U.S. patent application number 11/874763 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for video poker gaming device and method.
Invention is credited to Lawrence M. Henshaw, Jerald C. Seelig.
Application Number | 20080096626 11/874763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39318588 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080096626 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seelig; Jerald C. ; et
al. |
April 24, 2008 |
VIDEO POKER GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD
Abstract
A video poker gaming apparatus and method of playing a game in
which a player is allowed to place a first wager and a portion of a
first card hand is displayed to the player. The player can choose
to play the first card hand or to place a second wager to play an
additional second card hand. The second card hand is dealt
identical to the first card hand. If the player chooses to place
the second wager and play the second card hand, all of the first
card hand and all of the second card hand are displayed to the
player. The player selects cards to keep or discard from each of
the first and second card hands. Replacement cards are dealt for
each of the cards that were discarded. An award is paid for the
card hands according to a pay table.
Inventors: |
Seelig; Jerald C.; (Absecon,
NJ) ; Henshaw; Lawrence M.; (Hammonton, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IAN F. BURNS & ASSOCIATES
P.O. BOX 71115
RENO
NV
89570
US
|
Family ID: |
39318588 |
Appl. No.: |
11/874763 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60862030 |
Oct 18, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3293 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/13 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming apparatus comprising: (A) a display device configured
to communicate game information to a player; (B) a controller in
communication with the display device, the controller being
configured to: (a) allow a player to place a first wager; (b)
display at least a portion of a first card hand to the player; (c)
allow the player to choose to play the first card hand or to place
a second wager to play an additional second card hand, the second
card hand being dealt identical to the first card hand; (d) if the
player chooses to place a second wager and play the additional
second card hand, displaying all of the first card hand and all of
the second card hand to the player; (e) allow the player to select
at least one card to keep or discard from each of the first and
second card hands; (f) deal replacement cards for each of the cards
that were discarded; (g) compare the card hands to a pay table and
determine a game outcome; and (h) award a prize to the player if at
least one of the card hands comprises a winning combination.
2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising allowing the
player to place a plurality of wagers to play a plurality of
additional card hands, the plurality of additional card hands being
dealt identical to the first card hand.
3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first card hand is
dealt replacement cards from a first virtual card deck and the
second card hand is dealt replacement cards from a second virtual
card deck.
4. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second
card decks are in the same card order.
5. The gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first and second
virtual card decks are in a different card order.
6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second
card hands are dealt replacement cards from a common virtual card
deck.
7. A gaming method comprising, not all of the steps necessarily in
the order shown: (A) allowing a player to place a first wager; (B)
displaying at least a portion of a first card hand to the player;
(C) allowing the player to choose to play the first card hand or to
place a second wager to play an additional second card hand, the
second card hand being dealt identical to the first card hand; (D)
if the player chooses to place a second wager and play the
additional second card hand, displaying all of the first card hand
and all of the second card hand to the player; (E) allowing the
player to select at least one card to keep or discard from each of
the first and second card hands; (F) dealing replacement cards for
each of the cards that were discarded; (G) comparing the card hands
to a pay table and determining a game outcome; and (H) awarding a
prize to the player, if at least one of the card hands comprises a
winning combination.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising allowing the player to
place a plurality of wagers to play a plurality of additional card
hands, the plurality of additional card hands being dealt identical
to the first card hand.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein each card hand is assigned to a
separate virtual card deck.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein each card hand is assigned to a
separate virtual card deck and each of the virtual card decks are
in the same card order.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein each card hand is assigned to a
separate virtual card deck and each of the card decks are in a
different card order.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein each card hand is dealt
replacement cards from a common virtual card deck.
13. A method comprising, not all necessarily in the order shown:
(a) step for displaying at least a portion of a first card hand to
the player; (b) step for allowing the player to choose to play the
first card hand or to place an additional second wager to play a
second card hand; (c) if the player chooses to place the additional
second wager, dealing the second card hand, the second card hand
being identical to the first card hand; (d) step for displaying all
of the first card hand and all of the second card hand to the
player; (e) step for allowing the player to select at least one
card to keep or discard from each of the first and second card
hands; (f) step for dealing replacement cards for each of the cards
that were discarded; (g) step for comparing the card hands to a pay
table and determining a game outcome; and (h) step for awarding a
prize to the player, if at least one of the card hands comprises a
winning combination.
14. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, further comprising allowing
the player to place a plurality of additional wagers to play a
plurality of additional card hands.
15. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein each of the card
hands are dealt replacement cards from a different virtual card
deck.
