Methods and apparatus for playing a wagering game of chance

Abstract

Representative embodiments provide for methods of playing a wagering game of chance, including dealing an initial hand in a face-up condition to at least one player, and accepting a final bet into a pot thus defining at least one final betting player. The method also includes dealing one or more community cards in a face-up condition, wherein at least one community card is selectively combined with at least one card within each initial hand to define a final hand for each final betting player. The method further includes awarding at least a portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best final hand that comprises a predefined qualifying hand or better. Other embodiments provide for respective gaming tables and individual gaming machines including respectively electronic controllers, each controller configured to execute one or more method steps in accordance with the present embodiments provided for herein.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game of chance, comprising: 
 defining a qualifying hand;    dealing an initial hand in a face-up condition to at least one player;    accepting a final bet into a pot from each player, thus defining at least one final betting player;    dealing one or more community cards, wherein at least one community card is selectively combined with at least one card within each initial hand such that a final hand is defined for each final betting player; and    awarding at least a portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, repeating dealing an initial hand and accepting a final bet and dealing one or more community cards, and including in the pot at least a portion of any previous pot or pots until at least a portion of the pot is awarded.  
     
     
         3 . The method of claim  1 further comprising, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, awarding a predetermined portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best non-qualifying final hand.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more community cards are dealt in a face-up condition.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the qualifying hand is defined by a house.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further compromising collecting an ante for a house from at least one player before dealing the initial hand.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising accepting an initial bet into the pot from at least one player before dealing the initial hand.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising accepting a first bet into the pot from at least one player before accepting the final bet.  
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  8 further comprising accepting a second bet into the pot from at least one player after accepting the first bet and prior to accepting the final bet.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein accepting the second bet defines at least one player who has not folded out, the method further comprising: 
 selectively combining at least one card within each initial hand with at least one community card so as to define an eligible hand for each player who has not folded out; and    if no final betting player has a qualifying final hand, awarding a predetermined portion of the pot to any player who has not folded out having a best non-qualifying eligible hand.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein: 
 the first bet is defined by an amount less than the second bet; and    the second bet is defined by an amount less than the final bet.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the qualifying hand is defined by one of a straight, a flush, a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the dealing one or more community cards comprises dealing one or more community “flop” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “turn” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “river” cards in a face-up condition; and    the final bet is accepted prior to dealing the one or more community river cards.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein dealing the initial hand comprises: 
 dealing a preliminary hand comprising two or more cards in a face-up condition to at least one player; and    receiving at least one card selectively discarded from each preliminary hand so as to define the initial hand for at least one player prior to dealing one or more community cards.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each final hand is evaluated in accordance with a predetermined ranking of poker hands so as to determine the best final hand.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one player plays the wagering game of chance by way of an electronic gaming table.  
     
     
         17 . The method  claim 1 , wherein at least one player plays the wagering game of chance by way of an individual gaming machine.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 at least two players play the wagering game of chance by way of respective individual gaming machines; and    each of the individual gaming machines are coupled in signal communication.    
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a wagering game of chance, comprising: 
 defining a qualifying hand comprising five cards;    dealing an initial hand of at least one card in a face-up condition to at least one player;    accepting a first bet into a pot from at least one player thus defining at least one first betting player;    dealing at least one community “flop” card in a face-up condition;    accepting a second bet from at least one first betting player thus defining at least one second betting player;    dealing at least one community “turn” card in a face-up condition;    accepting a third bet from at least one second betting player thus defining at least one final betting player;    dealing at least one community “river” card in a face-up condition, wherein each community flop, turn and river card is selectively combinable with each initial hand so as define a final hand comprising five cards for each final betting player; and    awarding at least a portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, repeating accepting a first bet and dealing at least one community flop cards and accepting a second bet and dealing at least one community turn card and accepting a third bet and dealing at least one community river card, and including in the pot at least a portion of any previous pot or pots until at least a portion of the pot is awarded.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, awarding a predetermined portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best non-qualifying final hand.  
     
     
         22 . The method of claim  19 further compromising collecting an ante for a house from at least one player before dealing the initial hand.  
     
     
         23 . The method of claim  19 further comprising accepting an initial bet into the pot from at least one player before dealing the initial hand.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  wherein: 
 the second bet is defined by an amount greater than the first bet; and    the third bet is defined by an amount greater than the second bet.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the second bet is equal to double the amount of the first bet.  
     
     
         26 . The method of claim  19 further comprising: 
 selectively combining each final hand with each community flop, turn and river card so as to define an eligible hand of five cards for each second betting player; and    if no final betting player has a qualifying final hand, awarding a predetermined portion of the pot to any second betting player having a best non-qualifying eligible hand.    
     
