
additional hands to be created and steps (f) and (g) are repeated
until the determined number of additional hands is created and
completed, such that a series of cards are created based on each
corresponding card in the first hand selected to be held.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the predefined progression
includes increasing the rank of each card created in any additional
hand by one increment over the rank of the corresponding card in
the previous hand until a maximum rank is reached.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the predefined progression
includes maintaining the rank of any card created in any additional
hand at the maximum rank if any of the cards corresponding to the
created card had the maximum rank in any previous hand.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the predefined progression
includes reversing the direction of progression for the series of
cards created based on the corresponding card in the first hand
once one card in the series reaches the maximum rank.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the maximum rank is an Ace.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein the predefined progression
includes resetting the rank of a card created in an additional hand
at a predetermined rank if the corresponding card in the previous
hand was of the maximum rank.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the maximum rank is an Ace and the
predetermined rank is a Two.
9. The method of claim 3 wherein the predefined progression
includes reversing the direction of progression for all cards
created after either a card selected to be held in the first hand
or created in an additional hand reaches the rank of Ace.
10. The method of claim 4 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing either the rank or suit of at least one created
card in an additional hand if two or more created cards in the
additional hand have the same rank and suit.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing the suit of the at least one created card to a
non-suit card.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing the suit of the at least one created card to a
multi-suit card.
13. The method of claim 6 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing either the rank or suit of at least one created
card in an additional hand if two or more created cards in the
additional hand have the same rank and suit.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing the suit of the at least one created card to a
non-suit card.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the predefined progression
includes changing the suit of the at least one created card to a
multi-suit card.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is an improved card game primarily
relating to video poker games. In standard video poker games the
player is dealt a starting hand and is allowed to discard and
replace unwanted cards with replacement cards in an effort to
improve the starting hand. The resulting hand is compared to a pay
table of poker hand rankings where each poker hand has a defined
payout. Recently, new versions of video poker games have become
popular with players where the player can play multiple identical
starting hands at once or where the pay table provides players with
challenging and interesting strategic decisions to make. The
present invention allows players to play multiple hands at once,
although the starting hands are not identical. By providing
multiple different starting hands, the present invention also may
provide the player with new and interesting strategic decisions and
pay tables that may vary from hand to hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention involves a card game in which at least
two hands, and preferably more hands, are played with each wagering
opportunity. Initially, the player preferably makes a wager for
each hand. In the first hand, preferably one row of five cards is
dealt all face up. Each card preferably has a suit (i.e., Clubs,
Diamonds, Hearts or Spades) and a rank (i.e., Two through Ten, and
Jack, Queen, King or Ace) as in a standard fifty-two card playing
deck. The player preferably selects none, one or more of the face
up cards from the first hand as cards to be held. A second hand is
also formed (preferably from a second standard deck) that
preferably contains cards that are chosen based at least upon the
cards selected to be held by the player in the first hand.
Generally speaking, the ranks and/or suits of the cards chosen for
the second hand will be incremented by one unit (for instance, if a
Jack of Clubs was held in hand one, a Queen of Diamonds would
appear in hand two). Once the player has made his hold selections,
replacement cards for the discarded (i.e., non-selected) cards are
dealt into the first hand and additional cards are also dealt to
all hands so that each hand preferably contains five cards. The
poker hand ranking of each five card hand is determined. The pay
table used for each hand may be identical to all other hands or may
differ. The player is then paid for any winning poker hands
preferably based on the pay table applicable to each hand and the
amount of the player's wager for each hand.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Electronic gaming machines, also generally referred to as
slot machines, have long been a mainstay of the gaming industry.
One of the most popular types of such machines is by far the game
of video poker. It is believed that video poker appeals to a number
of players because it is more intellectually stimulating than other
slot machines that merely present the player with a random display
of symbols using physical or video reels or the like. This is
because with video poker, a player is given the opportunity to make
strategic decisions based upon mathematical principles in the form
of selecting which cards to be held that affect the outcome of each
game. It is believed that this provides the player with a sense of
control that is reassuring. Also, a player well versed in the
strategy of a particular video poker game will, over the long run,
fair better than a player who does not fully understand the
strategy involved for a particular video poker game.
[0004] Another reason that video poker is popular among players is
because these machines typically will have a much better payback
percentage than the reel-type slot machine. For instance reel-type
slot machines typically have a payback percentage (or expected
value) of between 80% and 90%. However, video poker games are often
made available to players with theoretical payback percentages of
99%. In fact, gaming establishments frequently provide video poker
games that have theoretical payback percentages greater than 100%.
