Casino poker game rewarding low hands

Abstract

A method of implementing a wagering game where low hands are rewarded. A player can place either or both of an ante wager and a bonus wager. If the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then the dealer qualifies and play continues, otherwise the ante wager wings and any raise wager made pushes.

1 . A method of implementing a wagering game, the method comprising: 
 receiving an ante wager by the player;    dealing a player's hand to a player and a dealer's hand to a dealer;    determining by the player whether to place a raise wager or fold;    if the player folds, then the player loses the ante wager;    if the player places the raise wager, then the dealer determines whether the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank; and    if the dealer's hand is not less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then the player wins the ante wager and the raise wager pushes.    
   
   
       2 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 if the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then a lowest player's hand is determined and a lowest dealer's hand is determined; and    if the lowest dealer's hand is lower than the lowest player's hand, then the player loses the ante wager and the raise wager.    
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 if the lowest dealer's hand is higher than the lowest player's hand, then the player wins the ante wager and wins the raise wager.    
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 if the lowest dealer's hand is higher than the lowest player's hand, then the player wins the ante wager and wins the raise wager and wins a bonus multiple of the ante wager for predetermined hands.    
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 if the lowest dealer's hand is higher than the lowest player's hand, then the player wins the ante wager and wins the raise wager and wins a bonus multiple of the raise wager for predetermined hands.    
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 if the lowest dealer's hand is equal to the lowest player's hand, then the player pushes on the ante wager and the raise wager.    
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 receiving an optional bonus wager from the player; and    paying the bonus wager based on the lowest player's hand using a bonus paytable, wherein the bonus paytable pays more for lower ranked hands.    
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of three cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of three cards.  
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of four cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of four cards.  
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of five cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of five cards.  
   
   
       11 . A method of implementing a wagering game, the method comprising: 
 receiving a first wager by the player;    dealing a player's hand to a player and a dealer's hand to a dealer;    determining whether the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank;    if the dealer's hand is not less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then the first wager pushes;    otherwise: 
 if the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then a lowest player's hand is determined and a lowest dealer's hand is determined;  
 if the lowest dealer's hand is lower than the lowest player's hand, then the player loses the first wager; and  
 if the lowest dealer's hand is higher than the lowest player's hand, then the player wins a paytable payout for the first wager.  
   
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 If the lowest dealer's hand is equal to the lowest player's hand, then the player pushes on the ante wager and the raise wager.    
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 receiving an optional bonus wager from the player; and    paying the bonus wager based on the lowest player's hand using a bonus paytable, wherein the bonus paytable pays more for lower ranked hands.    
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of three cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of three cards.  
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of four cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of four cards.  
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the player's hand is comprised of five cards and the dealer's hand is comprised of five cards.  
   
   
       17 . A method of implementing a wagering game, the method comprising: 
 receiving a bonus wager from a player;    determining a lowest card in a player's hand; and    paying the bonus wager using a multiplier based on the lowest card.    
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein a partial paytable is used to pay the bonus wager comprising: 
 Hand Payout Multiplier    A X    B Y,    wherein A and B represent possible lowest cards, and A is lower than B, and X is greater than Y.    
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 receiving an ante wager by the player;    dealing a player's hand to a player and a dealer's hand to a dealer;    determining by the player whether to place a raise wager or fold;    if the player folds, then the player loses the ante wager;    if the player places the raise wager, then the dealer determines whether the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank; and    if the dealer's hand is not less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then the player wins the ante wager and the raises wager pushes.    
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 if the dealer's hand is less than or equal to a predetermined rank, then a lowest player's hand is determined and a lowest dealer's hand is determined; and    if the lowest dealer's hand is lower than the lowest player's hand, then the player loses the ante wager and the raise wager.    
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 If the lowest dealer's hand is higher than the lowest player's hand, then the player wins the ante wager and wins the raise wager.    
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 if the lowest dealer's hand is equal to the lowest player's hand, then the player pushes on the ante wager and the raise wager.