16. A gaming method comprising: (A) allowing a player to place a
first wager; (B) displaying at least a portion of a first card hand
to the player; (C) allowing the player to play the first card hand
or to place a plurality of additional wagers to play a plurality of
additional card hands, each of the additional card hands requiring
an additional wager to be placed, the additional card hands being
dealt different than the first card hand; (D) if the player chooses
to place the additional wager and play the additional second card
hand, displaying all of the first card hand and all of the
additional card hands to the player; (E) allowing the player to
select at least one card to keep or discard from each of the first
and the additional card hands; (F) dealing replacement cards for
each of the cards that were discarded; (G) comparing the card hands
to a pay table and determining a game outcome; and (H) awarding a
prize to the player, if at least one of the card hands comprises a
winning combination.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein one card in each card hand is
initially hidden.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein two cards in each card hand are
initially hidden.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED AND CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 60/862,030, filed Oct. 18, 2006. The contents
of which are herein incorporated by reference in entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to gaming devices and, more
particularly, to a video poker gaming device that allows a game
player to play multiple card hands.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Gaming devices are well known in the art and a large variety
of gaming devices have been developed. In general, gaming devices
allow users or players to play a game. In many casino-type gaming
devices, the outcome of the game depends, at least in part, on a
randomly generated event. For example, a gaming device may use a
random number generator to generate a random or pseudo-random
number (hereinafter, both types are referred to as a "random
number").
[0004] The random number can be used to determine a game outcome.
For example, the random number may then be compared to a predefined
table to determine a corresponding outcome of the event. If the
random number falls within a certain range of numbers on the table,
the player may win the corresponding predefined prize. The table
may also contain display information that allows the gaming device
to generate a display that corresponds to the outcome of the game.
The gaming device may present the outcome of the game on a large
variety of display devices, such as mechanical spinning reels or
video screens.
[0005] Some gaming devices award bonus prizes in addition to prizes
that are awarded in a primary game. Of course, the prize in the
primary game may simply be the opportunity to play the bonus game.
A bonus prize is generally defined as a prize in addition to tile
prize obtained from the primary game and that is awarded to the
player when a predefined event occurs. An example of a bonus game
can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,932 to Adams. Adams discloses a
primary game having three spinning game reels and a bonus game
having a bonus display with one spinning wheel. The spinning wheel
is divided into multiple sections, and each section has a symbol
representing a prize. When predetermined indicia are displayed on
the spinning game reels of the primary game, the wheel of the bonus
display spins and stops. The bonus prize is displayed as the symbol
on the wheel being pointed to by a pointer. The bonus prize is
awarded in addition to any prizes awarded in the primary Same.
Another bonus game is disclosed in Baerlocher et al. (U.S. Pat. No.
6,336,863). Baerlocher et al. discloses a slot machine with a bonus
award display. The bonus award display has a bonus wheel and a
mechanical, movable pointer.
[0006] Gaming devices in casinos are more successful when they are
able to captivate and hold a game player's interest for a long
period of time. When a game player plays a gaming device for a
longer period of time, more revenue is generated for the casino. A
game player may lose interest with a game that has a static display
that changes very little over time or that the player deems to be
unattractive.
[0007] Many different individual game players or patrons visit
casinos. Each player that visits a casino is a unique individual
and has unique interests and tastes. A game or game feature that
may be interesting to one player is not necessarily interesting to
another player.
[0008] Many types of card games are well known, both in physical
form and electronic form. Video poker gaming machines are commonly
found in operation in casinos and are popular with game players.
Video draw poker games typically deal five cards and allow the
player to attempt to improve the initial hand or achieve a winning
poker card hand by selecting cards to keep and cards to discard.
New cards are drawn from a virtual deck of cards. A pay table
indicates the award that is associated or paid with each possible
poker hand ranking.
[0009] Various attempts have been made to improve upon the five
card draw poker game. U.S. patent publication number 2002/0043765
to Moody discloses a video poker game that allows a player to play
multiple hands. The number of hands to play is selected by the
player at the beginning of the game.
[0010] U.S. patent publication number 2004/0219970 to Tarantino
discloses a video poker game that allows a player to use cards from
a first hand to form a second hand.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,747 to Moody discloses a video poker
game that allows a player to play multiple hands of draw poker and
stud poker. The number of hands to play is selected by the player
at the beginning of the game.
SUMMARY
Advantages
[0012] The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do
not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following
advantages:
[0013] provide a highly attractive and entertaining device for
conducting games;
[0014] provide a highly attractive and entertaining device for
displaying prizes;
[0015] the ability to attract more patrons to play a game;
[0016] the ability to encourage players to play longer on a gaming
apparatus;
[0017] provide a video poker gaming device that allows a game
player the option of playing additional poker card hands after
viewing at least a portion of the first poker card hand;
[0018] allow a game player to select the number of poker card hands
to play;
[0019] provide a video poker gaming device that allows a game
player to play multiple poker card hands at the same time.
