Poker game method

Abstract

A method is set forth for playing a Poker game where each player makes a wager and a dealer is dealt N cards and each player is dealt N-1 cards, where N is greater than or equal to 4. Each player has the option to discard and receive replacements for his best hand of N-1 cards. The dealer reveals his hand and assembles the highest ranking hand of N-1 cards which are compared to the player's hand to determine the outcome of first wager. If the dealer's hand does not have at least a predetermined ranking, each player is paid based upon their first wager at odds based upon the player's hand. In one embodiment, where the dealer does not qualify, the player is paid double. The player may make an optional dealer hand wager that the dealer hand will be of a rank below a predetermined ranking. The player may also make a player hand side wager that the player's hand will be one of a predetermined schedule of winning hands.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a card game using a deck of fifty-two cards comprising the steps of: 
 (a) a player making a first wager;    (b) dealing N cards to a dealer hand, where N≧4, at least one of the cards of the dealer hand exposed;    (c) dealing N-1 cards to the player to define an initial holding;    (d) the player examining his initial holding and opting to (1) stand on the initial holding as his final holding or (2) discard and replace at least one card to define a final holding;    (e) the dealer exposing the dealer hand of N cards and assembling from the hand of N cards the highest ranking hand of N-1 cards;    (f) resolving the first wager according to the following rules: (1) if the dealer's hand has a ranking below a predetermined rank, paying the player an award based upon the first wager, (2) if the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and outranks the player's final hand, the player losing their first wager, and (3) if the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and the player's final hand outranks the dealer's hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said first wager.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising where the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and the player's final hand outranks the dealer's hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said first wager and a predetermined schedule of awards based upon the ranking of the player's hand.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  comprising where the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and the player's final hand outranks the dealer's hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said first wager and the player's final hand at odds including odds greater than 1:1.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  comprising setting N at 4 and said predetermined rank is a 10-high and the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and the player's final hand outranks the dealer's hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said first wager and a predetermined schedule of awards according to the following schedule:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Player hand 
                   Award 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   4:1 
                 
                     
                   Three of a Kind 
                   2:1 
                 
                     
                   Straight or Below 
                   1:1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  comprising setting N at 5 and said predetermined rank is a Jack-high and the dealer hand has a ranking above said predetermined rank and the player's final hand outranks the dealer's hand, issuing an award to the player based upon said first wager and a predetermined schedule of awards according to the following schedule:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Player hand 
                   Award 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   5:1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   2:1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         Three of a Kind of Below 1:1  
       
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the player making a second wager and if the dealer hand is below a predetermined ranking, issuing an award to the player based upon said second wager.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  comprising the player doubling their second wager after seeing the dealer's exposed card.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  comprising setting N at 4, the player making a second wager and if the dealer hand is below a predetermined ranking, issuing an award to the player based upon said second wager and the following schedule:  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Dealer Hand 
                   Pay (to 1) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                    6-High 
                   8 
                 
                     
                    7-High 
                   6 
                 
                     
                    8-High 
                   5 
                 
                     
                    9-High 
                   4 
                 
                     
                   10-High 
                   3 
                 
                     
                     J-High 
                   2 
                 
                     
                     Q- or K-High 
                   1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  comprising where the second wager is a push if the dealer's exposed card is an Ace.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  comprising the player doubling their second wager after seeing the dealer's exposed card.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  comprising setting N at 5, the player making a second wager and if the dealer hand is below a predetermined ranking, issuing an award to the player based upon said second wager and the following schedule:  
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Pay Table for the Dealer Hand Side Bet 
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Dealer Hand 
                   Pay (to 1) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                    7-High 
                   40 
                 
                     
                    8-High 
                   25 
                 
                     
                    9-High 
                   10 
                 
                     
                   10-High 
                   6 
                 
                     
                     J-High 
                   4 
                 
                     
                     Q-High 
                   2 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising the player doubling their second wager after seeing the dealer's exposed card.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the player making a third wager and if the player's final hand is of a predetermined ranking issuing an award to the player.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  comprising issuing an award to the player based upon said third wager according to the following schedule:  
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Where N = 4 
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Player Final Hand 
                   Pay (to 1) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   A pair of Jacks or Better 
                   1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   3 
                 
                     
                   3 of a Kind 
                   11 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   12 
                 
                     
                   AKQ Suited 
                   50 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Where N = 5 
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Player Final Hand 
                   Pay (to 1) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   A pair of Kings or Better 
                   1 
                 
                     
                   Two Pair 
                   2 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   3 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   4 
                 
                     
                   Three of a Kind 
                   5 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   10 
                 
                     
                   Four of a Kind 
                   15 
                 
                     
                   AKQJ Suited 
                   50