POKER GAME VARIATION WITH OPTION CARD

Abstract

A method of playing a modified poker game comprises multiple deals. Each deal comprises the steps of (a) dealing a predetermined number of hole cards to each player face down; (b) dealing a predetermined number of community cards face up; (c) allowing each player the option of receiving an option card, either a face up option card or as a face down option card; (d) assembling the best poker hand of each player from a predetermined number of the face down cards available to that player and a predetermined number of the face up cards available to that player; and (e) declaring the player with the best poker hand assembled in step (d) as the winner of that hand.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to card games and, more specifically, to poker style games.

BACKGROUND

Poker style games have been extremely popular for hundreds of years. Recently, poker style games have been adapted for use in sponsored tournaments, casinos and on the Internet.

There remains a constant need for poker style games which are even more interesting and exciting than prior art poker style games and which encourage gamblers to play in funded tournaments, casinos and on the Internet.

SUMMARY

The invention satisfies this need. The invention is a method of playing a modified poker game using a standard deck of playing cards. The card game typically comprises multiple deals. Each deal comprises the steps of (a) dealing a predetermined number of hole cards to each play face down; (b) dealing a predetermined number of community cards face up; (c) allowing each player the option of receiving an option card; (d) allowing each player receiving an option card in step (c) to receive the option card as a face up option card or as a face down option card; (e) assembling the best poker hand of each player from a predetermined number of the face down cards available to that player and a predetermined number of the face up cards available to that player, the face down cards available to each player being that player's hole cards and any face down option card possessed by that player, the face up cards available to each player being the community cards and any face up option card possessed by that player; and (f) declaring the player with the best poker hand assembled in step (e) as the winner of that hand.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a poker table useable in one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another poker table useable in a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.

The invention is a method of playing a modified poker game. The method uses a standard deck of playing cards having the traditional four suits (clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades) and 13 cards within each suit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace). The game comprises at least one deal, typically a plurality of individual deals.

Each deal comprises the steps of (a) dealing a predetermined number of hole cards to each player face down; (b) dealing a predetermined number of community cards face up; (c) allowing each player the option of receiving an option card; (d) allowing each player receiving an option card in step (c) to receive the option card as a face up option card or as a face down option card; (e) assembling the best poker hand of each player from a predetermined number of the face down cards available to that player and from a predetermined number of the face up cards available to that player, the face down cards available to each player being that player's hole cards and any face down option card possessed by that player, the face up cards available to each player being the community cards and any face up option card possessed by that player; and (f) declaring the player with the best poker hand assembled in step (e) as the winner of that hand.

In a typical embodiment, the predetermined number of hole cards dealt face down in step (a) is two and the predetermined number of community cards dealt face up in step (b) is six.

Also in a typical embodiment, the predetermined number of face down available to each player in step (e) is two and the predetermined number of face up cards available to each player in step (e) is three. Thus, in such a typical embodiment, each player must assemble his or her best poker hand using two face down cards and three face up cards.

Typically, the hole cards are dealt first, and each player is thereafter allowed to bet for a first time. Throughout the deal, when a player is allowed the opportunity to bet, he or she may check, bet, raise, call or fold.

After the hole cards are dealt, the community cards are dealt. Typically, the dealing of community cards in step (b) is accomplished by placing two cards face up on the table at three different times during the course of the deal. Each placement of two cards on the table is typically termed a “flop.” Accordingly, the six community cards dealt face up in step (b) are dealt in a first flop of two cards, a second flop of two cards and a third card of two flops. Typically, each player is allowed to bet again after each of the three flops.

Typically, the steps of allowing each player the option of receiving an option card in step (c) and allowing each player receiving an option card to receive the option card as a face up option card or a face down option card in step (d) is conducted between the second flop and the third flop. In one embodiment of the invention, each player indicates his or her preference for a face up option card or a face down option card by use of an option card button having the word “up” on one side and the word “down” on the opposite side.

Typically, a player receiving an option card must pay a predetermined amount for that option card.

Prior to the initial dealing of the cards in each deal, all players may be required to ante a predetermined ante amount. In one embodiment of the invention, however, only the two players immediately to the left of the dealer must ante. In such embodiment, the player immediately to the left of the dealer must ante a predetermined small blind amount and the player immediately to the left of the player who must ante the small blind amount must ante a large blind amount. The large blind amount is greater than the small blind amount. In other embodiments, all of the other players in the game may be required to ante a predetermined basic ante amount which is less than the small blind amount.

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical seating arrangement for 10 players practicing the method of the invention in a typical game situation, including in a typical game situation organized in a poker tournament. FIG. 1 illustrates a table wherein players are practicing the invention, as the table might look after a third flop is dealt.