[0020] These and other advantages may be realized by reference to
the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and
abstract.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0021] In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a gaming
apparatus that includes a gaming device to allow a player to play a
game and a controller in communication with the gaming device. The
controller allows a player to place a first wager. The controller
displays at least a portion of a first card band to the player and
allows the player to play the first card hand or to place a second
wager to play an additional second card hand. The second card hand
is dealt identical to the first card hand. If the player chooses to
place a second wager and play the second card hand, all of die
first card hand and all of the second card hand are displayed to
the player. The controller further allows the player to select at
least one card to keep or discard from each of the first and second
card hands. Replacement cards are dealt for each of the cards that
were discarded. The card hand is compared to a pay table and a game
outcome is determined. A prize is awarded to the player if at least
one of the card hands comprises a winning combination.
[0022] In at least one alternative embodiment, the present
invention is directed to a gaming method. The method includes
allowing a player to place a first wager. At least a portion of a
first card hand is displayed to the player. The player is allowed
to play the first card hand or to place a second wager to play an
additional second card hand. The second card hand is dealt
identical to the first card hand. If the player chooses to place a
second wager and play the second card hand, all of the first card
hand and all of the second card hand are displayed to the player.
The player is allowed to select at least one card to keep or
discard from each of the first and second card hands. Replacement
cards are dealt for each of the cards that were discarded. An award
is paid for the first card hand and the second card hand according
to a pay table. The card hand is compared to a pay table and a game
outcome is determined. A prize is awarded to the player if at least
one of the card hands comprises a winning combination.
[0023] The above description sets forth, rather broadly, the more
important features of the present invention so that the detailed
description of the following preferred and other embodiments may be
better understood and contributions of the present invention to the
art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional
features of the invention that will be described below and will
form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before
explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of the construction and to the
arrangement of the components as set forth in the following
description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 is substantially a front elevation view of an
embodiment of the gaming apparatus of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 2 is substantially a schematic diagram showing
components of an embodiment of the gaming apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 3 is substantially a front elevation view of the gaming
apparatus of FIG. I showing an embodiment of a game display.
[0028] FIG. 4 is substantially a front elevation view of the gaming
apparatus of FIG. I showing another embodiment of a game
display.
[0029] FIG. 5 is substantially a flowchart of a gaming method of
the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 is substantially a front elevation view of the gaming
apparatus of FIG. I showing an alternative embodiment of a game
display.
[0031] FIG. 7 is substantially a flowchart of another gaming method
of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0032] In the following detailed description of at least one
embodiment of the present invention, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The
drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in
which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that
other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be
made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0033] As seen in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a gaming
machine, device or apparatus, generally indicated by reference
number 20. In at least one embodiment, gaming apparatus 20 may be
any of a large number of devices that are adapted to allow players
to play a game, such as gaming devices typically found in arcade
and casino environments, including arcade games, video games,
gambling machines, video poker machines, slot machines, etc. In at
least one embodiment, gaming apparatus 20 is further adapted to
allow a player to place a wager and play a game, such as video
poker.
[0034] Gaming apparatus 20 may include a gaming device 22 and a
video display 40. Gaming device 22 can have a housing 30 that
includes a front panel 32, button panel 36 and panel 38. A video
display 40 can be mounted to front panel 32. Video display 40 can
be any of a large number of conventional display devices such as
video displays including CRT, LCD and plasma video displays. Video
display 40 can also be a touch video screen that is adapted to
accept player input by the player touching specific areas on the
video screen. Video display 40 can show a wide variety of video
presentations. One such display, as shown in FIG. 1, is a video
poker display 42.
[0035] In FIG. 1, video poker display 42 is shown displaying an
initial or first partial poker card hand 110. First partial poker
card hand 10 may include five cards, card 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D
and 110E. Cards 110A, 110B, 110C and 110D can be dealt face up such
that the suit and card value are visible. Card 110E can be dealt
face down. Only the back 117 of card 110E is visible to a player.
Back 117 may be covered with a decorative pattern or image. First
partial poker card hand 110 may be dealt from a randomly shuffled
virtual deck of a standard 52 card deck of playing cards. Each
playing card has an associated card value 118 and suit 119.
[0036] An instruction or direction 41 may be shown on video display
40 to instruct the game player to perform an action. In FIG. 1,
instruction 41 directs the player to select the number of
additional poker card hands to play after viewing the first partial
poker card hand 110.
