Electronic poker game

Abstract

An electronically implemented method of playing poker whereby a player selects one or more cards of a poker hand. Upon making a wager, the player selects a suit and value of one or more cards of the player's poker hand. Thereafter, the hand is completed pursuant to conventional poker rules corresponding to the particular poker game played. Suitable poker games include five card draw, five card stud, seven card stud and variations thereof. Once the player's hand is completed, the hand is compared to predefined winning hands to determine whether said player is entitled to an award. If the player is entitled, the player is paid an amount pursuant to a pre-established pay table including pay outs which are a function of the one or more cards selected initially. In otherwords, multiple pay tables account for the countless unique combinations of selected cards.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An electronically implemented method of playing a draw poker game including: 
 a a player making a wager;    b. said player selecting one or more cards from a deck of cards, by suit and value, of a draw poker hand;    c. dealing and displaying face up remaining cards of the draw poker game to complete an initial poker hand;    d. said player electing to hold or discard each card of the initial poker hand;    e. dealing and displaying replacement cards from said deck of cards to replace said player's elected discards resulting in a final poker hand; and    f. comparing said final poker hand to predefined winning poker hands and paying said player according to a pre-established pay table.    
     
     
         2 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein said pre-established pay table is one of a plurality of pre-established pay tables.  
     
     
         3 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 2  wherein said plurality of pre-established pay tables have pay outs which are a function of the one or more player selected cards.  
     
     
         4 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 3  further including one of the plurality of pre-established pay tables being displayed once said player selects one or more cards.  
     
     
         5 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein said selected one or more cards is displayed face up upon selection.  
     
     
         6 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein said selection of one or more cards is by means of a touchscreen display.  
     
     
         7 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein said selected one or more cards must be held at step d.  
     
     
         8 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein said draw poker game is a five card version.  
     
     
         9 . The method of playing draw poker according to  claim 1  wherein at step b said selection of one or more cards may be modified by said player one or more times prior to step c.  
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a draw poker game according to  claim 1  wherein the electronic implementation of the poker game is facilitated by means of a video poker machine including at least display means, memory means, selection means, wager accepting means, a microprocessor and a random number generator.  
     
     
         11 . An electronically implemented method of playing a stud poker game including: 
 a a player making a wager;    b. said player selecting one or more cards from a deck of cards, by suit and value, of a stud poker hand;    c. dealing and displaying face up remaining cards of the stud poker game to complete a final stud poker hand; and    d. comparing said final poker hand to predefined winning poker hands and paying said player according to a pre-established pay table.    
     
     
         12 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein said pre-established pay table is one of a plurality of pre-established pay tables.  
     
     
         13 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 12  wherein said plurality of pre-established pay tables have pay outs which are a function of the one or more player selected cards.  
     
     
         14 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 13  further including one of the plurality of pre-established pay tables being displayed once said player selects one or more cards.  
     
     
         15 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein said selected one or more cards is displayed face up upon selection.  
     
     
         16 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein said selection of one or more cards is by means of a touchscreen display.  
     
     
         17 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein said stud poker game is a five card version.  
     
     
         18 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein said stud poker game is a seven card version.  
     
     
         19 . The method of playing stud poker according to  claim 11  wherein at step b said selection of one or more cards may be modified by said player one or more times prior to step c.  
     
     
         20 . The method of playing a stud poker game according to  claim 11  wherein the electronic implementation of the poker game is facilitated by means of a video poker machine including at least display means, memory means, selection means, wager accepting means, a microprocessor and a random number generator.