Poker game assembly and method of card playing in a casino

Abstract

A poker game assembly utilized in 1) a support playing table assembly; 2) a table payout/payout panel supported on an upper surface of support playing table assembly. The table layout/payout panel includes 1) player areas; 2) a dealer area to support a deck of player card members, three decks of community cards, a dealer tray assembly, a winner marker member, and a card support shoe member; 3) a community card display and wagering area; 4) a 5-card stud showdown payout table; 5) a 3-card community betting area; 6) a 5-card jackpot betting area; and 7) a community card receiving area. The community card display and wagering area includes 1) an individual card wager area; 2) a single suit wager area; 3) a single card any suit wager area; 4) a red/black wager area; 5) a 3-way split deck wager area; 6) an over/under 7 wager area; 7) an odd/even wager area; and 8) a Lucky 7 wager area. A player member may bet and place chip wagers in any of the above noted wager and betting areas, the 3-card community card table area, and the 5-card jackpot betting area. The method of card playing in a casino begins with a round of wagering, then two cards are dealt to each player member, and the first community card is drawn and placed face up. The dealer collects all losing wagers and pays all winning wagers after each community card is revealed. After the third community card is revealed, the dealer member collects losing wagers and pays winning wagers in all betting and wagering areas as mentioned after the first two community cards plus the wagers covered by the 5-card stud showdown payout table, the 3-card community betting area, and the 5-card jackpot betting area. After all wagers are paid, all chips and cards are collected, another round of the method of card playing in a casino can start.

Description

PRIOR ART

[0001] A computer patent search was conducted on this invention by the inventor and the following United States patents are noted: 1 U.S. PAT. NO. INVENTION INVENTOR 4,149,728 POKER GAME USING A Richard G. Thompson ROULETTE WHEEL 5,423,551 CARD GAME Emil G. Stavinsky 5,692,755 METHOD OF PLAYING A Teofilo Gutierrez CARD GAME FOR A CASINO 5,713,573 WAGERING GAME Anahit Nazaryan 6,109,611 METHOD OF PLAYING A Paiboon Aramapakul ROULETTE-TYPE CARD GAME

[0002] The Thompson patent discloses a poker game using a roulette wheel but, instead of numbers, has individual slots for a poker deck and a joker. There is a player card distribution area 18 having a plurality of betting spaces representing the playing cards of a poker deck, a joker, and other betting spaces representing poker hands. This invention operates on a ball and roulette wheel type system but does not utilize a community card concept.

[0003] The Stavinsky patent discloses a card game in which each player places an initial bet on a semi-circular table top. A chip tray 28 and a card shoe 32 are utilized in this game, along with two decks of 52 cards plus 18 special cards for a total of 122 cards. This card game is substantially different in a method of playing relative to the applicant's invention described herein.

[0004] The Gutierrez patent discloses a method of playing a card game for a casino whereupon the dealer uses a semi-circular tabletop with player stations along an outer arcuate edge. The features of this game are substantially dissimilar to the applicant's invention as set forth herein.

[0005] The Nazaryan patent discloses a wagering game whereupon each player is dealt three cards and can place a bet on whether a total numerical number of the cards will be odd or even. The game is somewhat similar to a game of roulette except having a playing area with numerous wagering areas which can be bet on a particular suit being spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs; an odd and even space; a wagering space to bet on any of the cards from a deuce though 10 and an ace; and a column of suits. This wagering game has some features similar to the applicant's invention but only a limited portion thereof.

[0006] The Aramapakul patent discloses a method of playing a roulette-type card game where players are placing roulette-type wagers and having the feature of three dealt cards that may total odd or even; a majority or cards (two out of three) being red or black; or that the numerical total of the dealt cards will fall within preestablished ranges such as 3-16 or 17-30. This card game is very simple and used with the total of three cards being dealt to a player by a dealer and does not have many of the features set forth in the applicant's invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a poker game assembly is provided including 1) a support playing table assembly utilized with player support chairs; and 2) a table layout/payout panel to be normally used on a semi-circular upper surface of the support playing table assembly.

[0008] The support playing table assembly includes a playing table member of semi-circular shape having an outer arcuate end section for use by player members and a vertical edge section used by a dealer member. The arcuate edge section may have 6-9 player stations thereabout and the vertical edge section normally just has a single dealer station.

