Card game

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved card game. The game is played on a gaming table, with a regular standard deck of cards consisting of 52 cards, and with between one and seven players and a dealer. A hand is dealt for each player and the dealer. Each player is allowed an opportunity to place a bonus bet based on the hand. The hand is then formed into a high hand and a low hand, and a play bet is placed on these two hands. The player's high and low hands are compared to the dealer's high and low hands, respectively, and winners are paid according to a payout schedule. Each player's hand is compared to a bonus bet card configuration table. If a player's hand contains a bonus bet card configuration, the player is paid according to a bonus bet payout schedule.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a card game, comprising: 
 dealing a hand of cards to at least one player and one dealer;    placing a bonus bet based on the hand prior to seeing the contents of the hand;    forming each hand of cards into a high hand and a low hand based on the value of the cards in the hand;    comparing the at least one player's high hand and low hand to the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    designating the at least one player as a play winner if the at least one player's high hand and low hand beat the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    comparing the at least one player's combined high hand and low hand to a bonus bet card configuration;    if the at least one player's combined hand contains a bonus bet card configuration, designating the at least one player as a bonus bet winner according to a bonus bet schedule.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising requiring the at least one player to place an ante bet to participate in the game.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , requiring the at least one player to place a play bet based on the high hand and low hand;  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising allowing the at least one player to surrender the ante bet prior to placing a play bet based on the high hand and low hand.  
     
     
         5 . A method of playing a card game, comprising: 
 dealing a hand consisting of a predetermined number of cards to at least one player and one dealer;    allowing the at least one player the opportunity to place a bonus bet based on the hand prior to seeing the contents of the hand;    forming the at least one player's hand into a high hand and a low hand based on the value of the cards in the hand;    requiring the at least one player to place a play bet based on the high hand and low hand;    forming the dealer's hand into a high hand and a low hand based on the value of the cards in the hand;    comparing the at least one player's high hand and low hand to the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    designating the at least one player as a play winner if the at least one player's high hand and low hand beat the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    comparing the at least one player's combined high hand and low hand to a bonus bet card configuration;    if the at least one player's combined hand contains a bonus bet card configuration, designating the at least one player as a bonus bet winner according to a bonus bet schedule.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of dealing a hand consisting of a predetermined number of cards to at least one player and one dealer comprises: 
 dealing separate hands of cards equal to the number of participants including the at least one player plus the dealer;    determining whether the at least one player or the dealer receives the first hand; and    dealing the at least one player or the dealer the first hand based on determination.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining whether the at least one player or the dealer receives the first hand comprises: 
 rolling dice; and    determining whether the at least one player or the dealer receives the first hand based on whether the dice roll matches a number assigned to the at least one player or the dealer.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising requiring the at least one player to place an ante bet to participate in the game.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising allowing the at least one player to surrender the ante bet prior to placing a play bet based on the high hand and low hand.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising designating the dealer as the winner if the dealer's high hand and low hand beat the at least one player's high hand and low hand, respectively.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising designating a draw between the at least one player and the dealer if either the at least one player's high hand or the at least one player's low hand beats the dealer's high hand or low hand, respectively.  
     
     
         12 . The method to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 the at least one player's combined high hand and low hand is a poker hand;    the bonus bet card configuration is a poker ranking having poker ranks; and    wherein the poker ranks have corresponding odds.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one player's hand contains a bonus bet card configuration if it includes a configuration from the group of: Four of a kind, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Flush, Straight, Three of a kind, Two pair and One pair.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein if the at least one player is designated as a play winner, paying the at least one player according to a payout schedule.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein if the at least one player's combined hand contains a bonus bet card configuration, paying the at least one player according to a bonus bet payout schedule.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the game is played in a live form on a gaming table with a human dealer and conventional playing cards.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the card game is played on an electronic device and the hand comprises electronically produced visual representations of playing cards  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the card game is played over a network.  
     
     
         19 . A gaming table for at least one player and a dealer to play a card game with a deck of cards, the gaming table comprising: 
 a table surface;    at least one player station indicated on the table surface;    a dealer station indicated on the table surface; and    wherein a hand consisting of a predetermined number of cards is dealt to the at least one player and the dealer at the dealer station;    wherein the at least one player is allowed to place a bonus bet based on the hand prior to seeing the contents of the hand;    wherein the at least one player's hand is formed into a high hand and a low hand based on the value of the cards in the hand;    wherein the at least one player is required to place a play bet based on the high hand and low hand;    wherein the dealer's hand is formed into a high hand and a low hand based on the value of the cards in the hand;    wherein the at least one player's high hand and low hand is compared to the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    wherein the at least one player is designated as a winner if the at least one player's high hand and low hand beat the dealer's high hand and low hand, respectively;    wherein if the at least one player is designated as a winner, the at least one player is paid according to a payout schedule;    wherein the at least one player's combined high hand and low hand is compared to a bonus bet card configuration; and    wherein if the at least one player's combined hand contains a bonus bet card configuration, the at least one player is paid according to a bonus bet payout schedule.    
     
     
         20 . The gaming table of  claim 19 , wherein each of the at least one player stations includes an ante bet area, a play bet area and a bonus bet area.