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

• US 8,210,533 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• 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., Nicely, Mark C., Daley, John F., Wolf, Bryan D., Caputo, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US13/173,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20110263308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/12, 273/138.2, 273/274, 273/292
• US Class Current: 273/138.2
• 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. An initial five card hand is dealt and a first draw card is revealed. The player may keep or discard the first draw card. After the player decides whether to keep or discard the first draw card, the player may replace cards in the initial hand. If the player selects to discard the first draw card, this card is not used as a replacement card to form a final hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards in the initial hand to replace. If the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system displays a second draw card and the player may keep or discard the second draw card. This process continues until all discarded cards in the initial hand have been replaced or 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 to, for a player, for a play of a poker game including a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards, for each of a plurality of the virtual decks of playing cards, determine an initial player hand including a plurality of the playing cards from said virtual deck of playing cards;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the playing cards of the initial player hands face-up;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities, the initial quantity being at least one;

(d) for each of the initial player hands;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to enable the player to select at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(ii) thereafter, if the player has selected at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined;

(B) if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one;

(1) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to keep said draw card or to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card;

(2) if the player has chosen to keep said draw card, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a replacement of one of said selected playing cards with said draw card and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (ii)(A) to (ii)(C); and

(3) if the player has chosen to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to discard said draw card, reduce the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities, and repeat (ii)(A) to (ii)(C); and

(C) if the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is not at least one, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a replacement of one of the selected playing cards with said draw card, and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (ii)(A) to (ii)(C); and

(e) after any playing cards in the initial player hands have been replaced;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards to be provided to the player according to a paytable and based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(A) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(B) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes providing (d)(i) to (d)(ii) successively for each of the initial player hands.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes providing (d)(i) to (d)(ii) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.

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

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is an Internet.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

10. 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 player, for a play of a poker game including a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards;

(a) for each of a plurality of the virtual decks of playing cards, determine an initial player hand including a plurality of the playing cards from said virtual deck of playing cards;

(b) display the playing cards of the initial player hands face-up;

(c) provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities, the initial quantity being at least one;

(d) for each of the initial player hands;

(i) enable the player to select at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(ii) thereafter, if the player has selected at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(A) display a draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined;

(B) if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one;

 

(1) enable the player to keep said draw card or to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card;

 

(2) if the player has chosen to keep said draw card, cause a replacement of one of said selected playing cards with said draw card and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (d)(ii)(A) to (d)(ii)(C); and

 

(3) if the player has chosen to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card, discard said draw card, reduce the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities, and repeat (d)(ii)(A) to (d)(ii)(C); and

(C) if the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is not at least one, cause a replacement of one of the selected playing cards with said draw card, and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (d)(ii)(A) to (d)(ii)(C); and

after any playing cards in the initial player hands have been replaced;

(a) determine any awards to be provided to the player according to a paytable and based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(i) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(ii) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

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

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (d)(i) to (d)(ii) successively for each of the initial player hands.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (d)(i) to (d)(ii) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

15. The gaming system of claim 10, which includes wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.

16. 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 primary wager from a player for a play of a poker game, the poker game including a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each of a plurality of the virtual decks of playing cards, determine an initial player hand including a plurality of the playing cards from said virtual deck of playing cards;

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

(d) if the player places the supplemental wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the playing cards of the initial player hands face-up;

(f) for each of the initial player hands, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to select at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced;

(g) for each of the initial player hands, if the player places the supplemental wager and has selected at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined;

(ii) if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one;

(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to keep said draw card or to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card;

(B) if the player has chosen to keep said draw card, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a replacement of one of said selected playing cards with said draw card and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii); and

(C) if the player has chosen to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to discard said draw card, reduce the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities, and repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii); and

(iii) if the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is not at least one, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a replacement of one of the selected playing cards with said draw card, and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii);

(h) for each of the initial player hands, if the player does not place the supplemental wager, if the player has selected at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a replacement of said selected playing cards with draw cards from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined; and

(i) after any playing cards in the initial player hands have been replaced;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards to be provided to the player according to a paytable and based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(A) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(B) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

17. The method of claim 16, which includes providing (f) to (g) successively for each of the initial player hands.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes providing (f) to (g) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

19. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

20. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the amount of the supplemental wager exceeds a threshold amount and, if the amount of the supplemental wager does not exceed the threshold amount, set the initial quantity of burn opportunities to zero.

21. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the initial quantity of burn opportunities based on at least one of:

an amount of the supplemental wager and a quantity of the initial player hands.

22. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

23. The method of claim 16, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.

24. The method of claim 16, which is provided through a data network.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the data network is an internet.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

27. 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) receive a primary wager from a player for a play of a poker game, the poker game including a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards;

(b) for each of a plurality of the virtual decks of playing cards, determine an initial player hand including a plurality of the playing cards from said virtual deck of playing cards;

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

(d) if the player places the supplemental wager, provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities;

(e) display the playing cards of the initial player hands face-up;

(f) for each of the initial player hands, enable the player to select at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced;

(g) for each of the initial player hands, if the player places the supplemental wager and has selected at least one of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(i) display a draw card face-up from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined;

(ii) if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one;

(A) enable the player to keep said draw card or to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card;

(B) if the player has chosen to keep said draw card, cause a replacement of one of said selected playing cards with said draw card and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii); and

(C) if the player has chosen to execute one of the burn opportunities of the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities to discard said draw card, discard said draw card, reduce the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities, and repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii); and

(iii) if the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is not at least one, cause a replacement of one of the selected playing cards with said draw card, and, if any of the selected playing cards have not been replaced, repeat (g)(i) to (g)(iii);

(h) for each of the initial player hands, if the player does not place the supplemental wager, if the player has selected at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced, cause a replacement of said selected playing cards with draw cards from the virtual deck of playing cards from which the playing cards of said initial player hand were determined; and

(i) after any playing cards in the initial player hands have been replaced;

(i) determine any awards to be provided to the player according to a paytable and based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(A) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(B) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

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

28. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (f) to (g) successively for each of the initial player hands.

29. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (f) to (g) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

30. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

31. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine whether the amount of the supplemental wager exceeds a threshold amount and, if the amount of the supplemental wager does not exceed the threshold amount, set the initial quantity of burn opportunities to zero.

32. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the initial quantity of burn opportunities based on at least one of:

an amount of the supplemental wager and a quantity of the initial player hands.

33. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

34. The gaming system of claim 27, which includes wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.

35. 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 primary wager and a supplemental wager from a player for a play of a poker game;

(b) after receiving the primary wager and the supplemental wager, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a plurality of initial player hands of playing cards from a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to, for each of the initial player hands, select at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced;

(e) for each of the initial player hands, if the player selects any of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a draw card from one of the virtual decks of playing cards;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to keep said draw card or, if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one, enable the player to replace said draw card with another draw card, wherein, if the player replaces said draw card, the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is reduced; and

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to replace each of the selected playing cards with different kept draw cards;

(f) after any selected playing cards have been replaced, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards to be provided to the player based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(i) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(ii) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

36. The method of claim 35, which includes providing (e) successively for each of the initial player hands.

37. The method of claim 35, which includes providing (e) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

38. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

39. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the amount of the supplemental wager exceeds a threshold amount and, if the amount of the supplemental wager does not exceed the threshold amount, set the initial quantity of burn opportunities to zero.

40. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the initial quantity of burn opportunities based on at least one of:

an amount of the supplemental wager and a quantity of the initial player hands.

41. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

42. The method of claim 35, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.

43. The method of claim 35, which is provided through a data network.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the data network is an internet.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein the data network is a wireless network.

46. 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) receive a primary wager and a supplemental wager from a player;

(b) after receiving the primary wager and the supplemental wager, display a plurality of initial player hands of playing cards from a plurality of virtual decks of playing cards;

(c) provide the player with an initial quantity of burn opportunities;

(d) enable the player to, for each of the initial player hands, select at least one of the playing cards in said initial player hand to be replaced;

(e) for each of the initial player hands, if the player selects any of the playing cards of said initial player hand to be replaced;

(i) display a draw card from one of the virtual decks of playing cards;

(ii) enable the player to keep said draw card or, if a remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is at least one, enable the player to replace said draw card with another draw card, wherein, if the player replaces said draw card, the remaining quantity of the burn opportunities is reduced; and

(iii) replace each of the selected playing cards with different kept draw cards;

(f) after any selected playing cards have been replaced, determine any awards to be provided to the player based on, for each of the initial player hands;

(i) if any of the playing cards in said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of the hand formed by any non-replaced playing cards of said initial player hand and any replacement playing cards; and

(ii) if none of the playing cards of said initial player hand were replaced, a rank of said initial player hand; and

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

47. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (e) successively for each of the initial player hands.

48. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to provide (e) simultaneously for each of the initial player hands.

49. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to select a quantity of initial player hands with which to play.

50. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine whether the amount of the supplemental wager exceeds a threshold amount and, if the amount of the supplemental wager does not exceed the threshold amount, set the initial quantity of burn opportunities to zero.

51. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the initial quantity of burn opportunities based on at least one of:

an amount of the supplemental wager and a quantity of the initial player hands.

52. The gaming system of claim 46, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute all of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with one of the initial player hands.

53. The gaming system of claim 46, which includes wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to execute each of the burn opportunities of the initial quantity of burn opportunities in association with a different one of the initial player hands.