[0009] The player support chairs are not shown but of a conventional nature similar to that being utilized today in normal casino blackjack gaming operations.

[0010] The table layout/payout panel is generally constructed of a felt material and includes 1) player member areas; 2) a dealer member area; 3) an individual card display and wagering area; 4) a 5-card stud showdown payout table; 5) a 3-card community betting area; 6) a 5-card jackpot betting area; 7) a community card receiving area; and 8) a trademark and logo design indicia.

[0011] The player member areas each have a respective player member 5-card betting circle; a player member card receiver area; and a player member chips reservoir area.

[0012] The dealer member area has an optional dealer member tray area; a muck area; a discharge shoe area; and a card shoe assembly.

[0013] The individual card display and wagering area includes an individual card display area having 1) an individual card wager area; 2) a single suit wager area; 3) a single card any suit wager area; 4) a red/black wager area; 5) a 3-way split deck wager area; 6) an over/under 7 wager area; 7) an odd/even wager area; and 8) a Lucky 7 wagering area. Each of the wagering areas are operable to receive one or a plurality of gaming chip members thereon to place a wager similar to roulette wheel wagering except using three separately drawn community cards drawn from a total of three decks of cards for placing numerous and varying wagers and determining the losing and the winning wagers as will be explained further in detail.

[0014] The 5-card stud showdown payout table is being utilized with two cards dealt to each player and three community cards dealt one at a time for a 5-card total and being placed in specific locations in front of the dealer member.

[0015] The 3-card community betting area is placed within the dealer member area and having eight separate combinations of bets using 3 cards from the 5-card total as held by each player member as will be explained in detail.

[0016] The 5-card jackpot betting area is placed within the dealer member area and having four different wagers thereon playing high odds, such as 1500:1 and 5000:1, and utilizing the 5-card total, being the two cards dealt to each player member, and the three community cards dealt by the dealer member.

[0017] It is noted that higher payouts in the 3-card community betting area being “ANY IDENTICAL PAYS 2500:1” and “ROYAL FLUSH PAYS 2000:1” plus the 5-card jackpot betting area can be subject to future progressive payouts. Progressive payouts are generated by placing the house winning chips in a separate chip container. These chips are used to generate a larger than normal payout for future winners in these higher payout bets. The use and operation of “progressive payouts” is well known in gaming circles.

[0018] The community card receiving area has 1) a first community card area; 2) a second community card area; and 3) a third community card area to receive individual community cards thereon when being selectively drawn and periodically being placed in the community card receiving area by the dealer member.

[0019] The structural elements utilized in the poker game assembly includes 1) an optional dealer's chip tray having a plurality, namely, six or more rows of different colored player chips with a value chip associated with each row as each game player member will have its own colored chips which may be valued from $0.25 to $5.00 apiece (present Colorado regulations but varies with each state's rules and regulations ; 2) a single deck of cards to be dealt to respective game players; 3) a combination of three decks of cards of 52, all of the same color, and a different color relative to the first deck and being utilized by the dealer to produce the community cards; 4) a dealer's shoe being inclined to receive the three decks of cards therein and is of a conventional nature; 5) a discard shoe tray to receive and hold discarded or previously used card members; and 6) a winner marker member similar to a chess piece which is utilized by the dealer member to be placed on a winner area of the table layout/payout panel to correspond in suit and number to the community card which has been revealed by the dealer member.

