Poker game with required dealer discard

• US 7,140,614 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce, William M.
• Application Number:
  US10/658,865
• Publication Number:
  US 20050051958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 463/12, 463/13
• US Class Current: 273/274
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• 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

A poker-type card game comprises at least one player making at least one ante wager in the poker-type game at least against a dealer'"'"'s hand. The player receives a first number of cards and the dealer receives a second number of cards that is at least one card more then the number of cards received by the player. A set of community cards is provided that are used by the dealer and the player. One of the dealer'"'"'s cards is exposed to the table to provide an exposed dealer card. The dealer is compelled to discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card if the rank of the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is within a first range of values and the dealer is compelled to discard an unexposed dealer'"'"'s card if the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is within a second range of values. After resolving the status of the dealer'"'"'s hand, the player may be allowed to amend the initial one ante wager. The player may also make two separate ante wagers, one of which may be withdrawn upon seeing the dealer'"'"'s up card or the resolution of the discard and retention requirements by the dealer. Different amounts and proportions of Play Wagers may be made on the respective ante wagers, such as 1×, 1.5×, 2×, 3× or more with respect to the amount of the ante wager. An additional side bet against a pay table may be made, or a side bet against a three-card poker hand provided by the community cards may be made. The player may also make two ante bets and the game rules dictate when one or both bets stay at risk.

Claims

1. A method of playing a poker card game comprising at least one player making at least one ante wager in the poker game:

a) at least one player receiving a first number of cards and a dealer receiving a second number of cards that is at least one card more then the number of cards received by the player;

b) providing a set of community cards that can be used by the dealer and the player;

c) exposing a rank of one of the dealer'"'"'s cards to provide an exposed dealer card and leaving other dealer'"'"'s cards unexposed;

d) compelling the dealer to discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card if the rank of the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is within a first range of values and compelling the dealer to discard an unexposed dealer'"'"'s card if the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is within a second range of values to determine the dealer'"'"'s hand; and

e) resolving the at least one ante wager according to rules of the poker game, with the dealer and the at least one player forming multiple-card poker hands from i) the community cards and dealer'"'"'s cards and ii) the community cards and the at least one player'"'"'s cards.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dealer must discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or below a predetermined rank, and the dealer must retain the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or above a predetermined rank.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the dealer must discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or below a rank of 9 or 10.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the player must make a play wager of at least 1×

the ante wager after step c) to remain in the game.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the player has an option of a range of play wagers that may be placed in proportion to the ante that must be placed on the at least one ante to remain in the game.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the player places at least two independent Ante wagers in the poker game and the player is allowed to withdraw at least one of the at least two Ante wagers during play of the poker game.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the dealer must discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or below a rank of 9 or 10.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the player must make a play wager of at least 1×

the ante wager after determining the dealer'"'"'s hand to remain in the game.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the player has an option of a range of play wagers that may be placed in proportion to the ante that must be placed on the at least one ante to remain in the game.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the two Ante bets are equal.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein a second Ante bet is limited to 3×

first Ante bet.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein when the dealer'"'"'s revealed card is an Ace, the player must play both Antes and the dealer retains all dealer cards to play a best five out of six cards.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein when the player'"'"'s hand is a pair or better, the player is permitted to play both Antes.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein when the dealer'"'"'s revealed card is a King, the player must play both Antes, and the dealer must discard a down card.

6. A method of playing a poker card game in which hands are evaluated on the basis of poker ranks, the method comprising at least one player making at least two independent ante wagers in the poker game:

at least one player receiving a first number of cards and a dealer receiving a second number of cards that is at least one card more then the number of cards received by the player;

providing a set of community cards that can be used by the dealer and the player;

exposing the rank of one of the dealer'"'"'s cards to provide an exposed dealer card and leaving other dealer'"'"'s cards unexposed;

compelling the dealer to discard at least one card from the dealer'"'"'s cards;

after the dealer has been compelled to discard the at least one card, allowing the player to withdraw at least one of the at least two ante wagers;

resolving any remaining ante wagers from the at least two ante wagers not withdrawn by the player according to rules of the poker game, with the dealer and the at least one player forming multiple-card poker hands from a) the community cards and dealer'"'"'s cards and b) the community cards and the at least one player'"'"'s cards.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the dealer must discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or below a predetermined rank, and the dealer must retain the exposed dealer'"'"'s card when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or above a predetermined rank.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the dealer must discard the exposed dealer'"'"'s card after step c) when the exposed dealer'"'"'s card is at or below a rank of 9 or 10.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the player must make a play wager of at least 1×

the ante wager after determining the dealer'"'"'s hand to remain in the game.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the player has an option of a range of play wagers that may be placed in proportion to the ante that must be placed on the at least one ante to remain in the game.