[0037] Gaming device 22 may further include a device for accepting
value (including currency and/or currency equivalents), such as a
coin slot 55 and bill acceptor, voucher reader, or value acceptor
56. In order to accrue credits that may be used to play the gaming
apparatus 20, the player inserts paper currency or other suitable
script or gaming coupons into the value acceptor 56 behind which,
on the interior of the gaming apparatus, is mounted a bill acceptor
which takes in and validates the currency. The monetary value of
the inserted currency is then applied to the credit meter 62, the
credits on which the player may use to play the gaming apparatus.
Credit meter 62 may be a separate meter or may be shown on video
display 40 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0038] A payout mechanism (not shown) and a coin receptacle 57 may
be provided for awarding prizes or for dispensing value to players
cashing out and retiring from a game. A printer (not shown) may
also be provided for printing out cashless vouchers (not shown). A
pay table (not shown) may further be provided to allow a player to
see what combination of cards provide a winning event or
payout.
[0039] Video display 40 in addition to credit meter 62 may also
include a number of hands meter 63, a bet per hand meter 64 and a
win meter 65. Number of hands meter 63 may display the total number
of poker hands that have been selected by the player to be played.
Bet per hand meter 64 can display the amount of credits that are
wagered for each hand that is played. Win meter 65 displays the
number of credits won for each game round of poker hands that are
played.
[0040] Gaming device 20 also may have a button panel 36 which
includes selection buttons or input devices that the player may use
to activate various actions during game play. Button panel 36 can
include a Deal/Draw button 54 that allows the player to cause the
initial deal of the poker cards to be displayed on the video
display 40. Other buttons allow the player to make an initial
wager, which can be made one credit at a time using the Bet One
button 59 or which can be made by wagering the maximum number of
credits allowed by the gaming machine using the Bet Max button 53.
Multiple depressions of the Bet One button 59 may be used to select
2, 3, 4, 5 or more credits to wager on each poker hand.
[0041] Button panel 36 may further include a player input device
such as a joystick 51 and keep button 52. Joystick 51 may be used
to direct movement of cursor 60 on video display 40. Joystick 51
may be used by a game player to position cursor 60 over the playing
cards in the poker hand that are desired to be kept. After cursor
60 is positioned over the selected playing card that is desired to
be kept, the player depresses keep button 52 in order to keep the
selected card. Alternatively, a discard button may be provided to
discard the selected playing card in the poker hand. In another
embodiment, a touch screen could be used. The poker cards that are
touched by the player on the screen could be kept.
[0042] Button panel 36 may also have a keypad 58 for allowing a
player to select the number of poker card hands to be played. For
example, if the number 5 is depressed on keypad 58, a total of 5
poker card hands would be dealt and displayed on video display 40.
The player may select to play from 1 to 99 or more poker card hands
using keypad 58.
[0043] Gaming apparatus 20 may also include speakers 70 for playing
music or announcements and housing lights 72 that may display
various colors and light patterns. Video display 40 may enter an
attract mode when gaming apparatus 20 is not being played in order
to attract casino patrons to gaming apparatus 20.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic diagram of some
components that may be included in certain embodiments of gaming
apparatus 20 are shown. Gaming apparatus 20 may include a gaming
device 22 that includes a controller 100 that is in communication
with gaming device 22. Gaming device 22 may include a coin slot 55
and value acceptor 56 configured to accept value from the player in
the form of paper currency, coins, player cards, tickets, vouchers,
tokens, or other forms of value. Coin slot 55 and value acceptor 56
may be in communication with a controller 100. Controller 100 may
be any suitable controller such as a microprocessor, computer or
server. Controller 100 may be located remotely from gaming
apparatus 20. Controller 100 may be in communication with input
devices such as Deal/Draw button 54, Bet One button 59 and Bet Max
button 53. Controller 100 may detect insertion of value into coin
slot 55 and value acceptor 56 and may prompt the player to start a
game by activating Deal/Draw button 54. Once controller 100 senses
a signal to start the game, controller 100 may be configured to
randomly shuffle one or more virtual decks of a standard 52 card
deck of playing cards.
[0045] Controller 100 may cause an initial first partial poker hand
110 to be dealt from the randomly shuffled virtual card deck and to
be shown on video display 40. Controller 100 is in communication
with joystick 51 and keep button 52. Controller 100 can detect
movement of joystick 51 and correspondingly move cursor 60 (FIG. 1)
to a desired position over one of the poker cards. Controller 100
can detect depression of keep button 52 and indicate that the
playing card in the location of the cursor is to be kept in the
poker card hand. The player may be allowed to keep all of the same
cards in all of the poker hands or may be allowed to discard
different cards or combinations of cards in the different hands.
