U.S. patent application number 11/562079 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for casino card games with one or more community cards.
This patent application is currently assigned to MASQUE PUBLISHING, INC.. Invention is credited to Donna J. Adam, James M. Wisler.
Application Number | 20070090600 11/562079 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35006266 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090600 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adam; Donna J. ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
Casino Card Games With One or More Community Cards
Abstract
A poker game that uses a five card hand in making certain
determinations related to player payouts is provided. The game has
one or more community cards that can be used by each player and,
preferably also, by the dealer in deciding the best five card
player and dealer hands. The player payouts can include a
predetermined hand and higher payout and a bet payout. The
predetermined hand and higher payout does not depend on whether the
dealer hand is a qualified hand. The bet payout does depend on
whether the dealer hand is a qualified hand. The community card by
itself can also be used in determining a player payout.
Inventors: |
Adam; Donna J.; (Littleton,
CO) ; Wisler; James M.; (Littleton, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERIDAN ROSS PC
1560 BROADWAY
SUITE 1200
DENVER
CO
80202
US
|
Assignee: |
MASQUE PUBLISHING, INC.
8400 Park Meadows Drive P. O. Box 260440
Lone Tree
CO
80124
|
Family ID: |
35006266 |
Appl. No.: |
11/562079 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10817011 |
Apr 1, 2004 |
|
|
|
11562079 |
Nov 21, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/292 ;
273/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/00157 20130101;
A63F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/292 ;
273/303 |
International
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20060101
A63F001/00 |
Claims
1. A method for playing a card game, comprising: providing at least
two wagering areas including an ante wagering area for making an
ante wager and a bet wagering area for making a bet wager;
providing ante/bet water payouts; making said ante wager by at
least a first player; dealing by the dealer a number of cards that
are face down to the first player and a plurality of cards that are
face down to the dealer; dealing by a dealer at least a first
community card that is face up; deciding by the first player, at
least after said first community card is dealt face up, whether or
not to continue to play and, if so, making a bet wager by the first
player in said bet wagering area; and making determinations related
to at least the dealer and the first player; and wherein said
ante/bet wager payouts are determined using at least said first
community card and no other community card.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first community card is the
only community card that was dealt at the time the first player is
deciding whether or not to continue play.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said deciding includes using said
first community card as a replacement card for one of said number
of cards.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said deciding includes removing
one of said number of cards from the first player's hand.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said one of said number of cards
is placed in a discard area.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said number of cards and
said plurality of cards is five.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said card game is poker.
8. The method of claim 1 further includes ascertaining whether or
not the dealer hand is a qualified hand and, if not, paying the
first player a first predetermined amount based on said ante wager
when the first player makes said bet wager.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said bet wager pushes when the
dealer hand is not a qualified hand.
10. The method of claim 1 further including providing a community
card wagering area for making a community card wager.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said making determinations
includes paying the first player a second predetermined amount when
the first player makes said first community card wager and said
first community card is a predetermined card and also paying the
first player said second predetermined amount when the first player
does not make said bet wager and said first community card is said
predetermined card.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said predetermined card is from
the group consisting of: an ace, a king, a queen and a jack.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first player is paid said
second predetermined amount even if the dealer hand is not a
qualified hand.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the first player is paid the
second predetermined amount even if the dealer hand beats the first
player hand.
15. The method of claim 1 further including providing a 10's or
better wagering area for making a 10's or better wage and when the
first player makes a 10's or better wager and the first player hand
includes 10's or better, paying the first player a third
predetermined amount that depends on the first player hand.
16. The method of claim 1 in which the first player locates said
bet wager over at least a portion of at least a first card of said
number of cards.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein said making determinations
includes collecting by the dealer at least said ante wager made by
the first player when the first player folds and does not make said
bet wager.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein said making determinations
includes collecting by the dealer a discard made by the first
player when the first player uses said first community card.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein said making determinations
includes changing by the dealer said number of cards from face down
to face up and said dealer hand is selected by the dealer from said
plurality of cards and said first community card.
