US20070235936A1

US20070235936A1 - Method and apparatus for playing a poker game

Info

Publication number: US20070235936A1
Application number: US11/397,617
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Couri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2006-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-11

Abstract

In a poker game, where one or more players can play against the house, using a standard fifty-two card deck. Wherein players place their first bet after the cards have been dealt. All cards, twelve total, are dealt face-up exposing six 2-card hands. Players have the option of wagering on one set of cards out of six to use as their hand. Dealer discards the next card and places it into a designated area. This is done two more times, each time prior to revealing a community card. Three community cards are then dealt face-up. After which the dealer adds the fourth community card. Players have the option of placing a secondary wager, aka “Doubling Down”, on the determination that the fifth community card will benefit them to winning. Following, the three remaining discards are used in a bonus which gives all the players the option to wager on.

Description

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of playing a poker game in which each player is playing against the house. The invention is played with a single, fifty-two card deck and can be played with one to six players. There are no ante's or blinds. All players choose their own hand, by placing a bet on which two cards they think will win a hand of poker.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a poker game compromises the following steps:
a) dealing out twelve cards, face-up, allowing all players to wager on any one set of a 2-card hand;
b) discarding the next available card and placing it into a designated area;
c) exposing the first three community cards and identify dominant winning hand(s);
d) discarding the next available card and placing it into a designated area;
e) exposing the fourth community card and identify dominant winning hand(s);
f) allow players to place optional secondary wager on the determination that the fifth community card will benefit them to winning whether their 2-card hand is or isn't winning the hand this wager is optional and doesn't affect the players original wagered hand if the determined winning hand dosen't have a secondary wager, the original wager is still paid most hand(s) are determined by the fifth community card and cannot be foreseen; therefore, more often than not, winning hands won't have a secondary wager doing so allows the player the satisfaction of winning without having to risk a secondary wager;
g) discarding the third and final discard and placing it into a designated area;
h) exposing the fifth community card and marking/paying the winning hand(s);
i) allow players to place optional bonus wager players are wagering on the three remaining discards a pair or three of a kind are the only winning payouts in the bonus straight's, flush's, or both are a push or tie.
An object of the present invention is to provide a wagering game that is easy to learn for all skill levels. A further object of the present invention is to provide a unique, exciting card game for, but not limited to, play in casinos or at home and on various media including, but not limited to, casino tables, and home computers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a casino house game which is a variant of hold'em poker. The game can be played with a standard deck of cards with at least one player up to as many a table can occupy, usually six. More than six players at a table can slow the pace of the game. The variation also provides the players sense of control on all wagering aspects provided in the limitations. The variation also provides players sense of control by allowing the players the option of choosing which cards to wager on as opposed to having the cards chosen for them.
Poker, especially hold'em poker, is a popular game worldwide with different names and different rules. The increase in televised tournaments has catapulted the game of poker into a major sport, giving people the opportunity to play along with every “flop, turn and river”.
Gambling games intended primarily for a casino setting, should provide the players with a sense of participation and control, the same opportunities to make their own decisions that will affect the outcome of their wagers. More significantly, the present invention provides the improvements of creating a significantly even playing field to players of all skill levels.
The present invention took an estimated two and a half years to develop. It was based on the concept of roulette, but instead of wagering on numbers, players are wagering on a pair of cards, which they choose. As all card games are completely luck of the draw, this game is no exception.
The present invention was changed approximately four times and the payouts approximately six times. Trying to establish an enjoyable card game where the payouts are fair to the player and the house. The player's advantage is that the player determines how much to wager and what to wager on. The house advantage is that most card games can hold a players attention long enough, giving the house the advantage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 are a view of a table arrangement and apparatus used with the present invention.
FIGS. 4-7 are the views of a potential hand to show flow of the game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 Illustrates a playing surface or table layout on which an embodiment of the present invention may be played. The apparatus for the wagering game includes a typical casino gambling table. The table has a curved side for accommodating six players, P1,P2,P3,P4,P5,P6, and a straightened side for accommodating the DEALER. FIG. 1A illustrates the wagering area wherein players may place their bets. All players place their wager in any one and only one of the boxes marked 1,2,3,4,5, or 6.
FIG. 1A illustrates the words “Burn Bonus”. FIG. 1B illustrates the starting position for the dealer when dealing out the cards. Dealer places first card in box 1, then a card in 2,3,4,5,6 face-up then repeats the same step until their are a total of twelve cards, face-up. FIG. 1C illustrates the designated area for the three discards. FIG. 1D illustrates the designated area for the dealer to expose the five community cards. FIG. 1D illustrates the designated area for the dealer to expose the three discards used in the bonus. FIG. 1D illustrates “NO BLUFF HOLD'EM™”. FIG. 1E illustrates a preferred area for displaying the table limits.
FIG. 2 Illustrates six discs or casino styled chips which are used to identify the player and their wager. A player seated in seat one would use disc numbered-1, seat two-2, seat three-3, seat four-4, seat five-5, seat six-6. This establishes control of the game and is used to avoid confusion on which player is to be paid their winnings. The discs are plain with simple markings on both sides. FIG. 3 Illustrates a larger double-sided disc. FIG. 3A illustrates a side where higher stakes are applicable. This side is shown at the start of the game and is positioned in box 1. The player wagering on the cards with this side showing is obligated to wager the minimum and no more then the maximum showing. After the winning hand is determined, the disc would slide over to the numbered box where the winning hand is. FIG. 3B illustrates the WINNER side of the disc. This side of the disc is shown after the disc is slid over to the winning hand. When the hand is completed, the disc is flipped back over exposing the higher stakes side and the game resumes.
FIG. 4 Is a more detailed embodiment of the present invention and is continued on FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. FIG. 4 illustrates the wagering area of the invention. The illustration shows a variant of a playable hand wherein six players are involved to express flow of the game. FIG. 4A shows the Higher Stakes disc starting off in box 1. FIG. 4B shows twelve cards dealt face up, wherein two cards are placed in each of the six boxes, making six 2-card hands. FIG. 4C illustrates six players wagering on one 2-card hand.
FIG. 5 Is a continuation of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 illustrates the first three community cards, or “flop”. FIG. 5A illustrates and identifies the best hand after the “flop”.
FIG. 6 Is a continuation of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 illustrates the showing of the fourth community card, or “turn”. FIG. 6A illustrates and identifies the best hand after the “turn”. FIG. 6B illustrates three secondary wages, “Riverbet”, on the determination that the fifth community card will benefit them. The secondary wager isn't necessary to win the hand.
FIG. 7 Is a continuation of FIG. 6 FIG. 7 illustrates the showing of the fifth community card, “river” card. FIG. 7A illustrates the disc with the WINNER side up identifying which hand is the winning hand. When play resumes the hand that has the WINNER side up, is flipped over and now becomes the new Higher Stakes hand.

