POKER CARD GAME

Abstract

A poker card game played with a conventional deck of cards, in which each player is dealt two “hole” cards then a third “hole” card after a round of betting. The player then discards one of his/her “hole” cards. Community cards are dealt, from which a player can combine his/her two remaining “hole” cards to create a five-card poker hand. Betting occurs during various stages of the poker card game and the winning hand collects the accrued bets.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/105,784, filed Jan. 21, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a card game, in particular to a new poker game, that can be played in a live setting such as in a casino or on-line, using a computer or handheld electronic device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like.

Poker has been a popular live card game and has become increasingly popular in on-line settings. One popular game is known as “Texas Hold'em,” played with a standard 52-card deck, in which players are dealt two “hole” or “pocket” cards and each player uses his/her two “hole” or “pocket” cards to create the best possible hand with a number of “community” cards that are subsequently dealt. However, because each player is only dealt two “hole” cards, the player has a limited number of possibilities for winning hands.

Other poker games have come along such as “Pineapple” and “Tahoe” poker, in which players are dealt three hole cards. The card game in accordance with the present invention provides a unique sequence of dealing, betting, and discarding, addressing a number of issues with previous poker games, creating more options for the player, and resulting in a new, enjoyable game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an improved card game and method of playing a card game are provided. The card game has features in common with the game “Texas Hold'Em” but involves unique steps of dealing, betting, and discarding of cards.

Generally, first, the dealer deals two hole cards face down to each player. Then, a round of betting occurs. The dealer then deals a third hole card face down to each player. No betting occurs at this time. Then, each player discards any one of his or her three hole cards. The game continues as other Texas Hold'em games, in which three community cards are dealt, followed by a round of betting, then a forth community card is dealt, followed by a round of betting, and then a fifth and final community card is dealt, followed but a final round of betting. The better or best hand of the remaining players is declared the winner and wins the money collected in the pot throughout the rounds of betting plus antes or blinds, if any.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flow chart showing how the game is played.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Turning now to FIG. 1, this FIGURE shows a flow chart of how the game is generally played.

In the card game in accordance with the present invention, a standard deck of 52 playing cards is used (no joker card). Each player is dealt two “hole” or “pocket” cards face down. Then a first round of betting occurs. Players that fold are no longer in the hand. Next, a third “hole” card is dealt face down to each player still in the hand. Then, each player discards one of his/her “hole” cards face down into the muck, leaving each player with only two cards. Then the game proceeds as in traditional Texas Hold'em, where three community cards are dealt face up (“the flop”) and a second round of betting occurs, a forth community card is dealt face up (“the turn”) and a third round of betting occurs, and a fifth community card is dealt face up (“the river”) and the final round of betting occurs. The player at the end of the fifth round (assuming there is more than one player left in the hand) with the winning hand wins the money bet throughout the game (“the pot”) or a “show down” occurs with the remaining players after the final betting and the player with the wining had wins the money bet throughout the game/“the “pot”).

This game or series of games can be played in “limit,” “no limit,” or “pot limit” type. “No limit” type means each player may bet as much as he/she has in his/her possession. “Limit” type means that bets have either a maximum or minimum amount or both. For example, “pot limit” type means the amount a player can bet to the amount of money in the pot.

Initial bets may also be required. Two common ways to place these initial bets are antes and forced bets or “blinds.” An ante is a set amount put into the pot by every player in the game prior to the cards being dealt. This amount does not count toward the bet on the first round of betting. Antes can also be used in conjunction with blinds e.g., tournament games or sessions.

Blinds are another form of pre-flop bets. Before cards are dealt, the first player to the left of the dealer button must put forth the “small blind” and the second player to the left of the dealer button must put forth the “big blind.” These blind placements count toward the total investment in the first round of betting. The amount of each blind is predetermined before each hand is dealt depending on what limit or type of game being played.

The dealer button generally moves clockwise to the left to the next player after every hand or the game has been completed.

In an exemplary game, each player is dealt two cards after the blinds or antes, if any are placed. These again are called the “hole” or “pocket” cards. In an ante or no pre-flop game, the betting begins with the first player to the left of the dealer button. In a blind game, the player to the left of the big blind starts the betting round. This is the first round of betting, known as the pre-flop betting.

After all bets are completed after the first round of betting, the dealer “burns” or “mucks” the top card off the deck (to prevent cheating if a player happened to see the top card), then each player still playing in the hand (those who did not fold and forfeit his/her bet) will be dealt a third “hole” card face down. No round of betting occurs at this time after the players third “hole” card is dealt. Then, each player who has been dealt a third “hole” card decides which two hold cards to keep, and discards their third (unwanted or unneeded) card face down before the flop is dealt. Each players' third (unwanted or unneeded) card is “dead,” and will go into the muck (cards that will not be used in the rest of the game or go back into the deck).