The reason gaming establishments can profitably offer such games,
and the reason the payback percentage is "theoretical," is because
it is based upon a theoretical player who uses perfect strategy
with every play of every hand. In reality, very few players can
play perfectly all of the time.
[0005] Unlike a reel-type slot machine, the payback percentage for
any game of video poker can be determined by looking at the game's
pay table. The pay table will also dictate what the best strategy
is for any given hand. Typically, as the payback percentages get
closer to, or even exceed 100%, the complexity of the pay table
increases as does the difficulty of determining what the best
strategy is for a given hand. As a result, players and gaming
establishments alike are constantly looking for new and exciting
pay tables that offer the player the opportunity to play a
high-return game but that also consistently provide strong earnings
to the gaming establishment.
[0006] In addition to new pay tables, another recent development
has sparked player interest in video poker and also continued to
provide high earnings to casinos. This is the development of
multi-hand poker games such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,823,873 and 6,007,066, the substance of which is incorporated
herein by reference. These patents describe a video poker game that
has been commercially developed and known as Triple Play Poker.TM..
In Triple Play Poker.TM., the player is dealt a first hand and
whatever cards are selected to be held in the first hand are also
duplicated into a second and third hand. Each hand is then
completed with independently drawn replacement cards. Thus, once
the player makes his initial strategy decision with respect to
which cards to hold in the first hand, this decision is repeated in
the second and third hand. Triple Play Poker.TM. is available in
nearly all of the pay table variations as other single-handed video
poker games, but it continues to be a marked favorite over
single-handed video poker by players and casinos alike. It is
believed that there are at least two primary reasons for the
success of Triple Play Poker.TM.. First (from the player's
perspective) it is rare for the player to lose on all three hands
at the same time. Even with the worst of starting hands, a player
will often complete at least one winning draw on one of the three
hands played. Therefore, the player may feel like Triple Play
Poker.TM. is a better value than single-handed video poker. Second
(from the casino's perspective) the player is playing approximately
three times as fast, and thus losing three times as fast as he
would be using a single-handed game. Because of this accelerated
rate of play, Triple Play Poker.TM. is much more profitable for
casinos to operate than single-handed games.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new type of multi-hand poker game that accelerates the
rate at which player's play compared to single-handed poker. It is
a further object of the invention to provide a new type of
multi-hand poker game that allows for new and exciting pay table
combinations and holding strategies. And it is still a further
object of the invention to provide a new video poker game that
players will believe is a better value because there are more ways
to win.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an electronic gaming machine for playing a game
according to the method of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic
configuration of an embodiment of the gaming terminal shown in FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the general steps according
to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a possible screen display for the present
invention after the initial deal of the cards.
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a possible screen display for a first version
of the present invention after the hold selections have been
made.
[0013] FIG. 6 shows a possible result that could occur during the
play of the first version of the present invention after the draw
indicated by FIG. 5 has been completed.
[0014] FIG. 7 shows a possible screen display for a second version
of the present invention after the hold selections have been
made.
[0015] FIG. 8 shows a possible result that could occur during the
play of the second version of the present invention after the draw
indicated by FIG. 7 has been completed.
[0016] FIG. 9 shows a possible screen display for a third version
of the present invention after the hold selections have been
made.
[0017] FIG. 10 shows a possible result that could occur during the
play of the third version of the present invention after the draw
indicated by FIG. 9 has been completed.
[0018] FIG. 11 shows a possible screen display for a fourth version
of the present invention after the initial deal of the cards has
been made and the initial hold selections have been made.
[0019] FIG. 12 shows a possible result that could occur during the
play of the fourth version of the present invention after the draw
indicated by FIG. 11 has been completed.
[0020] FIG. 13 shows a possible screen display for a fifth version
of the present invention after the initial deal of the cards has
been made and the initial hold selections have been made.
[0021] FIG. 14 shows a possible result that could occur during the
play of the fifth version of the present invention after the draw
indicated by FIG. 13 has been completed.
[0022] FIG. 15 shows a possible screen display for a sixth version
of the present invention after the initial deal of the cards has
been made.
[0023] FIG. 16 shows a possible screen display for the sixth
version of the present invention after the hold selections in the
initial hand have been made and the corresponding cards in the
additional hands have been created.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] One embodiment of the present invention may be deployed on a
gaming device 100 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Gaming device 100 has
the features of a conventional slot machine. The gaming device 100
shown in FIG. 1 is what is commonly referred to as an upright slot
machine and the player can operate it while standing or sitting.
Most often the gaming device 100 is preferably mounted on a stand.
(Not shown.) Although an up-right slot machine 100 is shown in FIG.
