Texas Hold'em Game with Side Pots

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage for a Texas hold'em style game with an additional side pot(s). An additional three card hand side pot can be bet into by the players and will be awarded to the player with the best three card hand formed using each players' respective hole cards and one card from the flop. An additional five card hand side pot can be bet into by the players and will be awarded to the player with the best five card hand formed using each players' respective hole cards and the flop. These side pots will not be resolved until the main Texas hold'em game is over and then all of the cards can be revealed.

1 . A method for playing a wagering game comprising:
 providing a physical deck of cards and a gaming table;   receiving ante wagers by players into a main pot;   receiving ante wagers by the players into a side pot;   dealing hole cards to each of the players and community cards;   conducting betting rounds among the players for the main pot; and   conducting betting rounds among the players for the side pot,   wherein when the betting rounds are completed and the community cards are revealed, awarding the main pot to a main winning player out of the players with a highest poker hand using main predetermined criteria, and awarding the side pot to a side winning player out of the players with a highest poker hand using side predetermined criteria, wherein the side predetermined criteria is different than the main predetermined criteria.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the main predetermined criteria is a best five card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and the community cards. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the side predetermined criteria is a best three card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and one of the community cards. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the side predetermined criteria is a best five card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and a first three revealed community cards. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein there are five community cards and the side predetermined criteria involves the first three dealt cards out of the five community cards, wherein the awarding the side pot is not performed until after additional community cards are revealed and the players reveal their hole cards. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein during the betting rounds among the players for the side pot, each player can decline to match a current raise for the side pot which is a disqualification from winning the side pot, and in a successive betting round the respective player is permitted to contribute a deficiency in order to qualify to win the side pot. 
   
   
       7 . A method for playing a wagering game comprising:
 providing a physical deck of cards and a gaming table;   dealing a hand to each of at least two players;   conducting a first betting round among the at least two players, wherein a particular player out of the players declines to match a current raise into a pot thereby disqualifying the particular player from winning the pot;   dealing additional card(s);   conducting a second betting round among the at least two players, wherein the particular player pays a deficiency owed by the particular into the pot thereby allowing the particular player to become eligible to win the pot; and   awarding the pot to non-disqualified players out of the at least two players that meet predefined conditions associated with the pot.   
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the hand dealt to each of the at least two players comprises two cards, and the additional card(s) comprise a three card flop, and the predefined conditions associated with the pot comprise a best three card poker hand formed using cards from each player's respective hand and the three card flop. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the hand dealt to each of the at least two players comprises two cards, and the additional card(s) comprise a three card flop, and the predefined conditions associated with the pot comprise a best five card poker hand formed using each player's respective hand and the three card flop. 
   
   
       10 . An electronic gaming device for playing a wagering game, the device comprising:
 a processing unit configured to execute instructions on a digital computer that are operable to perform:   receiving ante wagers by players into a main pot;   receiving ante wagers by the players into a side pot;   dealing hole cards to each of the players and community cards;   conducting betting rounds among the players for the main pot;   conducting betting rounds among the players for the side pot; and   an output device electrically connected to the processing unit to display at least the dealing,   wherein when the betting rounds are completed and the community cards are revealed, awarding the main pot to a main winning player out of the players with a highest poker hand using main predetermined criteria, and awarding the side pot to a side winning player out of the players with a highest poker hand using side predetermined criteria, wherein the side predetermined criteria is different than the main predetermined criteria.   
   
   
       11 . The device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the main predetermined criteria is a best five card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and the community cards. 
   
   
       12 . The device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the side predetermined criteria is a best three card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and one of the community cards. 
   
   
       13 . The device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the side predetermined criteria is a best five card poker hand made from each players' respective hole cards and a first three revealed community cards. 
   
   
       14 . The device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein there are five community cards and the side predetermined criteria involves the first three dealt cards out of the five community cards, wherein the awarding the side pot is not performed until after additional community cards are revealed and the players reveal their hole cards. 
   
   
       15 . The device as recited in  claim 10 , wherein during the betting rounds among the players for the side pot, each player can decline to match a current raise for the side pot which is a disqualification from winning the side pot, and in a successive betting round the respective player is permitted to contribute a deficiency in order to qualify to win the side pot.