Method of ranking a poker hand

Abstract

There is disclosed an electronic method for ranking a poker hand. According to the method, a first hand value and a second hand value are determined from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks ( 710, 730 ). At least one of a plurality of index values is determined from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks ( 720 ). Then, the at least one index value and the second hand value are used to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand ( 740 ).

1 . An electronic method for ranking a poker hand, comprising:
 determining a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks;   determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks;   determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         2 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks comprises searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value and at least one index value. 
     
     
         3 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand comprises searching a second hand value table having a plurality of second hand value entries associated with respective ones of the plurality of index values, each second hand value entry comprising a second hand value and a rank. 
     
     
         4 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising determining a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks. 
     
     
         5 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein determining a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks comprises searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value, an index value, and a count value. 
     
     
         6 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine a hand category. 
     
     
         7 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a binary search algorithm is used to search the first hand value table. 
     
     
         8 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a binary search algorithm is used to search the second hand value table. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the subset of possible ranks comprises one possible rank. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second hand values are binary bit sequences. 
     
     
         11 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second hand values are hexadecimal bit sequences. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Aces in the poker hand;   the number of Kings in the poker hand;   the number of Queens in the poker hand:   the number of Jacks in the poker hand;   the number of Tens in the poker hand; and   whether the cards of the poker hand are of the same suit.   
     
     
         13 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Nines in the poker hand;   the number of Eights in the poker hand;   the number of Sevens in the poker hand;   the number of Sixes in the poker hand;   the number of Fives in the poker hand;   the number of Fours in the poker hand;   the number of Threes in the poker hand; and   the number of Twos in the poker hand.   
     
     
         14 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the hand category is one of a group consisting of: a high card; one pair; two pairs; three of a kind;
 straight; flush; full house; four of a kind; straight flush; and royal flush.   
     
     
         15 . An electronic method of comparing a plurality of poker hands, comprising:
 ranking each one of a plurality of poker hands by:
 determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand; and 
   determining which one of the plurality of poker hands has the highest rank by comparing the rank of each one of the plurality of poker hands against the respective rank or ranks of the other one or ones of the plurality of poker hands.   
     
     
         16 . An electronic method for ranking a poker hand, comprising:
 associating each possible poker hand with a first hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associating each possible poker hand with a second hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associating each second hand value with an index value and one of a plurality of ranks; and   associating each first hand value with at least one index value;   determining a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of the plurality of ranks;   determining at least one index value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks;   determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         17 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller configured to:
 determine a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks;   determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks;   determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value and at least one index value. 
     
     
         19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the game controller is configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand by searching a second hand value table having a plurality of second hand value entries associated with respective ones of the plurality of index values, each second hand value entry comprising a second hand value and a rank. 
     
     
         20 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the game controller is further configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks. 
     
     
         21 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value, an index value, and a count value. 
     
     
         22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the game controller is further configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine a hand category. 
     
     
         23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the first hand value table. 
     
     
         24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the second hand value table. 
     
     
         25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the subset of possible ranks comprises one possible rank. 
     
     
         26 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second hand values are binary bit sequences. 
     
     
         27 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first and second hand values are hexadecimal bit sequences. 
     
     
         28 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Aces in the poker hand;   the number of Kings in the poker hand;   the number of Queens in the poker hand:   the number of Jacks in the poker hand;   the number of Tens in the poker hand; and   whether the cards of the poker hand are of the same suit.   
     
     
         29 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the second hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Nines in the poker hand;   the number of Eights in the poker hand;   the number of Sevens in the poker hand;   the number of Sixes in the poker hand;   the number of Fives in the poker hand;   the number of Fours in the poker hand;   the number of Threes in the poker hand; and   the number of Twos in the poker hand.   
     
     
         30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the hand category is one of a group consisting of: a high card; one pair; two pairs; three of a kind;
 straight; flush; full house; four of a kind; straight flush; and royal flush.   
     
     
         31 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller configured to:
 rank each one of a plurality of poker hands by:
 determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand; and 
   determine which one of the plurality of poker hands has the highest rank by comparing the rank of each one of the plurality of poker hands against the respective rank or ranks of the other one or ones of the plurality of poker hands.   
     
     
         32 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller configured to:
 associate each possible poker hand with a first hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each possible poker hand with a second hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each second hand value with an index value and one of a plurality of ranks; and   associate each first hand value with at least one index value;   determine a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of the plurality of ranks;   determine at least one index value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks;   determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         33 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein
 the first hand value is determined by a first hand value determiner;   the at least one index value is determined by an index value determiner;   the second hand value is determined by a second hand value determiner; and   the rank to be given to the poker hand is determined by a poker hand rank determiner.   
     
