US20110086689A1

US20110086689A1 - Method of playing a wagering card game

Info

Publication number: US20110086689A1
Application number: US12/913,659
Authority: US
Inventors: Joo-Hoon (John) Kim
Original assignee: SNK GAMING ENTERTAINMENT
Current assignee: SNK GAMING ENTERTAINMENT
Priority date: 2009-10-09
Filing date: 2010-10-27
Publication date: 2011-04-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of playing a card game including allowing a player to wager on an outcome of a first hand of cards winning, a second hand of cards winning or no hand of cards winning. The method includes dealing the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards. Each the hand of cards has three cards. The method next includes designating the outcome as no hand of cards winning if: the first hand of cards has a group of cards from a pre-selected plurality of groups of cards and the second hand of cards has a group of cards from said pre-selected plurality of groups of cards.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 12/577,052 filed Oct. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of playing a card game. In particular, the invention relates to a method of playing a wagering card game.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

This invention relates to wagering games. Many card games have been developed over the years and some are particularly adapted for gambling. One class of such games includes a dealer who deals cards and one or more players who place wagers based on the cards that the dealer deals. Examples in this regard include poker, blackjack, and baccarat.
With increases in the world population and the continued and expanding interest in gambling, there is a need for a new and improved card game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is directed to a wagering game, which may be particularly useful for casinos.
In some embodiments, the invention is directed to a method of playing a card game comprising the steps of: receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other; dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card; determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card; comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank; dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter; comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.
In some variations, the one or more wagers of the aforementioned method may include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank. It should be understood that receiving any one of the first, second or third wagers may be optional or mandatory.
In some variations of the aforementioned methods, the step of dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card further includes dealing a first partial hand of two cards, a second partial hand of two cards and a single community card.
In some variations of the aforementioned methods, the hand ranks comprise, from lowest rank to highest rank, the hands known as pair, flush, straight, non-suited three of a kind, straight flush, and suited three of a kind. In some variations, the qualifying hand rank of the aforementioned methods is a pair, and the preset award rank is a pair of Kings.
In some variations of the aforementioned methods, the ranks are conventional poker or poker-like ranks. In some variations, the first partial hand and the second partial hand are any number of cards, such as three cards each, four cards each, five cards each or six cards each.
The aforementioned methods may further include the step of paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome. The award may be a multiple of the wager.
In some variations, the step of paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank further comprises paying an award of an amount which is at least partially dependent on the rank of the higher ranked final hand.
The present invention is also directed to a system for providing a game, which includes: an input device configured for receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other; a processor with access to a memory device configured for: (i) dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card; (ii) determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card; (iii) comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank; (iv) dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter; (v) comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and an output device configured for paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.
The aforementioned system may be configured so that the one or more wagers received by the input device include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank.
The output device may be configured for paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome.
The input device may be configured for receiving cash or electronic debiting an account, and the output device may be configured for paying awards by electronically crediting an account.
The system may include a display device configured for displaying the game. In some embodiments, the input device, processor, output device and display device are all mounted in a single housing. However, it should be understood that the system may comprise online gaming or mobile remote gaming systems as well.
In some embodiments, the system is a single housing which includes multiple player positions. Each player position may include a display for showing virtual cards or one main display may be shown to simulate the game. The player position may include buttons or a touch screen as the input device for receiving player selections and wagers. The single housing may further include a virtual dealer shown on the display or a separate upright display to appears as if the dealer is standing behind the table as in a live table game.
In other embodiments, a method of playing a card game including allowing a player to wager on an outcome of a first hand of cards winning, a second hand of cards winning or no hand of cards winning is provided. The method includes dealing the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards. Each the hand of cards has three cards. The method next includes designating the outcome as no hand of cards winning if: the first hand of cards has a group of cards from a pre-selected plurality of groups of cards and the second hand of cards has a group of cards from said pre-selected plurality of groups of cards.
There is also provided a method of conducting a wagering card game including allowing a player to bet a chip on an outcome of a first hand of cards paying out, a second hand of cards paying out, or no hand of cards paying out. The method includes dealing the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards such that both the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards remain hidden. The first hand of cards and the second hand of cards each include three cards. The method includes revealing the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards. The method includes designating the outcome as no hand of cards paying out if the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards each have at least one from the group consisting of a pair of aces, a triple, a three-card flush and a three-card straight, if otherwise determining the outcome as the first hand of cards paying out if the first hand of cards is stronger than the second hand of cards, and if otherwise determining the outcome as the second hand of cards paying out if the second hand of cards is stronger than the first hand of cards. The method includes collecting the chip. The method includes giving the player two chips if the player bet on the first hand of cards paying out and the first hand of cards paying out is the outcome, giving the player two chips if the player bet on the second hand of cards paying out and the second hand of cards paying out is the outcome, and giving the player more than two chips if the player bet on no hand of cards paying out and no hand of cards paying out is the outcome.
There is further provided a method of conducting a betting card game. The game includes the steps of