Before the flop is dealt, the dealer can remind players still remaining in the hand (game in play) to discard their third (unwanted or unneeded) card.

The dealer will burn or muck the top card in the deck before each player's third hole card is dealt. (The dealer also burns before the community cards are dealt, i.e., before the “flop,” before the “turn,” and before the “river” card is dealt, again to prevent cheating in event that someone saw the top card.) Then three community cards are dealt face up to form the “flop”.

If a player fails to discard his/her third (unwanted or unneeded) hole card before the “flop,” his/her hand is considered a foul or a dead hand and non-playable and will go into the muck. As such, the player will have lost and forfeited his/her rights to the pot and all money bet by that player stays in the pot. (That player can no longer play the rest of that game or win.) That player's cards will go into the muck, and will not be used in the rest of the game or go back into the deck. Also, those players who failed to discard their third “hole” card before the “flop,” i.e., has three hole cards anytime after the flop, his/her hand is considered dead and will lose/forfeit all bets placed during that game (which stays in the pot for the winner). It is the player's responsibility to protect their hands and follow the rules of the game at all times.

The winning hand is declared in a “show down” with the remaining players after the final round of betting occurs. The winning player or players can use one or both or none of his/her hold cards to make the best poker hand. The player or players who are declared the winner wins the money collected in the pot throughout the rounds of betting plus antes or blinds, if any.

Below is an exemplary list of general rules in accordance with the present invention that may be provided as guidance during live gameplay:

General Rules

All rules and procedures that apply to the standard Hold'em poker game including the movement of the dealer button, posting of blinds, cards dealt (except the two added steps for the present poker game) collection of table fees and jackpots collections, and determining and paying the winners are the same as Hold'em poker game already approved by the Division.

IT IS THE PLAYER'S RESPONSIBILTY TO PROTECT THEIR HAND AT ALL TIMES. Dealers will assist in reading hands to the best of their ability, although it is the Player's responsibility to protect his or her hand at all times. The dealer will assume that any unprotected, abandoned, or discarded hands are dead or have been folded. Neither the house nor the dealer can be held accountable for the Player's failure to protect their hand. At management's discretion, a hand may be considered retrievable if needed.

Any new game employing a dealer-button will have the button positioned for the initial deal based on a random draw high card by the player's. High card receiving the button among the player's in the new game. After the deck has been shuffled and spread face down on the table by the dealer, each player will pick one card and show it face up on the table. If two or more players draw the same high card, the deal will be determined by suit rank listed in card value and hand rankings.

If a Player fails to discard their third hole card before the flop: the Player's hand is considered foul (Dead Hand) and non-playable and will go into the muck, and will lose and forfeit all rights to the pot and all monies involved and bets placed during that hand at play and will stay in the pot.

If a Player has three hole cards anytime after the flop: the Player's hand is considered foul (Dead Hand) and non-playable and will go into the muck, and will Lose and Forfeit all rights to the pot and all monies involved and bets placed during that hand at play and will stay in the pot.

No players will communicate their cards to any players or other persons near the table.

Once a player throws in their cards, and is in the muck, they give up the right to play in that particular hand at play.

All disputes will be settled by a floor person or supervisor who may use surveillance tapes to assist in any determination of the outcome of the game.

A Player who allows substantial action to occur behind them risks forfeiting their right to initiate action on their hand, and in certain circumstances may have their hand nullified.

The Player must declare that he/she is playing the board before they throw their cards away to the muck. Otherwise, they relinquish all claims to the pot.

If there is a discrepancy between a player's verbal statement and the amount put into the pot, the bet will be corrected to the verbal declaration.

A wager is not binding until the chips are actually released into the pot.

Dealing Rules

If a Player's hole card is flashed or exposed during the first two cards being dealt due to dealer error, they may not keep the exposed card. After completing the deal, the dealer will exchange the exposed card with the top card on the deck and place the exposed card on top of the deck face up. The exposed card will be used as the burn card before the third hole cards are dealt.

If two or more Player's hole cards is flashed during the first two cards being dealt or exposed due to dealer error. This is considered a “misdeal.” All cards will be returned to the dealer, reshuffled and cut. Then a new game will start and be dealt.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and a Player's third hole card is flashed or exposed due to dealer error, they may not keep the exposed card. After completing the deal, the dealer will exchange the exposed card with the top card on the deck and place the exposed card on top of the deck face up. The exposed card will be used as the burn card before the flop, after all action is completed.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and two or more Player's third hole card is flashed or exposed due to dealer error, they may not keep the exposed card. After completing the deal, the dealer will exchange the exposed cards with the top card on the deck to the player's in order. Then all Player's exposed third hole cards will be reshuffled back into the deck.

