AU2016250349A1

AU2016250349A1 - Electronic multi-play poker

Info

Publication number: AU2016250349A1
Application number: AU2016250349A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ernest W. Moody
Original assignee: International Game Technology
Current assignee: International Game Technology
Priority date: 1997-07-25
Filing date: 2016-10-25
Publication date: 2016-11-10

Abstract

An electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; 5 a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic 10 processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in 15 part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) randomly select, via the electronic processing device, a first hand of a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards, the designated quantity being more than one, 20 (b) display, via the display device, the randomly selected first hand of cards face-up in a first row, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (c) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, any displayed face-up cards 25 of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and 30 (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (g) for each of at least one additional hand, display, via the display device, 35 each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand being of a second size different from the first size, (h) complete each additional hand via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (i) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed 5 additional hands for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (j) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.

Description

ELECTRONIC MULTI-PLAY POKER

The present application is a divisional application from Australian patent application no. 2014240331 filed on 7 October 2014, which is a divisional of. claims priority to and the benefit of Australian patent application no. 2011204896 filed on 21 July 2011, which is a divisional of. claims priority to and the benefit of Australian patent application no. 2008252047 filed on 3 December 2008, which is a divisional of, claims priority to and the benefit of Australian patent no. 2005209651 filed on 9 September 2005, which is a divisional of, claims priority to and the benefit of Australian patent no. 2002301854 filed on 6 November 2002, which is a divisional of, claims priority to and the benefit of Australian patent application no. 78424/98 filed on 24 July 1998. The entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates primarily to electronic video poker games, and more particularly to electronic video poker games that are based on poker hand rankings and allow the player to discard and replace unwanted cards with replacement cards. The invention also involves features which may apply to casino table games as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) randomly select, via the electronic processing device, a first hand of a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards, the designated quantity being more than one, (b) display, via the display device, the randomly selected first hand of cards face-up in a first row, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (c) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, any displayed face-up cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (g) for each of at least one additional hand, display, via the display device, each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand being of a second size different from the first size, (h) complete each additional hand via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (i) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (j) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) randomly select, via the electronic processing device, a first hand of a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards, the designated quantity being more than one, (b) display, via the display device, the randomly selected first hand of cards face-up in a first row, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (c) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, any displayed face-up cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (g) display, via the display device, at least one additional hand in a second row, each displayed additional hand in the second row including each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand in the second row being of a second size different from the first size, (h) display, via the display device, at least one additional hand in a third row, each displayed additional hand in the third row including each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand in the third row being of a third size different from the first size, (i) complete each additional hand in the second row via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand in the second row includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (j) complete each additional hand in the third row via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand in the third row includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (k) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands in the second row for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, (l) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands in the third row for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (m) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) for a first hand in one of a quantity of rows, said quantity of rows being at least two and each of the quantity of rows having at least one other hand, randomly select, via the electronic processing device, and display face-up, via the display device, a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards in said first hand, the designated quantity of cards being more than one, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (b) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (c) for each other hand in the rows, display, via the display device, each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each other hand being of a second size different from the first size, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, each of any cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) complete each of the other hands in the rows via the electronic processing device such that each other hand includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (g) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (h) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed other hands in each of the rows for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (i) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of playing a card game comprising the step of dealing at least one hand of at least five cards, and preferably three hands of at least five cards to a player. The method further comprises the step of dealing each of the cards of one of the hands face up. The method further comprises the step of selecting none, one or more of the face up cards as cards to be held. The method further comprises the step of duplicating the cards that are selected to be held into all of the other hands. The method further comprises the steps of dealing replacement cards for the non-selected face up cards and replacing the non-selected face up cards with the replacement cards. The method further comprises the step of dealing additional cards to complete the other hands so that each hand has the same number of cards. The method further comprises the step of determining the poker hand ranking of each hand. The method preferably also comprises the step of providing a reward for any winning hand based on a pay table and an amount wagered on one or more of the hands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows the screen display for Version #1 of an embodiment of the present invention after the initial deal of the cards.

Figure 2 shows the screen display for Version # 1 and shows a result that could occur during the play of the game.

Figure 3 shows a modification to the method of play of Version #1.

Figure 4 shows the screen display to Vernon »2A of another embodiment of the present invention after the initial deal of the cards.

Figure 5 shows the screen disptay to Version «Α after the player has selected a replacement card from the bottom row, 5 , ^ shows the screen display to Version #2A after the player has received s replacement card from the top row.

Figure 7 shows the screen display to Version KB after the initial deal of the cards.