- a) allowing a player to place a bet on an outcome of a first hand of cards winning, a second hand of cards winning or no hand of cards winning;
- b) dealing a common card, the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards, the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards initially consisting of two cards each;
- c) revealing the common card, the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards;
- d) expanding the first hand of cards to include the common card;
- e) expanding the second hand of cards to include the common card;
- f) determining if at least one of the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards consists of a triple, a three-card flush or a three-card straight, or if both the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards consist of a pair, and if so in either case, dealing no more cards to the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards and proceeding to step j;
- g) determining if only one of the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards consists of a pair, and if so, dealing another of said first hand of cards and said second hand of cards an additional card, and if otherwise, dealing the first hand of cards the additional card and dealing the second hand of cards a further card;
- h) for each hand of cards combining the common card with two other cards from said hand of cards, said two other cards being so selected to try to obtain at least one from the group listed by order of preference of:
  - I) at least one of a triple, a three-card flush, and a three-card straight,
  - II) a pair of aces,
  - III) a pair of highest possible value, and
  - IV) one or more single cards of highest possible value, aces bearing the highest value,
- i) for each hand of cards discarding any unused cards left over after step h;
- j) determining the outcome based on:
  - I) if both the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards have at least one from the group consisting of a pair of aces, a triple, a three-card flush and a three-card straight, no hand of cards winning,
  - II) a hand of cards having at least one of a triple, a three-card flush and a three-card straight wins over a hand of cards having a combination pair and single where the combination pair has a value that is less than a pair of aces,
  - III) a hand of cards having a combination pair of higher value and single wins over a hand of cards having a combination pair of lower value and single,
  - IV) a hand of cards having a single of highest value wins over a hand of cards with singles of lower value relative to said single of highest value, if the single of highest value of the first hand of cards is identical to that of the second hand of cards, a hand of 5 cards with a single of second highest value wins, and if both the single of highest value of the first hand of cards and the single of second highest value of the first hand of cards are identical to the single of highest value of the second hand of cards and the single of second highest value of the second hand of cards, respectively, a hand of cards with a single of third highest value wins, and
  - V) if both the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards have identical cards, no hand of cards winning; and
- k) paying out the player if the bet matches the outcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the following description 20 of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game table layout according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the game illustrated in FIG. 1 in simplified form;