20. The method of claim 1 wherein said making determinations
include the dealer announcing whether the dealer hand is a
qualified hand and changing at least some of said plurality of
cards from face down to face up.
21. A method for playing a card game, comprising: providing at
least three wagering areas including an ante area for making an
ante wager, a bet area for making a bet wager and a community card
wagering area for making a community card wager; making said ante
wager in said ante wagering area and making said community card
wager in said community card wagering area by at least a first
player, wherein the first player decides on his own to make said
community card wager and the first player is involved in deciding
said amount of said community card wager; dealing by a dealer at
least a first community card; dealing by the dealer a number of
cards to the first player and a plurality of cards to the dealer;
and paying the first player a predetermined amount when the first
player makes set bet wager and said first community card is a
predetermined card and also paying the first player said
predetermined amount when the first player does not make said bet
wager and said first community card is said predetermined card.
22. A method of claim 21, wherein said providing includes providing
ante/bet wager payouts and in which said ante/bet wager payouts are
determined using at least said first community card and no other
community card.
23. A method of claim 21 wherein said first community card is the
only community card that was dealt at the time the first player is
deciding whether or not to continue to play.
24. A method of claim 21 wherein said determining includes paying
the first player a predetermined amount when the first player makes
said community card wager and said first community card is a
predetermined card.
25. A method of claim 24 wherein the first player is paid said
predetermined amount even if the first player does not make a bet
wager.
26. A method of claim 21 further including making said bet wager by
the first player and in which the first player locates said bet
wager over at least a portion of at least a first card of said
number of cards.
27. A method of claim 25 wherein the first player is paid said
predetermined amount even if the dealer hand beats the first player
hand.
28. A method of claim 21 further includes ascertaining whether or
not the dealer hand is a qualified hand and paying the first player
a predetermined amount even if the dealer hand is not a qualified
hand and said first community card is a predetermined card.
29. A method of claim 21 wherein said dealing by the dealer of said
one community card is conducted before said dealing by the dealer
of said number of cards to the first player and said plurality of
cards to the dealer.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation application of pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/817,011, having a filing date
of Apr. 1, 2004, being incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to casino card games and, in
particular, to a poker game played with at least one community
card.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Casino card games, such as poker and blackjack, continue to
be a major source of entertainment for card players. Poker games
with features that are different from those found in conventional
poker have increased in popularity over the recent years. Such
poker games are available in many casinos located throughout the
United States where legal gambling is offered. These include the
poker games identified as CARIBBEAN STUD.RTM. Poker, LET IT
RIDE.RTM., THREE CARD POKER.RTM. and CRAZY 4.RTM. Poker.
[0004] Among the aspects valued by players of these poker games are
speed of play and a number of betting options to choose from, which
contribute to the excitement of playing the game. THREE CARD
POKER.RTM. has these beneficial features and has proven to be
highly attractive to a great number of poker players. However, the
conventional five card hand is not used in making determinations
related to winning or losing hand positions. Furthermore, no
community card is used. Players therefore do not have the option of
using one or more community cards, while discarding an equivalent
card(s), in order to improve their hands. It would therefore be
advantageous to integrate the relatively high speed play of games
such as THREE CARD POKER.RTM. with other features such as the use
of one or more community cards, while the hand relied on remains
the traditional five card poker hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a casino card game
is provided that uses one or more community cards, with each being
available for possible selection and use by at least each player of
the game and preferably for possible selection and use by the
dealer as well. In a preferred embodiment, only one community card
is available to be used, although in other embodiments, two or more
community cards could be used.
[0006] The casino card game of the present invention includes a
game layout having playing areas. The playing areas can include a
separate playing area for each of a plurality of players. The
playing areas can also include a dealer area for a dealer. The
playing area of each player can have a number of wagering areas: a
first or community card wagering area, a second or ante wagering
area, a third or bet wagering area and a fourth or predetermined
hand and higher waging area (PH+H, e.g., a pair of 10's or better).
The playing area of each player can also include a discard area.