     
         27 . The method  claim 19  wherein the qualifying hand is defined by one of a straight, a flush, a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  wherein dealing the initial hand is defined by: 
 dealing a preliminary hand of at least three cards in a face-up condition to at least one player; and    receiving at least one card selectively discarded from each preliminary hand so as to define an initial hand of two cards for each player prior to accepting the first bet.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each final hand is evaluated in accordance with a predetermined ranking of poker hands so as to determine the best final hand.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least one player plays the wagering game of chance by way of an electronic gaming table.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19  wherein at least one player plays the wagering game of chance by way of an individual gaming machine.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19  wherein: 
 at least two players play the wagering game of chance by way of respective individual gaming machines; and    each of the individual gaming machines are coupled in signal communication.    
     
     
         33 . A gaming table, comprising: 
 a plurality of user interfaces; and    an electronic controller coupled in signal communication with each of the user interfaces, the electronic controller configured to: 
 define a qualifying hand;  
 deal an initial hand in a face-up condition to at least one player by way of a corresponding one of the user interfaces;  
 register a final bet into a pot from each player, thus defining at least one final betting player;  
 deal one or more community cards by way of at least one of the user interfaces, wherein at least one community card is selectively combined with at least one card within each initial hand such that a final hand is defined for each final betting player; and  
 determine an award of at least a portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand.  
   
     
     
         34 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, repeat dealing an initial hand and registering a final bet and dealing one or more community cards, and register in the pot at least a portion of any previous pot or pots until at least a portion of the pot is awarded.  
     
     
         35 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best non-qualifying final hand.  
     
     
         36 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to deal one or more community cards in a face-up condition.  
     
     
         37 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to: 
 register a first bet into the pot from at least one player prior to registering the final bet; and    register a second bet into the pot from at least one player after registering the first bet and prior to registering the final bet.    
     
     
         38 . The gaming table of  claim 37  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that registering the second bet into the pot defines at least one player who has not folded out, the electronic controller further configured to: 
 selectively combine at least one card within each initial hand with at least one community card so as to define an eligible hand for each player who has not folded out; and    if no final betting player has a qualifying hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to any player who has not folded out having a best non-qualifying eligible hand.    
     
     
         39 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that the qualifying hand is defined by one of a straight, a flush, a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, or higher.  
     
     
         40 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that dealing one or more community cards comprises: 
 dealing one or more community “flop” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “turn” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “river” cards in a face-up condition by way of at least one of the user interfaces, respectively; and    wherein registering the final bet is performed prior to dealing one or more community river cards.    
     
     
         41 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that dealing an initial hand comprises: 
 dealing a preliminary hand comprising two or more cards in a face-up condition to at least one player by way of a corresponding one of the user interfaces; and    registering at least one card selectively discarded from at least one preliminary hand by a corresponding player so as to define an initial hand for at least one player prior to dealing one or more community cards.    
     
     
         42 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to evaluate each final hand in accordance with a predetermined ranking of poker hands so as to determine the best final hand.  
     
     
         43 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein each user interface comprises a display screen configured to display graphical images of the cards dealt by the electronic controller.  
     
     
         44 . The gaming table of  claim 43  wherein each display screen is further configured to display a current status of the pot as registered by the electronic controller.  
     
     
         45 . The gaming table of  claim 33  wherein each user interface comprises at least one playing chip sensor.  
     
     
         46 . A computer-accessible storage media including an executable program code, the executable program code configured to cause a processor to: 
 define a qualifying hand;    deal an initial hand in a face-up condition to at least one player;    register a final bet into a pot from each player, thus defining at least one final betting player;    deal one or more community cards, wherein at least one community card is selectively combined with at least one card within each initial hand such that a final hand is defined for each final betting player; and    determine an award of at least a potion of the pot to any final betting player having a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand.    
     
     
         47 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured to cause the processor to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, repeat dealing an initial hand and registering a final bet and dealing one or more community cards, and register in the pot at least a portion of any previous pot or pots until at least a portion of the pot is awarded.  
     
     
         48 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured to cause the processor to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to any final betting player having a best non-qualifying final hand.  
     
     
         49 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured to deal the one or more community cards in a face-up condition.  
     
     
         50 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured to cause the processor to: 
 register a first bet into the pot from at least one player prior to registering the final bet; and    register a second bet into the pot from at least one player after registering the first bet and prior to registering the final bet.    
     
