Method For Playing A Wagering Game

Abstract

An instant lottery ticket game includes the steps of removing a first opaque covering surface to reveal a first set of indicia indicative of a plurality of player's hands of cards wherein each player's hand of cards has four cards, removing a second opaque covering surface to reveal a second set of indicia indicating a set of community cards wherein the set of community cards has three cards, removing a third opaque covering surface to reveal a third set of indicia indicative of a plurality of winning hands, removing a third opaque covering surface to reveal a fourth set of indicia indicative of a plurality of payouts wherein each payout corresponds to a one of the plurality of winning hands, and determining, for each player's hand of cards, if the combination of the player's hand of cards with one or more of the community cards yields a winning hand.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/624,620, filed Nov. 24, 2009, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/208,187, filed Feb. 23, 2009. The entire disclosure of the aforesaid U.S. application Ser. No. 12/624,620 is hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention generally relates a method for playing a card game.

BACKGROUND ART:

Casinos and wagering establishments are always looking for new, novel and exciting card games that entice players to play such card games and hold the players' interest. New and exciting card games increase revenues to casinos and other wagering establishments. On the other hand, prospective, players are always looking for new card games that are challenging and exciting. Some examples of well know card games are Let It Ride Bonus Stud Poker, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,081, Three Card Poker, described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774, and Caribbean Stud Poker, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,533.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new method for playing cards that generates additional unpredictability, excitement, and revenue for both players and casinos in comparison to traditional card games.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in view of the ensuing description of the present invention.

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of playing a wagering game comprising the steps of providing at least one deck of playing cards, receiving an ante wager from each player in order to participate in the wagering game, dealing a first number of cards face down to each player who places the ante wager to form a player hand, dealing the first number of cards face down to the dealer to form a dealer hand, and providing an opportunity for a player to view the player's cards so that the player may decide whether to continue play or to surrender. Any player that decides to surrender shall fold and forfeit the player's ante wager. The method of playing the wagering game further includes the step of receiving a call wager from each remaining player in order to continue to play the wagering game, dealing a second number of cards face down to each remaining player who places a call wager, wherein each player's hand is now formed by the combination of the first and second number of cards. The method of playing the wagering game further includes the steps of dealing the second number of cards face down to the dealer so that the dealer's hand is now formed by the combination of the first and second number of cards, and determining if any player does not have at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush. If a player does not have at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush, the player immediately loses his ante wager. However, this situation is a push to the player's call wager and so the player's call wager is returned to him. Any player who has at least a four card straight, a four card flush or a four card straight-flush plays against the dealer's hand. The method of playing the wagering game further comprises the steps of determining the ranking of the dealer's and player's hands in accordance with a predetermined ranking of hands, determining if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand, paying each player on the ante and call wagers in accordance with a predetermined pay-table when the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand, and collecting the ante and call wagers from the players whose hands do not outrank the dealer's hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a gaming table layout suitable for play of the wagering game of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a four card straight;

FIG. 3 illustrates a four card flush;

FIG. 4 illustrates both a player and the dealer having a five-card flush;

FIG. 5 illustrates a player and the dealer both having a five-card straight;

FIG. 6 illustrates a player and the dealer both having a six-card flush;

FIG. 7 illustrates a player and the dealer both having a six-card straight;

FIG. 8 illustrates a player and the dealer both having a seven-card flush;

FIG. 9 illustrates a player and the dealer both having a seven-card straight;

FIG. 10 illustrates a hand of cards that yields a seven card royal flush which would qualify as a winning hand for purposes of a progressive Jackpot;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an electronic video gaming machine on which the card game of the present invention may be played;

FIG. 12 is a Nock diagram of the interconnection of the main components of the electronic video gaming machine of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 depicts an instant lottery ticket in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 depicts the instant lottery ticket of FIG. 13 after all of the alterable covering surfaces have been altered.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:

The card game of the present invention is played on a table by at least one player and a dealer. The card game of the present invention may be played with up to six players plus the dealer. The dealer usually represents the house or the casino in the play of the game. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of a table suitable for playing the wagering game of the present invention. Table 10 has a plurality of card receiving areas 12 for the players and the dealer, and Ante wagering areas 14 for the players to place Ante wagers. Table m includes Call wagering areas 16 for the players to place Call wagers and Jackpot wager areas 18 for the players to place Jackpot wagers. In one embodiment, the card table may have printed thereon the appropriate payout schedule that corresponds to the wagering game of the present invention.