1, it can be appreciated that the gaming device 100 can be any
other style of gaming machine known in the art including, but not
limited to a pub-style table-top or slant-top game which a player
can operate while sitting. The gaming device 100 can be constructed
with varying cabinet and display designs.
[0025] Gaming device 100 can incorporate any primary game
including, but not limited to reel slots, video poker, blackjack,
keno or bingo. Further, there can be many types of bonus games
associated with these primary games. The symbols and indicia used
on and in gaming device 100 may be in mechanical, electrical,
electronic or video form. Gaming device 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a
video display 105 for displaying symbols.
[0026] It should be appreciated that the display devices may
display any visual representation or exhibition, including but not
limited to video images or movement of physical objects. The
display devices can be a video monitor or screen, a liquid crystal
display or any other display mechanism. Furthermore, it should be
appreciated that these display devices may preferably include touch
screens.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, gaming device 100 preferably includes
one or more wager accepting mechanisms. The primary wager accepting
mechanism on the gaming device 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be a bill
validator 110. The bill validator 110 may also accept other forms
of payment including, but not limited to tickets, smart cards,
debit cards and credit cards. Alternatively, some of these forms of
payment may be accepted through a card reader 130. The card reader
130 may include any type of card reading device, such as a magnetic
card reader or an optical card reader. The player will insert a
card, such as a player tracking card or a credit card into the card
reader 130 which will then read data from the card. The card reader
130 may be used to read and/or write from and/or to the inserted
card. There may also be a coin slot 120 on the gaming device 100 in
which a player can insert coins or tokens.
[0028] After a player inserts money in the gaming device 100,
either via the coin slot 120, the bill validator 110 or the card
reader 130, a number of credits corresponding to the amount
deposited is shown in a credit display 140. After money is credited
to the machine 100 and shown on the credit display 140, the player
then determines the wager amount. The machine 100 may have any
number of mechanisms known in the art for allowing a player to
determine his wager. As the player is selecting the wager amount,
this wager amount is displayed on a bet display 160. As the bet
display 160 amount is incrementing, the credit meter 140 amount is
decreasing by the corresponding amount.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the general electronic
configuration that may be incorporated in gaming device 100. The
configuration preferably includes a processor 200. The processor
200 is preferably a microcontroller-based platform or
microprocessor which is capable of displaying images, symbols and
other indicia such as images of people, characters, places, things
and faces of cards. One or more secondary processors may also be
employed in conjunction with the primary processor to control
certain aspects of the game function.
[0030] The gaming device 100 also includes a memory device 210 for
storing program code or other data. This memory device 210 can
include both read only memory (ROM) 205 and random access memory
(RAM) 207. One of the functions performed by a program or
sub-program in the processor 200 may be a random number generator
(RNG) using any of several methods known to those skilled in the
art. In addition to the memory device 210, the electronic
configuration of the gaming device 100 may also include one or more
input devices 220, one or more display devices 230, a sound card
240, and one or more speakers 250.
[0031] The input devices 220 may include but are not limited to a
deal/draw button 145, a bet one credit button 170, a max bet button
150 and a cash out button 180. Initiating cash out button 180 may
result in the player's balance from the credit meter 140 being
deposited into a tray 190 in the form of coin, cash, a ticket or
any other suitable media. Additional hold buttons 171, 172, 173,
174 and 175 may be provided for selecting a card to be held. In
situations where a touch screen 260 is used, a touch screen
controller 265 and touch screen 260 are connected to a video
controller 270 and the processor 200.
[0032] Although FIG. 2 shows the processor 200 and memory device
210 residing on the gaming device 100, it should be appreciated
that it is possible for both the processor 200 and memory device
210 or a portion thereof to reside at a central location instead of
at the gaming device 100. In such a situation, a network server may
be used to communicate to the gaming device over an Internet
connection, local area network (LAN), or wide area network (WAN).
The processor 200 and memory device 210 are generally referred to
herein as the controller.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 3, the general logic of a game
according to the present invention will now be described. It should
be understood that although the inventor has placed these steps in
a logical order, the steps of the present invention can be
performed in nearly any order desired. At step 310 the player
places his wager for the game. At step 315 the processor 200
determines the total number of hands to be played. Preferably, this
determination is based in part on the previous step 310 of
wagering. For example, if the player wagers five credits per hand
and makes a total wager of twenty credits, the total number of
hands to be played will be four. The logic of the game may
naturally limit the total number of possible hands, for instance to
five. At step 320 the processor 200 randomly deals a first starting
hand to the player. Preferably this is accomplished using a
computer representation of a standard fifty-two card deck. In the
present examples, the starting hand is a five-card hand as is
typically used in video poker. At step 330 the player selects which
cards to hold in the first starting hand. This selection may be
accomplished using the touch screen or the hold buttons 171, 172,
173, 174 and 175.