In a typical game situation, the players take turns acting as dealer. Usually, the designated dealer rotates one position around the table at the beginning of each deal.

In situations where a poker tournament is sponsored by a sponsoring entity, the sponsoring entity or “house” rakes in a portion of the chips proffered during each deal. Typically, the house rake is similar to the rake in prior art holdem poker game tournaments. In one embodiment of the present invention, the house also rakes in the amounts paid for all option cards or a predetermined percentage of the amount paid for all option cards.

The method of the invention can also be adapted for use in a casino situation wherein each player is only playing against the house. FIG. 2 illustrates a typical seating arrangement for seven players at a casino table practicing the method of the invention.

In a casino situation, the deal of the cards is identical to that for a tournament situation embodiment of the invention with the exception that the dealer does not expose his or her option card until after the last flop has taken place and all of the players have made their final bets. Even where the dealer eventually decides to use his or her option card as a face up option card, the dealer's option card is not exposed until after all of the betting is completed.

In a casino situation using a table such as illustrated in FIG. 2, a player must make an initial ante bet using the “ANTE BET” circle at his or her station. He or she may also be obligated to make an initial blind bet using the “BLIND BET” circle at his or her station.

Also referring to FIG. 2, during the course of the hand, each player can optionally make his or her one or more bets using the “BET 1,” the “BET 2,” the “BET 3” and “PLAY” circles located at his or her station. If a player does not make a final “play” bet, he or she must fold.

Players using a table similar to that illustrated in FIG. 2 place the purchase price for option card in the “BUY MONEY” circle. In a typical embodiment, the cost of an option card is 110% of the ante bet.

In one embodiment of a casino situation, for the player to win the ante bet, BET 1, BET 2, BET 3 or PLAY bet, he or she must beat the dealer's hand. Typically, each of these bets pays even money. For the player to win the blind bet, he or she must have a flush or better. If the player beats the dealer with less than a flush, the blind bet is won by the house. The player having a flush or better does not automatically win the blind bet, the player having a flush or better must also beat the dealer's hand.

In another embodiment of the method when played in a casino situation, the players may make a “straight or better” bet. Typically, a straight or better bet must be equal to or greater than the ante bet and the blind bet. When using the table illustrated in FIG. 2, the players' straight or better bet is placed in the “STRAIGHT OR BETTER” circle. Such straight or better bet can be won by a player simply by having a straight or better, even if he or she ties with the dealer or loses to the dealer.

In typical embodiments, in case of a tie, all bets push except the straight or better bet, unless the tie hand is a straight or better.

Payouts to each winner may optionally also be increased based upon the strength of a player's hand. For example, a player winning a blind bet with four of a kind may be rewarded with a payout equaling eight times his or her blind bet. Also, for a straight or better, a player winning that bet with a flush might be awarded a payout four times his or her straight or better bet. A wide variety of other payout schemes can also be used in the method of the invention. An example of one payout scheme is as follows:

	BLIND PAYOUTS		STRAIGHT PAYOUTS
	Royal	200-1	Royal	64-1
	Straight Flush	40-1	Straight Flush	36-1
	Four of a kind	8-1	Four of a kind	27-1
	Full House	2-1	Full House	5-1
	Flush	1-1	Flush	4-1
			Straight	2-1
Play Bet Maximums
	After hole cards dealt	1-2-3-4	times the ante
	After the first flop	1-2	times the ante
	After the second flop	1	times the ante
	After the third flop	1	times the ante

EXAMPLE

In an exemplary deal in an embodiment of the method in a tournament situation, 10 players are assumed to be in the game, Player No. 1 being the first person to the left of the dealer, Player No. 2 being the second person to the left of the dealer, etc. The dealer is Player No. 10. The number of hole cards is two, the number of community cards is six, the number of face down cards available to each player is two and the number of face up cards available to each player is three.

In this exemplary deal, Player No. 1 is requested to ante a small blind and Player No. 2 is requested to ante a large blind. The large blind is larger than the small blind.

Next, each player is dealt a pair of hole cards face down. Thereafter, each player is allowed to bet.

After the initial round of betting, the dealer deals a first flop of two cards face up. The cards in the first flop are the ace of spades and the four of hearts. Thereafter, each player is given a second opportunity to bet.

After the second round of betting, the dealer deals a second flop of two cards, face up. The cards in the second flop are the king of clubs and the three of spades. Thereafter, each player is allowed to bet a third time.

After the third round of betting, Player Nos. 3, 5, 6, 8 and 10 have folded. The players remaining in the game are Player Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7 and 9.