In one embodiment, all of the sets of cards are contained in a shoe, known in the art, from which the dealer may draw one card at a time. In another embodiment, the cards are contained in an automatic card shuffler. In order to initiate play of the game, a standard deck of fifty-two cards is provided. The game may be played with more than one standard deck of cards if the number of players requires that more than one deck of cards be used. In other forms of the game, multiple intermixed decks of cards, decks with wild cards or special decks (i.e. decks with certain cards removed) and Jokers are used.

The card game of the present invention can be implemented on an electronic gaming machine such as an electronic video gaming machine. In such electronic gaming machines, images of playing cards are electronically generated and then displayed on a display screen.

Additionally, the card game of the present invention can be realized with a lottery scratch ticket wherein images of playing cards are covered by a substance that is removed by players with a coin or other suitable object. U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,107 shows a typical structure of such lottery scratch-type tickets. Thus, the terms “cards”, “playing cards” or “hand” are defined herein to include:

a) physical playing cards,

b) computer-generated images of playing cards,

c) graphically generated images of playing cards, and

d) images of playing cards formed on lottery scratch-type tickets.

The card game requires that players make two bets: (1) the ante, and (2) the call bet. In accordance with the invention, both the Ante and Call bets are mandatory. The card game also provides an opportunity for a player to make an optional Progressive Jackpot bet. If the particular embodiment of the card game of the present invention uses a Progressive Jackpot, then the players must place their jackpot bets at the same time they place their Ante wager. The jackpot bets are described separately in the ensuing description.

In the first step of the game, each player places an Ante wager before any cards are dealt. If a jackpot is being used, then any players desiring to participate in the jackpot must also place their jackpot bets when they place the Ante wager.

Next, each player and the dealer will receive four cards. The dealer preferably deals the initial four card hand in a left-to-right motion starting from the dealer's left. The cards are dealt face down. Each player then looks at his or her hand and decides if he or she wants to play or surrender. If the player decides to surrender, the player must fold his or her hand and forfeit all of his or her Ante wager. If a player does not surrender, that player must make a Call bet. In one embodiment, the Call bet is equal to the Ante. In another embodiment, the Call bet is double the Ante wager.

After a player makes the Call bet, that player will receive three additional cards facedown. The player then views his or her three additional cards and combines these additional cards with his or her initially dealt four cards in order to make a seven card hand.

The dealer will also deal himself three additional cards which he will combine with his initially dealt four cards in order to make a seven card hand.

If a player does not have at least a four-card straight, a four-card flush or a four-card straight-flush, the player immediately loses his or her Ante wager and any Jackpot wager. However, such a situation is a push to the player's Call bet and so the player's Call bet is returned to him or her.

Examples of a four card straight and a four card flush are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively.

If a player's hand forms a four card, five card, six card or seven card straight, flush or straight-flush, then the player shall play against the dealer's hand.

When a player's hand and the dealer's hand both have the same number of cards making up a straight, flush or straight-flush, then a straight-flush beats a flush and a flush beats a straight. Otherwise, the hand with the greater number of cards making up a straight, flush or straight-flush wins. For example, a six card straight will outrank a five card straight-flush. FIG. 4 shows an example wherein the dealer and the player each have a five card flush. In this situation, the player wins because the player has an ACE which outranks each card that the dealer has in his hand. However, in accordance with the invention, the ACE may also have a numeric value of one and thus, can be used as the low card in the straight: ACE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE. In such a situation, a higher ranking straight would win since the ACE, as used in this hand, has a numeric value of one.

FIG. 5 shows an example wherein the dealer and player each have a five card straight. In this situation, the dealer wins since the dealer has an ACE which outranks any of the cards the player has in his hand. FIG. 6 shows an example wherein the dealer and the player each have a six card flush. In this situation, the player wins because the player has an ACE which outranks each card that the dealer has in his hand. FIG. 7 shows an example wherein the dealer and player each have a six card straight. In this situation, the dealer wins since the dealer has a KING which outranks any of the cards the player has in his hand. FIG. 8 shows an example wherein the dealer and the player each have a seven card flush. In this situation, the player wins because the player has an ACE which outranks each card that the dealer has in his hand. FIG. 9 shows an example wherein the dealer and player each have a seven card straight. In this situation, the dealer wins since the dealer has a JACK which outranks any of the cards the player has in his hand.

