Method for playing a poker game and tournament featuring no folding of cards by the players

Abstract

A method for playing a poker game involving a plurality of players P includes the steps of: Each player placing the same single ante bet A to create a pot; Dealing in order first and second cards face-down to each player. Dealing three flop cards face-up, a fourth turn card face-up, and a fifth river card face-up while dealing three burn cards face-down; Turning over each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five face-up cards; Paying to the player having the best poker hand the pot P times A and deducting the casino rake and the bad-beat jackpot rake.

1 . A method for playing a poker game involving a plurality of players, said method comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a second card face-down to each player;   Dealing a first burn card face-down;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a second burn card face-down;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a third burn card face-down;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up.   
     
     
         2 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to the player who has the best poker hand, the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake. 
     
     
         3 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to the players who have the same best poker hand, an equal share of the pot after deducting the casino rake and the bad-beat jackpot rake. 
     
     
         4 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind or a straight flush using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a better poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal straight flush using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up, a minority of the bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the bad-beat jackpot pool.   
     
     
         5 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to each player, an equal share of the pot after deducting the house rake and the bad-beat jackpot rake, should the five cards face-up display a poker hand that is better than any player's best poker hand. 
     
     
         6 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four aces using his two dealt ace cards in combination with two of the five cards face-up, a minority of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a poker hand of a royal straight flush in spades using his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the super bad-beat jackpot.   
     
     
         7 . In the method of  claim 1 , in a casino setting, utilizing manual hand shuffling whenever there are two to five players in the hand. 
     
     
         8 . In the method of  claim 1 , in a casino setting, utilizing a shuffling machine whenever there are six to ten players in the hand. 
     
     
         9 . In the method of  claim 6 , utilizing an insurance carrier to insure the super bad-beat jackpot pool. 
     
     
         10 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four deuces using his two deuces dealt cards in combination with two of the five cards face-up, a minority of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a poker hand of a royal straight flush in spades using his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the super bad-beat jackpot pool.   
     
     
         11 . In the method of  claim 10 , utilizing an insurance carrier to insure the super bad-beat jackpot pool. 
     
     
         12 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush using his two dealt cards in combination with the first three cards face-up. 
     
     
         13 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush aces using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         14 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush using only one of his two dealt cards in combination with four of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         15 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying a pre-determined bonus to the player who places an optional same single side bet and who makes a poker hand of a straight, a flush or a full-house using his two dealt cards in combination with the first three cards face-up. 
     
     
         16 . In the method of  claim 1 , paying a pre-determined bonus to the player who places an optional same single side bet and who makes a poker hand of a straight, a flush or a full-house using his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a poker game involving a plurality of players comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a second card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a third card face-down to each player;   Dealing a first burn card face-down;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a second burn card face-down;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a third burn card face-down;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective three dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two of his three dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up;   Paying to the player having the best poker hand, the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake.   
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a poker game involving a plurality of players comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a second card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a third card face-down to each player;   Dealing in order a fourth card face-down to each player;   Dealing a first burn card face-down;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a second burn card face-down;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a third burn card face-down;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective four dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two of his four dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up;   Paying to the player having the best poker hand, the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake.   
     
     
         19 . A method for playing a poker game involving a plurality of players, said method comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player, and then a second card face-down to each player;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up.   
     
     
         20 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to the player who has the best poker hand the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake. 
     
     
         21 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to the players who have the same best poker hand an equal share of the pot after deducting the casino rake and the bad-beat jackpot rake. 
     
     
         22 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind or a straight flush using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a better poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal straight flush using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up, a minority of the bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the bad-beat jackpot pool.   
     
     
         23 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to each player, an equal share of the pot after deducting the house rake and the bad-beat jackpot rake, should the five cards face-up display a poker hand that is better than any player's best poker hand. 
     
     
         24 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four aces using his two dealt ace cards in combination with two of the five cards face-up, a minority of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a poker hand of a royal straight flush in spades using his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the super bad-beat jackpot.   
     
     
         25 . In the method of  claim 19 , in a casino setting, utilizing manual hand shuffling whenever there are two to five players in the hand. 
     
     
         26 . In the method of  claim 19 , in a casino setting, utilizing a shuffling machine whenever there are six to ten players in the hand. 
     
     
         27 . In the method of  claim 24 , utilizing an insurance carrier to insure the super bad-beat jackpot pool. 
     
     
         28 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying to the player who makes a poker hand of four deuces using his two deuces dealt cards in combination with two of the five cards face-up, a minority of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;
 Paying to the player who makes a poker hand of a royal straight flush in spades using his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up, up to one-half of the super bad-beat jackpot pool;   Paying to each other player in the hand an equal share of the remainder of the super bad-beat jackpot pool.   
     
     
         29 . In the method of  claim 28 , utilizing an insurance carrier to insure the super bad-beat jackpot pool. 
     
     
         29 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush using his two dealt cards in combination with the first three cards face-up. 
     
     
         30 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush aces using his two dealt cards in combination with two or three of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         31 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who makes a poker hand of four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush using only one of his two dealt cards in combination with four of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         32 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying a pre-determined free bonus to the player who places an optional same single side bet and who makes a poker hand of a straight, a flush or a full-house using his two dealt cards in combination with the first three cards face-up. 
     