Each player playing area has a section or area over which each
player's cards are contained and this area can include at least
parts of the bet wagering area. The dealer playing area can include
a community card(s) area and dealer cards area.
[0007] The community card(s) dealt by the dealer is (are) placed in
the community card(s) area(s) of the layout. One or more cards
discarded by one or more of players are placed in the player's
discard area. For each player: (a) any community card wager made is
placed in his community card wagering area; (b) any ante wager made
by the player is placed in his ante wagering area; (c) any bet
wager made by the player is placed in his bet wagering area; and
(d) any predetermined hand and higher wager made by the player is
placed in the predetermined hand and higher wagering area.
[0008] With respect to methods of play, such as the embodiment in
which there is one community card, each player playing the game
makes one or more decisions directed to playing a round of play.
Each player decides whether or not to make a community card wager,
a predetermined hand and higher wager and an ante wager. A player
at the start of play for a particular round decides to make one or
more of these wagers by placing an amount, a chip, or other indicia
in his wagering area associated with that particular wager. In the
preferred embodiment, at the start of the round, each player can
make a wager in one, two or all three of the community card, ante
and PH+H wagering areas.
[0009] Once the wagers are made by players that are playing the
particular round of the game, the dealer places a card from the
deck, which is preferably a 52 card deck, face up in the community
card area so that all players can see it. Once the community card
is dealt and seen by all players, potential players that have not
placed a wager in one or more of the community card wagering area,
the PH+H wagering area and the ante wagering area are not allowed
to play the particular round of the game. For those players that
have made a PH+H wager and/or an ante wager, the dealer deals five
cards to each of them. These cards are dealt face down. The dealer
also deals five cards to himself that are face down.
[0010] After the players receive their five cards, they must make
certain determinations. A player can elect to fold or,
alternatively, can elect to continue to play. For each player that
elects to play, he must decide either to play the five cards that
were dealt to him or elect to use the community card as a
substitute for one of the five cards in his hand for the purpose of
improving his hand. Players that made ante wagers must also wager
an additional amount in the bet wagering area to continue to
play.
[0011] For each player that decided to fold and did not make a bet
wager in the bet wagering area, the dealer collects his PH+H and
ante wagers. The dealer also collects any community card wagers
when the community card is not a predetermined card or one of a
group of predetermined cards. The dealer then turns over his five
cards. The dealer uses the five cards dealt to him and the
community card to decide his best five card hand. The dealer then
announces whether or not he has a qualified hand. If the dealer's
hand is a qualified hand, he will announce the value of his hand.
After making known whether or not the dealer's hand is a qualified
hand, a number of determinations are made by him related to any
payment(s) to one or more players.
[0012] The dealer pays these players that made community card
wagers when the community card is a predetermined card or one of a
group of predetermined cards. In the preferred embodiment, when the
community card is an ace or face (king, queen, jack) card, the
dealer pays all players that made the community card wager
according to a community card payout schedule. When the community
card is the predetermined card or one of the predetermined cards,
the player who made such a wager receives the payout, even if the
player folds, regardless of whether the dealer's hand is a
qualified hand or the dealer's hand beats the player's hand.
[0013] If the player has made a PH+H wager and the player's hand
contains certain cards or better, the dealer pays that player
according to a PH+H payout schedule. In a preferred embodiment, the
predetermined hand and higher includes a pair of 10's or better.
The dealer makes this payout to the player regardless of whether or
not the dealer's hand qualifies or the dealer's hand beats the
player's hand.
[0014] Additionally, when the dealer's hand is a qualified hand and
the player's hand beats the qualified dealer's hand, the dealer
pays the player one-to-one on the ante wager and the dealer pays
the bet wager according to a bet payout schedule. On the other
hand, if the dealer's qualified hand beats the player's hand, the
dealer collects both the ante and bet wagers from the player. If
the dealer's hand is not a qualified hand, each player that has not
folded is paid one-to-one on the ante wager and the bet wager
pushes. In one embodiment, a qualified hand is one that contains at
least a pair or better. Once all determinations are made related to
payouts and the determined payouts are made according to the proper
payout schedule(s), all cards played in that round are placed in a
discard rack. A new round of the game can then be started.