[0020] In the method of card playing in a casino of the poker game assembly, the method steps are briefly described as 1) a dealer shuffles the one player card deck assembly of player card members and the other group of three decks of community card deck assemblies with community card members; 2) each game player member places an initial bet within an ante receiving circle in front of each game player station; 3) each game player member then makes a wager on the numerous wagering areas that are clearly described on the community card and display wagering area plus the 5-card showdown area, the 3-card community betting area, and the 5-card jackpot betting area; 4) the dealer takes the single deck of cards and deals each game player member two independent cards to be placed in the player member card receiving area; 5) the dealer member then selects a card from a card support shoe member, after burning one, and turns the card over and places it on the first community card receiving area; 6) the dealer member then pays off on the first community card to any of the game player members who have won and retrieves any wagers they have lost; 7) after removing all of the chips from the individual card display and wagering area, the dealer member states, “place your bets” and the game player members can place additional bets everywhere except their 5-card initial wager, the 3-card community betting area, and the 5-card jackpot betting area similar to the first round; 8) the dealer member then draws a second community card, turns it face up, and places it in the second community card receiving area and then retrieves all chip wagers that have not won and pay all the chip wagers that have won; 9) the dealer member then states, “place your bets” and each game player member then bets as previously in rounds one and two; 10) the dealer member draws a third community card, turns it face up, and places it in the third community card receiving area, collects the losing player members chips, and pays off the winning player members chips in the individual card display and wagering area; 11) the dealer member then inspects, from his/her left to right, the two cards received by each game player member in addition to the three cards set forth in the first, second, and third community areas in front of the dealer's tray area and proceeds to pay off any winner game player member and collect the 5-card initial bet from each loser game player member; 12) the dealer member then has to inspect and pay off any winners set forth in the 5-card stud showdown payout table, the 3-card community betting area, and the 5-card jackpot betting area; and 13) the dealer member then collects all cards and chips and proceeds, to re-shuffle the single deck in the player card deck assembly, when necessary, and the three deck combination of the community card deck assembly and repeat the above noted method of play. The community card deck assembly must be re-shuffled after every three cycles of the method of play. If an automatic shuffling machine is used, the cards in the community card deck assembly will be continuously and automatically re-shuffled.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] One object of this invention is to provide a poker game assembly utilizing a support playing table assembly of semi-circular shape with player support chairs resembling a normal casino blackjack dealer/player gambling operation, and having a table layout/payout panel on a top surface of the support playing table assembly having thereon 1) player member areas; 2) a dealer member area; 3) an individual card display and wagering area; 4) a 5-card stud showdown payout table; 5) a 3-card community betting area; 6) a 5-card jackpot betting area; and 7) a community card receiving area, wherein the game is played similar to roulette except betting on various single or multiple card choices and utilizing first, second, and third community cards along with two cards dealt to each game player member in order to also achieve a 5-card betting and winning combinations.

[0022] Another object of this invention is to provide a poker game assembly whereupon each game player member has its own colored set of wager chips that can be placed selectively on various betting areas on a individual card display and wagering area similar to betting on numbers in a roulette-type game but utilizing single cards, multiple cards, red or black, odd or even, under 7 or over 7, and other betting combinations and having payouts varying considerably depending on a complexity of the card hand that might be won, noting that picking a winning combination of one, three, or five cards is entertaining and similar to a round of roulette game playing.

[0023] One other object of this invention is to provide a poker game assembly utilizing a individual card display and wagering area having numerous independent wager areas thereon with a variety of variable payouts depending on the chance of -winning on a particular bet and having an area of maximum payouts ranking from 1500:1 up to 5000:1 and, therefore, presents a game in which large payouts are possible similar to slot machine payouts.

[0024] One further object of this invention is to provide a poker game assembly having numerous features similar to a roulette game method of play and payout but utilizing a total of four decks of cards (in order to achieve larger payouts), a 5-card stud showdown payout table, a 5-card jackpot betting area, and utilizing playing card members instead of roulette numbers to decide winners and losers during a method of game play.

[0025] Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a poker game assembly having a method of card playing in a casino which provides numerous elements of potentially high winnings and variety in betting, allowing each game player member to place its gaming chips on various chip wager locations and providing a total of 3 community cards being dealt independently and wagers are placed before a first community card, a second community card, and a third community card is dealt and utilizing each game player members cards along with the 3 community cards to determine the winners with possibly payouts being of a large monetary amount which adds substantial game player member approval, entertainment, and excitement of playing.

