Abstract: A method of playing a poker game comprises: each player making one bet (“Showdown bet”) and an optional side bet; dealing two face up cards to each player and to the dealer; dealing five community cards face up; each player and the dealer forming their best five-card poker hand comprised of any five cards selected from the two face up cards dealt to them and the five community cards; comparing each player's hand and the dealer's hand; resolving Showdown bets wherein a player is paid even money on the player's Showdown bet if the player's hand beats the dealer's hand; and resolving side bets wherein a player's side bet wins if the player's hand is comprised of a predetermined poker combination. In one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined poker combination may be a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, or Jacks-High Two Pair.