Electronic video poker games

• US 20050236776A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Moody, Ernest W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,222,858 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

If a wager is made on at least one hand of cards, at least five cards are selected from at least one deck of cards, all displayed face up. The deck of cards includes a plurality of cards each having a rank and a suit. At least two of the ranks are different and at least two of the suits are different. Zero, one or a plurality of the cards are selected from the first hand as cards to be held. If a second wager is made on a second hand, a card having the same rank as the card selected to be held from the first hand is displayed in the second hand for each card selected to be held from the first hand. The first and second hands can be completed to include at least five face up cards. Any awards for any determined winning combinations of cards of the completed first or second hands can be displayed.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a first wager to be made on a first hand;

(b) enabling a second wager to be made on a second hand; and

(c) if at least the first wager is made on the first hand,

(i) displaying the first hand of at least five cards all face up and selected from at least one deck of cards, wherein the at least one deck of cards includes a plurality of cards each having a rank and a suit, and at least two of the ranks are different and at least two of the suits are different,

(ii) selecting zero, one or a plurality of the cards from the first hand as cards to be held,

(iii) if the second wager is made on the second hand, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, displaying in the second hand a card having the same rank as said card selected to be held from the first hand,

(iv) completing the first hand to have at least five face up cards,

(v) if the second wager is made on the second hand, completing the second hand to have at least five face up cards,

(vi) determining if the completed first hand includes any winning combination of cards,

(vii) if the second wager is made on the second hand, determining if the completed second hand includes any winning combination of cards, and

(viii) displaying any awards for any determined winning combinations of cards.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the second wager is made on the second hand, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, displaying in the second hand a card having a same rank and a same suit as said card selected to be held from the first hand.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes enabling a single player input to cause the first wager to be made on the first hand and the second wager to be made on the second hand.

4. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) enabling a plurality of wagers to be made on a plurality of hands; and

(b) if at least a first one of the wagers is made on a first one of the hands,

(i) displaying the first hand of a plurality of cards all face up and selected from at least one deck of cards, wherein the at least one deck of cards includes a plurality of cards each having a rank and a suit, and at least two of the ranks are different and at least two of the suits are different,

(ii) selecting zero, one or a plurality of the cards from the first hand as cards to be held,

(iii) for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, displaying in said other hand a card having a same rank as said card selected to be held from the first hand,

(iv) completing the first hand to include at least five face up cards,

(v) for each one of any other hands on which a wager is made, completing said other hand to include at least five face up cards,

(vi) determining if the completed first hand includes any winning combination of cards,

(vii) for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, determining if said completed other hand includes any winning combination of cards, and

(viii) displaying any awards for any determined winning combinations of cards.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, displaying in said hand a card having a same rank and a same suit as said card selected to be held from the first hand.

6. The method of claim 4, which includes enabling a single player input to cause the plurality of wagers to be made on the plurality of hands.

7. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one computer configured with the display device and the input device to;

(a) enable a first wager to be made on a first hand;

(b) enable a second wager to be made on a second hand; and

(c) if at least the first wager is made on the first hand;

(i) display the first hand of at least five cards all face up and selected from at least one deck of cards, wherein the at least one deck of cards includes a plurality of cards each having a rank and a suit, and at least two of the ranks are different and at least two of the suits are different,

(ii) select zero, one or a plurality of the cards from the first hand as cards to be held,

(iii) if the second wager is made on the second hand, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, display in the second hand a card having a same rank as said card selected to be held from the first hand,

(iv) complete the first hand to have at least five face up cards,

(v) if the second wager is made on the second hand, complete the second hand to have at least five face up cards,

(vi) determine if the completed first hand includes any winning combination of cards,

(vii) if the second wager is made on the second hand, determine if the completed second hand includes any winning combination of cards, and

(viii) display any awards for any determined winning combinations of cards.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein if the second wager is made on the second hand, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, the at least one computer is operable with the display device and the input device to display in the second hand a card having a same rank and a same suit as said card selected to be held from the first hand.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein the at least one computer is operable with the display device and the input device to enable a single player input to cause the first wager to be made on the first hand and the second wager to be made on the second hand.

10. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one computer configured with the display device and the input device to;

(a) enable a plurality of wagers to be made on a plurality of hands; and

(b) if at least a first one of the wagers is made on a first one of the hands;

(i) display the first hand of a plurality of cards all face up and selected from at least one deck of cards, wherein the at least one deck of cards includes a plurality of cards each having a rank and a suit, and at least two of the ranks are different and at least two of the suits are different,

(ii) select zero, one or a plurality of the cards from the first hand as cards to be held,

(iii) for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, display in said other hand a card having a same rank as said card selected to be held from the first hand,

(iv) complete the first hand to have at least five face up cards,

(v) for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, complete said other hand to have at least five face up cards,

(vi) determine if the completed first hand includes any winning combination of cards,

(vii) for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, determine if said completed other hand includes any winning combination of cards, and

(viii) display any awards for any determined winning combinations of cards.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein for each one of the other hands on which a wager is made, for each card selected to be held from the first hand, the at least one computer is operable with the display device and the input device to display in said other hand a card having a same rank and a same suit as said card selected to be held from the first hand.

12. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the at least one computer is operable with the display device and the input device to enable a single player input to cause the plurality of wagers to be made on the plurality of hands.