Method of playing a poker-type wagering game with multiple betting options

• US 7,246,799 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins; Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US10/602,015
• Publication Number:
  US 20040061288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/309, 273/274
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• 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

A method of playing a wagering card game for a number of player using standard playing cards having a standard rank and involving standard poker hand rankings comprises: each player placing at least four distinct wagering parts to participate in the game; dealing three cards to each player and at least two common cards, all of the at least two common cards being dealt face down; giving each player the chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw at least a first part of the at least four distinct wagering parts wager based on the rank of the player'"'"'s cards prior to one of the at least two common cards being dealt face down being exposed; showing the at least one common card, thereby providing at least a partial hand for each player, each player'"'"'s at least a partial hand comprising the shown at least one common card and the cards each player was dealt; allowing each player to withdraw a second part of the at least four wagering parts and forfeiting a third part of the at least four wagering parts; showing at least one more common card to expose all common cards that had been dealt face down; and resolving each player'"'"'s remaining wager based on the rank of that player'"'"'s hand, which remaining wager was not withdrawn.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering card game for a number of players using standard playing cards having a standard rank, said game involving standard poker hand rankings and comprising the steps of:

each player placing at least four distinct wagering parts to participate in the game;

dealing three cards to each player and at least two common cards, all of said at least two common cards being dealt face down;

giving each player the chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw at least a first part of said at least four distinct wagering parts prior to one of said at least two common cards being dealt face down being exposed;

showing said at least one common card, thereby providing at least a partial hand for each player, each player'"'"'s at least a partial hand comprising said shown at least one common card and all three of the cards each player was dealt;

allowing each player to withdraw a second part of the at least four wagering parts and forfeiting a specific third part of the at least four wagering parts;

showing at least one more common card to expose all common cards that had been dealt face down; and

resolving each player'"'"'s remaining wager based on the poker rank of that player'"'"'s hand, which remaining wager was not withdrawn.

2. The method according to claim 1, said wager to participate in the game comprising exactly four parts.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein there are exactly two common cards.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said wager is divided into four parts and the number of common cards is two.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said four parts of said wager are equal.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein said four parts of said wager are equal.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein said four parts of said wager are equal.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein a side bet is placed by the player, prior to receiving and viewing player cards, to play against a bonus pay table and/or progressive jackpot.

14. A method of playing a wagering card game for a number of players using standard playing cards having a standard rank, said game involving standard poker hand rankings and comprising the steps of:

each player placing a wager of more than three parts to participate in the game;

a dealer dealing three cards face down to each player and at least two common cards face down;

giving each player the chance examine the at least three cards received by that player and to withdraw a first part of said wager;

the dealer showing one of said common cards;

giving each player another chance to withdraw a second part of said wager and forfeiting a specific third part of said wager;

showing a second of said at least two common cards to expose at least two common cards, thereby providing exactly a five card hand for each player, each player'"'"'s playing a five card hand consisting of two showing common cards and the three cards each player was dealt; and

resolving each player'"'"'s remaining wager party or parts which was not withdrawn based on the poker ranking of that player'"'"'s five card hand against a paytable.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein said wager is divided into four equal parts and wherein one of said parts may not be withdrawn.

16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the withdrawal of a second part of the wager requires forfeiture of only a third part of the wager.

17. A method of playing a wagering game with a single, standard fifty-two card poker deck, the cards having standard rank and value, said game involving generally well recognized and accepted five-card poker wager-resolving hand ranking outcomes and comprising the steps of:

each player wagering an initial, four-part wager amount to participate in the game;

a dealer dealing three cards face down to each participating player and two common cards face down for use by all participating players;

giving each participating player the chance to inspect the three cards that player received, the dealer then giving each player the choice of withdrawing or leaving at risk a first part of that player'"'"'s initially wagered amount;

the dealer then turning over and showing exactly one of the two common cards and giving each player the choice of withdrawing or leaving at risk a second part of that player'"'"'s initially wagered amount based on the rank and value of that player'"'"'s three cards and the showing common card, wherein withdrawal of the second wager requires forfeiture of a specific third part of the wager;