FIG. 3 is a table for determining the outcome of the game as referred to in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the basic steps of a game according to an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is indicated generally a game table layout 10, accordingly to one example, for playing the card game as herein disclosed. The game table layout 10 comprises a substrate in this example cloth 11 on which printed matter may be inscribed.
The card game as disclosed herein uses a deck of cards comprising one or more conventional decks of cards. In one preferred embodiment a total of sixteen decks are used, with eight decks of one color and eight decks of another color, though this is not required.
Referring to FIG. 2, the first step in the game is to shuffle the deck of cards. Preferably a shuffle machine (not shown) may be used for this purpose. The cards may then be placed in a dealer's shoe (not shown). Shuffle machines and dealer's shoes are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described.
Next a first card may be drawn from the top of the deck. A dealer may draw this card. The numerical value of the drawn card will determine how many cards are subsequently removed (or burned) face down from the top of the deck. In one preferred embodiment, an ace has the value of 1 and face cards have the value of 10. Thus, if for example a jack is drawn as the first card, ten further cards are drawn off the top of the deck face down and discarded. The cards may for example be discarded by placing them in a discard rack 13, shown in FIG. 1. The discarded cards may be sequentially counted out loud one by one as they are discarded by the dealer.
The next step in the game is for one or more players to place one or more bets on the outcome of the game. The one or more players can bet on the outcome of a first hand winning, the outcome of a second hand winning and/or the outcome of no hand winning.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the game table layout 10 provides a plurality of spaces as, in this example, indicated by annulus sector space 26, for each of the players. In the example shown, the game table layout 10 provides nine spaces numbered one through nine to allow nine players, respectively, to play the game. For the sake of simplicity only space 26 will be discussed in detail with the understanding that the rest of the spaces for the players are similar.
The space 26 includes a portion 28 with the marking FIRST HAND. If the player assigned to space 26 wants to bet on the first hand winning, the player places his bet, such as money or chips, within portion 28 of the space 26.
The space 26 includes a portion 30 with the marking SECOND HAND. If the player assigned to space 26 one wants to bet on the second hand winning, the player places his bet, such as money or chips, within portion 30 of the space 26.
The space 26 includes a portion 32 which in this example has a circle, though in another example it may be marked as NO HAND WINS. If the player assigned to space 26 one wants to bet on no hand winning, the player places his bet, such as money or chips, within portion 32 of the space 26.
In one preferred embodiment, players may each bet on either the outcome of the first hand winning or the second hand winning, and they may also each at the same time bet on the outcome of no hands winning.
Once all the bets have been placed, the dealer may call an end to the betting by for example saying, “No more bets.”
Referring both to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method next involves dealing a number of cards face down. Referring to FIG. 1, a first card or common card 12, a second card 14, a third card 16, a fourth card 18 and a fifth card 20 are each dealt out face-down. More specifically, the second card 14 is dealt to the first hand, the third card 16 is dealt to the second hand, the fourth card 18 is dealt to the first hand and the fifth card 20 is dealt to the second hand. The first hand in this example is positioned within a rectangular space 22. The second hand in this example is positioned within a rectangular space 24.
The cards are then revealed by the dealer. In one preferred embodiment the common card 12 is revealed first.
The next step in the game is to combine the first hand, with its second card 14 and fourth card 18, with the common card 12. The second hand, with its third card 16 and fifth card 20, is also combined with the common card 12.
If in the combination of these three cards for either the first hand or the second hand there is either a triple, a three-card flush or a three-card straight, no more cards are dealt in the game. The game proceeds to the determine outcome stage of the game.
If in the combination of these three cards for both the first hand and the second hand there is at least a pair, no more cards are dealt in the game. The game proceeds to the determine outcome stage of the game.
If only one of the first hand (the second card 14, the fourth card 18 and the common card 12) and the second hand (the third card 16, the fifth card 20 and the common card 12) results in a pair, then generally speaking (apart from an exception discussed below) a further card is dealt to the other of the first hand and the second hand. For the hand which now has three cards plus the common card 12, the next step is to make a best combination of three cards that includes the common card 12. This will be discussed in more detail later with reference to FIG. 3.
If neither the first hand nor the second hand results in a pair, an additional card is dealt to the first hand and a further card is dealt to the second hand. For each hand the next step is to make a best combination of three cards that includes the common card.
Once no more cards are to be dealt, the remaining cards of the deck may be taken out of the dealer's shoe by the dealer and placed in the discard rack 13.
The game next proceeds to determine the outcome of the game stage as follows.
The point value of the cards, in one preferred embodiment, is the same as the point value of cards in poker. Thus, the relative value of each individual card, from strongest to weakest, is dictated by the following rank order: ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, and two. Joker cards in this preferred embodiment are not used.