[0034] At step 340 the processor 200 creates the necessary
additional starting hands. In the preferred embodiment each
additional starting hand is created using a simple algorithm that
creates a starting hand based at least upon the cards selected to
be held in the previous starting hand. Thus, the second starting
hand will preferably be based upon the cards selected to be held in
the first starting hand. And the third starting hand will
preferably be based either upon the cards used to create the second
starting hand, the cards selected to be held in the first starting
hand or a combination thereof. The algorithm used to create the
additional hands is preferably quite simple so that the average
player can understand and anticipate the results of the algorithm.
In the preferred algorithm each playing card's attributes are
defined by a rank number and a suit number.
[0035] The rank number is between two and fourteen and corresponds
to the card's rank according to the following Table 1:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Card Rank Rank Number 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7
7 8 8 9 9 10 10 Jack 11 Queen 12 King 13 Ace 14
[0036] Similarly each card's suit number is between one and four
and corresponds to the card's suit according suit according to
Table 2: TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Card Suit Suit Number Clubs 1
Diamonds 2 Hearts 3 Spades 4
[0037] These suit numbers and rank numbers have been arbitrarily
assigned. In the preferred embodiment, the algorithm used to create
a subsequent card increases both the suit and rank numbers of the
previous corresponding card by one, however it would be possible to
use any algorithm. For the remainder of the examples discussed
herein, it will be this algorithm, also called a progression, is
being used unless specified
[0038] In addition to increasing the rank and suit numbers by one,
in order to create a subsequent starting hand it may be necessary
for the processor 200 to resolve the situation where this increase
will exceed the set boundary. For instance, if the previous hand
involved an Ace, with a rank of fourteen, the next hand would
presumably have a corresponding card with a rank of fifteen.
However, because fifteen exceeds the set boundary the processor 200
would employ the predetermined algorithm to establish a new rank
number. The preferred embodiments of the present invention resolve
this boundary condition in three distinct ways. In the first
alternative, when a rank or suit number would exceed the boundary,
the number is revolved to a predetermined lower rank. This may be
the minimum rank number or another number chosen by the operator.
In the example with the Ace, where the algorithm revolves to the
minimum rank number, the subsequent card would be a Two with a rank
number of two. In the second alternative, once a number reaches the
upper boundary limit, it is maintained there for all subsequent
cards created in subsequent hands. Thus when using this second
alternative, an Ace in a previous hand will result in a
corresponding Ace in each subsequent hand. Finally, in a third
embodiment, once the upper limit of a boundary is reached, the
progressive algorithm reverses the direction of its progression,
for at least one subsequent hand. Thus, an Ace would result in a
King in the next subsequent hand. This reversal may last for only
one hand, or may be permanent for the remainder of the game for the
particular card sequence, or may last for some other number of
subsequent hands. For instance, where a pair of Queens or better is
the minimum hand for a player to receive a payout, the reversal in
direction may only last until the subsequent card created would be
lower than a Queen. The following table shows how a number of
possible subsequent cards could occur in subsequent hands based on
the foregoing alternatives in a game that requires a player to make
a pair of Queens or better in order to receive a payout.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 1st Hand 2nd Hand 3rd Hand 4th Hand 5th Hand
Revolved King Ace Two Three Four Maintain King Ace Ace Ace Ace
Reverse King Ace King Queen Jack Reverse King Ace King Ace King
Once Reverse King Ace King Queen King 3.times.
[0039] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that each of these
variations will result in a unique game profile that will present
differing strategic choices to the player. For instance, in a game
like Jacks or Better, the revolving method will often penalize a
player for holding a high card like a King, because in one or more
subsequent hands the card will be of a rank that is insufficient to
earn the player a payout if he happens to pair that card.
