Draw poker with auxiliary hand
A game for play by a player includes a main wager associated with a main hand and an auxiliary wager associated with an auxiliary hand. The main hand is initially presented to the player so as not to reveal the composition thereof (i.e., facedown), while the auxiliary hand is selected from the main hand prior to revealing the main hand. An auxiliary paytable lists a plurality of card combinations, with the player receiving a payout based on the auxiliary wager if the auxiliary hand includes at least one of the card combinations. The main hand is ultimately used to play traditional draw poker following resolution of the auxiliary hand. The auxiliary hand may include any number of cards less than the number of cards in the main hand, with the auxiliary paytable differing based on the number of cards in the auxiliary hand. Preferably, the player selects the auxiliary hand.
This application claims the benefit and priority of a U.S. Provisional Patent Application filed on May 21, 2007, and entitled Video Poker With Side Bet Feature, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to games of chance, and more specifically to a draw poker game including a main hand and an auxiliary hand, with the auxiliary hand being a subset of the main hand.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVideo poker games have become exceedingly popular. In a typical video poker game, a player is dealt a certain number of cards, usually five, and has a one-time option to replace between none and all of the cards. The player is awarded a payout based on various paytables for achieving a hand having a given poker rank. Given the popularity of video poker, numerous variations to this basic structure have arisen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a game for play by a player including a main wager associated with a main hand and an auxiliary wager associated with an auxiliary hand. The main hand is initially presented to the player facedown, while the auxiliary hand is selected from the main hand prior to revealing the main hand. An auxiliary paytable lists a plurality of card combinations, with the player receiving a payout based on the auxiliary wager if the auxiliary hand includes at least one of the card combinations. The main hand is ultimately used to play traditional draw poker following resolution of the auxiliary hand.
In one aspect of the present invention, the main hand includes five cards. The auxiliary hand may include any number of cards less than the number of cards in the main hand, i.e., two, three or four cards, with the auxiliary paytable differing based on the number of cards in the auxiliary hand. Preferably, the player selects the auxiliary hand. The game may be played at least partially electronically, using a video display, or tangibly, using a live dealer.
The present invention also provides a method of playing a draw poker game. First, an auxiliary paytable is defined including a plurality of card combination. Next, a main wager is posted, for which a player receives a main hand. The main hand is dealt so as not to reveal the composition thereof. An auxiliary wager is also posted, with an auxiliary hand being selected from the main hand prior to revealing the main hand. The auxiliary hand is compared to the auxiliary paytable, with the player being awarded an auxiliary payout based on the auxiliary wager if the auxiliary hand includes at least one of the plurality of card combinations in the auxiliary paytable.
The method may further include defining a main paytable including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings. Following resolution of the auxiliary hand, the main hand may be revealed and compared to the main paytable, with a main payout being awarded to the player based on the main wager if the main hand includes at least one of the plurality of card combinations in the main paytable. As another option, after revealing the main hand, at least one of the cards in the main hand may be replaced to create a final hand. The final hand is then compared to the main paytable, with a main payout being awarded to the player based on the main wager if the final hand includes at least one of the plurality of card combinations in the main paytable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:
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The method may further include the following steps, which are represented in box 124 only as “Play draw poker” as they are based on traditional rules of draw poker which are well known in the art and thus require no further depiction. A main paytable may be defined, including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings. The main hand is then revealed. The player may elect to replace one or more cards from the main hand to create a final hand. Next, either the main hand or the final hand is compared to the main paytable, with the player receiving a payout based on the main wager if the main or final hand includes at least one of the card combinations in the main paytable.
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, it is to be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of words and description rather than of limitation. Those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize that many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced in a substantially equivalent way other than as specifically described herein.
Claims
1. A draw poker game for play by a player comprising:
- a main wager;
- a main hand presented to said player facedown, said main hand ultimately being used to play traditional draw poker;
- an auxiliary wager;
- an auxiliary hand; and
- an auxiliary paytable listing a plurality of card combinations, said player receiving an auxiliary payout if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations;
- wherein said auxiliary hand is selected from said main hand prior to revealing said main hand.
2. The game of claim 1, wherein said main hand includes five cards.
3. The game of claim 2, wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.
4. The game of claim 3, wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in said auxiliary hand.
5. The game of claim 1, wherein said player selects cards from said main hand to create said auxiliary hand.
6. The game of claim 1, wherein said game is played using a video display.
7. The game of claim 1, wherein said game is played using a tangible display.
8. A method of playing a draw poker game comprising:
- defining an auxiliary paytable including a plurality of card combinations;
- wagering a main wager;
- wagering an auxiliary wager;
- dealing a main hand to a player, said main hand being dealt so as not to reveal the composition thereof;
- selecting an auxiliary hand from said main hand, said auxiliary hand being selected prior to revealing said main hand;
- comparing said auxiliary hand to said auxiliary paytable; and
- awarding an auxiliary payout to said player if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said auxiliary paytable.
9. The method of claim 8, further including:
- defining a main paytable including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings;
- revealing said main hand;
- comparing said main hand to said main paytable; and
- awarding a main payout to said player based on said main wager if said main hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said main paytable.
10. The method of claim 8, further including:
- defining a main paytable including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings;
- revealing said main hand;
- replacing at least of the cards in said main hand to create a final hand;
- comparing said final hand to said main paytable; and
- awarding a main payout to said player based on said main wager if said final hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said main paytable.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein said main hand includes five cards.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in said auxiliary hand.
14. The method of claim 8, wherein said player selects cards from said main hand to create said auxiliary hand.
15. A game for play by a player comprising:
- a main paytable including a plurality of main card combinations;
- an auxiliary paytable including a plurality of auxiliary card combinations;
- a main wager;
- an auxiliary wager;
- a main hand, said player being awarded a payout based on said main wager if said main hand includes at least one of said plurality of main card combinations; and
- an auxiliary hand, said player being awarded a payout based on said auxiliary wager if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of auxiliary card combinations;
- wherein said main hand is initially dealt so as not to reveal the composition thereof, with said auxiliary hand being a subset of said main hand selected prior to revealing said main hand.
16. The game of claim 15, wherein said auxiliary hand is selected by said player.
17. The game of claim 15, wherein said main hand includes five cards.
18. The game of claim 15, wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.
19. The game of claim 18, wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in the auxiliary hand.
20. The game of claim 15, wherein said game is played at least partially electronically.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Inventors: Kenneth Brunelle (Las Vegas, NV), Danny Piper (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 11/894,309
International Classification: A63F 1/00 (20060101);