The best combination of three cards that includes the common card, the combination that should be made if possible, is one that includes a group of cards from a pre-selected plurality of groups of cards. The pre-selected plurality of groups of cards in one preferred embodiment consists of: a triple, a three-card flush and a three-card straight. For the sake of clarity, a natural hand is defined hereby as at least one of a triple, a three-card flush or a three-card straight. The ranking within the natural hand, from strongest to weakest combination, is as follows: 1) a three-of-a-kind all of the same suit; 2) a three-card straight flush; 3) a three-of-a-kind of varied suits; 4) a three-card flush; and 5) a three-card straight.
For the sake of clarity examples of the above hands may be: for a three of-a-kind all of the same suit, e.g. three cards where each one is a seven of hearts; for a three-card straight flush, e.g. a five of spades, a six of spades and a seven of spades; for a three of-a-kind of varied suits, e.g. a seven of hearts, a seven of spades, and a seven of diamonds; for a three-card flush, e.g. a two of diamonds, a jack of diamonds, and an ace of diamonds; and for a three-card straight, e.g. a five of hearts, a six of diamonds, and a seven hearts.
After a natural hand, the next best combination of three cards is one that includes a pair of aces. After this, a pair of cards of a certain value beats a pair of lower value. For example if the first hand comprises a pair of jacks and the second hand comprises a pair of nines, the first hand wins over the second hand. If there are no pairs in the three cards of the first hand that includes the common card or in the three cards of the second hand that includes the common card, then a combination of three cards (that includes the common card) having as many single cards of as high a value as possible should be selected. In the preferred embodiment as herein disclosed aces are high.
The best combination of three cards that includes the common card should be selected based on the above set out rankings, with the rule being to select the top or strongest combination of three cards possible.
Any cards for the first hand and the second hand that are not used in the above set out combinations should next be excluded from the first hand and the second hand, respectively.
Referring now to FIG. 3, this shows a table for determining the outcome of the game. The game can have only one of three outcomes: the first hand wins, the second 20 hand wins, or no hand wins.
One column 34 in the table of FIG. 3 is entitled as “first hand”, which is meant to refer to the best combination for the first hand, comprised of the common card and two cards from the first hand. Likewise adjacent column 36 entitled “second hand” refers to the best combination for the second hand, comprised of the common card and two cards from the second hand. Column 38 entitled “outcome” lists the outcome of the game based on the scenarios set out in columns 34 and 36.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a pair other than a pair of aces, the outcome of the game is that the first hand wins.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a pair other than a pair of aces and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand, then the outcome of the game is that the second hand wins.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand, the outcome of the game is that no hand wins.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a pair of aces, the outcome of the game is that no hand wins.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a pair of aces and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a natural hand, the outcome of the game is that no hand wins.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a pair of aces and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a pair of aces, the outcome of the game is that no hand wins. This is true regardless of whether one hand has a better kicker. A kicker refers to a third card of higher value compared with that of the highest third card of the other hand.
Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a pair of cards of higher value and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a pair of cards of lower value relative to the pair of cards of higher value, the outcome of the game is that the first hand wins. Where a best combination of two cards from the first hand combined with the common card results in a pair of lower value and a best combination of two cards from the second hand combined with the common card results in a pair of higher value relative to the pair of lower value, the outcome of the game is that the second hand wins.
If none of the above situations arises, a best combination of two cards from one of the first hand and the second hand combined with the common card that results in the hand with the single of the highest value winning. For example, if the best combination of the first hand comprises an ace, ten, and nine (e.g. the common card), with the cards being of varying suits, and the best combination of the second hand comprises a king, nine (the common card), and six, with the cards being of varying suits, the first hand wins because an ace is of higher value than a king.
If the singles of the highest value are the same (regardless of suit), the best combination with the single of second highest value wins. For example, if the best combination of the first hand comprises a jack (e.g. common card), nine and seven (with the cards being of varying suits) and the best combination of the second hand comprises a jack (the common card), ten and two (with the cards being of varying suits), the second hand wins because a ten is of higher value compared to a nine.
If the singles of the highest value and the singles of the second highest value are the same (regardless of suit), the best combination with the single of the third highest value wins. For example, if the best combination of the first hand comprises a queen, ten (e.g. the common card), and six (with the cards being of varying suits), and the best combination of the second hand comprises a queen, ten (the common card) and five (with the cards being of varying suits), the first hand wins because a six is of higher value compared to a five.