In the event of a tie, then the second highest ranking card in the dealer's hand and the player's hand are used to break the tie. In the event the second highest ranking cards have the same ranking and cannot break the tie, then the third highest ranking card in the dealer's hand and the player's hand are used to break the tie. In the event the tie cannot be broken with the third highest ranking cards, this process will continue (e.g. fourth highest ranking cards, fifth highest ranking cards, etc.) until either the player or the dealer has a card that has a ranking that breaks the tie.

Table I shows the possible hands and the ranking assigned to each hand. A ranking of twelve is the highest and a ranking of one is the lowest.

TABLE I
HAND                      RANKING
Seven Card Straight-Flush 12
Seven Card Flush          11
Seven Card Straight       10
Six Card Straight-Flush   9
Six Card Flush            8
Six Card Straight         7
Five Card Straight-Flush  6
Five Card Flush           5
Five Card Straight        4
Four Card Straight-Flush  3
Four Card Flush           2
Four Card Straight        1

The player's hand must beat the dealer's hand to win the Ante and the Call bet. The winning player is paid even money on the Ante. The winnings paid to the player based on the Call bet are based on the pay table shown in Table II:

TABLE II
Winning Hand                     Payout
7 card straight-flush or flush   30:1
7 card straight                  15:1
6 card straight-flush or flush   10:1
6 card straight                  5:1
5 card straight, flush or straight-flush 2:1
4 card straight, flush or straight-flush 1:1

If the player ties the dealer, it is a push and the player's Ante wager and Call bet are returned to the player.

In an alternate embodiment of the wagering game of the present invention, the player only loses a portion of his Ante wager when he folds or surrenders. For example, the player would only lose half of his Ante wager and the remaining portion of the Ante wager is returned to the player.

As described in the foregoing description, the player has the option of making a Jackpot wager in addition to the Ante wager and Call wager. In a preferred embodiment, the Jackpot is a Progressive Jackpot. In one embodiment, the Progressive Jackpot requires a one-dollar Progressive Jackpot Wager. In another embodiment, the Progressive Jackpot is a 3-Pot Progressive Jackpot and requires a one-dollar 3-Pot Progressive Jackpot Wager. Each of these Progressive Jackpot bets is now discussed in detail.

One-Dollar Progressive Jackpot Bet

In this embodiment, the player has the option to place a one-dollar Progressive Jackpot bet when he or she places the Ante wager. Referring to Table III below, if the player's seven card hand matches any of the winning hands on the Progressive Jackpot paytable, the player will be paid as follows:

TABLE III
Winning Hand          Pay
7 Card Royal Flush    Current Jackpot
                      ($50,000 seed)
7 Card Straight Flush $5,000
6 Card Royal Flush    $1,000
6 Card Straight Flush $500
5 Card Royal Flush    $300
7 Card Flush          $200
7 Card Straight       $30
6 Card Flush          $20
6 Card Straight       $10
5 Card Flush          $5

In a preferred embodiment, for each one-dollar wagered by players during play of the card game of the present invention, fifty cents is allocated to the progressive Jackpot. Thus, a substantial amount of money can accumulate in the progressive Jackpot over several days if no player acquires a winning hand that will win the Jackpot.

3-Pot Progressive Jackpot Bet

In another embodiment, the player also has the option to place a one dollar 3-Pot Progressive Jackpot bet when he or she places the Ante wager. Referring to Table IV below, if the player's seven card hand matches any of the winning hands on the 3-Pot Progressive Jackpot pay-table, the player will be paid as follows:

TABLE IV
Winning Hand              Payout
Seven Card Royal Flush    Current Gold Jackpot ($500,000 seed)
Seven Card Straight-Flush $100,000
Six Card Royal Flush      Current Silver Jackpot
                          ($35,000 seed)
Six Card Straight-Flush   $7,500
Five Card Royal Flush     Current Bronze Jackpot
                          ($4,000 seed)
Five Card Straight-Flush  $500

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a seven card royal flush.

All progressive Jackpot wagers are collected regardless of whether or not a player wins the progressive Jackpot.