     
         34 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the poker hand having the highest rank is determined by a highest rank poker hand determiner. 
     
     
         35 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein
 each possible poker hand is associated with a first hand value by a first hand value associator;   each possible poker hand is associated with a second hand value by a second hand value associator;   each second hand value is associated with an index value by an index value associator;   each second hand value is associated with a rank by a rank associator; and   each first hand value is associated with at least one index value by the index value associator;   
     
     
         36 . A gaming system comprising:
 a display for presenting a poker hand to a player; and   a game controller configured to:
 determine a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand. 
   
     
     
         37 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value and at least one index value. 
     
     
         38 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the game controller is configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand by searching a second hand value table having a plurality of second hand value entries associated with respective ones of the plurality of index values, each second hand value entry comprising a second hand value and a rank. 
     
     
         39 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the game controller is further configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks. 
     
     
         40 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value, an index value, and a count value. 
     
     
         41 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the game controller is further configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine a hand category. 
     
     
         42 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the first hand value table. 
     
     
         43 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the second hand value table. 
     
     
         44 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the subset of possible ranks comprises one possible rank. 
     
     
         45 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the first and second hand values are binary bit sequences. 
     
     
         46 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the first and second hand values are hexadecimal bit sequences. 
     
     
         47 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the first hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Aces in the poker hand;   the number of Kings in the poker hand;   the number of Queens in the poker hand:   the number of Jacks in the poker hand;   the number of Tens in the poker hand; and   whether the cards of the poker hand are of the same suit.   
     
     
         48 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the second hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Nines in the poker hand;   the number of Eights in the poker hand;   the number of Sevens in the poker hand;   the number of Sixes in the poker hand;   the number of Fives in the poker hand;   the number of Fours in the poker hand;   the number of Threes in the poker hand; and   the number of Twos in the poker hand.   
     
     
         49 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein the hand category is one of a group consisting of: a high card; one pair; two pairs; three of a kind;
 straight; flush; full house; four of a kind; straight flush; and royal flush.   
     
     
         50 . A gaming system comprising:
 at least one display for presenting a plurality of poker hands to respective ones of a plurality of players; and   a game controller configured to:
 rank each one of a plurality of poker hands by:
 determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand; 
 
 and 
 determine which one of the plurality of poker hands has the highest rank by comparing the rank of each one of the plurality of poker hands against the respective rank or ranks of the other one or ones of the plurality of poker hands. 
   
     
     
         51 . A gaming system, comprising:
 a display for presenting a poker hand to a player; and   a game controller configured to:   associate each possible poker hand with a first hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each possible poker hand with a second hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each second hand value with an index value and one of a plurality of ranks; and   associate each first hand value with at least one index value;   determine a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of the plurality of ranks;   determine at least one index value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks;   determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         52 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein
 the first hand value is determined by a first hand value determiner;   the at least one index value is determined by an index value determiner;   the second hand value is determined by a second hand value determiner; and   the rank to be given to the poker hand is determined by a poker hand rank determiner.   
     
     
         53 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the poker hand having the highest rank is determined by a highest rank poker hand determiner. 
     
     
         54 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein
 each possible poker hand is associated with a first hand value by a first hand value associator;   each possible poker hand is associated with a second hand value by a second hand value associator;   each second hand value is associated with an index value by an index value associator;   each second hand value is associated with a rank by a rank associator; and   each first hand value is associated with at least one index value by the index value associator;   
     
     
         55 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display for presenting a poker hand to a player;   one or more input devices operable by a player to place a wager and initiate play of a poker game; and   a game controller in data communication with the input devices and display, the game controller comprising a processor arranged to execute program code stored in a memory in order to conduct a game in response to operation of the one or more input devices, the program code including instructions such that in at least occasionally, the game controller, will as part of game play:
 determine a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand. 
   
     
     
         56 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value and at least one index value. 
     
     
         57 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the game controller is configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand by searching a second hand value table having a plurality of second hand value entries associated with respective ones of the plurality of index values, each second hand value entry comprising a second hand value and a rank. 
     
     
         58 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the game controller is further configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks. 
     
     
         59 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the game controller is configured to determine a count value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks by searching a first hand value table having a plurality of first hand value entries, each first hand value entry comprising a first hand value, an index value, and a count value. 
     
     
         60 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the game controller is further configured to use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine a hand category. 
     
     
         61 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 56 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the first hand value table. 
     
     
         62 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 57 , wherein the game controller is configured to use a binary search algorithm to search the second hand value table. 
     