[0015] Based on the foregoing summary, a number of salient features
of the present invention are readily discerned. A casino card game
is provided that offers the player a number of wagering options.
There are numerous payouts based on the different wagering options
and there can be different payout schedules for each of them. One
or more community cards are used to provide the player with the
capability of improving his hand. The community card itself
presents a potential payout for the player. Furthermore, the card
game of the present invention can be played rapidly, while using a
traditional five card poker hand. The card game is also easy to
play and benefits both the player and the casino. Additional
advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent
from the following discussion, particularly when taken together
with accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE
[0016] The sole FIGURE illustrates a table layout for a five card
poker game using one community card.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] With reference to the FIGURE, a layout 10 of a casino poker
game of a preferred embodiment is illustrated. The layout 10
identifies components, areas or sections of a table or a cover
overlying a table that can be used in playing the poker game.
[0018] The layout 10 can be defined as having a dealer playing area
12 and a plurality of player playing areas 16, such as five playing
areas 16a-16e illustrated in the FIGURE, although more than five
playing areas 16 are possible.
[0019] Each player playing area 16a-16e is the same. A description
of one player playing area 16a applies to all other playing areas
16b-16e. The player playing area 16a includes a number of wagering
areas. The wagering areas can include: a community card ("comcard")
wagering area 20a, a predetermined and higher (PH+H) wagering area
24a, an ante wagering area 30a and a bet wagering area 34a. The
cards that are dealt to the player playing the poker game at
playing area 16a can be placed adjacent to the bet wagering area
34a. In the preferred embodiment, when the player using the playing
area 16a makes a bet wager, at least part of the bet is placed over
portions of one or more of the cards which are face down and which
make up at least part of the player's hand. The player playing area
16a, like all player playing areas 16, has a discard area 40a. Each
discard area 40 is typically located closer to the dealer than to
the particular player. The discard area 40 can be used in receiving
at least one card that is discarded by the player when the player
decides to play the particular round of the poker game and relies
on at least one community card as part of the player's hand, as
will be explained in more detail in connection with descriptions
related to playing the poker game. In another embodiment, instead
of the player deciding whether or not to use the community card,
the dealer determines the player's best five card poker hand. In
such an embodiment, the player does not discard to his discard area
40 but relies on the dealer to decide what five cards will be used
in determining the player's betting hand.
[0020] With respect to the wagering areas 16, each player can make
one or more wagers to play, or continue to play, the current round
of the poker game. The community card wagering area 20a is used by
the player associated with the playing area 16a to make a community
card or comcard wager. In making any such wager, the player places
a chip or other indicia indicative of the amount being wagered in
the comcard wagering area 20a. The player is entitled to a payout
when the community card dealt by the dealer for that round is a
predetermined card or one of a group of predetermined cards. In one
embodiment, the player's wager in the comcard wagering area 20a is
successful when the community card dealt by the dealer is one of an
ace or a face card. More specifically, the payout made to the
player making such a comcard wager can be based on a single
community card payout schedule using the predetermined contents of
a table, as will be subsequently described.
[0021] In the preferred embodiment, such a payout is made to each
player making such a comcard wager regardless of whether the player
makes any other wager, or later folds, and regardless of whether
the dealer hand is a qualified hand or the dealer hand beats the
particular player's hand. In one embodiment, the dealer has a
qualified hand when the dealer is dealt a pair or better, although
other qualified dealer hands are possible. With respect to such
determinations, the community card is typically the first card
dealt and is provided face up by the dealer in the community
card(s) area 44 of the dealer playing area 12.
[0022] As is the case with other player playing areas 16b-16e, the
player associated with the player playing area 16a has the ability
to make a PH+H wager by placing a betting chip in the PH+H wagering
area 24a. When that wager is made, that player is successful when
the player's hand has a predetermined rank or better. In a
preferred embodiment, the player's hand is a winning hand when it
includes a pair of 10's or better. When this occurs and the player
has made the PH+H wager, he is paid according to a PH+H payout
schedule using the predetermined formulas found in the relevant
table to be discussed later herein. This payout is made regardless
of whether the dealer hand is a qualified hand or the dealer's hand
beats the player's hand.