In accordance with this embodiment of the Progressive Jackpot, a player's hand is evaluated in the order listed in the pay table shown as Table IV. For example, if the Current Silver Jackpot is greater than $100,000 and the player has a seven card straight-flush that contains a six card royal flush, then the player will be paid $100,000 instead of the Current Silver Jackpot. A predetermined portion of every one-dollar wagered is allocated to each of the three Jackpots: Current Gold Jackpot, Current Silver Jackpot and Current Bronze Jackpot. In one embodiment, the allocation is shown in Table V:

TABLE V
Gold Jackpot   22 cents
Silver Jackpot 8 cents
Bronze Jackpot 8 cents
Total          38 cents

The card game of the present invention can be played: (i) in a casino or other wagering establishment in a manner similar to conventional card games, i.e. “live table version” wherein a group of players and a dealer are positioned at a gaming table, (ii) on electronic video gaming machines such as electronic video poker gaming machines which may be located in a casino other wagering establishment, or (iii) on linked, electronic video gaming machines located in a casino or wagering establishment. Electronic video gaming machines are generally described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,823,873, 6,478,675 and 6,517,074, the disclosures of which patents are hereby incorporated by reference.

The card game of the present invention also can be implemented on slot machines. Furthermore, the card game of the present invention also can be implemented with lottery scratch-type tickets that are sold by many state governments.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there is shown a diagram of an electronic video gaming machine 100 on which the card game of the present invention may be played. Electronic gaming machine 100 comprises video screen display 108, computer 110 and activation panel 112. Computer 110 is in electronic data signal communication with video screen display 108 and activation panel 112. Video screen display 108 displays the playing cards that will be used during the play of the card game. Thus, video screen display 108 displays the player's hand of cards 200 and also displays the dealer's hand of cards 202. Video screen display 108 also displays other information and data to the player to allow the player to understand the play of the game and the progress of the game. Video screen display 108 also displays information related to the winner of the game (e.g. dealer or player) and the amount of any winnings to be awarded to the player. Activation panel 112 comprises a button panel which has buttons 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132 and 134 that the player may press to activate various actions during play of the card game. An “ANTE” button 122 allows the player to place the initial Ante and start the game. “CALL WAGER” button 124 allows the player to place his Call Wager. Electronic video gaming machine 100 further comprises wager input device 140 that comprises two portions. The first portion is coin slot 142 which allows the player to insert coins or tokens. The second portion of wager input device 140 is device 144 which is configured to accept bills, vouchers, coupons, or other suitable script. Wager input device 140 includes electronic circuitry, well known in the art, which generates electronic data signals representing the amount and type of wager. These electronic data signals are inputted into computer 110. Computer no stores therein a video signal representation of each card of a standard deck of cards. Computer 110 analyzes the displayed hands of cards. As shown in FIG. 12, computer no comprises a processor device 150 which has a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions. Processor device 150 executes these instructions to perform the steps of the card game of the present invention. Electronic data representing each card in a deck of playing cards is stored in the memory of computer 110. Computer 110 also comprises other electronic circuits such as cache memory, signal processing circuits and driver circuitry which are known in the art. Processor 150 is programmed with a predetermined pay-out table or pay schedule. Computer 110 implements many functions such as randomly shuffling a deck (or decks) of cards and analyzing the displayed hands of cards held by the dealer and the player.

In an alternate embodiment, the card game of the present invention can be implemented on a lottery scratch-type ticket (also known as “scratch-off” lottery ticket or “instant lottery ticket”). As mentioned in the foregoing description, one example of such an instant lottery ticket is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,107, issued Jun. 3, 2003, entitled “Ticket For Instant Lottery Game And Method Of Playing Same”.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 of the present of the present application, there is shown instant lottery ticket 300 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 13, ticket 300 is depicted as it is normally sold to a player—that is, before the game has been played. Ticket 300 includes player's cards section 302. A heading 303, such as “PLAYER'S CARDS”, may be imprinted on ticket 300 to indicate player's cards section 302. Ticket 300 includes community card section 304. A heading 305, such as “COMMUNITY CARDS”, may be imprinted on ticket 300 to indicate community card section 304. Ticket 300 includes outcomes section 306. A heading 307, such as “OUTCOMES”, may be imprinted on ticket 300, to indicate outcomes section 306. Ticket 300 includes payout section 308. A heading 309, such as “PAYOUTS”, may be imprinted on ticket 300 to indicate payout section 308.