[0026] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the poker game assembly setting forth a table layout/payout panel mounted on a top surface of a playing table member of this invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a enlarged top plan view of 5-card jackpot betting area set forth on the table layout/payout panel of this invention;

[0029] FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a 5-card stud showdown payout table as set forth on the table layout/payout panel of this invention;

[0030] FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of 3-card community betting area as set forth on the table layout/payout panel of this invention;

[0031] FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of a community card receiving area as set forth on the table layout/payout panel of this invention;

[0032] FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the individual card display and wagering area plus Lucky 7's and odd/even wagering areas as set forth on the table layout/payout panel of this invention;

[0033] FIG. 7 shows pictures displaying various structural elements utilized in the poker game assembly of this invention;

[0034] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the table layout-payout panel of this invention similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a first step in a method of card playing in a casino;

[0035] FIG. 9 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 8 displaying a second step in the method of card playing in a casino;

[0036] FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a third and fourth step in the method of card playing in a casino;

[0037] FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a fifth, a sixth, and a final step in the method of card playing in a casino; and

[0038] FIG. 12 is an enlarged top plan view of the 3-card community betting area similar to FIG. 9 and indicating a winning white chip member and losing black chip member placed thereon during the method of card playing in a casino.

[0039] FIG. 13 is an enlarged top plan view of the 5-card jackpot betting area utilized in the method of card playing in a casino joined with the method steps in FIGS. 8-11, indicating there were no winners in this betting area; and

[0040] FIG. 14 illustrates in an enlarged top plan view the combination of two cards dealt to a black chip player member and two cards dealt to a white chip player member being in combination with the 3 dealt community cards and setting forth the winning status through the use of the 5-card stud showdown payout table in the method of card playing in a casino.

[0041] The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the poker game assembly and method of card playing in a casino of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] On referring to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1, a poker game assembly of this invention, indicated generally at 12, includes 1) a support playing table assembly 16; 2) a plurality of player support chairs (not shown) that traditionally supports a seated game player member thereon; and 3) a table layout/payout panel 18 mounted on a top surface of a playing table member 34.

[0043] The support playing table assembly 16 includes the playing table member 34 of semi-circular shape having an outer arcuate edge section 36 and an inner vertical edge section 38. The arcuate edge section 36 has a plurality, normally from 6-10, spaced player member stations 40, each one associated with a player support chair. The vertical edge section 38 has a central portion being a dealer member station 42 with the dealer member normally in a standing position which is substantially similar to a normal blackjack table assembly and a blackjack dealer member station.

[0044] The table layout/payout panel 18 is normally constructed of a felt material and includes 1) a plurality of spaced player areas 44 adjacent the arcuate edge section 36; 2) a dealer area 46 where the card dealer is normally situated; 3) a individual card display and wagering area 48; 4) a 5-card stud showdown payout table 50, being two thereof; 5) a 3-card community betting area 52 having eight different independent betting areas; 5) a 5-card jackpot betting area 54 adjacent the standing dealer area 46; 6) a community card receiving area 56 positioned adjacent the dealer area 46; and 7) a trademark and logo design indicia 58 illustrating the name of this game “208 Poker” with a spread of cards indicating a “Royal Flush”. The use of “208” in the trademark with the term “Poker” is because there is a total of four decks of cards being utilized at 4×52=208.

[0045] Each player area 44 has 1) a player 5-card betting circle 62 to receive a player member chip wager therein as will be explained; and 2) a player card receiving area 64. The player card receiving area 64 is adjacent the player 5-card betting circle 62 and is used to receive first and second cards dealt to each player member on any the 5-card stud payout area chips.

[0046] The dealer area 46 includes 1) a dealer tray member area 66; 2) a muck area 68; 3) a discharge shoe area 70; and 4) a card shoe area 72.

[0047] The dealer tray area 66 is operable to receive and support a dealer tray assembly 24 used to support rows of differently colored chips to be utilized by a respective player member as will be explained.

[0048] The individual card display and wagering area 48 includes an individual card display area 74 including 1) an individual card wager area 76; 2) a single suit wager area 78; 3) a single card any suit wager area 80; 4) a red/black wager area 82; 5) a 3-way split deck wager area 84; 6) an over/under 7 wager area 86; 7) odd/even wager areas 88; and 8) a Lucky 7 wager area 89.

[0049] The individual card area 76 includes 1) a card identification indicia 90; 2) top wager receiving surfaces 92; and 3) a single card/suit payout area 94. Each card identification indicia 90 includes a suit indicia 96 and a card number indicia 98. (See FIG. 5).

[0050] The single card/suit payout area 94 includes a single card/suit payout indicia 102 which is indicated as “PAY 48:1” payout.

[0051] The single suit wager area 78 includes 1) a spade wager area 104; 2) a hearts wager area 106; 3) a diamond wager area 108; and 4) a club wager area 110. There is a single suit payout indicia 112 which indicates a payout of “PAYS 3:1”.

