GB2362836A

GB2362836A - A poker game having common cards

Info

Publication number: GB2362836A
Application number: GB0107862A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi Fat Au-Yeung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-11
Filing date: 2001-03-29
Publication date: 2001-12-05
Also published as: GB0107862D0

Abstract

A card game comprises a conventional set of playing cards and a gaming cloth which provides areas to which cards may be dealt to one or more players 12, cards may be dealt to the dealer 14, common cards may be dealt 16 and two areas in which bets may be placed 18,20, the game comprises a player placing a bet in the relevant area 18, two cards being dealt to the player's area 12, two cards dealt to the dealer 14, three common cards dealt to the common area 16, further bets being placed in area 20, two further cards being dealt to the common area and hands of five cards being made up from the players cards and three from the common area. The house may pay odds based on the odds of the player's hand.

Description

2362836 1 POKER GAME The present invention relates to a casino house game

which is a variant of five card stud poker.

Stud poker is a popular game, in casinos and the game has been adapted over the years to evolve new variants such as "Hold'em" and "Omaha". Hitherto, with such games and variants, the player plays against fellow players, rather than the casino.

US5382025 discloses a variant of stud poker in which three or more hands are dealt and the players are able to bet on whichever of the hands they believe will win.

The present invention provides a method of playing a poker game in which each player plays against a dealer.

This game requires a certain degree of skill and decision making which in turn makes the game challenging and interesting.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a card game comprises a conventional set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; characterised in that the gaming cloth provides; areas to which:

cards may be dealt to one or more players; cards may be dealt to a dealer; and common cards may be dealt; a first area for each player in which an initial bet may be placed; and a second area for each player in which a further bet may be placed; the game comprising:

the player placing an initial bet in the area provided therefor; two cards being dealt face down to the player in the area provided therefor; two cards being dealt face down to the dealer in the area provided therefor; three common cards being dealt face-up to the area provided therefor; the player placing a further bet in the area provided therefor, if he decides on the basis of the two cards dealt to him and three common cards, that he wishes to continue in the game; two further common cards then being dealt face-up to the area provided therefor; and hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to each player and five common cards and two cards dealt to the dealer and five common cards, then being compared to decide the outcome of the game.

The result of the game is decided on the conventional ranking of poker hands. If however the house's hand is below a predetermined minimum value, the house forfeits the game, paying out on the player's initial bet.

The minimum qualifying hand for the house may be of any specified rank, but will typically be a pair of fours.

According to a further embodiment of the game, if the player wins, the house would pay out odds, at least on the player's initial bet, depending on the rank of the player's hand.

According to another aspect of the present invention, further areas are provided for each player in which further bets may be placed on the outcome of a comparison of the two cards dealt to each player plus optional additional cards and two cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards, played in accordance with conventional blackjack rules.

3 The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a gaming cloth in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates a gaming cloth in accordance with a modification to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 a gaming cloth 10 is marked with areas 12 in which cards from a conventional pack of playing cards may be dealt to one or more players; an area 14 in which cards may be dealt to a dealer; and an area 16 marked 'flop' in which common cards may be dealt.

A first betting box 18 marked 'ante' is provided for each player and a second betting box 20 marked 'call' is provided for each player.

Before the play, the player places a bet in the box 18 marked 'ante'. The dealer, on behalf of the house, then deals two cards in areas 12 to each player and two cards in area 14 to himself. All cards are dealt f acedown.

The dealer then deals three common 'community ' cards face-up in area 16.

If the players decide to continue with the game, then they place a bet, of double their initial bet, in the box 18 marked 'call'. Alternatively, the player may pass their hand and lose the bet placed in box 18.

Two further cards are then dealt f ace-up in area 16.

Each player then selects five cards from the two dealt to him in area 12 4 and the five cards in area 16 to achieve the best poker hand on the basis of the conventional poker ranking.

Poker Ranking Hand Example

Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 (suited) Straight Flush 7,8,9,1 O,J (suited) Four of a Kind 3,3,3,3, K Full House 7,7,7,Q,Q Straight 3,4,5,6,7 (unsuited) Three of a Kind 10,10,10,7,3 Two Pair kA,7,7,J One Pair 5,5, K, J, 7 High Card in Hand k K, 7,5,3 (unsuited) The players best poker hand is then compared with the best poker hand made up from the two cards dealt face-down to the dealer in area 14 and five cards in area 16 to decide the winner.

If however the dealer's hand is lower than a pair of fours, he falls to qualify and pays the bets placed in box 18 of all the players who are still in the game.

If the dealer's hand is a pair of fours or better and he loses to a player then he pays the player's bets in boxes 18 and 20 at even money. If however the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand then he takes the player's bets from both boxes 18 and 20.

In a variation of the game, if the player's hand is better than the dealer's hand, the house will pay odds on the players "ante" bet, for example, on the basis of the following lists.

Hand Odds Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 20 to 1 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 5 to 1 20 to 1 Full House 3 to 1 3 to 1 2 to 1 Flush 2 to 1 2 to 1 6 to 4 In accordance with a modification to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, further boxes 22 may be provided in which each player may place an additional bet. The additional bet being decided after completion of the game described above, on the basis of the two cards dealt to each player in area 12 and two cards dealt to the dealer in area 14, one card being face-up and the other card being face-down. The additional bet being decided on the basis of the two cards plus optional additional cards, the value of the cards totalling 21 or under in accordance with conventional blackjack rules.

While in the accompanying drawing five positions are provided for players, any number of players may play the game, each player playing against the dealer.

The above described game may also be adapted for Internet entertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored on a disk and played on a computer or interactive television.

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Claims

1. A card game comprising a conventional set of playing cards and a gaming cloth (10); characterised in that the gaming cloth provides; areas (12,14,16) to which: cards may be dealt to one or more players; cards may be dealt to a dealer; and common cards may be dealt; a first area (18) for each player in which an initial bet may be placed; and a second area (20) for each player in which a further bet may be placed; the game comprising: the player placing an initial bet in the area (18) provided therefor; two cards being dealt face down to the player in the area (12) provided therefor; two cards being dealt face- down to the dealer in the area (14) provided therefor; three common cards being dealt face-up to the area (116) provided theref or; the player placing a further bet in the area (20) provided therefor, if he decides on the basis of the two cards dealt to him in area (12) and three common cards, that he wishes to continue in the game; two further common cards then being dealt face-up to this area (116) provided therefor; and hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to area (12) and five common cards in area (16) and two cards dealt to area (114) and five common cards in area (16), then being compared to decide the outcome of the game.

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2. A card game according to Claim 1 characterised in that the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.

3. A card game according to Claim 1 or 2 characterised in that if the house's hand is below a predetermined value the house forfeits the game.

4. A card game according to Claim 3 characterised in that if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, the house forfeits the game.

5. A card game according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that if the player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.

6. A card game according to Claim 5 characterised in that if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush Four of a Kind Full House Flush to 1 10 to 1 3 to 1 2 to 1.

7. A card game according to Claim 5 characterised in that if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:

Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 5 to 1 Full House 3 to 1 Flush 2 to 1

8. A card game according to Claim 5 characterised in that if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush Four of a Kind to 1 to 1 8 Full House Flush 2 to 1 6 to 4.

9. A card game according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that one or more players may play against the house.

10. A card game as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a third area is provided for each player in which additional bets may be placed, the additional bets being decided on the basis of the two cards dealt to each player plus optional additional cards and two cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards, on the basis of conventional blackjack rules.

A card game substantially as described herein with reference to Figs.1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.