Method of playing a wagering card game

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of playing a card game including allowing a player to wager on an outcome of a first hand of cards winning, a second hand of cards winning or no hand of cards winning. The method includes dealing the first hand of cards and the second hand of cards. Each the hand of cards has three cards. The method next includes designating the outcome as no hand of cards winning if: the first hand of cards has a group of cards from a pre-selected plurality of groups of cards and the second hand of cards has a group of cards from said pre-selected plurality of groups of cards.

1 . A method of playing a card game comprising the steps of:
 receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other;   dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card;   determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card;   comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank;   dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter;   comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and   paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more wagers include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein receiving any one of the first, second or third wagers is mandatory. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card further includes dealing a first partial hand of two cards, a second partial hand of two cards and a single community card. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the hand ranks comprise, from lowest rank to highest rank, the hands known as pair, flush, straight, non-suited three of a kind, straight flush, and suited three of a kind. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the qualifying hand rank is pair. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the preset award rank is a pair of Kings. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ranks are conventional poker ranks. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the award is a multiple of the wager. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank further comprises paying an award of an amount which is at least partially dependent on the rank of the higher ranked final hand. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing a game, comprising:
 an input device configured for receiving one or more wagers relating to a potential outcome of a game, wherein the potential outcome may include a first final hand of cards outranking a second final hand of cards, the second final hand of cards outranking the first final hand of cards or neither final hand of cards outranking the other;   a processor with access to a memory device configured for:
 (i) dealing a first partial hand of cards, a second partial hand of cards and at least one community card; 
 (ii) determining a rank for the first initial hand and a rank for the second initial hand, wherein the first initial hand comprises the first partial hand and the at least one community card and the second initial hand comprises the second partial hand and the at least one community card; 
 (iii) comparing the ranks of the first initial hand and the second initial hand, respectively, with a qualifying hand rank, wherein an initial hand qualifies to become a final hand by outranking the qualifying rank; 
 (iv) dealing a card to the partial hand corresponding to any non-qualifying initial hand, wherein the non-qualifying initial hand becomes a final hand thereafter; 
 (v) comparing the ranks of the first and second final hands to determine a final outcome; and 
   an output device configured for paying an award if the rank of the outranked final hand of the first and second final hands is greater than or equal to a preset award rank.   
     
     
         13 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the one or more wagers received by the input device include a first wager associated with the first final hand outranking the second final hand, a second wager associated with the second final hand outranking the first final hand, a third wager associated with the first final hand and the second final hand having the same rank, and a fourth wager associated with the rank of any outranked final hand being greater than or equal to the preset award rank. 
     
     
         14 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the input device is configured for receiving cash or electronic debiting an account. 
     
     
         15 . A system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the output device is configured for paying awards corresponding to any wagers placed on a potential outcome which matches the final outcome. 
     
     
         16 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the output device is configured for paying awards by electronically crediting an account. 
     
     
         17 . A system as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a display device configured for displaying the game. 
     
     
         18 . A system as recited in  claim 17  wherein the input device, processor, output device and display device are mounted in a single housing. 
     
     
         19 . A system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the single housing includes multiple player positions. 
     
     
         20 . A system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the single housing includes a virtual dealer display.