Play four poker

Abstract

A method of playing a four-card poker game by at least one player and a banker who is preferably also the dealer. The player has the option to wager against the dealer, wager against a predetermined payout schedule, or both. Additional options of a progressive wager and/or a bad beat wager may be made available.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a game comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing one standard deck of playing cards;    (b) at least one player making a wager on any allowable combination of offered bets consisting of the following; 
 (1) a first wager against a dealer (ante);  
 (2) a wager against a predetermined payscale;  
 (3) a bad beat wager;  
 (4) a progressive wager;  
   (c) dealing X amount of cards to said player;    (d) dealing Y amount of cards to a dealer;    (e) said player either 
 (1) folding his or her hand, thereby withdrawing from the game and losing his or her wager(s), or  
 (2) if wagering against the dealer, before seeing the dealer's hand, placing a second wager (play) in support of the first wager of exactly Z times the first wager or  
 (3) if wagering against a predetermined payscale, electing to remain in the game;  
   (f) comparing the best four card poker hand of the dealer and said player after discarding any additional cards;    (g) resolving said poker wager by; 
 (1) making a payout to said player by the dealer when said player has wagered against a predetermined payscale and has achieved a rank that is either higher than or equal to a predetermined rank;  
 (2) paying said player's is wager (ante) against the dealer if the dealer does not achieve at predetermined qualifying rank;  
 (3) paying said player both the first and second wagers against the dealer if said player achieved a higher ranking hand than the dealer;  
 (4) paying said player, who has made a first wager against the dealer and has supported said wager, for achieving a predetermined ranking hand an amount (ante reward) from a predetermined payscale, regardless of the rank of the dealer's hand.  
 (5) taking said player's wager against a predetermined payscale that does not achieve a wining hand;  
 (6) taking said player's first and second wagers against the dealer if the dealer's hand outranks theirs;  
 (7) taking said player's first wager, if said player does not achieve a predetermined qualifying hand;  
 (8) pushing said player's first and second wager if said player has exactly the same ranking hand as the dealer;  
 (9) pushing said player's second wager (play) if the dealer did not achieve a predetermined qualifying hand;  
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 in step (b), the allowable single wagers are a wager against the dealer or a wager against a predetermined payscale.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (b), any progressive wager must be made in conjunction with a wager against a payscale or a wager against the dealer.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (b), any bad beat wager must be made in conjunction with a wager against a payscale or a wager against the dealer.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (c), X=4, 5, or 6.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (d), Y=4, 5, or 6.  
 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (e) (2), Z=1, 2, or 3  
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (g) (2), the dealer qualifying hand is King/Queen or better.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein: 
 The dealer qualifying hand can be any predetermined hand ranking.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (g) (2), the dealer does not have to qualify and does not automatically pay said player's ante for not attaining a predetermined hand ranking.  
 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (g) (4) the ante reward payout is based upon the amount of said player's first wager against the dealer.  
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (g) (7), said player does not have to qualify and does not automatically lose to the dealer for not attaining a predetermined hand ranking.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 In step (g) (7), said player's qualifying hand is an Ace/King/Queen or better.  
 
     
     
         14 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 13  wherein: 
 The qualifying hand for said player could be any predetermined hand ranking.