Each player is then given the opportunity to buy an option card. Each of the players remaining in the game opts to purchase such an option card.

Player No. 1 has an ace of clubs and an ace of diamonds in the hole. Since the face down cards available to each player are only two, Player No. 1 opts to take his option card face up.

Player No. 2 has the two of spades and the five of spades in the hole. He already has an ace through five straight. Player No. 2 opts to take his option card face up in order to possibly improve his hand to a flush.

Player No. 4 has the king of hearts and the ten of clubs in the hole. He decides to use these two hole cards in his final hand. Accordingly, he requests that his option card be dealt him face up.

Player No. 7 has the ace of hearts and the queen of hearts in the hole. He decides to take his option card face up.

Player No. 9 ninth player has the five of diamonds and the ten of clubs in the hole. He decides to work with only one of his two hole cards. Accordingly, Player No. 9 requests that his option card be dealt to him face down.

After each of the option cards is dealt, the dealer deals the third flop face up. The third flop is the jack of hearts and the three of spades. After this third flop is dealt, each of the players is given the opportunity to bet one final time.

After this fourth and final round of betting, the players use two of the face down cards available to them and three of the face up cards available to them to make up their best possible poker hand. The first player can make a full house, aces over threes. The second player can make a six high straight. The fourth player can make two pair, kings and threes. The seventh player can make an ace high flush and the ninth player can make two pair, jacks and threes.

Player No. 1 is declared the winner, because he can create the highest poker hand. As the winner, the first player wins all of the chips anted or bet during the course of the deal.

The invention provides a new and exciting poker game variation, one which maintains the interests of players over a long period of time and encourages those players to continue to gamble for long periods of time.

Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove.

Claims

1. A method of playing a modified poker card game using a standard deck of playing cards, the card game comprising at least one deal, the deal comprising the steps of:

(a) dealing a predetermined number of hole cards to each player face down;

(b) dealing a predetermined number of community cards face up;

(c) allowing each player the option of receiving an option card;

(d) allowing each player receiving an option card in step (c) to receive the option card as a face up option card or as a face down option card;

(e) assembling the best poker hand of each player from a predetermined number of the face down cards available to that player and from a predetermined number of the face up cards available to that player, the face down cards available to each player being that player's hole cards and any face down option card possessed by that player, the face up cards available to each player being the community cards and any face up option card possessed by that player; and

(f) declaring the player with the best poker hand assembled in step (e) as the winner of that hand.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of hole cards dealt face down in step (a) is two and the predetermined number of community cards dealt face up in step (b) is six.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of face down cards available to each player in step (e) is two and the predetermined number of face up cards available to each player in step (e) is three.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the dealing of community cards in step (b) is accomplished by placing two cards face up on the table at three different times during the course of the deal, in a first flop, in a second flop and in a third flop.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the dealing of a predetermined number of hole cards to each player in step (a) is accomplished prior to the dealing of community cards in step (b).

6. The method of claim 4 wherein each player is allowed to bet before the first flop and again after each of the three flops.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the steps of allowing each player the option of receiving an option card in step (c) and allowing each player receiving an option card to receive the option card as a face up option card or a face down option card in step (d) is conducted between the second flop and the third flop.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein each player receiving an option card must pay a predetermined amount for that option card.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein, prior to the initial dealing of the cards, the player immediately to the left of the dealer must ante a predetermined small blind amount and the player immediately to the left of the player who must ante the small blind amount must ante a large blind amount, the large blind amount being greater than the small blind amount.

10. A method of playing a modified poker card game using a standard deck of playing cards, the card game comprising at least one deal, the deal comprising the steps of:

(a) dealing two hole cards to each player face down;

(b) allowing each person to bet;

(c) dealing a first flop of two community cards face up;

(d) allowing each person to bet;

(e) dealing a second flop of two community cards face up;

(f) allowing each person to bet;

(g) allowing each player the option of purchasing an option card;

(h) allowing each player purchasing an option card in step (g) to receive the option card as a face up option card or as a face down option card;

(i) dealing a third flop of two community cards face up;

(j) allowing each person to bet;

(k) assembling the best poker hand of each player from two of the face down cards available to that player and from three of the face up cards available to that player, the face down cards available to each player being that player's hole cards and any face down option card possessed by that player, the face up cards available to each player being the community cards and any face up option card possessed by that player; and

(l) declaring the player with the best poker hand assembled in step (k) as the winner of that hand.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein, prior to the initial dealing of the cards, the player immediately to the left of the dealer must ante a predetermined small blind amount and the player immediately to the left of the player who must ante the small blind amount must ante a large blind amount, the large blind amount being greater than the small blind amount.