If the singles of the highest value, singles of the second highest value and singles of the third highest value are the same (regardless of suit), the outcome is that no hand wins. For example, if the best combination for both the first hand and the second hand comprises a jack, nine, and three (with at least some of the cards for each hand being of varied suit), no hand wins.
If the outcome is the first hand winning, the cards of the first hand may be offset or pushed forward by the dealer so that the cards are visually offset from the second hand. If the outcome is the second hand winning, the cards of the second hand may be offset or pushed forward by the dealer so that the cards are visually offset from the first hand.
After the step of determining the outcome has finished, the bets are collected by the dealer. Losing bets may be collected by the dealer first, beginning with the losing first hand and/or second hand bets. The losing bets may be placed within a storage device (not shown) of some kind such as, for example, a slush tube. Storing devices for bets are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described.
The winning bets, if any, are then paid out by the dealer. If a player bet on the outcome of the first hand winning and the first hand wins, the player who so bet is paid out. In one preferred embodiment said player is paid even money. In other words this payout occurs on a 1:1 basis. For example, if the player bet $100.00 on the first hand winning and this is what results, the player retains his initial $100.00 and is paid an additional $100.00. Losing bets, that is bets if any for the second hand winning or no hand winning, are collected and kept by, for example, the casino. In one example payouts totaling over $100.00 must be verified by a supervisor.
If a player bet on the outcome of the second hand winning and the second hand wins, the player who so bet is paid out. In one preferred embodiment said player is paid even money. In other words this payout occurs on a 1:1 basis. Losing bets, that is bets if any for the first hand winning or no hand winning, are collected and kept by the casino.
If a player bet on the outcome of the no hand winning and no hand wins, the player who so bet is paid out. This payout occurs at greater than 1:1 odds. In one example of a preferred embodiment, the payout for the outcome of no hand winning is on a 40:1 basis. For example, if the player bet $100.00 on the outcome of no hand winning and this is what results, the player retains his initial $100.00 and is paid an additional $4,000.00. Losing bets, that is bets if any for the first hand winning or the second hand winning, are collected and kept by the casino.
Where the outcome is no hand winning and the first hand and the second hand both involve a natural hand or pair of aces, in this case one of the hands will have a stronger hand compared to the other, based on the ranking of the natural hands and aces as discussed previously above (a pair of aces rank below natural hands). A player whose bet corresponds to the stronger hand is paid back is original bet.
For example, if the natural hand from the first hand is stronger than the natural hand of the second hand (the outcome being no hand winning because there are two natural hands) and a player bet on the first hand winning, said player does not make any money from the game because his bet does not match the outcome. However, the player does get his bet or chips returned. Thus the term “winning” in “no hand winning” is used in the sense of making money: the player does not make a return on his bet if he bet on a given hand. The player does not “win” money in this situation but does get his original money returned if his bet (either the first hand winning or the second hand winning) corresponds with the hand having the strongest natural hand.
For example, if the common card was an ace of hearts, the top two other cards from the first hand included a queen of hearts and a king of hearts, and the top two other cards from the second hand are a queen of spades and a king of spades. Because the first hand forms a natural hand of a straight flush, this is stronger than the natural hand of the second hand, which is merely a straight.
Had the player bet on the second hand winning and the outcome is no hand winning with the first hand having a stronger natural hand compared to the natural hand of the second hand, he would lose his bet and get nothing.
The game may then be played again. The dealer will collect the cards set out of the game table layout 10 and place them in the discard rack 13. The dealer may then announce “loading” and, with the go ahead of the supervisor, take the cards from the discard rack 13 and load them in the shuffle machine once again. The now re-shuffled cards may then be placed in the dealer's shoe and the game repeated as set out above.
While it is generally the case that if only one of the first hand (comprising the second card 14, the fourth card 18 and the common card 12) and the second hand (comprising the third card 16, the fifth card 20 and the common card 12) results in a pair, then a further card is dealt to the other of the first hand and the second hand, this is not always true. If only one of said first hand and said second hand results in a pair and the other of said first hand and said second hand results in neither a natural hand nor a pair of equivalent or higher value and no additional card could make a difference in changing the outcome for the said other, then no more cards are dealt and the game proceeds to the determine the outcome stage.
An example of the above described scenario is as follows: the common card is a nine, the first hand consists of two tens and the second hand consists of a four and a two. An additional card is not given to the second hand because no card exists that would result in two cards from the second hand combined with the common card beating the two tens of the first hand combined with the nine (common card).
In one example the game as herein disclosed may adopt the following terminology. The players that may sit in spaces 1 through 9 may be referred to as the participants of the game. The game as a whole may be referred to as wish card poker. The common card 12 may be referred to as the wish card. The first hand may be referred to as “PLAYER”, replacing all mention of “FIRST HAND” on the game table layout 10 and substituting the term “PLAYER” therefor. The second hand may be referred to as “MAKER”, replacing all mention of “SECOND HAND” on the game table layout 10 and substituting the term “MAKER” therefor. The outcome of no hand winning may be referred to as the bad beat bonus. Portion 28 of space 26 may be referred to as “PLAYER′S BOX”, portion 30 of space 26 may be referred to as “MAKER′S BOX”, and portion 32 of space 26 may be referred to as “BONUS BOX”.