Player's cards section 302 indicates a plurality of hands of cards 310 (see FIG. 14). Each card is represented by indicia imprinted on the ticket. The indicia can be an image of a playing card or other suitable presentation of a playing card. As shown in FIG. 14, each card is represented by an image of the card's suit with the value (i.e. rank) of the card located in the center of the image of the card's suit. (see FIG. 14). Each hand of cards in player's cards section 302 represents a hand of cards dealt to the player. In this embodiment, there are ten hands of cards 310 in player's cards section 302. In accordance with the invention, each of these hands of cards consists of four cards. Since there is a plurality of hands of cards in player's cards section 302, the player will have multiple hands and therefore, multiple chances of winning. In an alternate embodiment of ticket 300, there can be more or less than ten hands of cards in player's cards section 302. Alterable covering surface 302A hides the hands of cards 310 (see FIG. 13). Alterable covering surface 302A may be opaque or translucent. When alterable covering surface 302A is altered, it cannot be returned to its unaltered state. In this embodiment, alterable covering surface 302A is made from a well-known scratch-off material, such as aluminum permeated latex, as is typically used on scratch-off lottery tickets. In yet another embodiment, alterable covering surface 302A may be made from a peel-off material, such as a sticker, perforated paper or the like.

Community cards section 304 is used to indicate a set of community cards 312 (see FIG. 14). In accordance with the invention, the set of community cards 312 consist of three cards.

The object of the game provided by ticket 300 is for the player to combine each of the hands of cards 310 with one or more of the community cards 312 in order to form one or more of the winning hands shown in outcomes section 306. This aspect of ticket 300 will be explained in more detail below. Alterable covering surface 304A hides community cards 312. Alterable covering surface 304A may be of the type described above for alterable covering surface 302A.

Outcomes section 306 is used to indicate a plurality of possible outcomes (e.g. winning hands) that a player might achieve. Since there is a plurality of player's hands of cards 310, it is possible for a player to achieve more than one winning hand. Specifically, outcomes section 306 has indicia imprinted on ticket 300 that represents the plurality of different winning hands 314 (see FIG. 14). The possible winning hands in outcomes section 306 are also shown in TABLES I and III described above. In this embodiment, the winning hands on ticket 300 consist of twelve winning hands but do not include Four Card Straight, Four Card Flush or Four Card Straight-Flush. In accordance with the invention, each of the winning hands 314 has a particular ranking and the winning hands 314 are arranged by ranking. This is explained more in detail below. Alterable covering surface 306A hides the winning hands 314. Alterable covering surface 306A may be of the type described above for alterable covering surface 302A.

Payouts section 308 is used to indicate a plurality of payouts or prizes 316 (see FIG. 14), wherein each payout or prize corresponds to one of the winning hands 314. The payouts 316 range from a highest payout, which corresponds to the highest ranking winning hand of outcomes section 306, and a lowest payout, which corresponds to the lowest ranking winning hand of outcomes section 306. Alterable covering surface 308A hides the plurality of payouts or prizes 316. Alterable covering surface 308A may be of the type described above for alterable covering surface 302A.

FIG. 14 depicts ticket 300 after all of the alterable covering surfaces 302A, 304A, 306A and 308A have been altered. As is well known in the art, the player may use a coin to scratch or alter covering surfaces 302A, 304A, 306A and 308A. As can be seen, when alterable covering surface 302A is altered, the player's hands of cards 310 are revealed. In this embodiment, the player has ten hands of cards. These ten hands of cards are indicated by reference numbers 310A-J in FIG. 14. When alterable covering surface 304A is altered, community cards 312 are revealed. In this embodiment, the community cards 312 consist of ACE Spades, 10 Hearts and 9 Diamonds. When alterable covering surface 306A is altered, winning hands 314 are revealed. As described above, the winning hands 314 are taken from TABLES I and III herein except Four Card Straight, Four Card Flush or Four Card Straight-Flush. When alterable covering surface 308A is altered, payouts 316 are revealed. There are twelve payouts wherein each payout corresponds to a particular winning hand. For example, the payout $3,000,000 corresponds to the highest ranking winning hand Seven Card Royal Flush. The payout of $100 corresponds to a Six Card Straight. In this embodiment, the ticket 300 is shown to have a price of $30. The player can win back the price of ticket 300 if he or she can at least achieve a Five Card Straight which has a payout of $30.

