Method of playing a wagering game with built in probabilty variations

• US 5,711,525 A
• Filed: 01/02/1997
• Issued: 01/27/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Breeding, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoll, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/778,115
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/303, 273/305, 273/274
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A wagering card game is disclosed in which the player makes an initial bet to participate in a base game. Prior to the play of the game, the dealer will display at least one additional card from the deck. After viewing this card or cards, the player is given the opportunity to place an additional wager which would qualify the player for an additional winning. By giving the player the opportunity to see at least one card in the deck, considerable insight is provided into the probabilities of certain hands being created. The game of the present invention utilizes a variation on standard card games which are easily understood and which do not involve considerable training and education of the players.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game using a deck of cards having a predetermined rank, comprising the steps of:

(a) a player placing a first wager to participate in a base game;

(b) a dealer dealing cards;

(c) the dealer intentionally displaying at least one card from the deck and discarding that card;

(d) the player placing a second optional wager after viewing the discarded card to simultaneously participate in a second wagering game;

(e) completing play of the base game; and

(f) resolving the player'"'"'s first and second wagers, based upon said players hand, resolution of the first wager being accomplished according to the standard rules of the base game while resolution of the second wager being accomplished according to a payout scheme.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the base game is five card stud poker.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the playing hand is a five card poker hand.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the base game is seven card stud poker.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional card is the top card from the remainder of the deck.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying at least one further additional playing card from the deck and discarding that card prior to the deal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the base game is five card draw poker.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one card is revealed from any location within the deck.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one card includes two or more cards.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the payout scheme is a predetermined payout schedule.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the payout scheme is progressive.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the payout scheme is a predetermined payout schedule.

13. A method of playing a wagering game utilizing playing cards, comprising the steps of:

(a) players placing a wager consisting of a plurality of portions to participate in the game;

(b) dealing the cards such that each player receives a plurality of players cards and the dealer receives a plurality of community cards;

(c) intentionally revealing at least one additional card from the deck, disclosing the card to the players, and removing the additional card from play;

(d) allowing the player the opportunity to place a second, optional wager after viewing the revealed additional card;

(e) allowing the player to review the plurality of players cards;

(f) allowing the player the opportunity to remove a first portion of their wager based upon the reviewed players cards and the revealed additional card;

(g) revealing at least a first community card from the plurality of community cards;

(h) allowing the player the opportunity to remove a second portion of their wager based upon the reviewed players cards, the at least one revealed community card, and the revealed additional card;

(i) revealing the remaining community cards, thus creating a playing hand for each player by combining the community cards with the players cards; and

(j) resolving the first wager based upon the player'"'"'s playing hand and a first payout scheme and separately resolving the second wager based on the players hand and a second payment scheme.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the cards dealt include three players cards and two community cards.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the playing hand is a five card poker hand.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the wager consists of three equal parts.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one additional card is the top card from the remainder of the deck.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of displaying at least one further additional playing card and discarding that card prior to the deal.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one additional card includes two cards.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the first payment scheme is a predetermined schedule and the second payment scheme is a progressive jackpot.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the first payout scheme is a first predetermined payout schedule and the second payout scheme is a second predetermined payout schedule.

22. A method of playing a wagering game utilizing cards, comprising:

(a) a player placing a wager to participate in a base game;

(b) a dealer dealing cards to the player and to the dealer;

(c) the dealer intentionally displaying at least one additional card from the deck and discarding the at least one card;

(d) a player placing an optional second wager after viewing the at least one discarded card;

(e) completing play of the base game;

(f) resolving the player'"'"'s first wager by comparing the player'"'"'s hand with the dealer'"'"'s hand; and

(g) resolving the player'"'"'s second wager according to a payout scheme.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the base game is five card stud poker.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the base game is seven card stud poker.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one additional card is the top card from the remainder of the deck.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of displaying at least one further additional playing card and discarding that card prior to the deal.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein the base game is five card draw poker.

28. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one card includes two or more cards.

29. The method of claim 22 wherein the payout scheme is progressive.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the payout scheme is a predetermined payout schedule.

31. A method of playing a wagering game utilizing cards, comprising the steps of:

(a) players placing a wager consisting of a plurality of portions to participate in the game;

(b) dealing the cards such that each player receives a plurality of players cards and the dealer receives a plurality of community cards;

(c) intentionally revealing at least one additional card from the deck, disclosing the card to the players, and removing the additional card from play;

(d) allowing the player the opportunity to place a second, optional wager after viewing the revealed additional card;

(e) allowing the player to review the plurality of players cards;

(f) allowing the player the opportunity to remove a first portion of their wager based upon the reviewed players cards and the revealed additional card;

(g) revealing at least a first community card from the plurality of community cards;

(h) allowing the player the opportunity to remove a second portion of their wager based upon the reviewed players cards, the at least one revealed community card, and the revealed additional card;

(i) revealing the remaining community cards, thus creating a playing hand for each player by combining the community cards with the players cards; and

(j) resolving the first wager based upon the player'"'"'s playing hand and a first payment scheme and resolving the second wager based on the players hand and a second payment scheme.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the first payment scheme is a predetermined schedule and the second payment scheme is a progressive jackpot.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the first payout scheme is a first predetermined payout schedule and the second payout scheme is a second predetermined payout schedule.