Conversely, the alternative where a card's rank is maintained as an
Ace, may likely benefit a player by increasing the probability of
the player having two or more Aces in several of his five
individual hands once each hand is completed. For instance, if a
player is dealt an Ace, a King and a Queen of three different suits
in the first hand, he may well decide to hold all three, although
this would not be the optimum choice in a single-handed 9/6 Jacks
or Better game (holding just the King and Queen has an expected
value of approximately 0.483, while holding the Ace, King and Queen
has an expected value of approximately 0.456). However, this
"error" in the first hand would be more than covered by the
increased value of the second hand where the player would have Ace,
Ace, King (an expected value of 1.416) and the third, fourth and
fifth hands where the player would draw to three Aces (an expected
value of 4.303). Similarly, the Reversing options may prompt a
player to make hold selections in the first hand that differ from
optimum "standard" strategy for a single handed game. In each of
these preferred embodiments, the problem of a subsequent card's
rank or suit numbers exceeding a boundary is dealt with on an
individual card basis. However, it would be possible to apply these
rules to a group of cards. For instance, if a player held a King
and a Jack and the processor 200 was programmed to reverse the
progression of all cards once the boundary for any one card was
exceeded, the rank of the cards used to create the second hand
would be Ace and Queen, and in the third hand would be King and
Jack and in the fourth hand would be Queen and Ten.
[0040] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when
the pay table used is one of the popular video poker pay tables
used today in other video poker games, the resolution of these
boundary conditions is of primary importance to determining the
rank of a subsequently created card. The suit of the card is of
much less importance. But it would be a simple matter to modify a
pay table such that a flush could pay an amount that is dependent
on the suit of the cards. For instance, a Spade flush may pay six
credits while all other flushes may pay five credits.
[0041] In addition to resolving issues where the boundary
conditions may be exceeded, where that resolution involves altering
the progression, for instance by maintaining a card's rank or
reversing the direction of progression in a series, the processor
200 at step 340 may need to implement an algorithm to resolve a
possible conflict in a subsequent hand where the algorithm
initially indicates that two cards in the same hand would have the
same rank and suit. For instance, where the suit and rank number of
each previous card is increased by one to create a new card for a
subsequent hand and where the cards' rank progression is reversed
once it reaches the rank of Ace, if a player holds the Ace and
Queen of Clubs in the starting hand, the algorithm would indicate
that the second hand would have a King of Diamonds (created as a
result of holding the Ace of Clubs, where the new rank number is
the result of a decreasing progression and the suit number is
increased by one) and a second King of Diamonds (created as a
result of holding the Queen of Clubs, where the rank number and
suit number have both been increased by one).
[0042] One way to resolve this conflict is to simply allow it to
occur. This would provide certain advantages to the player, for
instance by allowing the player to make a five-of-a-kind hand that
is currently impossible to make with a standard fifty-two card
deck. An alternative would be to award the player a joker or wild
card any time an identity conflict occurs. Still another related
alternative would be to change the suit of the card from one of the
four standard suits to a non-suit or multi-suit card. This card may
have the suit properties of all four suits (a multi-suit card),
such that it can be used to complete flushes, or it may have the
opposite effect (a non-suit card) and prevent a flush from being
completed. Each of these possibilities, however, involve using
cards not found in a standard fifty-two card deck and may therefore
be less desirable to the operator and/or it's patrons.
[0043] If this is the case, the conflict may be resolved by
advancing the progression of the suit and/or the rank number of one
of the cards in conflict an additional progression. For instance,
in the previous example, the conflict may be resolved by changing
the suit of one of the two King of Diamonds to the next suit (i.e.,
a King of Hearts). Alternatively, the conflict may be resolved by
changing the rank number (i.e, the King of Diamonds created based
on the Ace of Clubs may become a Queen of Diamonds or the King of
Diamonds created based on the Queen of Clubs may become an Ace of
Diamonds).
[0044] Regardless of the method used to resolve the conflict, the
change may be temporary--applying only to the cards created for the
particular hand after which, the progression will resume it's
normal, anticipated pattern. Alternatively the change may be
permanent and apply to any remaining hands yet to be created. For
example, if the processor 200 is programmed to resolve the
hypothetical identity conflict by designating the second King of
Diamonds as a multi-suit King, the subsequent hand may contain an
Ace of Hearts based on the multi-suit King (where the conflict
resolution was temporary) or may contain a multi-suit Ace (where
the conflict resolution was permanent).
[0045] At step 350 the processor 200 completes each of the poker
hands for the player. For the first hand, this will involve
replacing the cards that were not selected to be held with some of
the forty-seven cards remaining from the original standard deck.
With the subsequent hands that were created based upon the first
hand, the cards drawn to complete the subsequent hands may come
from a variety of sources. It would of course be possible to
complete the subsequent hands using the same remaining cards from
the original deck. However, it is more preferable to complete the
subsequent hands using a different deck for each subsequent hand.
