6-5-4 casino table poker game

• US 7,458,582 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2003
• 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., Barrett, Carol Ellen
• Primary Examiner(s): Pierce; William M
• Application Number:
  US10/637,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 273/274, 273/292, 273/309, 463/12, 463/13
• US Class Current: 273/274
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A casino table poker game comprises a player makes an Ante wager to play in the poker game, and a first number of cards being dealt to the player. A second number of cards is dealt to a dealer. The second number of cards dealt to the dealer is greater then the first number of cards dealt to players. The dealer displays at least a first card from the second number of cards dealt to the dealer. The at least first card analyzed by an automatic game rule of play to determine whether the card must be discarded. If the rule operates to require the at least first card be discarded according to the automatic game rule, the dealer must play the dealer hand with fewer then the second number of cards dealt to the dealer. After a final number of cards has been decided in the dealer'"'"'s hand, the poker game is played to conclusion according to the game rules.

Claims

1. A method of playing a poker game comprising:

a player makes an Ante wager to play in the poker game,

a first number of X cards is dealt to the player,

a second number of at least X+1 cards is dealt to a dealer, the second number of cards dealt to the dealer being greater then the first number of X cards dealt to the player,

displaying at least a first displayed card from the second number of cards dealt to the dealer,

game rules requiring the dealer to discard the at least first displayed card according to a first game rule in which the dealer is not allowed to exercise any judgment in discarding of the first displayed card, the first game rule being one of the rules of the game, the discarding done before the dealer'"'"'s hand is turned over to expose all the dealer'"'"'s cards to the table;

wherein the first game rule of the rules of the poker game requires a discard from the dealer'"'"'s hand of at least X+1 cards and turning over another card from the dealer'"'"'s hand so that one card is face-up,

allowing the dealer to play the dealer hand with fewer then the second number of cards dealt to the dealer, and

playing the poker game to conclusion according to the rules of the game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

3. A method of playing an X-card poker game having game, rules comprising

a player making an Ante wager to play in the poker game,

dealing a first number of X cards to a player and dealing a second number of at least X+1 cards to a dealer as a dealer'"'"'s hand,

displaying suit and rank of at least a first displayed card from the second number of X+1 cards,

the dealer being required to discard a first displayed card of the at least X+1 cards dealt to the dealer according to a first game rule of rules of the game in which the dealer is not allowed to exercise any judgment in discarding the at least first displayed card, the discarding done before the dealer'"'"'s hand is turned over to expose suit and rank of all the dealer'"'"'s cards to the table;

wherein the first game rule of the rules of the game requires a discard from the dealer'"'"'s hand of at least X+1 cards, and turning over another card from the dealer'"'"'s hand so that one card is face-up, and

playing the poker game to conclusion according to the game rules.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the second number of at least X+1 cards consists of X+2 cards.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein X+2 is six.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein a side bet wager may be placed on a player attaining at least a predetermined rank to win payoffs that may exceed the amount of the side bet.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein after turning over another card, determining by a second game rule whether or not to discard the another card and acting on that second game rule to discard or not discard the another card.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein after turning over another card to show suit and rank, determining by a second game rule whether or not to discard the another card and acting on that second game rule to discard or not discard the another card.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a side bet wager may be placed on a player attaining at least a predetermined rank to win payoffs tat may exceed the amount of the side bet.

14. The method of claim 4 wherein X is four, the game rules require a player to place a play wager after viewing the player'"'"'s hand and the play wager must be between 1 times and 2 times the Ante wager, inclusively.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first game rule requires that the another up card be discarded if its rank equals or exceeds a second predetermined minimum rank.

16. The method of claim 14 and further comprising a second game rule requiring that the another card from the dealer'"'"'s hand must be discarded if its rank equals or exceeds a second predetermined rank,

wherein the first predetermined minimum rank and the second predetermined minimum rank are different ranks.

17. The method of claim 3 wherein after a final number of cards in the dealer'"'"'s hand has been determined, requiring the player to either a) fold and forfeit the Ante wager or b) make a play wager to stay in the poker game.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a side bet wager may be placed on a player attaining at least a predetermined rank to win payoffs that may exceed the amount of the side bet.

19. The method of claim 3 wherein the first game rule requires that a first dealer'"'"'s up card be discarded if its rank equals or exceeds a first predetermined minimum rank.

20. The method of claim 19 and further comprising a second game rule requiring that the another card from the dealer'"'"'s hand must be discarded if its rank equals or exceeds a second predetermined rank,

wherein the first predetermined minimum rank and the second predetermined minimum rank are the same rank.

21. The method of claim 3 wherein a side bet wager may be placed on a player attaining at least a predetermined rank to win payoffs that may exceed the amount of the side bet.