Hgnre 8 shows the screen display for Version KtC after the***, ** of the cards. Figure 9 shows the screen display to Version KD after the initial deal of the cards. 0 cards *»" “>*»»*· «w display to Version *2E after the initial deal of the

Figure Π shows the screen display for Version *2F after the initial deal of the cards, . J Figure 12 show, the screen display (or Version #2C after the initial deal of the * cards.

Figure 13 shows the screen display for Version «G after the player has selected the cards he wishes to hold from the centre row.

Figure 14 shows the screen display for Version «21-1 after the initial deal of the cards.

Figure 13 shows the screen display for Version *H after the player has selected ^cardshewtshestoholdfromthefoprewandarepfacementcardhasbeendealtfodte

Figure 16 shows the screen display for Version *3H after all thrre row have been completed and show five card hands.

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It is understood that any acknowledgement of any prior art in this specification is not to be taken as an admission that this acknowledged prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION AS ARE FOLLOWS:

1. An electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) randomly select, via the electronic processing device, a first hand of a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards, the designated quantity being more than one, (b) display, via the display device, the randomly selected first hand of cards face-up in a first row, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (c) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, any displayed face-up cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (g) for each of at least one additional hand, display, via the display device, each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand being of a second size different from the first size, (h) complete each additional hand via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (i) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (j) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.
2. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 1, wherein separate virtual decks of cards are used to complete each additional hand.
3. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size.
4. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 1, wherein the first virtual deck includes at least fifty-two different cards.
5. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 1, wherein for each completed hand which forms any one of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, the electronic processing device is configured to operate with the display device to display, in association with that completed hand, an award associated with the formed winning card combination.
6. An electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) randomly select, via the electronic processing device, a first hand of a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards, the designated quantity being more than one, (b) display, via the display device, the randomly selected first hand of cards face-up in a first row, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (c) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, any displayed face-up cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (g) display, via the display device, at least one additional hand in a second row, each displayed additional hand in the second row including each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand in the second row being of a second size different from the first size, (h) display, via the display device, at least one additional hand in a third row, each displayed additional hand in the third row including each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each additional hand in the third row being of a third size different from the first size, (i) complete each additional hand in the second row via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand in the second row includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (j) complete each additional hand in the third row via the electronic processing device such that each additional hand in the third row includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (k) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands in the second row for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, (l) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed additional hands in the third row for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (m) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.
7. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein separate decks of cards are used to complete each additional hand.
8. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size.
9. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the third size is smaller than the first size.
10. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the second size is the same as the third size.
11. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the second size and the third size are smaller than the first size.
12. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein the first virtual deck includes at least fifty-two different cards.
13. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 6, wherein for each completed hand which forms any one of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, the electronic processing device is configured to operate with the display device to display, in association with that completed hand, an award associated with the formed winning card combination.
14. An electronic video poker gaming device comprising: a housing; a display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including a physical item acceptor and at least one of: a touch screen and at least one button; and an electronic processing device supported by the housing, said electronic processing device configured to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to: receive currency via the physical item acceptor, the currency having a monetary value, receive, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, a wager based at least in part on the monetary value, and for a single play of a video poker card game: (a) for a first hand in one of a quantity of rows, said quantity of rows being at least two and each of the quantity of rows having at least one other hand, randomly select, via the electronic processing device, and display face-up, via the display device, a designated quantity of cards from a first virtual deck of at least fifty-two cards in said first hand, the designated quantity of cards being more than one, each said displayed card of the first hand being of a first size, (b) enable a player to select, via at least one of the plurality of input devices, which, if any, of the displayed face-up cards of the first hand to hold, (c) for each other hand in the rows, display, via the display device, each of any held cards of the first hand, each said displayed card of each other hand being of a second size different from the first size, (d) discard, via the electronic processing device, each of any cards of the first hand not held, (e) complete the first hand by, for each of any discarded cards of the first hand: (i) randomly selecting, via the electronic processing device, one of the cards remaining in the first virtual deck of cards, and (ii) displaying, via the display device, that randomly selected card in the first hand, (f) complete each of the other hands in the rows via the electronic processing device such that each other hand includes the designated quantity of displayed cards including each of any held cards of the first hand, (g) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, the completed first hand for any of a plurality of different winning card combinations of a paytable, (h) evaluate, via the electronic processing device, each of the completed other hands in each of the rows for any of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, and (i) display, via the display device, any awards associated with any winning card combinations formed by any of the completed hands.
15. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 14, wherein separate virtual decks of cards are used to complete each hand.
16. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 14, wherein the second size is smaller than the first size.
17. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 14, wherein the first virtual deck includes at least fifty-two different cards.
18. The electronic video poker gaming device of Claim 14, wherein for each completed hand which forms any one of the plurality of different winning card combinations of the paytable, the electronic processing device is configured to operate with the display device to display, in association with that completed hand, an award associated with the formed winning card combination.