Method and apparatus for playing casino card game

Abstract

A method of playing a card game includes the steps of: (a) placing an ante bet; (b) receiving at least one player-specific card; (c) receiving at least one face-up community card; (d) receiving at least one face-down community card; and (e) determining whether to drop out or to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, and if a determination is made to drop out, collecting winnings or forfeiting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards, and if a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, placing a buy bet and allowing one of the face-down community cards to be flipped so as to be face-up. Payouts are made accordingly.

1 . A method of playing a card game utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing an ante bet;    (b) receiving at least one player-specific card;    (c) receiving at least one face-up community card;    (d) receiving at least one face-down community card;    (e) determining whether to drop out or to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, and if a determination is made to drop out, collecting winnings or forfeiting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards, and if a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, placing a buy bet and allowing one of the face-down community cards to be flipped so as to be face-up; and    (f) if a determination was made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up each time step (e) was performed, repeating step (e) until no community cards remain face-down, and collecting winnings or forfeiting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of receiving at least one player-specific card comprises the step of receiving two player-specific cards.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of receiving at least one player-specific card comprises the step of receiving, face down, at least one player-specific card.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of receiving at least one face-up community card comprises the step of receiving one face-up community card.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of receiving at least one face-down community card comprises the step of receiving three face-down community cards.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ante bet comprises $5.00.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein each buy bet comprises $1.00.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said step of receiving at least one face-down community card comprises the step of receiving three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises $1.00, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises $1.00, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises zero.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said step of receiving at least one face-down community card comprises the step of receiving three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises $1.00, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises $2.00, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises $3.00.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of receiving at least one face-down community card comprises the step of receiving three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises a first amount of money, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises a second amount of money, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises zero.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first amount of money and the second amount of money are identical.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said card game is played on a computer.  
   
   
       13 . A method of playing a card game utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) placing an ante bet;    (b) receiving two face-down player-specific cards;    (c) receiving one face-up community card;    (d) receiving three face-down community cards;    (e) determining whether to drop out or to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, and if a determination is made to drop out, collecting winnings or forfeiting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards, and if a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, placing a buy bet and allowing one of the face-down community cards to be flipped so as to be face-up; and    (f) if a determination was made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up each time step (e) was performed, repeating step (e) until no community cards remain face-down, and collecting winnings or forfeiting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards.    
   
   
       14 . A method of dealing a card game played by at least one player utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving an ante bet;    (b) dealing at least one player-specific card;    (c) dealing at least one face-up community card;    (d) dealing at least one face-down community card;    (e) receiving from the player an indication of a decision whether to drop out or to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, and if a determination is made to drop out, paying winnings or collecting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards, and if a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, receiving a buy bet and flipping over one of the face-down community cards so as to be face-up; and    (f) if a determination was made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up each time step (e) was performed, repeating step (e) until no community cards remain face-down, and paying winnings or collecting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of dealing at least one player-specific card comprises the step of dealing two player-specific cards.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of dealing at least one player-specific card comprises the step of dealing, face down, at least one player-specific card.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of dealing at least one face-up community card comprises the step of dealing one face-up community card.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of dealing at least one face-down community card comprises the step of dealing three face-down community cards.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the ante bet comprises $5.00.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each buy bet comprises $1.00.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said step of dealing at least one face-down community card comprises the step of dealing three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises $1.00, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises $1.00, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises zero.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said step of dealing at least one face-down community card comprises the step of dealing three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises $1.00, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises $2.00, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises $3.00.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said step of dealing at least one face-down community card comprises the step of dealing three face-down community cards, wherein the buy bet associated with the first face-down community card comprises a first amount of money, wherein the buy bet associated with the second face-down community card comprises a second amount of money, and wherein the buy bet associated with the third face-down community card comprises zero.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first amount of money and the second amount of money are identical.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said card game is dealt automatically on a computer.  
   
   
       26 . A method of dealing a card game played by at least one player utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) receiving an ante bet;    (b) dealing two face-down player-specific cards;    (c) dealing one face-up community card;    (d) dealing three face-down community cards;    (e) receiving from the player an indication of a decision whether to drop out or to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, and if a determination is made to drop out, paying winnings or collecting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards, and if a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up, receiving a buy bet and flipping over one of the face-down community cards so as to be face-up; and    (f) if a determination was made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up each time step (e) was performed, repeating step (e) until no community cards remain face-down, and paying winnings or collecting the ante bet based upon a comparison of a payout chart with a standard poker hand formed from the player-specific cards and from the face-up community cards.    
   
   
       27 . An apparatus for facilitating the dealing and play of a card game played by at least one player utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said apparatus comprising: 
 an area for each player designated for receiving an ante bet;    an area for each player designated for receiving at least one player-specific card;    an area designated for receiving at least one face-up community card;    an area designated for receiving at least one face-down community card; and    an area designated for receiving from the player a buy bet each time a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up.    
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said area designated for receiving at least one face-down community card comprises three separate areas designated for receiving three face-down community cards.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said area designated for receiving at least one face-up community card consists of a single area designated for receiving a single face-up community card.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for facilitating the dealing and play of a card game played by at least one player utilizing at least one deck of playing cards, said apparatus comprising: 
 an area for each player designated for receiving an ante bet;    an area for each player designated for receiving at least one player-specific card;    an area designated for receiving one face-up community card;    three separate areas designated for receiving three face-down community cards; and    an area designated for receiving from the player a buy bet each time a determination is made to pay to have one of the face-down community cards flipped face-up.