[0052] The single card any suit wager area 80 includes card identification indicia 114 and a single card any suit payout indicia 116 which indicates a payout that reads “PAY 11:1” payout.

[0053] The red/black wager area 82 includes red/black identification indicia 118 stating, “BLACK/RED EXCEPT 7's” and a red/back payout indicia 120 indicates “PAYS 1:1” payout.

[0054] The 3-way split deck wager areas 84 include 1) an A, 2, 3, 4 wager area 122; 2) a 5, 6, 8, 9 wager area 124; and 3) a 10, J, Q, K wager area 126. Also, we have card identification indicia 128 and a split deck payout indicia 130 which indicates “PAY 2:1” payout.

[0055] The over/under 7 wager areas 86 include over/under 7 identification indicia 132 and an over/under 7 payout indicia 134 which indicates a “PAY 1:1” payout.

[0056] The odd/even wager areas 88 utilize odd/even identification indicia 136 and an odd/even payout indicia 138 which indicates a “PAY 1:1” payout.

[0057] The Lucky 7 wager area 89 includes a Lucky 7 identification indicia 135 and Lucky 7 payout indicia 137 which indicates a “PAYS 48:1” payout.

[0058] On referring to FIG. 7, the actual structural elements utilized in this poker game assembly 12 and method of card playing in a casino 14 includes an optional dealer tray assembly 24 having a plurality of player chips 20 therein consisting of separate rows of individual different colored player chips 165. A special indicator rack or tray 22 is provided to receive a value chip or lamer 163 and a color player chip 165 for each player member. The value chip 163 indicates the value placed to each of the respective color player chips 165 with a chip value indicia 161 that may range in value from $0.25-$5.00 (present Colorado rules) or more in other states, which is a variable determined by a respective casino management plus possible state and federal gaming statutes, rules, and/or regulations.

[0059] The dealer tray assembly 24 is placed in the previously described dealer tray area 66.

[0060] A playing card assembly 26 includes a player card deck assembly 167 and a community card deck assembly 169. The player card deck assembly 167 includes a plurality of player card members 179 having a total of 52 cards similar to a standard card deck.

[0061] The community card deck assembly 169 is of a different color than the player card deck assembly 167 and consists of three separate decks of 52 cards each, for a total of 156 cards, from which community card members are to drawn as will be explained.

[0062] A card support shoe member 28 is provided which is identical to well known dealer shoe members utilized with multiple decks of cards, for example in a conventional blackjack game method of play. The shuffled cards of the community card deck assembly 169 are placed within the card support shoe member 28 at an inclination and a small opening at the lower end thereof allows the dealer member to remove cards one at a time therefrom.

[0063] The discarded cards during dealing and the method of game play are then placed within a discard shoe 30 to hold until they are to be re-shuffled as set forth in the method of card playing in a casino 14.

USE AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] In the method of card playing in a casino 14 with the poker game assembly 12, please refer to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, and 11 to filly understand this card playing method.

[0065] On referring to FIG. 8, we will note that there is a black chip game player member or player 1 having a black chip reservoir 141 with a plurality of black chip members therein and a black color designates this particular player member. Similarly, a white chip player has a white chip reservoir 143 with a plurality of white chip members therein and will play with the white colored chips which then distinguishes the betting thereabout from another player, such as the black chip player.

[0066] It is obvious that the table layout/payout panel 18 in FIG. 8 can support six separate game player members, with each player having a different color of chip member to be respectively utilized. Each game player member may have chip members of different values, such as the black chip player member having black chip members with a value of $0.25 per chip and the white chip player member may have white chip members valued at $1.00 each.

[0067] The dealer member keeps track of such accounting type measures so that when he redeems the chip members, he will know how to pay out the particular colored chip members of the respective chip player member.

[0068] Before a first community card is turned over by the dealer member, the game player members place their wagers and each game player member is requested to place a bet in a respective player 5-card betting circle 62 in front of each game player member.