In this example, the game is played out as set above, with the exception that the MAKER is dealt the first card after the wish card has been dealt, then the PLAYER is dealt a card, followed by the MAKER being dealt a card, and followed by the PLAYER being dealt a card. Also, during the revealing cards stage, the wish card is first revealed, followed by the cards of the MAKER, and then followed by the cards of the PLAYER.
Another variation of the game wish card poker is called squeeze wish card poker. Here the game is played as before with the exception that, after the step of placing bets, a participant who bets on, for example, the MAKER is given the cards of the MAKER by the dealer to touch (or squeeze), look at, then reveal (or flip over). Likewise a participant who bets on the PLAYER is given the cards of the PLAYER by the dealer to touch (or squeeze), look at, then reveal (or flip over). This variation of the game may be used for VIP gambling, where the minimum acceptable bet is relatively high.
In another variation of the game that may be for VIP gambling, the deck of cards (comprising the one or more conventional decks of cards) is only used once and are then destroyed. Also the dealer's shoe may be only ever used once and then destroyed.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first hand may be referred to as the “Master” or “Master's hand” and the second hand may be referred to as the “Maker” or “Maker's hand.” It should be readily apparent that other names may be used instead of “first hand” and/or “second hand” while still remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment, which is generally referred to as method 150, in which the nomenclature used for the first and second hands are the Maker's and Master's hands, respectively. In step 152, wagers are received from any participating players. In some embodiments, players may wager on the final first hand (final Master hand) having a higher ranking than the final second hand (final Maker hand), the final second hand (final Maker hand) having a higher ranking than the final first hand (final Master hand), and the final first and second hands having the same rank (that is, a tie).
The ranking system may vary according to the invention, but the hands may be similar in nature to poker hands, and the ranking system may be based on the odds of achieving certain combinations of cards. For example, the ranking may be, from highest rank to lowest, as follows: suited three of a kind, straight flush, three of a kind with different suits, straight and flush. In the embodiment of method 150, the rankings for the three card hands are, in order of highest to lowest, as follows: suited three of a kind, straight flush, non-suited three of a kind, straight (with Ace, two, three being the lowest ranked straight), flush, pair (with Aces being the highest ranked pair) and then the highest single card (Ace being the highest card, then King and so on). In the ranking system of method 150, the Ace is always the high card except when used as a straight with a two and three.
In some embodiments, players may also wager on a bonus game, such as specific rankings being achieved by other or both hands or some other preset criteria being met. In method 150, players may place wagers on what is referred to herein as a “wish” bonus, which pays out if one of the final first or second hands is of at least a certain rank, but of a lower ranking than the other hand. It should be understood that other wagers may be placed, such as ante wagers, as may be required by the jurisdiction or house in which the game is played. Furthermore, any or all wagers may be made mandatory or optional.
In step 154, shuffled or otherwise randomized cards are dealt to form a partial first or Master hand and a partial second or Maker hand. It should be understood that the terms final and partial are used for illustrative purposes and to enhance understanding of method 150 and as such are non-limiting of the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, two cards are dealt to form each partial hand, that is, two cards to the Master and two cards to the Maker. In some embodiments, the first card is dealt to the Maker, the second card to the Master, third card to Maker, and fourth card to Master. The cards may be dealt partially or fully face down or face up to a specified location on a table layout. Other dealing methods may be used as discussed herein or as known in the art, including for example, burning or discarding a card between dealing each card or prior to dealing all cards. Furthermore, different amounts of cards may be dealt in other embodiments of the invention.
In step 156, a community card is dealt either face up or face down. In this embodiment, only one card is dealt. The card is referred to as the “Wish” card, but other nomenclature and amounts of cards are within the scope of the invention.
In step 158, the Wish card dealt in step 156 is combined with the each of the Maker and Master partial hands dealt in step 154 for purposes of forming initial Maker and Master hands and determining the rank thereof. Thus, the rank of the initial Maker hand is based on the two cards dealt to form the Maker partial hand and the community card, whereas the rank of the initial Master hand is based on the two cards dealt to form the Master partial hand and the community card.
In step 160, the ranks of the initial Maker and Master hands are compared with preset criteria to determine whether the Maker and/or Master hands satisfy the preset criteria to qualify as the final Maker and/or Master hands. In this embodiment, the preset criteria relate to the initial Maker and Master hands achieving one or more qualifying preset hand rankings. Thus, the rank of the initial Maker and Master hands determined in step 158 is compared with the qualifying preset hand rankings to determine if one or both initial hands are equal to a preset ranking and thus “qualify” as a final hand according to method 150.
