Pot poker game and method therefor

Abstract

A method for playing a game of poker pits a dealer against two or more players. Players make an opening bet, the outcome of which may be determined, on a player by player basis, by comparing a hand value of each player hand to the dealer hand. Players may make a pot bet, the outcome of which may be determined by comparing hand values of all hands, including the dealer hand and all player hands. Player may additionally make a bonus bet, the outcome of which may be determined by comparing a value of at least one player hand to a bonus bet pay table. In one embodiment, players may make a low range bonus bet, in which the outcome of the bet is determined by comparing the value of the betting player's hand against the pay table. In one embodiment, players may make a high range bonus bet, in which the outcome of the bet is determined by comparing the value of all player hands against the pay table. A specially-configured table, adapted for the play of embodiments of the poker game of the present invention, may also be provided.

1 . A method for playing a game of poker comprising:
 a dealer dealing a plurality of cards to two or more players and to the dealer;   wherein the plurality of cards dealt to the dealer are used to form a dealer hand and wherein the plurality of cards dealt to the two or more players are used to form player hands;   accepting an opening bet from the two or more players;   accepting a pot bet from the two or more players;   determining a value of the dealer hand;   determining a value of the player hands;   determining an outcome of the opening bet, on a player by player basis, by comparing a value of each player hand to a value of the dealer hand, and awarding an amount to a player having a hand value greater than the value of the dealer hand; and   determining an outcome of the pot bet by comparing the value of each player hand to each other player hand and to the value of the dealer hand, and awarding proceeds of the pot bet to the hand having the highest value.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dealer deals seven cards each to the dealer and to the two or more players, and wherein each of the dealer hand and the player hands is constructed from five of the seven cards. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising accepting a bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of at least one hand against a bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising accepting a low range bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the low range bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of the hand belonging to the player who has made the bonus bet against a low range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising accepting a high range bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the high range bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of each hand belonging to the two or more players against a high range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising determining an outcome of the bonus bet by comparing the value of at least one hand against the bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising determining an outcome of the low range bonus bet by comparing the value of the hand belonging to the player who has made the bonus bet against a low range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising determining an outcome of the high range bonus bet by comparing the value of each hand belonging to the two or more players against a high range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising including a Joker in a deck of cards used to play the game of poker. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising permitting the Joker to be used to create a hand consisting of five Aces, while prohibiting the Joker from being used to create any other five of a kind hand. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  further requiring payment of a commission by a player upon receipt of a payoff of a successful opening bet. 
   
   
       12 . A method for playing a game of poker comprising:
 a dealer dealing a plurality of cards to two or more players and to the dealer,   wherein the plurality of cards dealt to the dealer are used to form a dealer hand and wherein the plurality of cards dealt to the two or more players are used to form player hands;   wherein the dealer deals seven cards each to the dealer and to the two or more players, and wherein each of the dealer hand and the player hands is constructed from five of the seven cards;   accepting an opening bet from the two or more players;   accepting a pot bet from the two or more players;   determining a value of the dealer band;   determining a value of the player hands;   determining an outcome of the opening bet, on a player by player basis, by comparing a value of each player hand to a value of the dealer hand, and awarding an amount to a player having a band value greater than the value of the dealer hand; and   determining an outcome of the pot bet by comparing the value of each player hand to each other player hand and to the value of the dealer hand, and awarding proceeds of the pot bet to the hand having the highest value.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising accepting a bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of at least one hand against a bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising accepting a low range bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the low range bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of the hand belonging to the player who has made the bonus bet against a low range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising accepting a high range bonus bet from at least one of the two or more players, wherein the outcome of the high range bonus bet is determined by comparing a value of each hand belonging to the two or more players against a high range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising determining an outcome of the bonus bet by comparing the value of at least one hand against the bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising determining an outcome of the low range bonus bet by comparing the value of the hand belonging to the player who has made the bonus bet against a low range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising determining an outcome of the high range bonus bet by comparing the value of each hand belonging to the two or more players against a high range bonus bet pay table. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising including a Joker in a deck of cards used to play the game of poker and permitting the Joker to be used to create a hand consisting of five Aces, while prohibiting the Joker from being used to create any other five of a kind hand. 
   
   
       20 . A poker table comprising, in combination:
 a dealer station and a plurality of player stations marked on a surface of a table;   at least one bonus bet pay table located on the surface of the table;   a card area located proximate each player station;   a toss area located proximate each player station;   an opening bet area located proximate each player station;   a pot bet area located proximate each player station;   a first bonus bet area located proximate each player station; and   a second bonus bet area located proximate the first bonus bet area.