Patent Application
20080157475
This invention relates to games of chance, and more specifically to a card game wherein first and second player hands are compared to a predetermined list of card combinations, with a payout being awarded if both player hands match any of the card combinations.
Many casino games offer a player the opportunity to make a side bet, with the ultimate goal being to increase player participation and excitement while encouraging players to maximize their wager. As poker-type games have become increasingly popular in recent years, the addition of an auxiliary bet to a poker-type game would likely generate considerable revenue for a house or other game operator.
The present invention provides a game for play by a player using a plurality of cards. Each of the cards has a card value associated therewith. The game includes a wager posted by the player and first and second player hands provided to the player. The first and second player hands each include at least two cards. The player receives a payout based on the wager if both of the first and second player hands form at least one of a plurality of predetermined card combinations. The wager is returned to the player if exactly one of the first and second player hands form at least one of the plurality of predetermined card combinations. The wager is remitted, i.e., collected by the house or other game operator, if neither of the first or second player hands form at least one of the plurality of predetermined card combinations.
In one aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of predetermined card combinations is two cards having card values which sum to twenty. In another aspect of the invention, one of the plurality of predetermined card combinations is two cards forming a blackjack. In still another aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of predetermined card combinations is two cards representing a pair. The game may be an auxiliary game for play during a poker-type game. The player may receive a bonus award based on the wager when the first and second player hands form the same predetermined card combination.
The present invention also provides a poker game for play by a player using a plurality of cards. The game includes a main wager and an auxiliary wager, with both wagers being placed by the player. A two-card player hand is dealt to the player, while a set of community cards is also provided, with the set of community cards including at least a two-card community hand. The main wager is resolved according to traditional rules of poker. The auxiliary wager is resolved by examining the player hand and the community hand. The player receives a payout based on the auxiliary wager if both the player hand and the community hand form at least one of a plurality of predetermined two-card combinations. The auxiliary wager is returned to the player if exactly one of the player hand and the community hand form at least one of the plurality of predetermined two-card combinations. The auxiliary wager is remitted, i.e., collected by the house or game operator, if neither the player hand nor the community hand form at least one of the plurality of predetermined two-card combinations.
In this aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of two-card combinations is two cards with card values summing to twenty. In another aspect of the invention, one of the plurality of two-card combinations is two cards representing a blackjack. In still another aspect of the present invention, one of the plurality of two-card combinations is two cards representing a pair. In yet a further aspect of the invention, the community cards are dealt as a three-card flop with two additional cards, with the two additional cards being the community hand.
The present invention also provides a method of playing a game using a plurality of cards, with each of the plurality of cards having a card value associated therewith. First, a plurality of two-card combinations are predetermined. The plurality of two-card combinations include at least a) two cards with card values summing to twenty; b) two cards representing a blackjack; and c) two cards representing a pair. Next, a wager is wagered by a player. A two-card player hand is then provided to the player. A set of community cards is then provided, with the set of community cards including at least a two-card community hand. Finally, the wager is resolved by comparing the player hand and the community hand to the paytable.
In one aspect of the method according to the present invention, the wager is resolved by paying a payout to the player based on the wager if both the player hand and the community hand form at least one of the plurality of two-card combinations. The payout may be enhanced if both the player hand and the comparison hand form the same of said plurality of two-card combinations. In another aspect of the method, the wager is resolved by returning the wager to the player if exactly one of the player hand and the community hand form at least one of the plurality of two-card combinations. In still another aspect of the method, the wager is resolved by remitting the wager if neither the player hand nor the community hand match at least one of the plurality of two-card combinations. The set of community cards may include a three-card flop and a two-card river, with the two-card river being the community hand. The method of playing a game according to the present invention may be utilized in conjunction with a traditional poker-type game, with the player posting a main wager in addition to the wager, wherein the main wager is resolved using traditional poker rules.
The 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:
Referring to the drawings,
As shown schematically in
The main wager 14 is resolved according to traditional poker rules. The auxiliary wager 16 is resolved by examining the player hand 18 and the community hand 22. Particularly, the player hand 18 and the community hand 22 are compared to a predetermined plurality of card combinations. In the preferred embodiment, the plurality of card combinations include: a) two cards having card values summing to twenty; b) two cards representing a blackjack; and c) two cards representing a pair. The predetermined list is preferably posted somewhere in the game play area.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the player 12 receives a payout based on the auxiliary wager 16 if both the player hand 18 and the community hand 22 form at least one of the plurality of card combinations. For instance, if the player hand 18 is 5 clubs, 5 spades and the community hand 22 is A spades, K clubs, as shown in
If exactly one of the player hand 18 and the community hand 22 form at least one of the plurality of card combinations, the auxiliary wager 16 is returned to the player; i.e., a “push” results with respect to the auxiliary wager 16. By way of example, if the community hand 22 included A spades, A clubs as shown, but the player hand 18 was 5 clubs, 6 spades, the auxiliary wager 16 would be returned to the player 12, since only the community hand 22 forms one of the plurality of card combinations. Conversely, the auxiliary wager 16 would be returned to the player 12 if the player hand 18 is 5 clubs, 5 spades, but the community hand 22 is 7 clubs, 8 diamonds, since only the player hand 18 forms one of the plurality of card combinations. If neither the player hand 18 nor the community hand 22 forms at least one of the plurality of card combinations, the auxiliary wager 16 is remitted to the “house” or other game operator.
In the preferred embodiment, the game is an auxiliary game for play during a poker-type game, as will be described herein as such. However, it should be appreciated that the game could be played as a stand-alone game without changing the inventive concept. For example, the player hand 18 could be a first player hand, with the community hand 22 being a second player hand distributed in a manner other than through community cards. It matters only that a player 12 receive first and second player hands 18, 22, preferably two-card hands, which are then compared to a list of predetermined card combinations to resolve a wager to practice the present invention.
Turning to
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.