Keypad 58 may be in communication with controller 100. Controller
100 may detect the number of poker card hands to be played that are
input on keypad 58 and display the number of poker card hands to be
played on video display 40.
[0046] Video display 40 is in communication with controller 100.
Credit meter 62, bet per hand meter 64, number of hands meter 63
and win meter 65 may be shown as video presentation on video
display 40. Alternatively, credit meter 62, bet per hand meter 64,
number of hands meter 63 and win meter 65 may be separate meters
that are each in communication with controller 100. Controller 100
can also be in communication with a memory 96 and a player tracking
database 98. Memory 96 may comprise a random access memory or a
disc drive and may store information generated during game play of
gaining apparatus 20. Player tracking database 98 may store
historical information about players and their playing habits using
player tracking cards as is well known in the industry for awarding
additional compensation based on player playing times and amounts
wagered.
[0047] When a game player initially begins playing gaming apparatus
20, they may identify themselves by using a player tracking
card.
[0048] Gaming apparatus 20 could also be implemented in a physical
mechanical form. Gaming apparatus 20 is not limited to card games
but could be based on other games such as dominoes, roulette,
craps, baccarat, and other games.
[0049] Gaming apparatus 20 may further include a speaker 70 and
housing lights 72. Controller 100 may cause speaker 70 and housing
lights 72 to create a festive and lively winning atmosphere to
elicit interest and entertainment from both the player and adjacent
patrons.
[0050] Referring back to FIG. 1, the operation of gaming apparatus
20 will be explained. Initially, a game player makes a deposit into
coin slot 55 or value acceptor 56. The credit meter 62 displays the
total number of credits. Next, the game player selects the number
of credits that are to be wagered on each poker hand using either
Bet One button 59 or Bet Max button 53. The number of credits
wagered on each hand is displayed on bet per hand meter 64. In FIG.
1, the player has deposited 215 credits into gaming apparatus 20
and is wagering 10 credits for each poker card hand that is
played.
[0051] Next, the game player would depress Deal/Draw button 54 to
begin the game. Controller 100 randomly shuffles a first virtual
deck of a standard 52 card deck of playing cards. Controller 100
also arranges a multiple of additional card decks including second,
third, fourth, fifth and up to N decks as needed in the same card
order as the first virtual deck.
[0052] Controller 100 deals a first partial poker hand 110 and
causes video display 40 to show the first partial poker card hand
110 that includes five cards, cards 110A, 110B, 110C, 110D and
110E. Cards 110A, 110B, 110C and 110D can be dealt face up such
that the suit and card value are visible. Card 110E can be dealt
face down. First partial poker card hand 110 may be dealt from the
top of the first virtual deck that is created and kept track of by
controller 100. Poker card hand 110 could also be dealt from the
bottom of the first virtual deck. Gaming apparatus 20 may also
display other types of card games or poker card games that use 3,
4, 5, 6, 7 8, 9, 10 or more cards.
[0053] Only a portion of the first poker card hand is shown. One of
the cards in the first poker hand is hidden or not shown. If
desired more than one card of the initial poker card hand display
may be hidden.
[0054] Some types of poker games normally allow the player to see
all of the cards that make up the poker hand immediately after
being dealt. For example in five card stud poker, the player is
normally immediately allowed to view all of the cards in the hand
after the cards are dealt. It may be necessary to temporarily hide
one or more cards in the poker card hand in order to preserve the
desired statistical outcome of the game. For example, if all of the
cards of the first poker card hand were shown, then the player most
likely would only place an additional wager when the playing cards
displayed are a winning hand and would not place additional wagers
when non-winning hands are shown.
[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention a dynamic pay
table is used when the player's initial hand is a prize winning
hand. For example, if the player's initial hand is a winning hand
and the player elects to place an additional wager to receive an
additional hand, then the pay table may change so that the player
must obtain hands with lower likelihoods of occurence in order to
qualify for a prize. In other words, the pay table changes in a
predetermined manor so that the probability of winning a prize for
the second hand is lower than for the first hand.
[0056] In another embodiment, a first pay table is used for the
initial hand and, if the initial hand is a winning hand, a second
pay table is used for the second hand. The probability of winning a
prize in the second pay table is lower than the probability of
winning a prize in the first pay table.
[0057] In another embodiment, one or more cards are not revealed to
the player in the initial hand. If the initial hand is a
non-winning hand, then a randomly determined card would not be
revealed to the player. If the initial hand is a winning hand, then
enough of the hand is not revealed to prevent the player from
seeing that the hand is s winning hand. In this way, the player
must decide to play additional hands without knowing if the initial
hand is a winning hand.
[0058] In another embodiment, the player must receive a non-winning
hand in order to be eligible for additional hands.
