Gaming system, gaming device and method for providing draw poker game

• US 7,993,191 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Evans, Anthony M., Daley, John F., Caputo, Scott A., Wolf, Bryan D., Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US12/045,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20090224478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/309, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 463/13, 463/12
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A gaming system having a five card draw poker game is provided. The gaming system causes an initial five card hand to be dealt to the player and also causes a first draw card to be revealed to the player. The player has the option to keep or discard the first draw card. After the player has decided whether or not to keep the first draw card, the gaming system enables the player to replace cards in the initial player hand. If the player selected to discard the first draw card, this card will not be used as a replacement or draw card to form the final player hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards to replace in the initial player hand. In these implementations, if the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system will cause the display of a second card and the player has the option of keeping or discarding the second draw card. This process continues until all of the discarded cards in the initial player hand have been replaced or until the player elects to discard one of the draw cards.

Claims

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) after receiving the wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a plurality of playing cards for an initial player hand for said play of the game from a virtual deck of playing cards;

(c) prior to displaying the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to place a first supplemental wager;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up;

(e) if the player places the first supplemental wager;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display a first draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards;

(B) before displaying any further draw cards face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards;

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to reserve or discard the first draw card, and

(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine if the first draw card has been reserved or discarded;

(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to designate a quantity of the playing cards of the initial player hand to replace;

(D) if the quantity of designated playing cards to replace is at least one and the first draw card was reserved;

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to form a second player hand by replacing one of the designated playing cards with the first draw card, and

(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to replace any other designated playing cards with draw cards other than the first draw card from the virtual deck of playing cards; and

(E) if the quantity of designated playing cards to replace is at least one and the first draw card was discarded, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to form the second player hand by replacing the designated playing cards with draw cards other than the first draw card from the virtual deck of playing cards;

(f) if the player does not place the first supplemental wager;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to designate a quantity of the playing cards of the initial player hand to replace; and

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to form the second player hand by replacing the designated playing cards with draw cards from the virtual deck of playing cards;

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a rank of the second player hand;

(h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine any awards to be provided to the player based on the rank of the second player hand and according to a paytable; and

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial player hand includes five playing cards.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes providing (e)(A) after causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to determine if the player has designated playing cards to replace in the initial player hand.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes, after providing (e)(A), causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to determine if the player has designated playing cards to replace in the initial player hand.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to make an optional payment, and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to, if the optional payment is received, display a second draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards.

6. The method of claim 5, which includes after (e)(B)(2), causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display the second draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to make a second optional payment, and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to, if the second optional payment is received, enable the player to reserve or discard the second draw card.

8. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data network is an internet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

11. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to randomly determine a quantity of draw cards to display face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards.

12. The method of claim 1, which includes providing (e)(B)(1) after receiving a second supplemental wager from the player.

13. The method of claim 1, which includes providing (e)(C) after providing (e)(A) and (e)(B)(1).

14. The method of claim 1, which includes providing) (e)(A) and (e)(B)(1) after providing (e)(C).

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) after receiving the wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a plurality of playing cards for an initial player hand from a virtual deck of playing cards;

(c) prior to displaying the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to place a first supplemental wager;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to designate playing cards to replace in the initial player hand;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a quantity of designated playing cards to be replaced;

(g) if the player places the supplemental wager;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards,

(B) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to keep or discard the at least one draw card,

(C) if the at least one draw card has been kept, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display said at least one draw card replacing one of the designated playing cards to be replaced in the initial player hand before displaying any further draw cards face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards, and

(D) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display other draw cards from the virtual deck of playing cards replacing any remaining designated playing cards to be replaced to form a final player hand;

(h) if the player does not place the supplemental wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display draw cards from the virtual deck of playing cards replacing each of said designated playing cards to be replaced to form a final player hand;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a rank of the final player hand;

(j) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine any awards to be provided to the player based on the rank of the final player hand and according to a paytable; and

(k) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

16. The method of claim 15, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a quantity of draw cards that can be discarded, the determined quantity being one.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a quantity of draw cards that can be discarded, the determined quantity being two.

18. The method of claim 15, which includes after providing (e), causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display at least one of the draw cards face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards.

19. The method of claim 15, which includes providing (e) after providing (g)(A).

20. The method of claim 15, which is provided through a data network.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the data network is, an internet.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

23. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one processor;

at least one display device; and

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

(a) enable a player to place a primary wager for the play of the poker game;

(b) upon receiving a signal indicating that the player has placed the primary wager, determine a plurality of playing cards for an initial player hand from a virtual deck of playing cards;

(c) prior to displaying the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up, enable the player to place a supplemental wager;

(d) display the plurality of cards of the initial player hand face-up;

(e) upon receiving a signal that the player has placed the supplemental wager;

(i) display a first draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards;

(ii) before displaying any further draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards, enable the player to keep or discard said first draw card;

(iii) upon receiving signals that the player has selected to keep the first draw card and has selected to replace at least one of the playing cards in the initial player hand;

(A) cause a replacement of one of the playing cards in the initial player hand with the first draw card, and

(B) cause a replacement of any other playing cards to be replaced in the initial player hand with other draw cards from the virtual deck to form a final player hand, said other draw cards excluding the first draw card; and

(iv) upon receiving signals that the player has selected to discard the first draw card and has selected to replace at least one of the playing cards in the initial player hand, cause a replacement of the selected playing cards in the initial player hand with draw cards from the virtual deck other than the first draw card to form the final player hand;

(f) if the player does not place the first supplemental wager and the player has selected to replace at least one of the playing cards in the initial player hand, cause a replacement of the selected playing cards in the initial player hand with draw cards from the virtual deck; and

(g) upon receiving a signal that any selected playing cards in the initial player hand have been replaced;

(i) determine any awards to be provided to the player based on a rank of the final player hand and according to a paytable; and

(ii) cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager from a player for a play of a game;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a plurality of game elements for an initial player outcome;

(c) prior to displaying the plurality of game elements for the initial player outcome, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to place a supplemental wager;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display the plurality of game elements for the initial player outcome to the player;

(e) if the player places the first supplemental wager;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display a first replacement element from a set of replacement elements to the player;

(B) before displaying any further replacement elements from the set to the player, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to keep or discard the first replacement element;

(C) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to designate game elements from the initial player outcome to be replaced;

(D) if a quantity of designated game elements to be replaced is at least one and the first replacement element was kept, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine the final player outcome by;

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to replace one of the designated game elements with the first replacement element, and

(2) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to replace any other designated game elements with replacement elements from the set other than the first replacement element; and

(E) if the quantity of designated game elements to be replaced is at least one and the first replacement element was discarded, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine the final player outcome by replacing the designated game elements with replacement elements from the set other than the first replacement element;

(f) if the player does not place the first supplemental wager;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to designate a quantity of game elements from the initial player outcome to be replaced; and

(B) if the quantity of designated game elements is at least one, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine the final player outcome by replacing the designated game elements with replacement elements from the set;

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine any awards to be provided to the player based on the final player outcome; and

(h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the game is selected from the group consisting of a card game, a draw poker game, a dice game, a dominos game, a Pai Gow Poker game, a Blackjack game, and a Baccarat game.