Method and Apparatus for Playing a Casino Poker Game Having Two Side Games

Abstract

A blended poker game combines traditional poker, a mandatory first side game having a jackpot, and an optional second side game comprising a house-banked game where players bet on the outcome of a flop bet. The play of the game requires a dealer, two decks of cards that alternate each hand, and a shuffle machine. The game also requires a customized table, similar in size to a standard blackjack table, and a computer system with a display for tracking estimated jackpot total.

1 . A method of playing a casino poker game comprising the steps of:
 a. dealing a first hand of a main poker game between up to seven players, wherein said main poker game includes a step of turning a three card flop, and wherein the main poker game includes a main poker pot;   b. concurrently playing a mandatory first side game being a mandatory jackpot game wherein a jackpot payout is dependent upon said three card flop;   c. concurrently playing an optional second side game being an optional flop bet game wherein a Hop bet payout is dependent upon the three card flop;   d. providing a jackpot game payout schedule for determining a jackpot to be shared between a set of jackpot game winners;   e. providing a flop bet payout schedule for determining a flop bet payout for a set. of flop bet winners;   f. paying said flop bet payout to said set of flop bet winners; and,   g. providing to said set of jackpot game winners a jackpot button to identify each jackpot game winner.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including a step of suspending said main poker game first hand after said step of turning said three card flop. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  including a step of recommencing the main poker game first hand after the step of paying the flop bet to the set of flop bet winners. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  including a step of determining a main poker first hand winner and a step paying out said main poker pot to said main poker first hand winner. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  including, after said step of paying out said main poker pot:
 a. a step of calculating a quantum of the jackpot according to a jackpot payout schedule; 
 b. a step of paying out said quantum to each jackpot game winner; and, 
 c. dealing a second hand of the main poker game. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a casino poker game comprising a main poker game having a main poker pot, a mandatory first side game having a jackpot and an optional second side game having a flop bet pot, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing at least one playing table for accommodating up to seven players;   b. providing a computer system for dynamically estimating said jackpot;   c. providing an electronic display board connected to said computer system for displaying the estimated jackpot;   d. providing a house and a house dealer for managing said at least one playing table;   e. providing a pit boss for managing a plurality of playing tables; wherein,   f. the least at one playing table comprises the following:   i. a numbered seating area for each player of said up to seven players;   ii. a seating area for said house dealer;   iii. a playing area for each player;   iv. a player betting area for the main poker game;   v. a betting area for said jackpot;   vi. a betting area for said flop pot;   vii. a player card placement area;   viii. a flop board placement area;   ix. a turn card placement area;   x. a river card placement area;   xi. a dealer tray;   xii. a card shuffler for shuffling two decks of cards:   xiii. a main pot area for the main poker game;   xiv. a left dealer drop slot; and,   xv. a right dealer drop slot.   
     
     
         7 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 6  further comprising the steps of:
 a. funding the main game pot by the up to seven players; 
 b. funding the jackpot by the up to seven players; and, 
 c. funding the flop bet pot by said house. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 7  comprising the steps of:
 a. said house dealer signaling the commencement of a first hand of the main game; 
 b. the house dealer designating a first player as a player dealer; 
 c. said player dealer placing a mandatory jackpot bet in said betting area for the jackpot; 
 d. the house dealer designating a second player for placing a small blind bet in said player betting area for the main pot; 
 e. the house dealer designating a third player for placing a large blind bet for the player betting area for the main pot; and, 
 f. the house dealer calling for an optional second side game flop bets from each player; 
 g. a set of flop bet players placing said optional flop bet in said second side game flop betting area. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 8  wherein said main poker game is Texas Hold'em having a three card flop. 
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 8  wherein the main poker game is modified Seven Card Stud game having a three card flop. 
     
     
         11 . Tire method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 8  wherein the main poker game is Omaha Hold'em having a three card flop. 
     
     
         12 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 8  wherein after step (g) the house dealer deals a two-card set facedown within each of said player card placement areas and wherein the house dealer deals a three card flop face down within said flop board placement area. 
     
     
         13 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 12  wherein each player views their respective said two card set and, optionally, does one of:
 a. placing a first main pot bet into said player betting area; and, 
 b. folding from further play of the main game; 
 c. the result being that from an initial set of players there is formed a first set of remaining main game betting players remaining in main game play and first side game jackpot play; and wherein, 
 d. said set of flop game players in said initial set of players remain in second side game play. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 13  further comprising the house dealer turning said three card flop, whereupon said main game first hand is suspended. 
     
     
         15 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 14  further comprising a step of said house providing a predetermined flop payout table identifying set of predetermined flop payouts for the set of flop game players. 
     
