Abstract: A method of playing cards includes the steps of a player placing a first wager; a dealer providing at least one player card to the player to form a first hand; the dealer providing an opportunity for the player to evaluate the first hand to decide whether to place a second wager; resolving the first wager based upon the rank of the first hand; where the player decides to place the second wager, showing the player at least one common card to provide to the player a combined second hand including the first hand and the at least one common card; and resolving the second wager based upon the rank of the combined hand. A card playing surface also is provided.

Abstract: A method of playing cards includes the steps of a player placing a first wager; a dealer providing at least one player card to the player to form a first hand; the dealer providing an opportunity for the player to evaluate the first hand to decide whether to place a second wager; resolving the first wager based upon the rank of the first hand; where the player decides to place the second wager, showing the player at least one common card to provide to the player a combined second hand including the first hand and the at least one common card; and resolving the second wager based upon the rank of the combined hand. A card playing surface also is provided.

Abstract: A card playing surface is provided including double common card placement areas. For each player the surface includes a first hand stacking area and a combined hand stacking area and first, second and third wagering token placement areas. A method of playing cards includes the steps of each player placing a first wager of any amount with wagering tokens onto the first wager placement area and placing a second wager of a fixed amount with tokens onto the second wager placement area. The dealer deals five cards face down onto the first hand stacking area for each player, and two common cards face down onto the double common card placement areas. Each player examines his or her cards and chooses whether to additionally enter a second phase where the five card hands of entering players are combined with the two common cards to form seven card hands.