Claims

1. A method of playing a poker game, where one or more players can play against the house, using a standard fifty-two card deck. Wherein players place their first bet after the cards have been dealt. All cards, twelve total, are dealt face-up exposing six 2-card hands. Players have the option of wagering on one set of cards out of six to use as their hand. Dealer then discards “burns” the next card and places it into a designated area. Three community cards are then dealt face-up, or “flopped”, at which time the dealer and players identify which 2-card hand(s) is winning. After that has been determined the dealer then discards “burns” the next card and adds it to the designated area. After which the dealer adds the fourth community card, “the turn” at which time the dealer and players identify which 2-card hand(s) is winning. After that has been determined players have the option of placing a secondary wager, or “river bet”, on the determination that the fifth community card will benefit them to winning if their 2-card hand is or isn't winning the hand prior to the dealer revealing the fifth community card a.k.a. “double down”. The dealer then discards “burns” the final card and adds it to its' designated area. After doing so, the dealer exposes the fifth community card and marks/pays the winning 2-card hand(s) based on the conventional ranking of poker. Following, the three remaining discards are used in a bonus which gives all the players the option to wager on. All wagering players are betting that there is a pair or three of a kind in the discards, using an established payout schedule.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein players place their bets on one set of cards after the cards are dealt face-up, allowing the players, and dealer, to view all cards that are or are not being wagered on, providing all players the same advantage.

3. A method according to claim 1, in which the poker hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker (High Card, Pair, Two Pair, Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush).

4. A method according to claim 1, is practiced wherein the dealer discards the next card prior to revealing the first three community cards, the fourth community card and the fifth community card. Placing all three discards into a designated area.

5. A method according to claim 1, allows all players and the dealer to determine which 2-card hand(s) is winning.

6. A method according to claim 1, allows all players to place an optional secondary wager, “river bet”, prior to the fifth community card being revealed. All secondary wages can not exceed original wager.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dealer exposes the fifth community card and marks/pays the winning hand(s). All winning hands(s) are paid even money, or one to one, on original hand wager. All winning hand(s) are paid even money, or one to one, on secondary wages. All Four of a Kinds or better are paid four to one on the secondary wage only.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the winning hand can involve a plurality of different players. All players can wager on the same hand or on one of six different hands. All players have the option to wager on whichever 2-card hand they want, whether or not someone else is wagering on the same 2-cards. Providing a plurality of players to win.