[0059] The gaming device of the present invention may initially
display less than all of the cards that make up the poker hand. For
example, only two or three cards of a five card poker hand may be
displayed. The number of hidden cards may depend on the pay table
that is used.
[0060] Next, controller 100 may direct video display 40 to display
instruction or direction 41 the instructs the game player to
perform an action. In FIG. 1, instruction 41 directs the player to
select the number of poker hands to play after viewing the first
partial poker card hand 110. The player would then enter the number
of poker card hands to be played using keypad 58. Keypad 58 allows
a player the option to play additional poker hands. Keypad 58 can
be used to enter the total number of poker hands to be played or
may be used to enter the number of additional poker hands to be
played.
[0061] Turning now to FIG. 3, gaming apparatus 20 is shown after
the player has entered the number of poker card hands to be played
on keypad 58. In FIG. 3, the player has entered a total of three
poker card hands to be played. Three hands are shown on number of
hands meter 63. Controller 100 may then direct video display 40 to
reveal card 110E. Controller 100 has also dealt second poker card
hand 120 from the second virtual card deck and third poker card
hand 130 from the third virtual card deck. Second poker card hand
120 can include cards 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D and 120E. Third poker
card hand 130 can include cards 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D and 130E. It
is noted that the card value 118 and suit 119 that are dealt for
second and third poker card hands 120 and 130 are shown as being
identical to or replicated from the card values 118 and suit 119
that were dealt for first poker card hand 110. Because the second
and third virtual card decks are in the same card order as the
first virtual card deck, the second poker card hand 120 and third
poker card hand 130 are dealt identical to the first poker card
hand 110.
[0062] In an alternative embodiment, the card value 118 and suit
119 that are dealt for second and third poker card hands 120 and
130 may be different than the card values 118 and suit 119 that
were dealt for first poker card hand 110. In this embodiment, the
second and third virtual card decks and any additional card decks
are randomly shuffled prior to being dealt. Second and third poker
card hands 120 and 130 may be dealt from these randomly shuffled
decks by controller 100.
[0063] Poker cards hands 110, 120 and 130 can form a matrix of
cards 105 that include rows 106 and columns 107.
[0064] The player may then select which cards from each of poker
card hands 110, 120 and 130 to keep using joystick 51 and keep
button 52. Controller 100 then deals replacement cards to the card
positions that were selected to be discarded.
[0065] In FIG. 3, the player has selected cards 110A, 110B and 110E
to keep in first poker card hand 110. Cards 120A, 120B and 120E
have been kept in second poker card hand 120. Cards 130A, 130B and
130E have been kept in third poker card hand 130.
[0066] With reference now to FIG. 4, after the player has selected
the cards to keep, the player may depress Deal/Draw button 54.
Depression of Deal/Draw button 54 causes controller 100 to deal
replacement cards to each of the card positions that were not
indicated as being kept. In FIG. 4, replacement cards have been
dealt for cards 110C, 110D, 120C, 120D, 130C and 130D. In this
example, because the first, second and third virtual decks are in
the same order and are being dealt from the top of each respective
deck, the resulting replacement cards are identical for each of
poker card hands 110, 120 and 130.
[0067] First poker card hand 110, second poker card hand 120 and
third poker card hand 130 each have three cards with a card value
of "6". This combination is three of a kind and is a winning
combination and has a payout of three credits (see Table 1) for
each credit that was wagered. Win meter 65 indicates that 90
credits have been won in the current game round. The 90 credits are
then added to the player's credit meter 62. If the result of the
game was that there was no winning combination, the number of
credits indicated on bet per hand meter 64 is multiplied by the
number of hands played as indicated on number of hands meter 63 and
the total is deducted from the players credit meter 62.
[0068] Controller 100 performs a routine to determine the cards
that are dealt in the initial and subsequent poker card hands that
will be displayed. This may be performed by a number of methods
that are well known in the art. The first virtual deck may be
virtually shuffled by controller 100 and the subsequent virtual
decks arranged in the same card order. Controller 100 may generate
a random number and then compare the random number to a
distribution table for all 52 cards in the virtual deck in order to
randomly shuffle the first virtual deck.
[0069] After each poker hand has been completed, the resulting
poker hand combination can be evaluated by controller 100 and
designated a winning or losing poker hand combination. The amount
won by the player having a winning poker hand combination is
determined according to a pay table based on the poker hand
combination that is achieved by the player and the amount wagered
by the player.
