Electronic video poker games

• US 6,098,985 A
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Ernest W. Moody
• Inventors: Moody, Ernest W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/175,226
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/12, 273/292, 273/274, 273/309
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

The method of the present invention involves a card game in which the player plays multiple hands of cards. The player makes a wager for each row of cards and each row of cards becomes a separate hand to be played by the player. One hand of two, three, four or five cards are dealt all face up. The player selects none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held. The cards that are held are duplicated from the first hand into all of the other hands. Replacement cards for the non-selected cards are dealt into the first hand and additional cards are then dealt to the first hand, if needed, so that the first hand has five cards. Additional cards are also dealt to all of the other hands so that each hand is a five card hand. The poker hand ranking of each five card hand is determined row by row. The player is then paid for any winning poker hands based on a pay table and the amount of the player'"'"'s wager. Alternatively, the method of the present invention can also be applied to three card poker or four card poker.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of at least five cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

d) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand;

e) redealing into a second hand the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards; and

g) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand.

2. The method of claim 1 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand and a second wager on the second hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

3. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of at least five cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

d) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand

e) redealing into a second hand the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

g) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand;

h) redealing into a third hand the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

i) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards; and

j) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the third hand.

4. The method of claim 3 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

5. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) a player making at least a first wager for a first hand and optionally additional wagers to be applied to a second and subsequent hands;

b) dealing the first hand of at least five cards all face up;

c) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

d) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

e) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand;

f) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

g) redealing seriatim into the second hand and any subsequent hands the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

h) completing seriatim the second hand and any subsequent hands to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

i) determining seriatim the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand and any subsequent hands; and

j) paying seriatim the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager and any subsequent wagers if the resulting cards of the second hand and any subsequent hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

6. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of four cards all face up and a fifth card face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a second hand;

d) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a third hand;

e) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the fifth card face up;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

g) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

h) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and the third hand.

7. The method of claim 6 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

8. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of four cards all face up and a fifth card face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand and optionally any additional hands;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying a fifth card face up;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

9. The method of claim 8 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

10. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of five cards with some of the cards face up and the remaining cards face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a second hand;

d) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a third hand;

e) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the face down cards face up;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

g) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards;

h) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and the third hand.

11. The method of claim 10 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

12. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of five cards with some of the cards face up and remaining cards face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand and optionally any additional hands;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the remaining face down cards face up;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have at least five cards by dealing additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

13. The method of claim 12 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

14. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of three cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have three cards by dealing additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

15. The method of claim 14 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the preestablished amount is based on a pay table.

17. The method of claim 16 in which the pay table comprises:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Poker Hand Ranking Per Coin Wagered ______________________________________ Straight Flush 25 Flush 6 Straight 5 Three-of-a-Kind 3 Any Pair 1 ______________________________________

18. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) dealing a first hand of four cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have four cards by dealing additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

19. The method of claim 18 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the preestablished amount is based on a pay table.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the pay table comprises:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Poker Hand Ranking Per Coin Wagered ______________________________________ Straight Flush 100 Four-of-a-Kind 50 Flush 6 Straight 5 Three-of-a-Kind 3 Two Pair 2 Any Pair 1 ______________________________________

22. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of at least five cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

d) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand;

e) redisplaying into a second hand the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards; and

g) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand.

23. The method of claim 22 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand and a second wager on the second hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

24. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of at least five cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

d) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand

e) redisplaying into a second hand the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

g) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand;

h) redisplaying into a third hand the cards selected to be held from the first a hand;

i) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards; and

j) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the third hand.

25. The method of claim 24 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

26. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) a player making at least a first wager for a first hand and optionally additional wagers to be applied to a second and subsequent hands;

b) displaying the first hand of at least five cards all face up;

c) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

d) discarding from the first hand the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing those each of those cards with a face up card;

e) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand;

f) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

g) redisplaying seriatim into the second hand and any subsequent hands the cards selected to be held from the first hand;

h) completing seriatim the second hand and any subsequent hands to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

i) determining seriatim the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the second hand and any subsequent hands; and

j) paying seriatim the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager and any subsequent wagers if the resulting cards of the second hand and any subsequent hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

27. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of four cards all face up and a fifth card face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a second hand;

d) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a third hand;

e) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the fifth card face up;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

g) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

h) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and the third hand.

28. The method of claim 27 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

a) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

29. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of four cards all face up and a fifth card face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand and optionally any additional hands;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying a fifth card face up;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

30. The method of claim 29 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

a) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

31. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of five cards with some of the cards face up and the remaining cards face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a second hand;

d) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into a third hand;

e) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the face down cards face up;

f) completing the second hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

g) completing the third hand to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards;

h) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and the third hand.

32. The method of claim 31 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and a third wager on the third hand;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the third wager if the resulting cards of the third hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

33. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of five cards with some of the cards face up and remaining cards face down;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand and optionally any additional hands;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card and completing the first hand by displaying the remaining face down cards face up;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have at least five cards by displaying additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

34. The method of claim 33 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

35. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of three cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have three cards by displaying additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

36. The method of claim 35 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the preestablished amount is based on a pay table.

38. The method of claim 37 in which the pay table comprises:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Poker Hand Ranking Per Coin Wagered ______________________________________ Straight Flush 25 Flush 6 Straight 5 Three-of-a-Kind 3 Any Pair 1 ______________________________________

39. A method of playing a card game comprising:

a) displaying a first hand of four cards all face up;

b) selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the first hand as cards to be held;

c) duplicating the cards selected to be held from the first hand into at least a second hand;

d) discarding from the first hand the face up cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with a face up card;

e) completing the second hand and any additional hands to have four cards by displaying additional face up cards to each of the second hand and any additional hands;

f) determining the poker hand ranking of the resulting cards of the first hand, the second hand and any additional hands.

40. The method of claim 39 including the steps of:

a) a player making a first wager on the first hand, a second wager on the second hand and additional wagers on any additional hands, if any;

b) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the first wager if the resulting cards of the first hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking;

c) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of the second wager if the resulting cards of the second hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking; and

d) paying the player a preestablished amount based on the amount of any additional wagers, if any, if the resulting cards of any of the additional hands comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the preestablished amount is based on a pay table.

42. The method of claim 41 in which the pay table comprises:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Poker Hand Ranking Per Coin Wagered ______________________________________ Straight Flush 100 Four-of-a-Kind 50 Flush 6 Straight 5 Three-of-a-Kind 3 Two Pair 2 Any Pair 1 ______________________________________