Typically, each deck used to complete a subsequent hand will have
the same number of cards. However, the make up of the individual
cards in each deck used to complete a subsequent hand will
preferably be different. In the preferred embodiments, the deck
used to complete any subsequent hand is formed by starting with a
standard fifty-two card deck and then removing the cards that have
already been created in the subsequent hand. Additionally, it is
preferable to remove additional cards from the deck used to
complete a subsequent hand. These cards may be the cards in the
original hand that the player chose not hold, or more preferably,
the cards that would have been created in the subsequent hand based
upon the cards that were not held (preferably once all the relevant
progression--boundary and conflict identity algorithm rules--have
been applied to the creation of those cards). As can be appreciated
by those skilled in the art, the deletion of the cards that were
created, but not held, from the drawing deck could be communicated
to the player by displaying these cards in the subsequent
hands.
[0046] At step 370 on FIG. 3, each hand is evaluated after it has
been completed. And if the completed hand is determined to be a
winning hand according to the pay table, the processor 200 will
cause a payout to be made to the player at step 380.
[0047] Referring now to the remaining figures, several versions of
the game employing the present invention with a variety of the
previously discussed alternative features will now be described.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an initial starting hand of cards is dealt
into a first row 400 from a standard fifty-two card deck of playing
cards. This row includes an Ace of Diamonds 401, a Two of Diamonds
402, a Queen of Diamonds 403, an Ace of Hearts 404 and a Three of
Spades 405. This starting hand will be used for the later versions
represented on FIGS. 5 through 10. And for all of the versions
discussed hereafter, the rank and suit number of each card created
in a subsequent hand will be increased by one compared to the
corresponding card's rank and suit number in the prior hand, unless
otherwise noted. FIG. 5 also indicates that the player has chosen
to wager on five hands of poker. For the ease of reference and
illustration, each game will use the following pay table, based
upon the standard 9/6 Jacks or Better pay table: TABLE-US-00004
TABLE 4 Hand Payout Royal Flush 800 5 of a Kind 160 Straight Flush
50 4 of a Kind 25 Full House 9 Flush - Hearts, Diamonds or Clubs 6
Spade Flush 5 Straight 4 3 of a Kind 3 Two Pair 2 Jacks or Better
1
[0048] It will be appreciated that for some of the versions
disclosed that the above pay table may result in an expected return
significantly greater than 100%, and that the pay table would
therefore need to be modified. Furthermore, it is to be understood
that a great many other pay tables could be used.
[0049] Referring now to FIG. 5, a version of the present invention
will now be described where the rank of each subsequently created
card is maintained as an Ace once that level is reached and the
suit of each subsequently created card is maintained as a Spade
once that level is reached. With regard to identity conflicts, when
such a conflict occurs the second (or third, etc.) card will
receive a non-suit designation. Looking at FIG. 5 it is evident
that the player has selected to hold the Ace of Diamonds 401, the
Queen of Diamonds 403 and the Ace of Hearts 404. These decisions
are indicated by a "HELD" message 420a, 420b and 420c,
respectively. A second row 410, forming a second drawing hand has
been created based upon the hold selections made by the player in
the first row 400. The second row comprises an Ace of Hearts
(created based upon the Ace of Diamonds 401) a King of Hearts
(created based upon the Queen of Diamonds 403) and an Ace of Spades
(created based upon the Ace of Hearts 404). A third row 411 is also
created. Again this row 411 contains an Ace of Spades in the fourth
position as a result of the Ace of Hearts 404 being held. However,
according to the progression algorithm, the first position and the
third position in the third row 411 should also contain an Ace of
Spades. This identity conflict is resolved however by placing a
non-suited Ace in each of these two positions. The same logic
results in non-suited Aces being placed in the first and third
positions of a fourth row 412 and a fifth row 413, in addition to
an Ace of Spades in the fourth position of both rows 412 and
413.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 6, the process of completing the hands
in each row and evaluating them will now be discussed. In the first
row 400 the Two of Diamonds 402 and the Three of Spades 405 are
discarded and replacement cards are drawn from the forty-seven
cards remaining out of the fifty-two card deck. The replacement
cards are the Five of Diamonds and the Five of Spades respectively.
This results in a hand ranking of Two Pair and a payout of two
times the amount wagered by the player on the first row 400. For
the remain rows, each row will draw from a fresh deck that has the
standard fifty-two cards in it, less the cards already created in
the row, less the cards that would have been created in the row had
the Two of Diamonds 402 and Three of Spades 405 been held in the
first row 400. Thus, in the second row 410 two additional cards are
drawn from a fresh deck of forty-seven cards. This deck is a
standard fifty-two card deck that has had the Ace of Hearts, King
of Hearts and Ace of Spades removed because these cards have
already been created in the hand. Additionally, the Three of Hearts
and Four of Spades have been removed because those cards would have
been created in the second row 410, if the Two of Diamonds 402 and
Three of Spades 405 had been selected as held cards in the first
row 400. The result of this draw is a Nine of Diamonds and a Six of
Clubs, making a pair of Aces in the second row 410. The third row
is completed using a forty-nine card deck. This deck is created by
removing the Ace, Four and Five of Spades from a standard fifty-two
card deck. Notice that because only one Ace has been removed from
the deck--leaving three more--the player's odds of making four Aces
or five Aces is greatly increased. In the example provided, the
player has in deed made four of kind in the third row 411. The
fourth row 412 and fifth row 413 are completed in the same manner.
