Multi-play poker gaming system with predetermined game outcomes

• US 7,658,672 B1
• Filed: 08/16/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Swift, Lesley S., Powell, Tracy L., Wolf, Bryan D., Krum, Justin M., Montross, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US11/464,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A gaming system which provides the player a plurality of playing cards to form an initial primary poker hand and also displays one or more other poker hands. The player selects one or more of the initially dealt cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard. The held cards are also held in one, more or each of the other simultaneously displayed hands. The gaming device evaluates the held cards and determines which poker game outcomes are possible based on the held cards and the remaining cards in the deck. The gaming device utilizes a stored table of different distributions of poker game outcomes which would result in each payout amount and a table regarding which poker game outcomes are possible based on the player'"'"'s held cards to determine a distribution of outcomes that provides a total payout equal to the payout of the predetermined game outcome.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one memory device which stores;

(i) a first database including data representing a plurality of different poker hands each including a plurality of different playing cards, wherein each different poker hand is associated with at least one poker game outcome possible if said poker hand is played according to an auto-hold strategy,

(ii) a second database including data representing a plurality of payout amounts and at least one distribution of poker game outcomes, if any, which would result in each of said payout amounts, and

(iii) a set of predetermined game outcomes, wherein each predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount;

a central controller configured to communicate with the at least one memory device and programmed to select at least one of said predetermined game outcomes from the set of predetermined game outcomes and to select a poker hand seed which is deterministic of one of said poker hands, wherein said poker hand seed is selected based on the selected predetermined game outcome; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine operable under control of a gaming machine processor and configured to communicate with the central controller, each gaming machine including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device; and

at least one gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the gaming machine processor, cause the gaming machine processor to operate with said at least one display device and said at least one input device to control a play of a multi-hand poker game by;

(a) receiving data representing said selected predetermined game outcome and said selected poker hand seed;

(b) displaying a plurality of said playing cards to form a primary poker hand and at least one secondary poker hand, wherein said displayed playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed and different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of the different poker hands that are each associated with one of the payout amounts;

(c) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in at least one of the poker hands to hold or to discard;

(d) evaluating the playing cards selected by the player to hold in each poker hand to identify a list of which poker game outcomes are possible based on which playing cards the player designated to hold in said poker hand;

(e) determining a distribution of poker game outcomes that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the selected predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list, the first database and the second database;

(f) assigning each one of the displayed poker hands one of the payout amounts of the determined distribution;

(g) causing each of the poker hands to display the playing cards which would result in the assigned payout amount for that poker hand; and

(h) providing the predetermined payout amount of the selected predetermined game outcome to the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein determining the distribution of poker game outcomes includes replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of the gaming machines, when executed by said gaming machine processor, the plurality of instructions cause said gaming machine processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of the gaming machines, when executed by said gaming machine processor, the plurality of instructions cause said gaming machine processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming machine memory device of each gaming machine stores said first database.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one gaming machine memory device of each gaming machine stores said second database.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to flag said selected predetermined game outcome, to output the selected predetermined game outcome and to prevent said selected game outcome from any subsequent selections.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to select at least one of said predetermined game outcomes based on the results of a game selected from the group consisting of a bingo game, a keno game and a lottery game.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of the gaming machines, when executed by said gaming machine processor, the plurality of instructions cause said gaming machine processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the auto-hold strategy is an optimal strategy, based on an applicable paytable, for which of said playing cards to hold and which of said playing cards to discard in said poker hand.

12. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one input device;

a display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device, and said at least one input device to control a play of a multi-hand poker game by;

(a) displaying a plurality of playing cards to form a primary poker hand and at least one secondary poker hand, said displayed playing cards based on a poker hand seed which is selected based on a predetermined game outcome, wherein said predetermined game outcome includes a predetermined payout amount and different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a payout amount;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in at least one of the poker hands to hold or to discard;

(c) evaluating the playing cards selected by the player to hold in each poker hand to identify a list of which poker game outcomes are possible based on which playing cards the player designated to hold in said poker hand;

(d) determining a distribution of poker game outcomes that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and a predefined table which includes data representing a plurality of said payout amounts and the distributions of possible poker game outcomes which correlate to each of the payout amounts;

(e) assigning each one of the displayed poker hands one of the payouts of the determined distribution;

(f) causing each of the poker hands to display the playing cards which would result in the assigned payout amount for that poker hand; and

(g) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said predetermined game outcome is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes.

18. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said predetermined game outcome is stored in the at least one memory device.

19. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said predetermined game outcome is received from a central controller.

20. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the predefined table is stored in the at least one memory device.

21. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of the multi-hand poker game by enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands.

22. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one input device;

a display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with said display device and said at least one input device to control a play of a game by;

(a) displaying a plurality of symbols to form a primary symbol combination and at least one secondary symbol combinations, said displayed symbols based on a predetermined game outcome, wherein said predetermined game outcome includes a predetermined payout amount and different pluralities of said symbols form a plurality of different symbol combinations that are each associated with a payout amount;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed symbols in at least one of the symbol combinations to hold or to discard;

(c) evaluating the symbols selected by the player to hold in each symbol combination to identify a list of which symbol combinations are possible based on which symbols the player designated to hold in said symbol combination;

(d) determining a distribution of symbol combinations that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and a predefined table which includes data representing a plurality of said payout amounts and the distributions of possible symbol combinations which correlate to each of the payout amounts;

(e) assigning each one of the displayed symbol combinations one of the payouts of the determined distribution;

(f) causing each of the symbol combinations to display the symbols which would result in the assigned payout amount for that symbol combination; and

(g) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein said predetermined game outcome is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes.

25. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein said predetermined game outcome is stored in the at least one memory device.

26. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein said predetermined game outcome is received from a central controller.

27. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the predefined table is stored in the at least one memory device.

28. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to control the play of the game by enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed symbols in the primary symbol combination to hold or to discard, wherein said selected symbols are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary symbol combinations.

29. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) generating a first database including data representing a plurality of different poker hands, wherein each different poker hand is associated with at least one poker game outcome possible if said poker hand is played according to an auto-hold strategy;

(b) generating a second database including data representing a plurality of payout amounts and at least one distribution of poker game outcomes, if any, which would result in each of said payout amounts;

(c) comparing the poker game outcomes associated with each poker hand from the first database to the determined different distributions of poker game outcomes which would result in each payout amount from the second database to generate a predefined table which includes data representing each possible poker hand from the first database and each of the different payout amounts from the second database which, according to the auto-hold strategy, are possible based on said poker hand;

(d) selecting a predetermined game outcome, the predetermined game outcome including a predetermined payout amount;

(e) selecting a poker hand seed which is deterministic of one of said poker hands, wherein said poker hand seed is selected based on the selected predetermined game outcome; and

(f) enabling a player to play in a multi-hand poker game, wherein said multi-hand poker game includes;

(i) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of playing cards to form a primary poker hand and at least one secondary poker hand, wherein said displayed playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed;

(ii) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in at least one of the poker hands to hold or to discard;

(iii) evaluating the playing cards selected by the player to hold in each poker hand to identify a list of which poker game outcomes are possible based on which playing cards the player designated to hold in said poker hand;

(iv) determining a distribution of poker game outcomes that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and the generated predefined table;

(v) assigning each one of the displayed poker hands one of the payout amounts of the determined distribution;

(vi) for each of the poker hands, causing the least one display device to display the playing cards which would result in the assigned payout amount for that poker hand; and

(vii) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein determining the distribution of poker game outcomes includes replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

31. The method of claim 29, which includes generating said predefined table by:

(1) selecting one of the payout amounts;

(2) selecting one of the poker hands from the first database;

(3) determining if an entry in the second database exists which is associated with the selected payout amount and uses only the poker game outcomes which are associated with the selected poker hand;

(4) if said entry in the second database exists;

(A) associating the selected poker hand with the selected payout amount, and

(B) adding said selected poker hand and the selected payout amount to the predefined table; and

(5) if said entry in the second database does not exist, repeating (2) to (5) at least once.

32. The method of claim 29, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

33. The method of claim 29, which includes enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

35. The method of claim 29, which includes receiving said predetermined game outcome from a central controller.

36. The method of claim 29, which includes enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the auto-hold strategy is an optimal strategy, based on an applicable paytable, for which of said playing cards to hold and which of said playing cards to discard in said poker hand.

38. The method of claim 29, which is provided through a data network.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the data network is an internet.

40. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of playing cards to form a primary poker hand and at least one secondary poker hand, said displayed playing cards based on a selected poker hand seed which is selected based on a predetermined game outcome which includes a predetermined payout amount;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in at least one of the poker hand to hold or to discard;

(c) evaluating the playing cards selected by the player to hold in each poker hand to identify a list of which poker game outcomes are possible based on which playing cards the player designated to hold in said poker hand;

(d) determining a distribution of poker game outcomes that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and a predefined table which includes data representing a plurality of different payout amounts and the distributions of possible poker game outcomes which correlate to each of the payout amounts;

(e) assigning each one of the displayed poker hands one of the payouts of the determined distribution;

(f) for each of the poker hands, causing the at least one display device to display the playing cards which would result in the assigned payout amount for that poker hand; and

(g) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein determining the distribution of poker game outcomes includes replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

42. The method of claim 40, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

43. The method of claim 40, which includes enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein said predetermined game outcome is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes.

