Poker-type game

Abstract

A novel method of playing a poker-type game is disclosed wherein in a single deal a player is given the opportunity to bet twice against posted house odds, bet against a dealer hand, and bet against the other players. Each player makes initial wagers against the house odds and the other players. Each player and the dealer are then dealt two cards. In addition two community cards are dealt face down. Each player decides independently whether to bet against the dealer. The first community card is turned over and is used by each player and the dealer to form a three-card hand. Each player's two-card hands are compared to the house odds and the first bet is settled. The second bet against the house odds and any additional bets against the dealer's three-card hand are settled. The second community card is turned over and used by each player to form a four-card hand that is used to determine the winner of the bet against the other players.

1 . A method of playing a poker-type card game between a dealer and one or more players, comprising the steps of: 
 a. each player placing a two-card hand wager, a three-card hand wager, and a four-card hand wager;    b. dealing two cards from one or more standard 52-card decks to the dealer and to each of the players to form a two-card hand for the dealer and separate two-card hands for each player;    c. dealing two community cards face down;    d. comparing the two cards dealt to each player against a first pay table containing a pay out amount for predetermined rankings of two-card hands, and settling each two-card hand wager in amounts as dictated by the first pay table;    e. each player electing to place a three-card hand wager against a dealer three-card hand;    f. turning one of the two community cards face up for use in conjunction with the two-card hands of each player and the dealer to form the separate player three-card hands and the dealer three-card hand;    g. comparing the three-card hands of each player against a second pay table containing a pay out amount for predetermined rankings of three-card hands, and settling each three-card hand wager in a second amount as dictated by the second pay table;    h. comparing the three-card hands of each player who elected to place a three-card hand bet against the dealer three-card hand, and settling each player three-card hand wager against the dealer three-card hand bet as dictated by the higher rank between the player three-card hand and the dealer three-card hand;    i. turning the other community card face up for use for use in conjunction with the three-card hands of each player to form the four-card hands of each player; and    j. comparing the four-card hands of each player to determine the four-card hand of highest ranking, and settling the player four-card hand wagers against each player as dictated by the highest ranking hand amongst the players.    
   
   
       2 . A method of playing a poker-type card game according to  claim 1 , wherein the two-card hand wager against the first pay table and the three-card hand wager against the second pay table are equal in amount.  
   
   
       3 . A method of playing a poker-type card game according to  claim 2 , wherein the three-card hand wager against the dealer three-card hand is equal in amount to the two-card hand wager.  
   
   
       4 . A method of playing a poker-type card game according to  claim 1 , wherein the four-card hand wager must be a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       5 . A method of playing a poker-type card game according to  claim 4 , wherein prior to turning the other community card face up, each player elects to place a second four-card hand wager against the four-card hands of the other players, and wherein any player who does not also place a second four-card hand wager of equal amount is not eligible to win the four-card hand wagers against the four-card hands of the other players.  
   
   
       6 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 1 , wherein the dealer must have a pre-determined qualifying hand, wherein each player can optionally place a three-card wager against the dealer only if the dealer has the qualifying hand.  
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a card game, comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a dealer and at least one player;    b. providing a standard deck of 52 cards;    c. providing a pre-determined pay table for a two-card wager against the odds, including a pre-determined ranking system of winning hands from highest to lowest;    d. providing a pre-determined pay table for a three-card wager against the odds, including a pre-determined ranking system of winning hands from highest to lowest;    e. providing a pre-determined ranking system of winning hands for a three-card wager against the dealer from highest to lowest;    f. providing a pre-determined ranking system of winning hands for a four-card wager against the other player(s) from highest to lowest;    g. commencing the game by having each player place the following wagers: the two-card wager against the odds; the three-card wager against the odds; and the four-card wager against the other player(s);    h. dealing two cards to each player;    i. dealing two cards to the dealer;    j. dealing two cards to a community position to provide for a first community card and a second community card;    k. having each player inspect his cards and optionally place a three-card wager against the dealer;    l. turning over the dealer's two cards and the first community card to create the three-card hand;    m. paying each player's two-card wager against the pre-determined pay table if the player has achieved a rank at least as high as the lowest rank of the pay table;    n. taking away each player's two-card wager against the pre-determined pay table if the player fails to achieve a rank at least as high as the lowest rank of the pay table;    o. paying each player's three-card wager against the pre-determined pay table if the player has achieved a rank at least as high as the lowest rank of the pay table;    p. taking away each player's three-card wager against the pre-determined pay table if the. player fails to achieve a rank at least as high as the lowest rank of the pay table;    q. if the player has placed a three-card wager against the dealer, comparing the player's hand against the dealer's hand, and paying the player's three-card wager if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand, pursuant to the pre-determined ranking system;    r. if the player has placed a three-card wager against the dealer, comparing the player's hand against the dealer's hand, and taking away the player's wager if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, pursuant to the pre-determined ranking system;    s. turning over the second community card to create the four-card hand; and    t. comparing each player's hand against the other player(s) and paying the four-card wagers to the player with the highest rank, pursuant to the pre-determined ranking system.    
   
   
       8 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 7 , wherein the two-card wager against the pay table must be in an amount that is equal to the three-card wager placed against the pay table.  
   
   
       9 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 7 , wherein the three-card wager against the dealer, if placed, must be in an amount equal to the two-card wager and three-card wager against the pay table.  
   
   
       10 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 7 , wherein the four-card wager against the other player(s) must meet a pre-determined amount.  
   
   
       11 . The method of playing a card game according to  claim 7 , wherein the dealer must have a pre-determined qualifying hand, wherein each player can optionally place a three-card wager against the dealer only if the dealer has the qualifying hand.