In method 150, the qualifying preset hand rankings are pair or better according to the hand ranking system above. Thus, in step 162, if either hand has a rank equal to a pair or better (i.e., a rank equal to a pair, flush, straight, non-suited three of a kind, straight flush, suited three of a kind) then the hand is now a final hand in step 166. Alternatively, if one or both hands in step 162 do not have rank which is equal to the qualifying rank, then the one or both hands are dealt another card in step 164 and become final hands in step 166.
Whether the hand either qualifies in step 162 or does not qualify in step 162 and receives another card in step 164, once it becomes a final hand in step 166 the ranks of the final Maker and Master hands are compared to one another. In some embodiments, such as method 150, the final rank is based on the highest rank achievable according to the ranking system discussed above using three cards wherein the wish card must be one of the three cards. For example, if one of the hands does not qualify in step 164, and that hand receives an additional card in step 164 that forms a straight with the cards of the partial hand only but not with the community Wish card, the final rank determined and compared in step 166 will not be a straight because the Wish card is not included.
If the ranks are the same, that is, the final Maker and Master hands are compared and determined to be tied in step 168, then in step 170 any tie wagers placed are paid out. These wagers may be paid as a fixed amount or odds payout based on a multiple of the amount wagered, such as 40 to 1. If there is a tie, in some embodiments, wagers placed on the Maker or Master hand having a higher rank than the other hand are lost, while in other embodiments, these wagers push.
If the hands are not tied in step 168, then it is readily apparent that one of the hands is of a higher rank than the other. In step 172, the lower ranked hand is compared with preset bonus criteria to determine if the bonus criteria is satisfied. In method 150, the preset bonus criteria relates to the lower ranked hand being one or more preset bonus ranks or at least greater than a preset bonus rank. If the rank of the lower ranked hand is not equal to or greater than the bonus rank in step 172, the bonus criteria is not satisfied and wagers placed on the higher ranked hand are paid in step 174. Thus, a wager on the Maker hand in step 152 would be paid if the Maker hand had a higher ranking than the Master hand and the Master hand did not have a ranking equal to or greater than the bonus rank. Payouts may be fixed, odds payouts or simply one to one, while any bonus wagers placed and wagers placed on the lower ranked hand would be lost.
If the rank of the lower ranked hand is equal to or greater than the bonus rank in step 172, then wish bonus wagers are paid out in step 176. The wish bonus may be an odds payout, such as 45 to 1, or a fixed amount. In some embodiments, wagers placed on the lower ranked hand to win would still be lost and the wagers placed on the higher ranking hand would push. Only wagers placed on the wish bonus would win. For example, the bonus rank may be a pair of Kings or better. Thus, if the lower ranked or losing hand is a pair of Kings or better than the bonus criteria is satisfied. If the Maker hand is a pair of Kings and the Master hand is a straight, then in some embodiments wagers placed on the Maker hand would be lost, wagers placed on the Master hand would push, and bonus wagers would be paid to all players that placed the bonus wager in step 152. Alternatively, the payout of the bonus wager may be shared among all players that placed the bonus wager.
In some embodiments, a bonus wager may be added which is a progressive wager, that is, utilizing a conventional progressive jackpot system in which each wager placed, which may be an additional progressive bonus wager, is counted and a portion thereof is incremented to a jackpot award amount. The gradual increase of the progressive jackpot amount may be displayed on a progressive meter for players to view. An additional progressive wager may be received in a method such as method 150 and paid out if the progressive criteria is met in accordance with the invention. In some embodiments, the progressive criteria is satisfied if the first and second partial hands and community card are equal to five Aces. In such embodiment, any players that placed a progressive wager would share the progressive award amount. Also, under such circumstances, the hands be final hands and tied. Thus, the first hand and second hand wagers may push or lose, depending on the embodiment, while tie wagers would win. In some embodiments, the progressive bonus wager may only be placed if a wager on the outcome of the comparison between the first and second hands is also placed, that is, either first hand outranking the second hand, the second hand outranking the first hand or the rank of the first and second hand being the same or tied.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the methods described herein may be incorporated in a system in accordance with the invention using virtual representations of cards and table layouts. The system of the invention may include various computer and network related software and hardware, such as programs, operating systems, memory storage devices, input/output devices, processors, servers with links to data communication systems, wireless or otherwise, and data transceiving terminals, and may be a standalone device or incorporated in another platform, such as a mobile device. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the precise types of software and hardware used are not vital to the full implementation of the methods of the invention so long as players and operators thereof are provided with useful access thereto or the opportunity to play the game as described herein.
While exemplary methods and applications of the methods of the invention have been described herein, it should also be understood that the foregoing is only illustrative of a few particular embodiments with exemplary and/or preferred features, as well as principles of the invention, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the described embodiments should not be considered as limiting of the present invention in any way. Accordingly, the invention embraces alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game comprising the steps of:

receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other;

dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card;

determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card;

comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank;

dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter;

comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and

paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wagers include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein receiving any one of the first, second or third wagers is mandatory.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card further includes dealing a first partial hand of two cards, a second partial hand of two cards and a single community card.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the hand ranks comprise, from lowest rank to highest rank, the hands known as pair, flush, straight, non-suited three of a kind, straight flush, and suited three of a kind.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the qualifying hand rank is pair.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the preset award rank is a pair of Kings.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ranks are conventional poker ranks.

9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome.

10. A method according to claim 10, wherein the award is a multiple of the wager.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank further comprises paying an award of an amount which is at least partially dependent on the rank of the higher ranked final hand.

12. A system for providing a game, comprising:

an input device configured for receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other;

a processor with access to a memory device configured for:

(i) dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card;

(ii) determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card;

(iii) comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank;

(iv) dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter;

(v) comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and

an output device configured for paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the one or more wagers received by the input device include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank.

14. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the input device is configured for receiving cash or electronic debiting an account.

15. A system as recited in claim 13, wherein the output device is configured for paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome.

16. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the output device is configured for paying awards by electronically crediting an account.

17. A system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a display device configured for displaying the game.

18. A system as recited in claim 17 wherein the input device, processor, output device and display device are mounted in a single housing.

19. A system as recited in claim 18, wherein the single housing includes multiple player positions.

20. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the single housing includes a virtual dealer display.