46. The method of claim 40, which includes receiving said predetermined game outcome from a central controller.

47. The method of claim 40, which includes enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands.

48. The method of claim 40, which is provided through a data network.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the data network is an internet.

50. A method of operating a gaming system to provide a multi-hand poker game, said method comprising:

(a) generating a predefined table including data representing each of a plurality of possible poker hands from a first database, each of a plurality of different payout amounts from a second database, and an association of at least one of said poker hands with at least one of said payout amounts;

(b) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of playing cards to form a primary poker hand and at least one secondary poker hand, said displayed playing cards based on a poker hand seed which is selected based on a predetermined game outcome which includes a predetermined payout amount;

(c) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in at least one of the poker hands to hold or to discard;

(d) evaluating the playing cards selected by the player to hold in each poker hand to identify a list of which poker game outcomes are possible based on which playing cards the player designated to hold in said poker hand;

(e) determining a distribution of poker game outcomes that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and the generated predefined table;

(f) assigning each one of the displayed poker hands one of the payouts of the determined distribution;

(g) for each of the poker hands, causing the at least one display device to display the playing cards which would result in the assigned payout amount for that poker hand; and

(h) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein determining the distribution of poker game outcomes includes replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

52. The method of claim 50, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

53. The method of claim 50, which includes enabling the player to select each of said displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

55. The method of claim 50, wherein said predetermined game outcome is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes.

56. The method of claim 50, which includes receiving said predetermined game outcome from a central controller.

57. The method of claim 50, wherein the first database includes data representing a plurality of said different poker hands each including a plurality of said playing cards, wherein each different poker hand is associated with at least one of said poker game outcomes possible if said poker hand is played according to an auto-hold strategy.

58. The method of claim 50, wherein the second database includes data representing a plurality of said payout amounts and at least one distribution of said poker game outcomes, if any, which would result in each of said payout amounts.

59. The method of claim 50, which includes generating said predefined table by:

(1) selecting one of the payout amounts;

(2) selecting one of the poker hands from the first database;

(3) determining if an entry in the second database exists which is associated with the selected payout amount and uses only the poker game outcomes which are associated with the selected poker hand;

(4) if said entry in the second database exists;

(A) associating the selected poker hand with the selected payout amount, and

(B) adding said selected poker hand and the selected payout amount to the predefined table; and

(5) if said entry in the second database does not exist, repeating (2) to (5) at least once.

60. The method of claim 50, which includes enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands.

61. The method of claim 50, which is provided through a data network.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the data network is an internet.

63. A method of operating a gaming device operable under control of a processor, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of symbols to form a primary symbol combination and at least one secondary symbol combinations, wherein different pluralities of said symbols form a plurality of different symbol combinations that are each associated with one of a plurality of payout amounts and said displayed symbols are based on a predetermined game outcome which includes a predetermined payout amount;

(b) enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed symbols in at least one of the symbol combinations to hold or to discard;

(c) evaluating the symbols selected by the player to hold in each symbol combination to identify a list of which symbol combinations are possible based on which symbols the player designated to hold in said symbol combination;

(d) determining a distribution of symbol combinations that provides a total payout amount equal to the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome, wherein said determination is based on the identified list and a predefined table which includes data representing a plurality of said payout amounts and the distributions of possible symbol combinations which correlate to each of the payout amounts;

(e) assigning each one of the displayed symbol combinations one of the payouts of the determined distribution;

(f) for each of the symbol combinations, causing the at least one display device to display the symbols which would result in the assigned payout amount for that symbol combination; and

(g) providing the predetermined payout amount of the predetermined game outcome to the player.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the predetermined game outcome is associated with a predetermined payout amount of zero.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein said predetermined game outcome is selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein said predetermined game outcome is stored in the memory device.

67. The method of claim 63, wherein said predetermined game outcome is received from a central controller.

68. The method of claim 63, wherein the predefined table is stored in the memory device.

69. The method of claim 63, which includes enabling the player to select at least one of said displayed symbols in the primary symbol combination to hold or to discard, wherein said selected symbols are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary symbol combinations.

70. The method of claim 63, which is provided through a data network.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the data network is an internet.