Redraw poker game

Abstract

Various poker games playable with a standard 52-card deck permit card exchanges (redraws). Some games are in a stud poker format and permit three separate rounds of buy-backs wherein each player is allowed to discard any card from his hand for a new card dealt from the deck, after paying progressively higher exchange fees. This game may be played as high-low poker also. In a second disclosed stud poker game, the dealer deals three non-community cards to each player and three community cards, which are available to all players. Three rounds of card exchanges are permitted, one card per player per round. When played as high-low, this number of redraws affords significant opportunity for a player to hedge play between high and low and keeps many players in the game for longer periods. Also, most players exchange cards for cost and thereby further enhance the funds available for distribution. Another redraw poker game is played as five-card, high only poker. Various aspects of that game allow for payment of bonus based on the strength of the player's hand, without regard to any other hand (including the dealer's). Players can play against the house and against each other. One optional feature calls for the dealer's hand to qualify before bets against the house are settled. The dealer may be permitted card exchanges to qualify his hand. After the deal to all players and the house, play proceeds wherein each player may exchange one or more cards, together at once or in separate rounds where only one card per round may be exchanged. Each round of card redraws costs more than the previous round of redraws. One region of betting is for betting against the house, and a second region of betting is for betting against other players. The highest poker hand wins.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A poker card game playable with conventional playing cards, comprising: 
 dealing five cards to each player and betting at least once;    in three separate rounds, allowing each player to exchange any single card currently in his hand and dealing to that player a new card from the deck;    betting after at least one of said exchanges; and    determining a winner based on the card values after said third round of exchanges.    
     
     
         2 . The card game of  claim 1  wherein said game is played as a high-low game, and further including a determining which of said players are going high and which are going low, and wherein said determining a winner step includes determining the highest poker hand and the lowest poker hand.  
     
     
         3 . The card game of  claim 1  comprising a round of betting after each of said three card exchanges.  
     
     
         4 . The card game of  claim 1  wherein said betting at least once comprises betting after the second, third, fourth, and fifth cards.  
     
     
         5 . The card game of  claim 1  further including paying predetermined amounts for each of said card exchanges.  
     
     
         6 . The game of  claim 5  wherein said predetermined amounts increase over prior amounts with each round of card exchanges.  
     
     
         7 . The poker game of  claim 1  wherein some of said cards are dealt face up and others are dealt face down.  
     
     
         8 . A poker card game playable with conventional playing cards, comprising: 
 dealing three cards to each player, dealing three community cards, and betting at least once; thereafter    in three separate rounds, allowing each player to discard any card currently in his hand in exchange for dealing a new card from the deck;    betting after at least one of said exchanges; and    determining a winner based on the card values after said third round of exchanges.    
     
     
         9 . The card game of  claim 8  wherein said game is played as a high-low game so that said determining step includes determining winners for the highest poker hand and for the lowest poker hand.  
     
     
         10 . The card game of  claim 8  wherein said betting after at least one of said exchanges comprises betting after each of said three card exchanges.  
     
     
         11 . The card game of  claim 8  wherein said dealing comprises dealing two non-community cards to each player, then dealing three community cards, and then dealing a third non-community card to each player, wherein at least one of said non-community cards is dealt face down.  
     
     
         12 . The card game of  claim 8  further including paying predetermined amounts for each of said card exchanges.  
     
     
         13 . The game of  claim 12  wherein said predetermined amounts increase over prior amounts with each round of card exchanges.  
     
     
         14 . A poker game playable with conventional playing cards, comprising: 
 allowing each player to place a first wager in advance on the strength of the cards he will be dealt;    dealing cards to each player;    paying a first bonus to each player who has placed a said first wager and whose cards form a poker hand that qualifies for such first bonus;    allowing each player to make a card exchange upon payment of a predetermined fee; and    determining a winner.    
     
     
         15 . The game of  claim 14  further comprising dealing a hand to the dealer and allowing bets against the house (represented by the dealer).  
     
     
         16 . The game of  claim 15  further comprising determining whether the dealer's hand qualifies by reaching at least a minimum strength, and returning said bets against the house unless the dealer's hand qualifies but determining a winner as between the house and the players if the dealer's hand qualifies.  
     
     
         17 . The game of  claim 15  further comprising allowing the dealer to make a limited number of card exchanges to qualify his hand.  
     
     
         18 . A poker game playable with conventional playing cards, comprising: 
 allowing each player to place a first wager against the dealer;    dealing cards to each player;    allowing each player to place a second wager against other players;    allowing each player to make at least one card exchange upon payment of a predetermined fee;    paying a first amount to a player when his hand is superior to the dealer's hand; and    settling bets placed by players against other players.    
     
     
         19 . The game of  claim 18  wherein said at least one card exchange comprises two card exchanges, wherein the predetermined fee is greater for the second card exchange than for the first card exchange.  
     
     
         20 . The game of  claim 19  further comprising allowing the dealer to make a limited number of card exchanges to qualify his hand.