[0070] Poker hand pay tables are determined based on the
mathematical probability of certain poker combinations occurring
during the play of the game and based on the percentage of wagers
that the casino desires to keep as a profit. Any suitable poker
hand pay table may be used. A simple poker hand pay table for
gaming apparatus 20 may appear as follows:
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Payout Poker Hand Combination Odds for Each
Credit Wagered Less than Pair of Jacks Losing Hand Pair of Jacks
and Higher 1 Two Pair 2 Three of a Kind 3 Straight 10 Flush 20 Full
House 30 Four of a Kind 100 Straight Flush 1000 Royal Flush
5000
[0071] For example, if the poker hand combination was a straight
(five cards in sequence), controller 100 would award 10 credits for
every credit that was wagered. If 2 credits were wagered, 20
credits would be awarded to the player. This embodiment is not
necessarily limited to the example pay table shown. Different kinds
of prizes, besides monetary prizes, may also be awarded. For
example, the prizes may be goods, services, or additional games.
The goods and services may be awarded in the form of physical
objects, tickets, vouchers, coupons, etc.
[0072] The cards contained in poker card hands 110, 120 and 130 may
be dealt from a variety of types and sizes of virtual or electronic
cards decks. In one embodiment, each poker card hand is assigned to
a separate virtual deck of 52 cards. The virtual deck may be
virtually shuffled by controller 100. The cards may be randomly
drawn from the decks. When replacement cards are drawn, the same
replacement cards may be dealt to each of the poker card hands.
[0073] In another embodiment, each of the virtual decks is in the
same card order so that the same replacement cards are dealt to
each of the poker card hands. In an additional embodiment, each of
the virtual decks may be in a different order or randomly shuffled
so that the different replacement cards are dealt to each of the
poker card hands. In yet another embodiment, a single virtual deck
of 52 cards could be used for all of the poker card hands that are
played.
Game Method
[0074] Referring now to FIG. 5, a gaming method 200 using gaming
apparatus 20 in accordance with the present invention is shown.
Method 200 is illustrated using the example of gaming apparatus 20
shown in FIGS. 1-4. At step 202, controller 100 (FIG. 2) may
present the game to a game player by generating a display on video
display 40 (FIG. 1) to prompt the game player to make a wager at
step 202. At decision step 204, controller 100 determines if a
wager has been placed. If a wager has not been placed, method 200
returns to step 202 and waits for a wager to be placed. If a wager
is entered at step 204, method 200 proceeds to step 206.
[0075] Controller 100 randomly shuffles and creates or orders the
first virtual card deck at step 206. Also at step 206, controller
100 creates multiple additional virtual card decks that are in the
same card order as the first virtual card deck. At step 208,
controller 100 deals the initial or first partial poker card hand
110 from the first virtual deck and displays the first partial
poker card hand 110 on video display 40. At this point, the player
may view four of the poker cards of the first poker card hand. The
fifth poker card is hidden.
[0076] At step 210, the player decides if they will play multiple
or additional poker cards hands. If the player does not wish to
play additional poker card hands, the player may depress Deal/Draw
button 54 causing method 200 to proceed to step 216. If the player
does want to play additional poker card hands, the player may use
keypad 58 to enter the number of additional poker card hands that
they desire to play. Instruction 41 (FIG. 1) may prompt the player
to perform an action or make a decision at step 210.
[0077] Next, at step 212, the player uses keypad 58 to enter the
number of additional poker card hands that they desire to play. At
step 214, the additional poker cards hands that were selected by
the player to be played are dealt from the additional virtual card
decks and displayed to the player on video display 40. The cards
that are dealt to the additional poker card hands may be the same
cards and in the same order as the first poker card hand. In
addition, the fifth card that was hidden from first partial poker
card hand 110 is now shown to the player.
[0078] At step 216 of method 200, the player can select which cards
to keep and which cards to discard that are replaced with newly
drawn cards using joystick 51 and keep button 52 (FIG. 1). After
the player has indicated which cards to keep, method 200 checks to
see if the deal/draw button 54 has been depressed by the player at
step 218.
[0079] If the Deal/Draw button 54 has not been depressed, method
200 returns to step 216 where the player is allowed to continue
selecting cards in the poker hands to keep. If the Deal/Draw button
54 has been depressed, method 200 proceeds to step 220 where
controller 100 draws replacement poker cards from each of the
respective virtual card decks that are associated with each of the
poker hands to replace the cards that were not indicated as being
kept by the player. The card combination of each hand is evaluated
by controller 100 with tie pay table and any credits won or prizes
are displayed on win meter 65 (FIG. 1) and awarded to the game
player at step 222.
[0080] It is noted that the flowchart in FIG. 5 shows only one
possible embodiment. Some of the steps in the flowchart may be
varied, changed in order, or eliminated and still fall within the
scope of the present invention. Various additions, subtractions,
and permutations of the steps in the above described method can be
made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Alternative Embodiment
[0081] Turning now to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment of a gaming
apparatus 300 is shown. Gaming apparatus 300 is similar to gaming
apparatus 200 except that several multiple poker card hands are
dealt from the beginning of each game round. Gaming apparatus 300
has a gaming device 322 and a video display 40.