     
         33 . In the method of  claim 19 , paying a pre-determined bonus to the player who places an optional same single side bet and who makes a poker hand of a straight, a flush, a full-house, four of a kind, a straight flush or a royal flush utilizing his two dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up. 
     
     
         34 . A method of playing a poker game involving a plurality of players comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player, a second card face-down to each player, and then a third card face-down to each player;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective three dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two of his three dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up;   Paying to the player having the best poker hand, the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake.   
     
     
         35 . A method of playing a poker game involving a plurality of players comprising the steps of:
 Each player placing the same single ante bet to create a pot;   Dealing in order a first card face-down to each player, a second card face-down to each player, a third card face-down to each player, and then a fourth card face-down to each player;   Dealing three cards face-up;   Dealing a fourth card face-up;   Dealing a fifth card face-up;   Exposing each player's respective four dealt cards;   Determining the best poker hand for each player's two of his four dealt cards in combination with three of the five cards face-up;   Paying to the player having the best poker hand, the pot minus the casino rake and minus the bad-beat jackpot rake.   
     
     
         36 . A method for playing a poker tournament involving a plurality of tables T and a plurality of players P(T) up to P(max) players at each such table, said method comprising the steps of:
 At each table, commencing the first hand of the first round of play by each starting player placing the same first-ante bet A( 1 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down to the first designated player and then to each subsequent player; Dealing in order a second card face-down to such first designated first player and then to each subsequent player; Dealing five cards face-up by Dealing a first burn card face-down, Dealing three cards face-up, Dealing a second burn card face-down, Dealing a fourth card face-up, Dealing a third burn card face-down, and Dealing a fifth card face-up; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the first round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the first round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   At each table, commencing the first hand of the second round of play by each player placing the same second-ante bet A( 2 ) being a multiple of A( 1 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to such first designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the second round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the second round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   At each table, commencing the first hand of the third round of play by each player placing the same third-ante bet A( 3 ) being a multiple of A( 2 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to such first designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the third round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the third round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player.   
     
     
         37 . In the method of  claim 36 , wherein each player is provided with the amount of chips for commencement play in the tournament being equal to P(max) times [A( 1 ) plus A( 2 ) plus A( 3 )]. 
     
     
         38 . In the method of  claim 36 , wherein A( 3 ) is twice A( 2 ); and wherein A( 2 ) is twice A( 1 ). 
     
     
         39 . In the method of  claim 36 ,
 At each table, commencing the first hand of the Nth round of play wherein N is greater than 3 by each remaining player placing the same ante bet A(N) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the Nth designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the Nth round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the Nth round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   
     
     
         40 . In the method of  claim 39 , at the end of the Nth round of play, totaling the number of players remaining at the tables; and substantially equally distributing the remaining players amongst the tables. 
     
     
         41 . In the method of  claim 39 , after the Nth round of play, assigning no fewer than 6 of the remaining players to any table and assigning no more than 10 of the remaining players to any table. 
     
     
         42 . In the method of  claim 39 , wherein ante bet A(N) is twice ante bet A(N−1). 
     
     
         43 . In the method of  claim 39 , declaring the winner of the tournament should there be only one player remaining at the end of any hand during said Nth round being greater than the third round. 
     
     
         44 . A method for playing a poker tournament involving one table and a plurality of players P at such table, said method comprising the steps of:
 commencing the first hand of the first round of play by each starting player placing the same first-ante bet A( 1 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down to the first designated player and then to each subsequent player; Dealing in order a second card face-down to such first designated player and then to each subsequent player; Dealing five cards face-up by Dealing a first burn card face-down, Dealing three cards face-up, Dealing a second burn card face-down, Dealing a fourth card face-up, Dealing a third burn card face-down, and Dealing a fifth card face-up; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the first round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the first round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   commencing the first hand of the second round of play by each player placing the same second-ante bet A( 2 ) being a multiple of A( 1 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to such first designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the second round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the second round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   commencing the first hand of the third round of play by each player placing the same third-ante bet A( 3 ) being a multiple of A( 2 ) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to such first designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the third round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated first player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the third round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player.   commencing the first hand of the Nth round of play wherein N is greater than 3 by each remaining player placing the same Nth ante bet A(N) to create a pot; Dealing in order a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the Nth designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; Dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; Exposing each player's respective two dealt cards; Determining the best poker hand for each player's two dealt cards in combination with the five cards face-up; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; commencing the second hand of the Nth round of play by dealing a first card face-down and then a second card face-down to the next designated player and to each subsequent player as aforementioned; dealing five cards face-up as aforementioned; paying the pot to the player who has the best poker hand; and commencing and completing each subsequent hand of the Nth round of play as aforementioned until each subsequent player is the next designated player;   
     
     
         45 . In the method of  claim 44 , wherein each player is provided with the amount of chips for commencement of play in the tournament being equal to P times [A( 1 ) plus A( 2 ) plus A( 3 )]. 
     
     
         46 . In the method of  claim 44 , declaring the winner of the tournament should there be only one player remaining at the end of any hand during said Nth round being greater then the third round. 
     
     
         47 . In the method of  claim 44 , wherein ante bet A(N) is twice ante bet A(N−1).