     
         51 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 50  wherein the executable program code is further configured such that registering the second bet into the pot defines at least one player who has not folded out, the executable program code further configured to cause the processor to: 
 selectively combine at least one card within each initial hand with at least one community card so as to define an eligible hand for each player who has not folded out; and    if no betting player has a qualifying hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to any player who has not folded out having a best non-qualifying eligible hand.    
     
     
         52 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured such that the qualifying hand is defined by one of a straight, a flush, a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind.  
     
     
         53 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured such that dealing one or more community cards comprises: 
 dealing one or more community “flop” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “turn” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “river” cards in a face-up condition; and    wherein registering the final bet is performed prior to dealing one or more community river cards.    
     
     
         54 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured such that that dealing an initial hand comprises: 
 dealing a preliminary hand comprising two or more cards in a face-up condition to at least one player; and    registering at least one card selectively discarded from at least one preliminary hand by a corresponding player so as to define an initial hand for at least one player prior to dealing one or more community cards.    
     
     
         55 . The computer-accessible storage media of  claim 46  wherein the executable program code is further configured cause the processor to evaluate each final hand in accordance with a predetermined ranking of poker hands so as to determine the best final hand.  
     
     
         56 . An individual gaming machine, comprising: 
 a user interface; and    an electronic controller coupled in signal communication with the user interface, the electronic controller configured to be coupled in signal communication with at least one other electronic controller of another individual gaming machine, the electronic controller configured to: 
 define a qualifying hand;  
 deal an initial hand in a face-up condition to a first player by way of the user interface;  
 register a final bet into a pot from the first player thus defining a first final betting player, the pot including another final bet from at least one other final betting player using another individual gaming machine;  
 deal one or more community cards in a face-up condition by way of the user interface, wherein at least one community card is selectively combined with at least one card within the initial hand such that a final hand is defined for the first final betting player, and wherein the one or more community cards are common to the first final betting player and at least one other final betting player; and  
 determine an award of at least a portion of the pot to the first final betting player upon achieving a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand as compared to another final hand of at least one other final betting player.  
   
     
     
         57 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, repeat dealing an initial hand and registering a final bet and dealing one or more community cards, and register in the pot at least a portion of any previous pot or pots until at least a portion of the pot is awarded.  
     
     
         58 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to, if no final betting player holds a qualifying final hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to the first final betting player upon achieving a best non-qualifying final hand as compared to another final hand of at least one other final betting player.  
     
     
         59 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to: 
 register a first bet into the pot from the first player prior to registering the final bet; and    register a second bet into the pot from the first player after registering the first bet and prior to registering the final bet.    
     
     
         60 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 59  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that registering the second bet into the pot defines a first player who has not folded out, the pot including another second bet from at least one other player who has not folded out using another individual gaming machine, and wherein the electronic controller is further configured to: 
 selectively combine at least one card within the initial hand with at least one community card so as to define a eligible hand for the first player who has not folded out, wherein the one or more community cards are common to the first player who has not folded out and at least one other player who has not folded out; and    if no player who has not folded out has a qualifying hand, determine an award of a predefined portion of the pot to the player who has not folded out upon achieving a best non-qualifying eligible hand as compared to another eligible hand of at least one other player who has not folded out.    
     
     
         61 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that the qualifying hand is defined by one of a straight, a flush, a straight flush, three-of-a-kind, or four-of-a-kind.  
     
     
         62 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that dealing one or more community cards comprises: 
 dealing one or more community “flop” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “turn” cards in a face-up condition, and thereafter dealing one or more community “river” cards in a face-up condition by way of the user interface, respectively; and    wherein registering the final bet is performed prior to dealing one or more community river cards.    
     
     
         63 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured such that dealing the initial hand comprises: 
 dealing a preliminary hand comprising two or more cards in a face-up condition to the player by way of the user interface; and    registering at least one card selectively discarded from the preliminary hand by the first player so as to define an initial hand the player prior to dealing one or more community cards.    
     
     
         64 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the electronic controller is further configured to compare the final hand of the first betting player with another final hand of at least one other final betting player in accordance with a predetermined ranking of poker hands so as to determine the best final hand.  
     
     
         65 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 56  wherein the user interface comprises a display screen configured to display graphical images of the cards dealt by the electronic controller.  
     
     
         66 . The individual gaming machine of  claim 65  wherein the display screen is further configured to display a current status of the pot as registered by the electronic controller.  
     
     
         67 . A method of playing a wagering game of chance, comprising: 
 defining a qualifying hand;    dealing a hand to at least two players;    accepting a bet into a pot from each player;    awarding at least a first portion of the pot to player having a best final hand that comprises a qualifying hand; and    if no player has a qualifying final hand, awarding a predetermined portion of the pot to any player who has a best non-qualifying hand.