     
         16 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 15  further comprising a step of the house dealer identifying a winning payout for the set of flop game players from said flop payout table. 
     
     
         17 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of the house dealer paying said winning payout to the set of flop game players according to the flop payout table. 
     
     
         18 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 17  further comprising the step of the house providing a predetermined jackpot payout table identifying a predetermined set of jackpot payouts for the first side game. 
     
     
         19 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 18  further comprising the step of the house dealer identifying a winning first side game jackpot payout from said predetermined jackpot payout table. 
     
     
         20 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 19  further comprising the step of the house dealer providing each player of the first set of remaining main game betting players a jackpot button. 
     
     
         21 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 20  further comprising the steps of:
 a. the house dealer recommencing the main game first hand; 
 b. the house dealer turning a turn card; 
 c. each player of the first set of remaining main game betting players doing one of: 
 i. placing a second main pot bet into said player belting area; and, 
 ii. folding from further play of the main game; 
 iii. the result being that from the first set of remaining main game betting players there is formed a second set of remaining main game betting players; 
 d. the house dealer turning a river card; 
 e. each player of the second set of remaining main game betting players doing one of: 
 i. placing a third main pot bet into said player betting area; and, 
 ii. folding from further play of the main game; 
 iii. the result being that from the second set of remaining main game betting players there is formed a third set of remaining main game betting players; 
 f. one player of said third set retraining main game betting players calling the hand; 
 g. the house dealer determining a winner of the main game first hand; 
 h. the house dealer paying the main pot to said winner; 
 i. said pit boss calculating a quantum of the jackpot to be paid to, 
 j. said set of flop game players in said initial set of players remain in second side game play. 
 k. the first set of remaining main game betting players the house dealer completing the main game first hand; 
 l. said pit boss determining a quantum of said winning jackpot payout to be shared between the first set of remaining players; 
 m. the pit boss adjusting the estimated jackpot and displaying said adjusted estimated jackpot on the electronic display; and, 
 n. the house dealer commencing a second hand of main game play. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 18  wherein the predetermined jackpot payout table comprises the following payout conditions:
 a. a first payout condition of 10 percent of the jackpot is met when the three card flop displays any triplet between 2 and 10 inclusive; 
 b. a second payout condition of 20 percent of the jackpot is met when the three card flop displays any triplet between Jacks and Aces inclusive; and, 
 c. a third payout condition of 80 percent of the jackpot is met when the three card flop displays an Ace-King-Queen set of the same suit in any order on the flop. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 15  wherein said predetermined flop payout table determines the following payout conditions, wherein:
 a. pairs between 2 and 10 inclusive pays 1 to 1; 
 b. pairs between jacks and Kings inclusive pays 3 to 1; 
 e. pairs of Aces pays 5 to 1; 
 d. triplets between 2 and 10 pays 75 to 1; 
 e. triplets between Jacks and Kings pays 200 to 1; 
 f. triplets of Aces pays 500 to 1; and, 
 g. any Slick pays 1000 to 1. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined flop payout table determines the following payout conditions, wherein:
 a. pairs between 2 and 10 inclusive pays 1 to 1;   b. pairs between Jacks and Kings inclusive pays 3 to 1;   c. pairs of Aces pays 5 to 1;   d. triplets between 2 and 10 pays 75 to 1;   e. triplets between Jacks and Kings pays 150 to 1;   f. triplets of Aces pays 500 to 1; and,   g. any Slick pays 1000 to 1,   
     
     
         25 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 15  wherein said predetermined flop payout table determines the following payout conditions, wherein:
 a. pairs between 2 and 10 inclusive pays 1 to 1; 
 b. pairs between Jacks and Kings inclusive pays 3 to 1; 
 c. pairs of Aces pays 5 to 1; 
 d. triplets between 2 and 10 pays 75 to 1; 
 e. triplets between Jacks and Kings pays 200 to 1: 
 f. triplets of Aces pays 300 to 1; and, 
 g. any Slick pays 1000 to 1. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of playing a casino poker game according to  claim 15  wherein the predetermined flop payout table determines the following payout conditions, wherein:
 a. pairs between 2 and 10 inclusive pays 1 to 1; 
 b. pairs between Jacks and Kings inclusive pays 3 to 1; 
 c. pairs of Aces pays 5 to 1; 
 d. triplets between 2 and 10 pays 75 to 1; 
 e. triplets between Jacks and Kings pays 200 to 1; 
 f. triplets of Aces pays 300 to  1; and,    
 g. any Slick pays 1000 to 1.