Insurance wager in no-limit Texas Hold 'Em poker game

Abstract

A side bet for the poker card game No Limit Texas Hold'em referred to as PokerSurance™ bet. This method allows players to place PokerSurance™ wagers at respective betting areas. The wager is available only for the player with the statistically favorite hand at a stage of the hand where additional cards are forthcoming. It also may be exercised only when a) one or more players are “all-in” on a hand, and b) when this player's PokerSurance™ wager is determined to be appropriate for the player and accepted by the Dealer. A PokerSurance™ side bet acts like an insurance policy on a given hand of poker as it protects the player with the statistically favorite hand from losing all of his/her money on a “bad beat.”

1 . A method of playing a casino playing card wagering game in which players compete against players and in which an All-In wager can be made before all cards in a round of play are dealt and viewed comprising:
 providing a partial poker hand to each of at least two players;   the at least two players viewing their respective partial poker hands;   at least one player wagering all game wagerable value controlled by the at least one player in that round of play as an all-in wager;   at least one second player calling the all-in wager, and no third player calling the all-in wager such that additional wagers could be placed by the at least one second player and the third player as additional cards are provided towards completing the partial poker hands;   exposing all cards of the partial poker hands of the at least one player and the at least one second player;   determining statistical probability of advantage for the partial poker hand of the at least one player versus the partial poker hand of the at least one second player; and   a player being determined to have the best statistical probability of advantage placing a side bet wager against the casino that at the conclusion of the round of play, the player with the statistical advantage will lose the resolution of the round of play after complete poker hands are formed.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first partial poker hand to each of the at least two players comprises exactly two cards face down. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a first partial poker hand to each of the at least two players comprises exactly four cards face down. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the all-in wager is made after the at least two players see only their own two cards face down. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein only two players remain in the round of play. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the complete poker hands are formed with five community cards. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the five community cards are provided as a first set of three cards, a second set of one card, and a final set of another one card, each set dealt face-up for viewing. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the all-in wager is placed after the first set of three community cards is provided. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the all-in wager is placed after the second set of one community card is provided. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the all-in wager is placed after the final set of one community card is provided. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the side bet wager is paid at a 1:1 return on the side bet wager. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the side bet wager is always paid at a 1:1 return on the side bet wager. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the side bet wager is paid at a 1:1 return on the side bet wager for some ranges of statistical probability of advantage and paid at odds other than 1:1 for other ranges of statistical probability of advantage. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the statistical probability of advantage is determined by the casino for each round of play. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the statistical probability of advantage is determined by a processor for each round of play. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the statistical probability of advantage is displayed to all players after the all-in wager has been made and called. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus for the play of the method of  claim 1  comprising a table having wagering positions at multiple player positions for placement of the side bet wager and a display system for displaying the statistical probability of advantage of at least one player. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the display system can display the statistical probability of advantage for all players remaining in the round of play after the all-in wager has been made and all other players have elected to fold or call the all-in wager. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein a processor is present to determine the statistical probability of advantage and the determination is communicated to the display system.