[0023] The player associated with the playing area 16a can make an
ante wager using the ante wagering area 30a. In one embodiment, in
order to play the next round of the poker game, the player must
make an ante wager, including make an ante wager if the player
wants to make a comcard wager.
[0024] Regarding the bet wagering areas 34, such as the bet
wagering area 34a, these are used by one or more players in order
to make a bet wager. The bet wager is made by the player who has
made an ante wager and does not fold after his cards are dealt, but
continues to play the current round of the game. The bet wager, in
one embodiment, is exactly the same as the player's ante wager.
When the player's hand beats the dealer's hand, when the dealer's
hand is a qualified hand, the bet wager has a payout schedule that
is based on the predetermined information in another table that
will be presented later as part of additional descriptions related
to this particular payout.
[0025] Methodologies related to playing the casino poker game of
the present invention, particularly one in which there is only one
community card, are now provided. Preferably, the game is played
using only one standard deck of 52 cards. After the cards are
shuffled, the dealer first checks to make sure that all players
that want to play the next round have all their wagers placed.
Players make a community card wager, a PH+H wager and/or an ante
wager in their respective wagering areas, which indicates that they
are playing the next round.
[0026] The dealer then places the first card from the newly
shuffled deck face up in front of the dealer's position so that all
players can see this first card, which is the community card. All
players, including the dealer, may optionally use the community
card to form a desired, or anticipated better five-card hand. Once
the community card is revealed, in the preferred embodiment,
players that have not placed a wager in one or more of the
identified wagering areas are not allowed to play the round.
[0027] The dealer continues by dealing five cards to each player
position that has a wager in one or both of the PH+H wagering area
and the ante wagering area. Each set of five cards to each player
is dealt face down, preferably to the player's bet wagering area,
with one arm motion by the dealer in order to facilitate dealing
from a shuffling machine. The dealer then deals five cards face
down to himself.
[0028] After the players receive their five cards, they look at
them to decide how to proceed. The players have two basic options,
namely, either fold or play. If a player elects to fold, he places
all five cards dealt to him face down in the player's discard area
40. On the other hand, if a player elects to play, he has two
choices to select from, namely: each player electing to play either
plays the five cards dealt to him or elects to use the community
card in place of one of the five cards in his hand for the
anticipated purpose of improving his hand. If the player decides to
play the five cards that were dealt to him, he places them all face
down with at least one corner of the cards in the bet wagering
area. If the player made an ante wager, he must wager an additional
amount, which is exactly the same as his ante wager, by placing
this amount in the bet wagering area. Preferably, the player is
also required to ensure that at least one corner of his dealt cards
is under the amount (e.g. chip) located in his bet wagering area.
When the player makes this election, he uses only the five cards
dealt to him in determining his five card poker hand for this
particular round.
[0029] Alternatively, if the player elects to play using the
community card, he must discard one of the five cards that were
dealt to him by placing it face down on the layout 10 in the
discard area 40. If the player made an ante wager, he must wager an
additional amount, which is exactly the same as his ante wager, by
placing this amount in the bet wagering area. Preferably, the
player also ensures that at least one corner of his remaining
four-card, face down hand is in the bet wagering area and under the
amount (e.g. chip) if a bet wager was placed in the bet wagering
area. This player uses his four remaining cards (does not include
the card that was discarded) and the community card to arrive at
his five card hand for the round. Next, the dealer collects all
PH+H and ante wagers from players that have folded. If a community
card is not a predetermined card(s), such as an ace or face card
(ace, king, queen or jack), the dealer also collects all community
card wagers. The dealer then collects all discards, from his right
to his left, including any individual cards that were discarded by
players that wish to use the community card as part of their
five-card hand, and places them in the discard rack.
