Poker game

Abstract

In a poker game, two or more players play against the house, each player placing a first bet to enter the game. Two cards are then dealt face-down to each player and two cards are dealt face-down to the house. Three common cards are then dealt face-up. If the player decides to continue with the game on the basis of the two cards dealt face-down to him and the three cards dealt face-up, he then places a further “call” bet. Two further common cards are then dealt face-up. The game is decided by comparing the best hand of five cards from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards, the higher ranking poker hand winning.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a casino house game which is a variant of five card stud poker.

[0002] Stud poker is a popular game, in casinos and the game has been adapted over the years to evolve new variants such as “Hold'em” and “Omaha”. Hitherto, with such games and variants, the player plays against fellow players, rather than the casino.

[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,025 discloses a variant of stud poker in which three or more hands are dealt and the players are able to bet on whichever of the hands they believe will win.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention provides a method of playing a poker game in which each player plays against a dealer.

[0005] This game requires a certain degree of skill and decision making which in turn makes the game challenging and interesting.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of playing a poker game comprises the steps of:

[0007] dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards face-down to the house;

[0008] dealing three common cards face-up;

[0009] if the player decides to continue with the hand dealt to him, dealing two further common cards face-up; and

[0010] comparing hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and the five common cards, with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards, to decide the winner of the game.

[0011] According to the preferred embodiment of the game, the player is required to place a bet before being dealt two cards face-down. The player is then preferably required to place a further bet to indicate that he wishes to proceed with the game, before the final two common cards are dealt.

[0012] The result of the game is decided on the conventional ranking of poker hands. If however the house's hand is below a predetermined minimum value, the house forfeits the game, paying out on the player's initial bet.

[0013] The minimum qualifying hand for the house may be of any specified rank, but will typically be a pair of fours.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the game, if the player wins, the house would pay out odds, at least on the player's initial bet, depending on the rank of the player's hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 which illustrates the layout of a gaming table cloth, before the play, the player places a bet in the box 1, marked “ante”. The dealer, on behalf of the house, then deals two cards to each player and two cards to himself. All cards are dealt face-down.

[0016] The dealer then deals three common “community” cards face-up in the middle of the table, in the box 2 qmarked “flop”.

[0017] If the players decide to continue with the game, then they place a bet, of double their initial bet, in the box 3 marked “call”. Alternatively, the player may pass their hand and lose their “ante” bet.

[0018] Two further cards are then dealt face-up in box 2.

[0019] Each player then selects five cards from the two dealt to him and the five cards in the “flop” to achieve the best poker hand on the basis of the conventional poker ranking.

Poker Ranking

[0020] 1 Hand Example Royal Flush A, K, Q, J, 10 (suited) Straight Flush 7, 8, 9, 10, J (suited) Four of a Kind 3, 3, 3, 3, K Full House 7, 7, 7, Q, Q Straight 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 (unsuited) Three of a Kind 10, 10, 10, 7, 3 Two Pair A, A, 7, 7, J One Pair 5, 5, K, J, 7 High Card in Hand A, K, 7, 5, 3 (unsuited)

[0021] The players best poker hand is then compared with the best poker hand made up from the two cards dealt face-down to the dealer and five cards in the “flop” to decide the winner.

[0022] If however the dealer's hand is lower than a pair of fours, he fails to qualify and pays the “ante” bets of all the players who are still in the game.

[0023] If the dealer's hand is a pair of fours or better and he loses to a player then he pays the player's “ante” and “call” bets at even money. If however the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand then he takes both the player's “ante” and “call” bets.

[0024] In a variation of the game, if the player's hand is better than the dealer's hand, the house will pay odds on the players “ante” bet, for example, on the basis of the following lists. 2 Odds Hand Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 20 to 1 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1  5 to 1 20 to 1 Full House  3 to 1  3 to 1  2 to 1 Flush  2 to 1  2 to 1  6 to 4

[0025] While in the accompanying drawing five positions are provided for players, any number of players may play the game, each player playing against the dealer.

[0026] The above described game may also be adapted for Internet entertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored on a disk and played on a computer or interactive television.

Claims

1. A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of:

dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards facedown to the house;

dealing three common cards face-up;

if the player decides to continue with his hand, dealing two further cards face-up; and

comparing hands of five cards made up from the two cards deal to the player and the five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and the five common cards, to decide the winner of the game.

2. A method according to

claim 1 in which the player is required to place a bet before being dealt two cards face-down.

3. A method according to

claim 2 in which the player is required to place a further bet before the final two common cards are dealt.

4. A method according to

claim 1 in which the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.

5. A method according to

claim 1 in which if the house's hand is below a predetermined value the house forfeits the game.

6. A method according to

claim 5 in which if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, the house forfeits the game.

7. A method according to

claim 1 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.

8. A method according to

claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:

3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to 1.

9. A method according to

claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:

4 Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind  5 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to 1.

10. A method according to

claim 7 in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:

5 Straight Flush 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Full House  2 to 1 Flush  6 to 4.

11. A method of playing a poker game according to

claim 1 in which one or more players may play against the house.

12. A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first bet;

a dealer dealing two cards face-down to the player and two cards face-down to the dealer;

the dealer also dealing three common cards face-up;

the player placing a second bet if he wishes to continue or forgoing his first bet if he does not wish to continue;

upon placement of the second bet, the dealer dealing two further common cards face-up; and

comparing the hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the dealer and five common cards, to decide the winner of the game, the player losing his first and second bets if the dealer wins and the dealer paying out on the first and second bets if the player wins.

13. A method according to

claim 12 in which the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.

14. A method according to

claim 12 in which if the dealer's hand is below a predetermined value he forfeits the game and pays out on the player's first bet only.

15. A method according to

claim 12 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.

16. A method according to

claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:

6 Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to 1.

17. A method according to

claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:

7 Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind  5 to 1 Full House  3 to 1 Flush  2 to 1.

18. A method according to

claim 15 in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:

8 Straight Flush 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Full House  2 to 1 Flush  6 to 4.