[0069] In the method illustrated in FIG. 8, the black chip player member places 1) a black chip red wager 151; 2) a black chip single suit diamond wager 153; 3) a black chip single suit deuce-hearts wager 155; 4) a black chip single card four of diamonds wager 157; 5) a black chip single card six of hearts wager 159; 6) a black chip single card any suit ace wager 160; 7) a black chip 3-way 5, 6, 8, 9 wager 162; 8) a black chip under seven wager 164; 9) a black chip 3-card flush wager 166; and 10) a black chip single card queen of clubs wager 181.

[0070] Concurrently, the white chip player member or player 2 removes chips from its white chip reservoir 143 and places a white chip ante wager 170 within the player 5-card betting circle 62 in front of the white chip player member.

[0071] The white chip player member then places 1) a white chip single card any suit four wager 176; 2) a white chip single card any suite eight wager 178; 3) a white chip single card queen spade wager 180; 4) a white chip single suit heart wager 182; 5) a white chip 3-card any two identical wager 184; and 6) a white chip 3-way 10, J, Q, K wager 186.

[0072] At this same time, the white chip player member and black chip player member can place wagers in the 3-card community betting area 52, being eight separate areas, and the 5-card jackpot betting area 54 which has four different winning possibilities.

[0073] The next step is that the dealer member would then deal the black chip player member a black first card 147 and a black second card 149 which is utilized in combination with the 3 community cards to be turned over by the dealer member as will be explained. The white chip player member is dealt a white first card 172 and a white second card 174. The two cards to each game player member would be drawn from the single deck player card deck assembly 167. After a top card on the player card deck assembly 167 has been burned, then the two cards to each player member would have been dealt.

[0074] Next, as noted in FIG. 9, the dealer member would burn a first card from the card support shoe member 28 holding the community card deck assembly 169 and then the next card would be turned over and it is shown that a first community card 188 is a four of diamonds. The dealer member then places the winner mark member 25 on the particular specific card (four of diamonds) on the individual card display and wagering area 48.

[0075] Therefore, the black chip player member, as noted in FIG. 9, has won on black chip red wager 151; the black chip single suit diamond wager 153; the black chip single card four of diamonds wager 157; and the black chip under seven wager 164.

[0076] The white chip player member has won with the white chip single card any suit 4 wager 176.

[0077] As noted in FIG. 9, a winners “Pay-T” is indicated at 187 having a horizontal line or leg 189 and a vertical line or legl 191 on the individual card display and wagering area 48. Every player chip 165 placed on the Pay-T 187 lines present a winning wager which makes it fast and easy for the dealer member to remove losing chip wagers and pay the winning chip wagers.

[0078] The dealer member will proceed from its left side in a clockwise direction around the playing table member 34 collecting the chip members on the individual card display and wagering area 48 that are not to be paid. Next, the dealer member will proceed from his right side in a counter-clockwise direction to pay off everyone who has won with their wagers in the individual card display and wagering area 48. The game player members are then instructed to pick up their winnings from this step in the method of card playing 14 and then announces that the game players may proceed to again place their wagers on the various locations on the individual card display and wagering area 48 as proceeding with the second round of play which will culminate in the drawing of a second community card. At this time, no further bets can be placed in the 3-card community betting area 52 or the 5-card jackpot betting area 54 as the betting would cease therein before even dealing the black chip player member's black first card 147, black second card 149, and the white chip player member's white first card 172 and the white second card 174.

[0079] On referring to FIG. 10, we note that the white and black chip player members have again made chip wagers at various locations and the dealer member has turned up a second community card 194 which is an ace of hearts. The black chip wagers are indicated at 190 and the white chip wagers are indicated at 192.

[0080] The black chip winners are indicated at 193 and the winners are 1) red any suit (Pays 1:11); 2) an ace any suit (Pays 11:1); 3) an A, 2, 3, 4 (Pays 2:1); and 4) a card number under 7 (Pays 1:1).

[0081] The white chip winners are indicated at 195 and the winners are 1) any card in heart suit (Pays 3:1); and individual card being a heart (Pays 48:1).

[0082] Again, a new Pay-T 187 is created in FIG. 10 with a horizontal line or leg 189 and a vertical line or leg 191 to help the dealer member determine winning wagers and losing wagers as previously described.

[0083] Again, the dealer member would proceed from his left and go clockwise around to collect all the losing wagers before reversing direction and going counter-clockwise and paying off all of the winning wagers.

[0084] Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the black chip player member and white chip player member would then proceed to place black chip wagers 196 and white chip wagers 198.