(a) all players are also playing the five community cards. If the best five card hand are the community cards then all players are winners and are paid accordingly to claim 7.

(b) four different hands have an Ace as one of their 2-cards. The community cards involved are a 3,10,J,Q,K. If the Ace was the best hand used to make a straight and no flush is possible, then all four hands holding the Ace would win. The same would apply if three different hands or two different hands were holding an Ace. The same would apply for two different, three different, and four different hands holding a particular card needed to complete the best 5-card hand whether the card needed is an Ace,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q, or K.

(c) two different sets of hands could both be holding the same pair. When the winning hand is determined and if the two sets of the same pair are the winning hand then both are paid accordingly to claim 7.

(d) identical hands if determined the winning hand are winners. Identical hands refers to two cards of the same values. If two different hands had the same two cards of K-J and it was determined the winner with no flush involvement then both hands would be paid accordingly to claim 7. K-J was used as an example, two cards could involve any of these cards A,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,J,Q,K intermixed to make two identical hands.

(e) there are no pushes or ties, only winners and losers. Only the absolute winning hand(s) will be paid whether it be one set of cards, two sets of cards, three sets of cards, four sets of cards or all six sets of cards. Second best or worse are losers.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein all Four of a Kind or better are paid four to one. Four of a kind or better would include a Four of a Kind, a Straight Flush and a Royal Flush and is paid out only on the secondary wager. Other plurality of events in the finding are:

(a) winning hands with a Four of a Kind or better without a secondary wager are paid accordingly to claim 7.

(b) Four of a Kind present in the five community cards with an ace would pay all wages according to claim 7.

(c) Four of a Kind present in the five community cards without an ace would award the next highest card whether it be a K,Q,J,10, and so on the winning hand. Only the winning hand will be paid on the original wager, but all hands with a secondary wager will be paid four to one for having a Four of a Kind.

(d) an unbeatable Straight Flush or Royal Flush present in the five community cards would pay all wages according to claim 7.

(e) a Four of a Kind or better bad beat would be Four of a Kind losing to a higher Four of a Kind or better. It also includes a Straight Flush losing to a higher Straight Flush or Royal Flush. In either instances the winning hand gets paid according to claim 7. The losing hand would only get paid on the secondary wager.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the dealer marks the winning hand(s). A disk marked (??-???) min-max on one side and WINNER on the other side is used to identify higher stakes and the winning hand.

11. A method according to claim 10, provided that its the first hand, the disc side marked (??-???) min-max will be face up in the box marked with a 1. The higher stakes are created and allowed only on one set of cards. When the winning hand is determined, the disc is slid over to the winning numbered box and is flipped over revealing the WINNER side. If the winning hand was in box numbered 3, the dealer would slide the disc over to number 3 and flip it over revealing the WINNER side of the disk.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the WINNER side is flipped over identifying the winning hand and more than one hand is the winner, the dealer shall identify the winning hands by raising the card or cards needed to complete the winning hand and pay them accordingly to claim 7.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the disc side marked 25-200 min-max would be used on a table limit of five dollars minimum and one hundred dollars maximum. The secondary wager or riverbet would be twentyfive dollars minimum and two hundred dollars maximum and used in accordance with claim 6. On other limit tables the Higher Stakes disk would be 5×-2× min-max of the table min-max.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein all players have the option of placing a wager on the three discards. The players are wagering whether or not that their is a pair or three of a kind in the three remaining discards. All players are wagering on the same three cards, therefore all wagering players will either win together or lose together. A pair in the remaining discards pays three to one, and three of a kind pays twenty five to one. If a three card straight or three card flush or both appear in the three remaining cards, the bonus is a tie or push. All other combinations are losses.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the disc is slid over to the winning hand revealing WINNER. After the bonus is complete and the dealer shuffles the cards by hand or machine, whichever the casino requires, the dealer flips over the disc back to (??-???) min-max. This identifies the hand as the new Higher Stakes hand.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the winning hand is more than one set of cards. The dealer slides the disc to the right until a winning hand has been reached. If for instance their are two winning hands, the one closest sliding right receives the disc. If the winning hand is the five community cards and all players are winners the disc goes to the left of the community cards. The disc then starts back out in box 1.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein players have the option of placing a wager on the three remaining discards. The limitations set for the bonus are established, but not limited to, 1× through 3× table minimum. A table's minimum limit was five dollars, the bonus would be five dollars through fifteen dollars. The same would apply for any other plurality of table limits.