Poker game

Abstract

In a poker game, two or more players play against the house, each player placing a first bet to enter the game. Two cards are then dealt face-down to each player and two cards are dealt face-down to the house. Three common cards are then dealt face-up. If the player decides to continue with the game on the basis of the two cards dealt face-down to him and the three cards dealt face-up, he then places a further “call” bet. Two further common cards are then dealt face-up. The game is decided by comparing the best hand of five cards from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and five common cards, the higher ranking poker hand winning.

1 . A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of: 
 dealing two cards face-down to a player and two cards facedown to the house;    dealing three common cards face-up;    if the player decides to continue with his hand, dealing two further cards face-up; and    comparing hands of five cards made up from the two cards deal to the player and the five common cards with the two cards dealt to the house and the five common cards, to decide the winner of the game.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1    in which the player is required to place a bet before being dealt two cards face-down.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 2    in which the player is required to place a further bet before the final two common cards are dealt.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 1    in which the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 1    in which if the house's hand is below a predetermined value the house forfeits the game.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 5    in which if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, the house forfeits the game.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1    in which if the player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to    claim 7    in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   10 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    2 to 1. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         9 . A method according to    claim 7    in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                    5 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    2 to 1. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         10 . A method according to    claim 7    in which if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    2 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    6 to 4. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a poker game according to    claim 1    in which one or more players may play against the house.  
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a poker game comprising the steps of: 
 a player placing a first bet;    a dealer dealing two cards face-down to the player and two cards face-down to the dealer;    the dealer also dealing three common cards face-up;    the player placing a second bet if he wishes to continue or forgoing his first bet if he does not wish to continue;    upon placement of the second bet, the dealer dealing two further common cards face-up; and    comparing the hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the player and five common cards with the two cards dealt to the dealer and five common cards, to decide the winner of the game, the player losing his first and second bets if the dealer wins and the dealer paying out on the first and second bets if the player wins.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to    claim 12    in which the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to    claim 12    in which if the dealer's hand is below a predetermined value he forfeits the game and pays out on the player's first bet only.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to    claim 12    in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to    claim 15    in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   10 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    2 to 1. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . A method according to    claim 15    in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                    5 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    2 to 1. 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         18 . A method according to    claim 15    in which if the player wins, the dealer pays odds as follows:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                    2 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                    6 to 4.