Method and apparatus for playing multiple contests

Abstract

The present invention comprises a method and game system for playing multiple contests utilizing one or more cards from a single set of cards. In one or more embodiments, the gaming system includes a game engine and an evaluator. Embodiments of the invention include an intelligent, poker playing slot machine that allows a user to play poker for money against one or more intelligent or non-intelligent, simulated opponents. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes a simulation engine which generates actions for the simulated player(s). The simulation engine allows a real person, or user, to play against intelligent, simulated opponents. In one or more embodiments of the invention, the gaming system permits a user-player to play first and second poker contests. In one embodiment, one or more cards which are dealt to a player for use in the first contest are used in the play of the second contest. In one or more embodiments, one of the contests comprises a video-poker type game. When a user-player plays against the simulated opponent, the gaming system may include a static evaluator for determining whether the user-player is a winner of the video-poker type game by comparison to predetermined criteria. Other aspects of the invention include payout and jackpot arrangements for multiple contests.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a plurality of contests comprising the steps of: 
 providing first sets of cards each comprising at least one card to each of one or more players participating in a first contest;    playing a first contest with said first sets of cards;    playing at least one additional contest with one or more players participating in said first contest, said at least one additional contest played with at least one card from said first sets of cards.    
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one of said players of said first and/or second contests is a dealer.  
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one of said players of said first and/or second contests comprises an intelligent or non-intelligent gaming system.  
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  including the step of said one or more players participating in said first contest placing at least one bet.  
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first or second contests comprises a poker contest.  
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first or second contests comprises a video-poker type contest in which winners are determined based on comparison of one or more cards of a player to a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 5  wherein both of said first and second contests comprise a poker contest and cards used by a player participating in said second contest comprise a hand of cards dealt to said player while participating in said first contest.  
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  comprising the additional step of preventing a player who participated in but did not complete the first contest from participating in said second contest.  
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein said one or more players participating in said second contest comprise winning player(s) of said first contest.  
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a winner of said first contest is awarded a first payout and a winner of said second contest is awarded a second payout.  
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein a player is awarded a jackpot payout upon meeting one or more predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein a player is awarded a jackpot payout when said player has a set of one or more cards or a hand of cards in a first of said first and second contests which meets a predetermined criteria but which did not result in said player being declared a winner of said contest.  
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein a player of said first and/or second contest is awarded a jackpot payout when a set of cards belonging to said player and a set of cards belonging to another player comprise a predetermined combination of cards.  
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said another player comprises a machine against which said at least one player is playing.  
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein at least one player of said first and/or second contest is awarded a jackpot payout when a hand of one player is the same rank as a hand of another player.  
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said jackpot payout increases as said rank increases.  
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein a player is awarded a jackpot payout if said player wins a predetermined number of consecutive contests.  
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with claims  1  or  6  wherein a player is awarded a jackpot payout if said player wins one more previous contests and has a set of cards meeting a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said player is awarded an additional payout after being awarded said jackpot payout when said player wins one or more subsequent contests after being awarded said jackpot payout.  
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said player is awarded an additional payout after being awarded said jackpot payout when said player has a set of one or more cards meeting a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         21 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises draw poker.  
     
     
         22 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of one or more cards belonging to another player comprise winning cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         23 . The method in accordance with  claim 22  wherein said other player comprises an intelligent or non-intelligent machine.  
     
     
         24 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Texas Hold'em, and wherein said method includes the step of dealing one or more community cards.  
     
     
         25 . The method in accordance with  claim 24  wherein a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of cards comprising one or more of said community cards and/or one or more cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         26 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Pineapple Hold'em, and said method comprises the step of dealing one or more community cards.  
     
     
         27 . The method in accordance with  claim 26  wherein a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of cards comprising one or more of said community cards and/or one or more cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         28 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Seven Card Stud.  
     
     
         29 . The method in accordance with  claim 28  wherein a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of one or more cards dealt to said player in said Seven Card Stud contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         30 . The method in accordance with  claim 29  wherein said method comprises the step of dealing three cards face down and four cards face-up to said one or more players of said Seven Card Stud contest and a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of cards comprising one or more of said face-up cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         31 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Five Card Stud.  
     
     
         32 . The method in accordance with  claim 31  wherein a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of cards comprising one or more of said cards dealt to said player during said Five Card Stud contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         33 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Omaha Hold'em, and wherein said method includes the step of dealing one or more hole cards to said one or more players of said Omaha Hold'em contest and one or more community cards.  
     
     
         34 . The method in accordance with  claim 33  wherein a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of cards comprising one or more of said player's hole cards and/or one or more of said community cards, and/or another player's hole cards, comprise winning cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         35 . The method in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said other contest comprises Lowball.  
     
     
         36 . The method in accordance with  claim 35  wherein a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of cards comprising one or more cards dealt to another player of said Lowball contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         37 . The method in accordance with  claim 36  wherein said another player comprises an intelligent or non-intelligent machine.  
     