[0085] Next, the dealer member would turn up a third community card 201 which, in this case, is another ace of hearts. As you remember, we are utilizing a total of four decks of cards in this method of card playing in a casino 14 so there are actually four ace of hearts available.

[0086] The black chip winners are indicated at 203 and the white chip winners are indicated at 205. The black chip winners are 1) aces any suit (pays 11:1); 2) hearts any suit (pays 3:1); and 3) any card under 7 (pays 1:1).

[0087] At this time, we note that there is a white chip winner 205 in the 3-card community betting area 52 and, more specifically, as shown in FIG. 12, in the area of “ANY 2 IDENTICAL” cards which refers to the two A of hearts (community cards 194 and 201), being identical and pays 15:1.

[0088] Again, the Pay-T 187 is present in FIG. 11 and is identical to FIG. 10 as the second and third community cards 194 and 201 are identical, namely, an ace of hearts.

[0089] In a final step in the method of card playing in a casino 14, first the dealer member would proceed after the third community card 201 has been placed to again sweep the table starting from the dealer member's left and remove the lost bets on the individual card display and wager area 48 and then reverse and sweep from right to left in a counter-clockwise direction to pay off the winning bets on the individual card display and wagering area 48.

[0090] Next, the dealer member would look at all of the cards, as noted in FIG. 14, to see whether or not there is to be any pay out from the 5-card stud showdown payout table 50 as set forth in FIG. 3.

[0091] We will use this 5-card stud showdown payout table 50 in FIG. 3 with the actual cards turned up as noted in FIG. 14. It is seen that the first, second, and third community cards are an ace of diamonds 188; an ace of hearts 194, and another ace of hearts 201. The white chip player has two cards, being a four of hearts 172 and a king of clubs 174. The white chip player cards are an eight of clubs 146 and an ace of clubs 148.

[0092] Therefore, in determining the players from the 5-card stud showdown payout table 50, it is seen that the white card player member has a pair of aces and a pair of fours, for two pairs, which would result in a “PAYS 1:1” payout. Also, the white card player member has two identical, being both ace of hearts 194, 201, which would result in a “PAY 1:1 ” payout.

[0093] The black card player member would, from the 5-card stud showdown payout table 50, have 1) three aces (cards 148, 194, and 201), with three of a kind “PAY 2:1” payout; and 2) the two identical ace of hearts, which would have a “PAY 1”1” payout.

[0094] Finally, on refer ring to FIG. 13, any two identical cards would pay from the 3-card community betting area 52 and the white chip player member would win with the “PAYS 15:1” payout.

[0095] On referring to FIG. 3, there were no 5-card jackpot wagers and, therefore, no winner payouts. It is to be noted that the payout indicated thereon 1500:1; 2500:1; 3000:1; and 5000:1 are in the aggregate, meaning that if five people placed a wager thereon and the winner was a “5 OF A KIND WITH FOUR IDENTICAL” paying 5000:1 but, being payable in the aggregate, each player who had a chip wager placed thereon would only receive ⅕th of the 5000:1 or 1000 chips. This applies to present State of Colorado gaming rules and regulations but may vary and not an “aggregate payout” according to federal and state gaming statutes, rules, and regulations.

[0096] There is a set of “house dealing procedures” utilized in this “208 Poker” game which are fairly standard procedures similar to a playing of a method of play of a blackjack game using a single deck or, perhaps, three decks. A dealer member shuffles the player card deck assembly 67 independently from the three deck community card deck assembly 169 as they are always kept separate plus being of different colors.

[0097] The two cards dealt out to each game player member are dispensed from the player card deck assembly 167 similar to the dealing of blackjack cards.

[0098] In the beginning, the dealer member states, “place your bets”, antes up wagers and 5-CARD JACKPOT WAGERS, and you also can place three card poker bets and single card bets at this time. The dealer member then starts to shuffle the player card deck assembly 167. Next, the dealer member would bum the top card off the player card deck assembly 167 and ask, “Are there any more bets?” If not, the dealer member shall now state, “no more betting.” Next, the dealer member would deal two cards to each game player member to the space in front of respective player members and the cards will be face down and dealt starting from the left in a clockwise rotation. The game player member may then pick up subject two cards and place them face up in an appropriate position in front of each player station. This is optional and the subject two cards may be face down and turned over after the third community card has been dealt by the dealer member to each respective player member.