[0030] The dealer then turns over his five cards. From the six
cards available to him that include the five cards dealt to the
dealer and the community card, the dealer determines his best five
card hand. If the dealer's determined hand uses the community card,
the dealer will place the least favorable of the five cards dealt
to him in the discard rack. As part of the analysis made regarding
the dealer's hand, a determination is made as to whether or not it
is a "qualified" hand. In one embodiment, the dealer's hand is a
qualified hand if it has a "pair or better." The dealer then
indicates whether his hand is a qualified hand. If it is a
qualified hand, the dealer states the value of his hand. After such
indications are provided, the dealer settles all player hands from
his right to his left. In so doing, the dealer will pick up each
player's hand and place it face up, preferably on the dealer's side
of the layout 10 and adjacent to each player's respective wagering
area.
[0031] Referring to settlement of community card wagers, in the
case of a payout to one or more players that made the community
card wager and the requirement that the community card be an ace or
face card, the dealer pays all such wagers according to the
following "Ace or Face Card Payout Table." This payout is made
irrespective of whether the player folds, the dealer's hand is a
qualified hand, or the dealer's hand beats the player's hand.
TABLE-US-00001 Ace or Face Card Payout Table Community Card Payout
Ace 4 to 1 King 2 to 1 Queen 3 to 2 Jack 6 to 5
[0032] Another player settlement to be made concerns the PH+H
wager, such as a pair of 10's or better. If the player folds, any
such wager made by the player is lost. Conversely, if a player has
made a PH+H (e.g. pair of 10's or better) wager and his hand
contains at least this predetermined hand or better, the dealer
pays the player according to a predetermined schedule, which, in
this embodiment, requires the PH+H be a pair of 10's or better. The
player having such a predetermined hand is paid regardless of
whether the dealer's hand is a qualified hand or the dealer's hand
beats the player's hand. Only the highest payout achieved is paid
using the contents of the table set out below. TABLE-US-00002 10's
or Better Payout Table Player Hand Payout Royal Flush 250 to 1
Straight Flush 75 to 1 Four of a Kind 25 to 1 Full House 15 to 1
Flush 5 to 1 Straight 3 to 1 Two Pair or Three of a Kind 1 to 1
Pair 10's or Better 1 to 1
[0033] Additionally, the dealer must settle ante and bet wagers. In
one embodiment, the dealer has a qualified hand if such a hand
contains at least a pair or better. The ante and bet wagers are
settled according to the following Ante/Bet Payout Table, and with
only the highest payout achieved being paid. TABLE-US-00003
Ante/Bet Payout Table Situation Result Player folds The Ante wager
is lost Player does not fold Dealer pays 1 to 1 on the Ante wager,
and Dealer's hand does the Bet wager pushes not qualify Dealer's
hand qualifies Dealer collects player's Ante and Bet and beats the
player's hand wagers Dealer's hand qualifies Dealer pays 1 to 1 on
the Ante wager, and the player's hand beats the Bet wager is paid
according to the the dealer's hand following: Royal Flush 100 to 1
Straight Flush 25 to 1 Four of a Kind 12 to 1 Full House 5 to 1
Flush 4 to 1 Straight 3 to 1 Winning Hand 1 to 1
[0034] In one or more other embodiments, instead of a single
community card, playing of the game might involve two community
cards. Play is similar to a single community card play. In these
multiple community card embodiments, the players do not discard any
cards if they are not folding their hands. From each of the
originally dealt five card hands and the community cards, the
dealer only must determine which cards make the best five card hand
for each player and for the dealer himself. There is a different
community card payout when there are two community cards, instead
of one community card. In this embodiment, the following payouts
are available. TABLE-US-00004 Ace(s) or Face Card(s) Payout Table
(2 Community Cards) Community Cards Payout Pair Aces 50 to 1 Pair
Kings 40 to 1 Pair Queens 30 to 1 Pair Jacks 20 to 1 Ace + Face 5
to 1 2 Face 2 to 1
[0035] Another embodiment has three community cards that the
players and the dealer can optionally use in determining their
hands. Like the embodiments in which there are one community card
and two community cards, there is a different payout schedule when
three community cards are utilized. In this embodiment, the
following table identifies the particular payout, depending on the
community cards that are dealt for the particular round.