Once the player alters alterable covering surfaces 302A, 304A, 306A and 308A, the player then reviews all of the player's hands of cards 310A-J and the community cards 312 to determine if he or she can form one or more five (5), six (6) or seven (7) card hands that match any of the winning hands 314. Referring to FIG. 14, the player may combine player's hand 310A with the 9 Diamonds and 10 Hearts of community cards 312 to form a Five Card Straight consisting of 7 Diamonds, 8 Diamonds, 9 Diamonds, 10 Hearts and JACK Hearts. The player then reviews winning hands 314 and payouts 316 to see what the player will win. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win $30 for a Five Card Straight. The player may combine player's hand 310E with the 10 Hearts of the community cards 312 to form a Five Card Flush consisting of 5 Hearts, 7 Hearts, 8 Hearts, 9 Hearts, 10 Hearts. The player then reviews winning hands 314 and payouts 316 to see what the player will win for a Five Card Flush. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win $50 for a Five Card Flush. The player has now won a total of $80. The player may combine the player's hand 310F with the 9 Diamonds of community cards 312 to form a Five Card Straight consisting of 7 Hearts, 8 Diamonds, 9 Diamonds, 10 Spades, JACK Diamonds. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win $30 for a Five Card Straight. The player has now won a total of $110. The player may combine the player's hand 310G with the 9 Diamonds and the ACE Spades of community cards 312 to form a Six Card Straight consisting of 9 Diamonds, 10 Spades, JACK Spades, QUEEN Spades, KING Diamonds, ACE Spades. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win 100 for a Six Card Straight. The player has now won $210. The player may combine the player's hand 310H with the 9 Diamonds and 10 Hearts of community cards 312 to form a Six Card Straight consisting of 6 Hearts, 7 Diamonds, 8 Spades, 9 Diamonds, 10 Hearts, JACK Diamonds. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win $100 for a Six Card Straight. The player has now won a total of $310. The player may combine player's hand 310I with all of the community cards 312 to form a Seven Card Straight consisting of: 8 Spades, 9 Diamonds, 10 Hearts, JACK Diamonds, QUEEN Hearts, KING Clubs, ACE Spades. As shown in payout section 308, the player will win $200 for a Seven Card Straight. The player has now won a total of $510.

It is possible that a player may not be able to achieve any winning hand. In such a case, there would be no payout amounts for the player.

It is to be understood that the ticket price of $30 is just one example and that the price of the ticket can be fixed at other prices, e.g. $35, $40, $50, etc.

It is to be understood that the particular cards shown in player's hands 310A-J and community cards 312 are just examples and that cards having other suits and values can be used as well.

In an alternate embodiment, outcome section 306 is not covered by alterable covering surface 306A. In such an embodiment, the winning hands are already visible to the player when the ticket is sold to the player.

The principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein should not, however, be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description should be considered exemplary in nature and not limited to the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A method for playing an instant lottery game using a ticket, comprising the steps of:

removing a first opaque covering surface to reveal a first set of indicia indicative of a plurality of player's hands of cards, wherein each player's hand of cards consists of four cards;

removing a second opaque covering surface to reveal a second set of indicia indicating a set of community cards, wherein the set of community cards consists of three cards;

removing a third opaque covering surface to reveal a third set of indicia indicative of a plurality of winning hands;

removing a third opaque covering surface to reveal a fourth set of indicia indicative of a plurality of payout amounts, wherein each payout amount corresponds to a particular one of the plurality of winning hands; and

determining, for each player's hand of cards, if the combination of the player's hand of cards with one or more of the community cards will yield a winning hand.

2. The method for playing an instant lottery game using a ticket according to claim 1 further comprising the step of awarding the player payout amounts corresponding to any winning hands achieved by the player.

3. The method for playing an instant lottery game using a ticket according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of payout amounts are based on the following payout rankings: WINNING HAND PAYOUT RANKING SEVEN CARD ROYAL FLUSH 12 (HIGHEST PAYOUT) SIX CARD ROYAL FLUSH 11  FIVE CARD ROYAL FLUSH 10  SEVEN CARD STRAIGHT-FLUSH 9 SIX CARD STRAIGHT-FLUSH 8 SEVEN CARD FLUSH 7 SIX CARD FLUSH 6 FIVE CARD STRAIGHT-FLUSH 5 SEVEN CARD STRAIGHT 4 SIX CARD STRAIGHT 3 FIVE CARD FLUSH 2 FIVE CARD STRAIGHT 1 (LOWEST PAYOUT) wherein “12” indicates the highest payout and “1” indicates the lowest payout.