Gaming device and method

Abstract

A game method is set forth where a player makes a first wager to play. A control value is selected between predetermined limits and two playing cards are dealt. If the two card hand is a pair higher than the control value the player receives a first award. Third through fifth cards are dealt in sequence which each new holding resulting from an additional card compared to the control value and previous partial hand. If the additional card improves the hand and has a predetermined relationship to the control value an additional award is issued. Prior to displaying the last card the player may make a second wager to increase the amount of the award for the final hand or obtain an award for having a poor hand.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for playing a video casino gaming device comprising 
 providing a video display and a computer processor to control the display, said processor including a first data structure storing data representing at least one deck of playing cards;    the player making a first wager to play the game and prompting play;    the processor in response to prompting of play randomly selecting a control value and randomly selecting and displaying at least two playing cards;    the processor comparing the at least two card holding to said control value and if said holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value, issuing a first award to the player, and    the processor randomly selecting and displaying at least one additional card to define at least a three card holding, the processor comparing the at least three card holding to said control value and if said at least three cards holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value and has a higher ranking that the two card holding, issuing a second award to the player.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising said precursor having a control value selected between an 8 and a Jack and said predetermined relationship of the at least two card holding is a pair having at least the same value as said control value.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the player making a second wager prior to displaying said at least one additional card.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  comprising if said at least three card holding has a predetermined relationship to the control value and has a higher rank than the two card holding, issuing the award based upon the first and second wagers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 5  comprising issuing a first award based upon the first wager and a second award as a multiplier of the second wager.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  comprising selecting an award schedule including a pair and three of a kind and issuing an award based upon the at least two card holding if the holding is a pair having a value at least as high as the control value and issuing an award based upon the at least three card final holding if (1) the holding has a higher Poker rank than the at least two card holding and (2) is one of (a) a pair having a value at least as high as the control value or (b) a three of a kind.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  comprising issuing an award based on at least the second wager if no card has at least the value of the control value and the at least three card holding in not a three of a kind.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising selecting and displaying at least a fourth card to define at least a four card holding and comparing the at least four card holding to said control value and if said at least four card holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value and has a higher ranking that the at least three card holding, issuing an award to the player.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  comprising the player opting to make a second wager prior to the display of the at least fourth card.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  comprising having an award schedule including,  
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                 
                     
                 
                   Two card holding 
                   Pair ≧ control value 
                 
                   Three card holding 
                   Pair ≧ control value or 3 of a kind 
                 
                   Four Card holding 
                   Pair ≧ control value or 3 of a kind or 4 of a kind 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising issuing an award based on at least the second wager if the at least four card holding (1) has not resulted in any award to the player and (2) none the card values are least as high as the control value.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  comprising selecting and displaying a fifth card to define a final five card holding, comparing the five card holding to said control value and if said five card holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value and has a higher ranking that the four card holding, issuing a second award to the player.  
     
     
         13 . An electronic device for play a casino game comprising: 
 a display;    a processor and a data structure storing data representing the playing cards of at least one deck;    means for the player to make a wager and prompt play of the game;    said processor configured to, in response to prompting of play, (i) randomly select and display at said display a control value and (ii) randomly select and display at the display at least two playing cards defining a first holding and to compare the first holding to a predetermined schedule of winning outcomes and if the first holding has a winning outcome, issuing a first award to the player; and    said processor configured to (i) select and display at least one additional card to define a second holding, (ii) compare the second holding to a predetermined schedule of winning outcomes and if (iii) the second holding has a winning outcome and (iv) outranks the at least two card holding, issuing a second award to the player.    
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  comprising a second data structure storing data representing an award schedule including the following Poker rankings,  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   First holding 
                   Pair ≧ Control Value 
                 
                     
                   Second holding 
                   Pair ≧ Control Value or 3 of a kind 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  comprising configuring the processor to select and display at least one additional card to define a third holding, (ii) compare the third holding to a predetermined schedule of winning outcomes and if (iii) the third holding has a winning outcome and (iv) outranks the second holding, issuing a third award to the player  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  comprising a second data structure storing data representing an award schedule including the following Poker rankings,  
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   First holding 
                   Pair ≧ Control Value 
                 
                     
                   Second holding 
                   Pair ≧ Control Value or 3 of a kind 
                 
                     
                   Third holding 
                   Pair ≧ Control Value or 3 of a kind or 4 of a 
                 
                     
                     
                   kind 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  comprising configuring the processor to select and display at least one additional card to define a fourth, five card, holding, (ii) compare the fourth holding to a predetermined schedule of winning outcomes and if (iii) the fourth holding has a winning outcome and (iv) outranks the third holding, issuing a fourth award to the player  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  comprising a second data structure storing data representing an award schedule for the fourth holding including the following Poker rankings, 
 Royal Flush  
 Straight Flush  
 4 of a Kind  
 Full House  
 Flush  
 Straight  
 3 of a Kind  
 Two Pair  
 Pair≧Control Value  
 
     
     
         19 . A method for a player to play a card game with a deck of playing cards comprising: 
 the player making a first wager to play the game;    selecting and displaying a control value card and at least two playing cards;    comparing the at least two card holding to said control value and if said holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value, issuing a first award to the player based upon the first wager,    selecting and displaying at least one additional card to define at least a three card holding; and    comparing the at least three card holding to said control value and if said at least three cards holding has a predetermined relationship to said control value and has a higher ranking that the two card holding, issuing a second award to the player based upon the first wager.