Also, although in a single hand version of draw video poker a
rational player would never hold a Queen with a pair of dealt Aces,
in this particular game it is the correct strategy because it
guarantees the player at least three of a kind in the third, fourth
and fifth rows 411, 412 and 413. This is true even though the
player experiences a reduced expected value for holding the Queen
of Diamonds 403 in the first row 400 and the King of Hearts in the
second row 410.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment based on
the initial draw and hold decisions shown in FIG. 5 will now be
described. In this version, the progression in rank number of an
individual series of cards will be reversed once the top rank
(i.e., an Ace) is reached. The progression for suits will revolve
indefinitely. Further, any identity conflicts will be ignored such
that one hand may have two cards of the same rank and suit. Again
the Ace of Diamonds 401, Queen of Diamonds 403 and Ace of Hearts
404 are selected in the first row as held cards. Holding the Ace of
Diamonds 401 in the first row 400 results in a second row 410 with
a King of Hearts in the first position because the progression is
immediately reversed. After the progression is reversed, the third
row 411 is created with a Queens of Spades in the first position,
the fourth row 412 is created with a Jack of Clubs in the first
position and the fifth row 413 is created with a Ten of Diamonds in
the first position. Holding the Ace of Hearts 404 results in a.
similar creation of cards in the fourth position of the second row
410, third row 411, fourth row 412 and fifth row 413. Respectively,
these rows have a King of Spades, Queen of Clubs, Jack of Diamonds
and Ten of Hearts created in the fourth position. With respect to
the series of cards created in the third position of each row as a
result of holding the Queen of Diamonds 403 in the first row 400,
the second row 410 has a King of Hearts. The third row 411 has an
Ace of Spades. In the fourth row 412, the rank progression
reverses, creating a King of Clubs and in the fifth row 413, a
Queen of Diamonds is created.
[0052] Referring now to. FIG. 8, the completed draw for each row is
now considered. As in the previous example, each row is completed
using a standard deck of fifty-two cards, less any cards already
created in the row, or that would have been created if the card in
the blank position had been held in the first row 400. Thus in the
first row 400, a Five of Diamonds and a Five of Spades is drawn
from the remaining forty-seven card deck. The first row 400
resulting hand is two pair. In the second row 410, a King of Clubs
and a Nine of Diamonds are drawn from a forty-eight card deck,
resulting in four Kings. In the third row 411, an Ace of Diamonds
and a Four of Hearts is drawn from a forty-seven card deck,
resulting in two pair. In the fourth row 412, a Queen of Diamonds
and a Seven of Spades is drawn from a forty-seven card deck
resulting in a pair of Jacks. And in the fifth row 413, an Ace of
Diamonds and an Ace of Hearts is drawn from a forty-seven card deck
resulting in two pair. Similar to the previous example, the correct
play in this example was to hold the Queen of Diamonds 403 in the
first row 400, so that the player is guaranteed three of a kind in
the second row 410, with a possibility of drawing to four or even
five of a kind. This more than makes up for the lowered expected
values for the drawing hands in the first row 400, the third row
411, the fourth row 412 and the fifth row 413.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 9, yet another embodiment will now be
described. This embodiment is generally like the embodiment
discussed with respect to FIG. 7, with the exception that in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 9, when an identity conflict occurs one of
the cards will progress to the next suit, and if that can not
resolve the, conflict, one of the cards will progress to the next
rank. In the embodiment shown, this deviation from the standard
progression is temporary (only affecting the row where the conflict
occurred) and the sequence of cards created in subsequent rows is
unchanged. Therefore, the cards created in the third, fourth and
fifth rows 411, 412 and 413 are identical to the corresponding rows
shown in FIG. 7. But in the second row 410, the identity conflict
algorithm dictates that a King of Spades be created in the third
position rather than a King of Hearts, because the King of Hearts
has already been created in the first position. Similarly, the
fourth position is a King of Clubs, because the King of Spades is
unavailable. Thus, although the player has three Kings in the
second row 410, he will complete that row from a deck with
forty-seven cards, of which only one card is a King--the King of
Diamonds. This reduces the player's chance of making four of a kind
in the second row 410, by almost half as compared to the prior
example and completely eliminates the possibility of making five of
a kind. Thus, the decision to hold the Queen of Diamonds 403, is a
much closer decision, mathematically, in this version than in the
prior version. The results of the completed hands are shown on FIG.
