Poker-type game method

Abstract

A method of playing a poker-type game between a group of players and a dealer includes the wagering an ante bet by each player followed by dealing two cards to each player. Thereafter, one or more players wagers a hand bet or loses the ante bet. The dealer deals four subsequent cards to each player with a hand bet; and six cards to himself. Each player determines a best five-card hand from the six cards dealt, and similarly the dealer determines a best five-card hand. Paying off the hand bet and ante of each player occurs: (a) to the player if the five-card hand of the player has a higher poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer; or (b) to the dealer if the five-card hand of the player has a lower poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer.

1 . A method of playing a poker-type game with wagers between a group of respective players and a dealer whose outcome is determined by randomly generated playing cards having various ranks and suits, said method comprising the steps of: 
 wagering an ante bet by each respective player against the dealer;    dealing two initial cards to each respective player by the dealer;    wagering a hand bet by one or more players against the dealer after said dealing of the two initial cards step;    collecting the ante bet of any player who does not make a hand bet by the dealer;    dealing four subsequent cards to each player who has wagered a hand bet by the dealer;    dealing six cards to the dealer by the dealer;    determining a best five-card hand by each respective player from the six cards dealt to each respective player;    determining a best five-card hand by the dealer from the six cards dealt to the dealer;    paying off the hand bet of each player 
 (a) to the respective player if the five-card hand of the respective player has a higher poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer, or  
 (b) to the dealer if the five-card hand of the respective player has a lower poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer,  
   paying off the ante bet of each player 
 (a) to the respective player if the five-card hand of the player had a higher poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer, or  
 (b) to the dealer if the five-card hand of the player had a lower poker rank than the five-card hand of the dealer.  
   
   
   
       2 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 1 , further including the steps of: 
 wagering a rank bet by one or more players against the dealer before the dealing of the two initial cards;    paying off the rank bet of each respective player 
 (a) to the respective player if the cards dealt to the respective player have a higher poker rank than a predetermined base value, or  
 (b) to the dealer if the cards dealt to the respective player have a lower poker rank than the predetermined base value.  
   
   
   
       3 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the dealing four subsequent cards step includes the steps of: 
 (a) dealing two discrete cards to each respective player by the dealer, and    (b) dealing two common cards for shared use by each respective player by the dealer, so that (i) the cards dealt to each player who did not make a hand bet but who did make a rank bet include the two initial cards dealt to the respective player and the two common cards and (ii) the cards dealt to each player who did make a hand bet and a rank bet include the two initial cards dealt to each respective player, the two discrete cards dealt to each respective player, and the two common cards.    
   
   
       4 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the paying off the rank bet step includes the steps of: 
 (a) determining if the rank bet of each respective player exceeds a predetermined premium amount,    (b) determining if the cards dealt to any player exceeds a predetermined premium value, and    (c) if the cards dealt to any player exceeds the predetermined premium value, paying off a bonus amount to each respective player having a rank bet exceeding the predetermined premium amount.    
   
   
       5 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 4:   wherein the paying off the ante bet of each respective player to each player step further includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective ante bet thereof;    wherein the paying off of the rank bet of each respective player step further includes the step of determining the bonus amount based on a hierarchy of hand values; and    wherein the paying off the hand bet of each player to each player step further includes the step of the dealer paying to each player an amount equal to the hand bet.    
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 1:   wherein said paying off the hand bet step includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective hand bet thereof where the five-card hand of the respective player has a poker rank equal to the five-card hand of the dealer; and    wherein said paying off the ante bet step includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective ante bet thereof where the five-card hand of the respective player has a poker rank equal to the five-card hand of the dealer.    
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dealing four subsequent cards step includes the steps of: 
 (a) dealing two discrete cards to each respective player by the dealer, and    (b) dealing two common cards for shared use by each respective player.    
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 1:   wherein the playing cards are a standard 52-card deck and a joker playing card; and    further including the step of permitting each respective player with a joker playing card included in the cards dealt to that player to determine what value and/or suit to assign to the joker playing card.    
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wagering the hand bet step includes the step of limiting the hand bet to a predetermined maximum of the ante bet.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined maximum of the ante bet is ten.  
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the paying off the rank bet step includes the steps of: 
 (a) determining if the rank bet of each respective player exceeds a predetermined premium amount,    (b) determining if the cards dealt to any player exceeds a predetermined premium value, and    (c) if the cards dealt to any player exceeds the predetermined premium value, paying off a bonus amount to each respective player having a rank bet exceeding the predetermined premium amount.    
   
   
       12 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 11:   wherein the paying off the ante bet of each respective player to each player step further includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective ante bet thereof;    wherein the paying off of the rank bet of each respective player step further includes the step of determining the bonus amount based on a hierarchy of hand values; and    wherein the paying off the hand bet of each player to each player step further includes the step of the dealer paying to each player an amount equal to the hand bet.    
   
   
       13 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 12:   wherein said paying off the hand bet step includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective hand bet thereof where the five-card hand of the respective player has a poker rank equal to the five-card hand of the dealer; and    wherein said paying off the ante bet step includes the step of returning to the respective player the respective ante bet thereof where the five-card hand of the respective player has a poker rank equal to the five-card hand of the dealer.    
   
   
       14 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 13:   wherein the playing cards are a standard 52-card deck and a joker playing card; and    further including the step of permitting each respective player with a joker playing card included in the cards dealt to that player to determine what value and/or suit to assign to the joker playing card.    
   
   
       15 . A method of playing a poker-type game as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the wagering the hand bet step includes the step of limiting the hand bet to a predetermined maximum of the ante bet.