the dealer then turning over and showing the second common card and each participating player showing the three cards received from the dealer, thereby providing exactly a five card hand for each participating player, each five card hand comprising the two showing common cards and the three cards each participating player was dealt; and

resolving all remaining parts of the wager of each participating player'"'"'s initially wagered amount which was not withdrawn, based on the poker hand ranking outcome of that player'"'"'s five card hand as compared to a paytable.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the fourth part of the initially wagered amount must remain at risk.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the participating players are not playing against each other or against the dealer.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein the initial four-part wager amount wagered by each participating player comprises four equal parts and is wagered before any cards are dealt.

21. The method according to claim 17 further comprising a step of providing apparatus for playing the wagering game, said apparatus including a playing surface having a wager-receiving area for receiving separately the four parts of participating players'"'"' initially wagered amount, a players'"'"' cards-receiving area for receiving and showing the three cards dealt to each participating player, and a common card-receiving area for receiving and showing the two common cards.

22. A method of playing a wagering game comprising a player placing a required wager consisting of at least four distinct wagering parts and providing to the player at least a portion of the player'"'"'s game elements so that partial information or a game outcome is provided,

giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player'"'"'s final game outcome is determined, to withdraw from engagement in the game exactly one wagering part of said at least four wagering parts, wherein withdrawal of said exactly one wagering part requires forfeiture of another specific wagering part and requires that one other specific wagering part of the at least four wagering parts remain in play to the end of the game;

and

continuing play of the game with additional portions of the player'"'"'s game elements being displayed to the player.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least four distinct wagering parts consists of four wagering parts in the wagering game.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein it is withdrawal of the second part that requires forfeiture of the third part and the fourth wagering part remains in play to the conclusion of the game.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein an optional bonus wager is offered to the player before any cards in the player'"'"'s hand are seen.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein an optional bonus wager is offered to the player before any cards in the player'"'"'s hand are seen.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein an optional bonus wager is offered to the player before any cards in the player'"'"'s hand are seen.

28. A method of playing a wagering game with multiple betting options, the method including the steps of:

requiring each player to place a wager comprising at least three parts in order to engage in play of the wagering game;

a dealer dealing a partial a hand of cards to each player who placed the wager;

after viewing the partial hand, each player optionally withdrawing at least one part of his bet;

each player receiving at least one additional card;

wherein at least one part of the bet remains up during the entire play of the game, and at least one specific part of the bet is forfeited to the house when another part of the bet is optionally withdrawn by the player; and

resolving each bet according to the rules of the wagering game.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the wager consists of four parts, and the third wager is forfeited if the second wager is withdrawn.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the wagering game is 5 card poker.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein each additional card received by the player is a community card.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein a total of three cards are dealt to form the partial hand, and two additional community cards are dealt.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein each part of the wager is equal in value.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the wagering game is 5 card stud poker, and hands are resolved according to the rules of the game.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein at least two parts of the wager are interdependent.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein two parts of the wager are interdependent.

37. The method of claim 28, wherein the game is 7 card stud poker, and the player receives three cards in his partial hand, and four community cards.

38. The method of claim 28, wherein a wager of up to six parts is placed, and the game is blackjack.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the player may withdraw a portion of his bet after viewing his first two cards.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the player may withdraw a portion of his bet after viewing each additional hit card.

41. The method of claim 28, wherein at least two of the parts of the bet are unequal in value.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein the wager consists of four parts, and the second wager is forfeited if the first wager is withdrawn.

43. The method of claim 28, wherein the game is five card stud poker, and all wagers are resolved against a pay table setting forth payout odds for a hierarchy of predetermined card combination rankings.

44. The method of claim 28, wherein each additional card received by the player is a card specifically assigned to that player.

45. The method of claim 28, and further comprising the step of each player optionally placing a side bet on the occurrence of a) a predetermined winning hand on any hand held by any player at the table;

b) a predetermined winning hand on any hand held by any player at the table that placed the side bet;

or c) any hand held by any player that beats a dealer hand in rank; and

paying each player at the table a bonus payout.