[0082] Initially, a game player makes a deposit into coin slot 55
or value acceptor 56. The credit meter 62 displays the total number
of credits. Next, the game player selects the number of credits
that are to be wagered on each poker hand using either Bet One
button 59 or Bet Max button 53. The number of credits wagered on
each hand is displayed on bet per hand meter 64. In FIG. 6, the
player has deposited 215 credits into gaming apparatus 20 and is
wagering 10 credits for each poker card hand that is played.
[0083] Next, the game player would depress Deal/Draw button 54 to
begin the game. Controller 100 randomly shuffles or orders several
virtual card decks of 52 standard playing cards. Controller 100
causes video display 40 to deal cards from the top of each virtual
deck and show several complete poker card hands. Two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten or more hands may be dealt
and displayed on video display 40. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
6, three poker card hands are dealt. In another embodiment, the
number of poker card hands may be randomly selected by controller
100.
[0084] Poker card hand 10 can include five cards, cards 110A, 110B,
110C, 110D and 110E. Poker card hand 110 is dealt from the top of a
randomly shuffled first virtual card deck. Second poker card hand
120 can include cards 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D and 120E. Poker card
hand 120 is dealt from the top of a randomly shuffled second
virtual card deck. Third poker card hand 130 can include cards
130A, 130B, 130C, 130D and 130E. Poker card hand 130 is dealt from
the top of a randomly shuffled third virtual card deck. All of the
cards can be dealt face up such that the suit and card value are
visible. It is noted that each of the poker card hands in FIG. 6
are different.
[0085] The player may then select which cards from each of poker
card hands 110, 120 and 130 to keep using joystick 51 and keep
button 52. After the player has selected the cards to keep, the
player may depress Deal/Draw button 54. Depression of Deal/Draw
button 54 causes controller 100 to deal replacement cards to each
of the card positions that were not indicated as being kept. The
replacement cards are dealt from the top of each of the respective
virtual card decks to each respective poker card hand.
[0086] The card combination of each of poker card hands 110, 120
and 130 is evaluated by controller 100 with the pay table and any
credits won or prizes are displayed on win meter 65 and awarded to
the game player.
[0087] Gaining apparatus 300 allows a game player to play multiple
poker card hands at the same time. The multiple poker card hands
are completely dealt at the beginning of the game without the
player specifying the number of hands to be played.
Alternative Embodiment Game Method
[0088] Referring now to FIG. 7, a gaming method 400 using gaming
apparatus 300 in accordance with the present invention is shown.
Method 400 is illustrated using the example of gaming apparatus 300
shown in FIG. 6. At step 402, controller 100 (FIG. 2) may present
the game to a game player by generating a display on video display
40 (FIG. 6) to prompt the game player to make a wager at step 404.
At decision step 404, controller 100 determines if a wager has been
placed. If a wager has not been placed, method 400 returns to step
402 and waits for a wager to be placed. If a wager is entered at
step 404, method 400 proceeds to step 406.
[0089] Controller 100 randomly shuffles or orders a plurality of
virtual decks of 52 standard playing cards at step 406. At step
408, controller 100 deals from the top of each of the virtual decks
and displays the multiple poker card hands 110, 120 and 130 on
video display 40. All of the cards are visible.
[0090] At step 416, the player can select which cards to keep and
which cards to discard that are replaced with newly drawn cards
using joystick 51 and keep button 52 (FIG. 6). After the player has
indicated which cards to keep, method 400 checks to see if the
Deal/Draw button 54 has been depressed by the player at step
418.
[0091] If the Deal/Draw button 54 has not been depressed, method
400 returns to step 416 where the player is allowed to continue
selecting cards in the poker hands to keep. If the Deal/Draw button
54 has been depressed, method 400 proceeds to step 420 where
controller 100 draws replacement poker cards from the top of each
of the respective virtual card decks to replace the cards that were
not indicated as being kept by the player. The card combination of
each hand is evaluated by controller 100 with the pay table and any
credits won or prizes are displayed on win meter 65 (FIG. 6) and
awarded to the game player at step 422.
[0092] It is noted that the flowchart in FIG. 7 shows only one
possible embodiment. Some of the steps in the flowchart may be
varied, changed in order, or eliminated and still fall within the
scope of the present invention. Various additions, subtractions,
and permutations of the steps in the above described method can be
made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Conclusion
[0093] Although the description above contains many specifications,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope
of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.
* * * * *