TABLE-US-00005 Ace(s) or Face Card(s) Payout Table (3 Community
Cards) Community Cards Payout 3 Aces 50 to 1 3 Kings 40 to 1 3
Queens 30 to 1 3 Jacks 20 to 1 Pair Aces 10 to 1 Pair Kings Pair
Queens Pair Jacks Ace + 2 Face 5 to 1 KQJ 3 to 1 2 Ace or Face 1 to
1
[0036] The predetermined hand and higher and the ante/bet payouts
also change when there are two community cards or three community
cards. The following two tables illustrate such payouts for two or
three community cards and where the predetermined hand and higher
is a "pair of 10's or better." TABLE-US-00006 10's or Better Payout
Table (2 or 3 Community Cards) 2 cards 3 cards 10's or Better Pair
Lose Lose Two Pairs 1 to 1 Lose 3 of a Kind 1 to 1 1 to 1 Straight
2 to 1 2 to 1 Flush 3 to 1 3 to 1 Full House 4 to 1 4 to 1 Four of
a Kind 8 to 1 6 to 1 Straight Flush 15 to 1 10 to 1 Royal Flush 25
to 1 25 to 1
[0037] TABLE-US-00007 Ante/Bet Payout Table (2 or 3 Community
Cards) 2 cards 3 cards Pair Not Qual Not Qual Pair of Sixes 1 to 1
Not Qual Pair of Queens 1 to 1 1 to 1 Two Pairs 1 to 1 1 to 1 3 of
a Kind 1 to 1 1 to 1 Straight 1 to 1 1 to 1 Flush 2 to 1 1 to 1
Full House 3 to 1 2 to 1 Four of a Kind 4 to 1 7 to 1 Straight
Flush 8 to 1 10 to 1 Royal Flush 20 to 1 25 to 1
[0038] In another embodiment, the player has the option to make
another wager related to which player for the round has the best
hand ("top player wager"). Basically, the top player wager is
successful when the player's hand beats all other player hands, all
of which players made the top player wager. Consequently, in
addition to playing against a dealer, each player has an option to
make a wager that he will beat all other players that make the top
player wager. Like other amounts that can be wagered, a wagering
area for each player can be provided for the top player wager. In
one embodiment, the amount that can be wagered for the top player
wager is the same as the minimum ante wager allowable at the
particular table. When settling the particular hand, for each
player that has made a top player wager, a determination is made as
to which player has the superior or best hand. The player with the
superior hand is paid based on, or a function of, the top player
wager or wagers made by one or more of the other players. For
example, the player having the superior hand might be paid the
amount of the top player wager made by each of the other players
that he beat. In the case of ties between/among players, these
players would equally share in any payout. Alternatively, the
dealer may be entitled to some percentage of the amount based on
the top player wagers made. In one embodiment, the dealer also
makes a top player wager and receives all top player wagers when
the dealer's hand beats all players' hands, who made a top player
wager. In another embodiment, the dealer only makes a top player
wager whenever there is only one player making the top player
wager. When the dealer participates in the play associated with the
top player wager, the dealer need not actually place a bet in a
wagering area. If the dealer's hand beats the players' hands, who
made the top player wager, the dealer collects the top player
wagers made by those other players. If the dealer's hand is not the
best hand, the dealer pays the player who had the best hand
one-to-one on the top player wager.
[0039] The foregoing discussion of the inventions has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further,
the description is not intended to limit the inventions to the form
disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications
commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill or
knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the such
inventions. By way of example only, player payment settlements
could be made in a different order than that described in the
preferred embodiment. The embodiments described hereinabove are
further intended to explain the best modes presently known of
practicing the inventions and to enable others skilled in the art
to utilize the inventions in such, or in other embodiments, and
with various modifications required by their particular application
or use. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to
include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the
prior art.
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