     
         38 . A computer gaming system comprising: 
 a gaming engine arranged to deal first sets of cards each comprising at least one card to each of one or more players participating in a first contest, arranged to permit the playing of a first contest with said first sets of cards, arranged to permit the playing of at least one second contest by at least one of said players participating in said first contest using at least one card from said player's first set of cards; and    an evaluator coupled to said gaming engine, said evaluator determining a winner of said first contest based on a first set of criteria and a winner of said at least one second contest based on a second set of criteria.    
     
     
         39 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 38  wherein said gaming engine includes a simulation engine arranged to play said first and/or second contest against one or more players.  
     
     
         40 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 38  wherein said computer gaming system includes a bet acceptor coupled to said gaming engine, said gaining system arranged so that a player must place one or more bets with said bet acceptor in to be allowed to play said first and/or second contest using said gaming engine.  
     
     
         41 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 38  wherein at least one of said first or second contests comprises a poker contest.  
     
     
         42 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 38  wherein at least one of said first or second contests comprises a video-poker type contest in which a winner is determined based on comparison of a set of one or more cards of a player to a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         43 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein both of said first and second contests comprise a poker contest and at least one card used by a player participating in said second contest comprises a card from said player's first hand of cards.  
     
     
         44 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said gaming engine is arranged to prevent a player who participated in but did not complete the first contest from participating in said second contest.  
     
     
         45 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein a player participating in said second contest comprises a wining player of said first contest.  
     
     
         46 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 38  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a winner of said first contest a first payout and a winner of said at least one second contest a second payout.  
     
     
         47 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 46  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player of said first and/or second contests a jackpot payout upon meeting one or more predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         48 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player a jackpot payout when said player has a set of one or more cards in a first of said first and second contests which meet a predetermined criteria but which did not result in said player being declared a winner of said contest.  
     
     
         49 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player of said first and/or second contest a jackpot payout when a set of cards belonging to said player and a set of cards belonging to another player comprises a predetermined combination of cards.  
     
     
         50 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 49 , wherein said gaming engine includes a simulation engine and said another player comprises said simulation engine.  
     
     
         51 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay at least one player of said first and/or second contest a jackpot payout when a set of cards of one player is the same rank as a set of cards of another player.  
     
     
         52 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 51  wherein said jackpot payout increases as said rank increases.  
     
     
         53 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player of said first and/or second contests a jackpot payout when said player wins a predetermined number of consecutive contests.  
     
     
         54 . The gaming system in accordance with claims  38  or  42  wherein said evaluator is arranged to play a player of said first and/or second contests a jackpot payout when said player wins one or more previous contests and has a set of cards meeting a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         55 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 54  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player an additional payout after being awarded said jackpot payout when said player wins one or more subsequent contests after being awarded said jackpot payout.  
     
     
         56 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 47  wherein said evaluator is arranged to pay a player an additional payout after being awarded said jackpot payout when said player has a set of one or more cards meeting a predetermined criteria.  
     
     
         57 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises draw poker.  
     
     
         58 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 57  wherein said evaluator determines that a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of one or more cards belonging to another player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermine payout schedule.  
     
     
         59 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 58  wherein said gaming engine includes a simulation engine and said another player comprises said simulation engine.  
     
     
         60 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Texas Hold'em, and wherein said gaming engine is arranged to deal one or more community cards.  
     
     
         61 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 60  wherein said evaluator determines that a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of cards comprising one or more of said community cards and/or one or more cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         62 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Pineapple Hold'em, and said gaming engine is arranged to deal one or more community cards.  
     
     
         63 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 62  wherein said evaluator determines that a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of cards comprising one or more of said community cards and/or one or more cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         64 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Seven Card Stud.  
     
     
         65 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 64  wherein a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of one or more cards dealt to said player in said Seven Card Stud contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         66 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 65  wherein said gaming engine is arranged to deal three cards face down and four cards face-up to said one or more players of said Seven Card Stud contest and said evaluator determines that a player of said video-poker type contest is a winner when a set of one or more of said face-up cards belonging to said player comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         67 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Five Card Stud.  
     
     
         68 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 67  wherein said evaluator determines that a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of one or more of said cards dealt to said player during said Five Card Stud contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         69 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Omaha Hold'em, and said gaming engine is arranged to deal one or more hole cards and one or more community cards.  
     
     
         70 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 69  wherein said evaluator determines that a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of one or more of said player's hole cards and/or one or more of said community cards, and/or another player's hole cards, comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         71 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 42  wherein said other contest comprises Lowball.  
     
     
         72 . The gaming system in accordance with claim  71  wherein said evaluator determines that a player is a winner of said video-poker type contest when a set of one or more cards dealt to another player of said Lowball contest comprises a winning set of cards in accordance with a predetermined payout schedule.  
     
     
         73 . The gaming system in accordance with claim  72  wherein said gaming engine includes a simulation engine and said another player comprises said simulation engine.