[0099] It is to be noted that no wagers are placed on any of the ante wagering areas, jackpot wagering areas, or three card areas after the first and second cards are delivered from the dealer member's hand to each game player member. The dealer member will say, “are there any more bets?” and, if none, the dealer member shall now state, “no more betting.” The dealer member will look to insure that the betting is complete.

[0100] The dealer member will burn a card from the card support shoe member 28 and turn the next card up, identified as the first community card, and placed within the first community card area 152.

[0101] In the previously described example of game play, this first community card 188 was a four of diamonds and the winner marker member 25 was placed on the actual four of diamonds position on the individual card display and wager area 48 to indicate that this is the specific winner of drawing the first community card drawing.

[0102] At this time, the dealer member shall proceed in taking all losing wagers on the first community card as well as paying all winning wages on the first community card. No betting will be allowed while taking and paying procedures are in process and player members shall not interfere or enter the paying and playing area.

[0103] After these wagers have been collected and winners paid, the dealer member should say, “betting is now open for the second community card only, place your bets.” The dealer member shall then say, “are there any more bets?” If there are no more bets, the dealer member shall state, “no more betting.”

[0104] The dealer member will then burn a card from the card support shoe member 28 and take the next card and turn over and place within the second community card area 154 which is an ace of hearts. In the previously described method of play, the winner marker member 25 is placed on the A of hearts card on the community card display and wagering area 48.

[0105] At this time, the dealer member takes all losing wagers and pays all winning wagers based on the second community card. No betting will be allowed while the taking and paying procedures are in process.

[0106] The betting is now open for the third community card. The dealer member states, “place your bets.” After all bets have been made, the dealer member will say, “no more bets.” Betting is now closed for the third or last community card. Again, the dealer member will burn the top card from the card support shoe member 28 and place the next card in the third community card area 156 and it is another ace of hearts being third community card 201. Then, the dealer member will place the winner marker member 25 on the ace of hearts on the individual card display and wagering area 48 and, at this time, the taking and paying of wagers on the third community card 201 will proceed. At this time, the dealer member will pay out chip wagers to a total of five cards for each player member on the 5-card stud showdown payout table 50 and pay each game player member who has won thereon. Finally, the dealer member pays out on the 3-card community betting area 52 and the 5-card jackpot betting area 54.

[0107] At this time, the dealer member collects all of the losing chips and the card members dealt to each game player member, thus clearing the playing table member 34 and this entire betting process and method of card playing in a casino 14 and starts over again with a repeat of the method of card playing in a casino 14 with the described house dealing procedures.

[0108] It is to be understood that this poker game assembly 12 and the method of card playing in a casino 14 can be under numerous different sets of rules and regulations, many of which are not consistent and differ from state to state and, perhaps, due to some federal regulations, and those rules on present Indian reservations.

[0109] For example, in the State of Colorado, we have three old gold mining towns that have been granted limited gambling with a $5.00 maximum bet. Also, there are some rules and regulations in the State of Colorado in regard to limited gambling which probably would not apply, for example, in the State of Nevada.

[0110] This “208 Poker” game may appear to be complex but it is noted that it is proven to be easy to play and, after a couple of hands have been played, the game player member quickly feels comfortable with this game.

[0111] While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims:

Claims

1) A poker game assembly, comprising:

a) a table layout/payout panel adapted to be mounted on a top horizontal surface of a support playing table assembly;

b) said table layout/payout panel includes numerous independent wagering areas having 1) a community card display and wagering area; 2) a 3-card community betting area; and 3) a 5-card jackpot betting area; and

c) a player card deck assembly, a community card deck assembly, and sets of player chips with each of said sets of chips being of a different color.

2) A method of card playing, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of sets of player member chips with each set of a different color, a deck of player card members, three decks of community card deck members, and a table layout/payout panel mounted on a support playing table assembly having a plurality of wager areas thereon;

b) placing wagers by individual player membes on respective ones of said wager areas;

c) dealing each player member two cards from a player card deck assembly;

d) dealing a common community card from a community deck assembly; and

e) collecting all losing wagers and paying all winning wagers placed by the player members on said wager areas.