When dealing the Player's with their Third hole card and one or more Player's did not receive their third hole card due to dealer error, and the next player has been dealt and already looked or seen the card, the dealer will continue dealing the rest of the active player's. Then the player's, who did not receive their third hole card, will be dealt from the next card on top of the deck in order.

A Card placed faced up in the deck (boxed card) is dead and is dealt into the discards (muck). The next card below it in the deck replaces a boxed card. If a Joker were to appear in a deck, it would be treated as a dead card. If a Player does not call attention to the Joker among their down cards before acting on their hand, then they have a dead hand (foul) and forfeit all rights to the pot and all wagers involved.

If a Player is dealt more cards than the game they are playing calls for: and it is discovered before they act on their hand; the extra card will be retrieved and placed on the top of the deck as a burn card. A Player receiving less than the required number of cards will receive card(s) from the top of the deck. If either situation occurs after the Player has acted on their hand, the Player forfeits ALL antes and blinds.

If the Flop (three community cards) has too many cards, it will be taken back and reshuffled except the burn card, and will remain burned. The dealer will not burn a card before dealing a new flop. This method is used unless there has been substantial action based on an improper card, in which case, the card the Players based their action on will stand, and the Dealer on subsequent rounds shall treat the two stuck-together cards as a single card. If this occurs, the Dealer will not burn the top card before dealing another round of cards.

If the Dealer prematurely turns over the flop before all the betting is completed, the entire flop is taken back and reshuffled except the burn card which will remain burned. The Dealer will not burn a card before dealing out a new flop.

If the Dealer turns up the fourth card (the turn) on the board before the round of betting is completed, the card is not in play. After the completion of the betting, the next card is burned and the fifth card is put in the fourth card's place. After betting is completed, the Dealer will reshuffle the deck including the card that was taken out of play but not the burn card or discards. The Dealer will not burn a card before dealing out the fifth card.

If the Dealer turns up the fifth card (the river) on the board before the round of betting is completed, the Dealer will reshuffle the deck including the card that was taken out of play, but not the burn cards or discards. The Dealer will not burn a card before dealing out the fifth card.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is for the player's to form a five-card poker hand that ranks higher than the other players five-card poker hands. Each player may use any combination of the two “hole cards” and the five cards dealt on the table throughout the course of the game, referred to as “community cards” or “the board” cards, or they may play the board by using no hole cards and using the five community cards, to make the highest ranking five-card poker hand, according to the rankings as shown below.

Description of the Deck and Number of Decks Used

The game shall be played using one standard 52-card deck and no joker.

Card Values and Hand Rankings

The rank of each card used in Platinum Hold'em, in order of the highest to lowest rank, shall be: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. All suits shall be considered equal in rank. However, small issues (such as deciding who deals first) are sometimes resolved by dealing one card to each player. If two players draw cards of the same rank, one way to break the tie is to use an arbitrary hierarchy of suits. Clubs (lowest) followed by diamonds, hearts, and spades (highest).

The ranking of hands for the poker game, in order from highest to lowest rank:

Royal Flush: A hand that consists of an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit.

Straight Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. A King, Queen, Jack, 10 and 9 is the highest ranking Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2, and Ace is the lowest ranked.

Four of a Kind: A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four Aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2's is the lowest ranked.

Full House: A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three Aces and two Kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2's and two 3's is the lowest ranked.

Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that are not in consecutive ranking. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest ranked.

Straight: A hand that consist of five cards that are in consecutive ranking, but that are not the same suit. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and Ace is the lowest ranked.

Three of a Kind: A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three Aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2's is the lowest ranked.

Two Pairs: A hand that consists of two pairs. Two Aces and two Kings is the highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3's and 2's is the lowest ranked.

One Pair: A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two Aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2's is the lowest ranked.

High Card: A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 9 is the highest ranked High Card and 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 is the lowest ranked.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. Particular embodiments may include one, some, or none of the listed advantages. It would also be understood that variations would be possible without departing from the general scope of the present invention.

Claims

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

a) dealing two hole cards face down to each player and having a round of betting;

b) dealing a third hole card face down to each player and no round of betting;

c) each player discarding one hole card face down;

d) displaying three community cards face up and having a round of betting;

e) displaying a fourth community card face up and having a round of betting;

f) displaying a fifth community card face up and having a round of betting; and

g) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card poker hand from among the players' two hole cards and the five community cards.

2. A poker card game played with conventional playing cards, comprising:

a) first, dealing two hole cards face down to each player and having a round of betting;

b) second, dealing a third hole card face down to each player and no round of betting;

c) third, each player discarding one hole card face down;

d) fourth, displaying three community cards face up and having a round of betting;

e) fifth, displaying a fourth community card face up and having a round of betting;

f) sixth, displaying a fifth community card face up and having a round of betting; and

g) seventh, declaring as a winner the player with the best five card poker hand from among the players' two hole cards and the five community cards.