     
         63 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the subset of possible ranks comprises one possible rank. 
     
     
         64 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the first and second hand values are binary bit sequences. 
     
     
         65 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the first and second hand values are hexadecimal bit sequences. 
     
     
         66 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the first hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Aces in the poker hand;   the number of Kings in the poker hand;   the number of Queens in the poker hand:   the number of Jacks in the poker hand;   the number of Tens in the poker hand; and   whether the cards of the poker hand are of the same suit.   
     
     
         67 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein the second hand value corresponds to:
 the number of Nines in the poker hand;   the number of Eights in the poker hand;   the number of Sevens in the poker hand;   the number of Sixes in the poker hand;   the number of Fives in the poker hand;   the number of Fours in the poker hand;   the number of Threes in the poker hand; and   the number of Twos in the poker hand.   
     
     
         68 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 60 , wherein the hand category is one of a group consisting of: a high card; one pair; two pairs; three of a kind;
 straight; flush; full house; four of a kind; straight flush; and royal flush.   
     
     
         69 . A gaming machine comprising:
 at least one display for presenting a plurality of poker hands to respective ones of a plurality of players;   one or more input devices operable by each player to place a wager and initiate play of a poker game; and   a game controller in data communication with the input devices and display, the game controller comprising a processor arranged to execute program code stored in a memory in order to conduct a game in response to operation of the one or more input devices, the program code including instructions such that in at least occasionally, the game controller, will as part of game play:
 rank each one of a plurality of poker hands by:
 determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand; 
 
 and 
 determine which one of the plurality of poker hands has the highest rank by comparing the rank of each one of the plurality of poker hands against the respective rank or ranks of the other one or ones of the plurality of poker hands. 
   
     
     
         70 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display for presenting a poker hand to a player;   one or more input devices operable by a player to place a wager and initiate play of a poker game; and   a game controller in data communication with the input devices and display, the game controller comprising a processor arranged to execute program code stored in a memory in order to conduct a game in response to operation of the one or more input devices, the program code including instructions such that in at least occasionally, the game controller, will as part of game play:   associate each possible poker hand with a first hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each possible poker hand with a second hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   associate each second hand value with an index value and one of a plurality of ranks; and   associate each first hand value with at least one index value;   determine a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of the plurality of ranks;   determine at least one index value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks;   determine a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   use the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         71 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 55 , wherein
 the first hand value is determined by a first hand value determiner;   the at least one index value is determined by an index value determiner;   the second hand value is determined by a second hand value determiner; and   the rank to be given to the poker hand is determined by a poker hand rank determiner.   
     
     
         72 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 69 , wherein the poker hand having the highest rank is determined by a highest rank poker hand determiner. 
     
     
         73 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 70 , wherein
 each possible poker hand is associated with a first hand value by a first hand value associator;   each possible poker hand is associated with a second hand value by a second hand value associator;   each second hand value is associated with an index value by an index value associator;   each second hand value is associated with a rank by a rank associator; and   each first hand value is associated with at least one index value by the index value associator;   
     
     
         74 . A gaming system comprising:
 means for determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks;   means for determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks;   means for determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   means for using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand;   
     
     
         75 . A gaming system comprising:
 means for ranking each one of a plurality of poker hands, comprising:
 means for determining a first hand value from the cards of the poker hand to be given one of a plurality of ranks; 
 means for determining at least one of a plurality of index values from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks of the plurality of ranks; 
 means for determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and 
 means for using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand; 
   and   means for determining which one of the plurality of poker hands has the highest rank by comparing the rank of each one of the poker hands against the respective rank or ranks of the other one or ones of the plurality of poker hands.   
     
     
         76 . A gaming system comprising:
 means for associating each possible poker hand with a first hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   means for associating each possible poker hand with a second hand value corresponding to the cards of the possible poker hand;   means for associating each second hand value with an index value and one of a plurality of ranks; and   means for associating each first hand value with at least one index value;   means for determining a first hand value from the cards of a poker hand to be given one of the plurality of ranks;   means for determining at least one index value from the first hand value to determine a subset of possible ranks;   means for determining a second hand value from the cards of the poker hand; and   means for using the at least one index value and the second hand value to determine which one of the subset of possible ranks is the rank to be given to the poker hand.   
     
     
         77 . An electronic methods as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising executing computer program code to determine said second hand value, and to use said at least one index and said second hand value. 
     
     
         78 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 77 , further comprising storing said computer program code in a tangible computer readable. 
     
     
         79 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 77 , further comprising generating a data signal comprising said computer program code. 
     
     
         80 . An electronic method as claimed in  claim 77 , further comprising transmitting said computer program code.