10. And whereas on FIG. 8 the player drew a King of Clubs on the
second row to make four of a kind, for the draw on FIG. 10, the
King of Clubs was unavailable and the player drew a Seven of Spades
instead.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 11, yet another embodiment will be
described. In this embodiment the progression algorithm only
increases the rank of the subsequently created cards and the suit
of the previous card is maintained. When a card's rank exceeds the
maximum (i.e., Ace) the progression reverses. Identity conflicts
are resolved by increasing the rank of the forward progressing
card. Any conflict resolution will have an ongoing effect in
subsequent hands. For illustrative purposes, the initial draw of
cards in the first row 400 has been altered slightly from the
previous examples. Specifically, the Ace of Hearts 404 has been
replaced by a Seven of Hearts 406. Again, as indicated by the
"HELD" logos 420a and 420b under the Ace of Diamonds 401 and the
Queen of Diamonds 403, these two cards have been held. As a result
a King of Diamonds has been created in the first position and an
Ace of Diamonds has been created in the third position of the
second row 410. The creation of the Ace of Diamonds is a result of
the identity conflict algorithm--but for the identity conflict both
the first, position and the third position in the second row 410
would be occupied by the King of Diamonds. Because the effect of
the conflict resolution is ongoing, the third row 411 has a King of
Diamonds in the third position and a Queen of Diamonds in the first
position. Referring now to FIG. 12, each row of cards has been
completed from a fresh forty-seven card deck.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 13, another embodiment will now be
discussed. In the embodiment, once any card to be created in any
row would exceed the maximum rank, all of the cards created in,
that row or in subsequent rows will progress their rank in reverse.
Under this scheme, there: is no possibility for an, identity
conflict in a subsequent row, so no conflict resolution is defined.
For the purposes of illustration the Ace of Diamonds 401 in the
first row 400 has been changed to a King of Diamonds 407. The
remaining cards drawn in the first row 400 are unchanged from the
previous example. Again, as indicated by the "HELD" logos 420a and
420b under the King of Diamonds 407 and the Queen of Diamonds 403,
these two cards have been held. As a result the second row 410 has
an Ace of Hearts and a King of Hearts in the corresponding first
and third positions. Because of the Ace of Hearts in the second row
410, the cards in the third row 411 will be created using a reverse
rank progression. Thus, the third row 411 has a King of Spades and
a Queen of Spades in the first and third positions respectively.
The fourth row 412 has a Queen of Clubs and a Jack of Clubs in the
first and third positions respectively and the fifth row 413 has a
Jack of Diamonds and a Ten of Diamonds in the first and third
positions respectively. Referring now to FIG. 14, each hand in each
row has been completed by discarding the unused cards and drawing
additional cards to complete each hand.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 15, a final version of the present
invention will now be discussed. In this version when a
subsequently created card's rank would exceed the maximum, the card
is reassigned a new rank. This rank may be random or predetermined.
And in the version discussed it is predetermined to be the minimum
rank. According to this method the rank of the cards, much like the
card's suit in several of the previous examples, continues to
revolve in a cyclic pattern for however many cards are created. Due
to the nature of this algorithm there is again no need for identity
conflict resolution between cards. Therefore, for this version, all
of the cards that will be created in the subsequent hands can be
shown before any cards are selected to be held. And therefore, all
the cards in all of the rows can be shown face up as indicated on
FIG. 15. As seen in FIG. 16, the player has opted to hold the Nine
of Hearts 408 and the Ten of Hearts 409 in the first row 400. The
corresponding cards in the fourth and fifth positions of the second
row 410, the third row 411, the fourth row 412 and the fifth row
413 are also held and the remaining cards are discarded. As in the
previous examples, additional cards are then drawn for each row to
complete each poker hand.
[0057] It should be understood that the various methods for
creating a new card with a progressively increase rank or its suit,
as well as the methods for dealing with cards at the boundary limit
of an increase, as well as the methods for resolving conflicts when
two cards in the same hand have the same rank and suit, as well as
the methods for completing each hand can be combined in a number of
ways not disclosed in this invention, but each such combination is
to be understood as being within the scope of invention. Thus, the
foregoing should be considered illustrative rather than limiting
the invention, which is defined only by the following claims, the
steps of which may be performed in nearly any order acceptable to
the game operator.
* * * * *