Methods, apparatuses, and systems for administering wagering games

Abstract

Methods of administering wagering games may comprise accepting an ante wager from each player. Player cards may be dealt, face up, and community cards may be dealt, face down. A series of check indications or Play wagers may be accepted from each participating player, with Play wagers of decreasing value being placed with each subsequent round of checking or betting. A community card may be revealed after each round of checking or betting. Once all cards are revealed, a best hand for each eligible player may be identified. A first payout may be paid on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout may be paid on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 accepting an ante wager from each participating player;   dealing player cards to each participating player, face up;   dealing at least three community cards, face down;   receiving from each participating player a first check indication or a first bet indication and accepting a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who made the first bet indication;   revealing a first community card of the at least three community cards;   receiving from each eligible player a second check indication or a second bet indication and accepting a second Play wager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second bet indication;   revealing a second community card of the at least three community cards;   receiving from each eligible player a fold indication or a third bet indication and accepting a third Play wager of a third, least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication;   revealing a third community card of the at least three community cards;   identifying a best hand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at least three community cards; and   paying a first payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dealing at least one additional community card, face down;   receiving a third check indication from at least one player;   administering at least one subsequent round of receiving check indications or bet indications, with accompanying acceptance of Play wagers of reducing value with each passing round from players who make the bet indications; and   revealing a face down card.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein paying the first and second payouts to each participating player holding a best hand of the predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the first and second payouts to each eligible player holding a pair of tens or better. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein paying the first payout on the ante wager and the second, different payout on any Play wager comprises paying an even-money payout on the ante wager and paying a Play fixed odds payout based on a paytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on any Play wager. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising accepting a blind wager from each participating player when accepting the ante wager and paying a blind fixed odds payout based on a different, blind wager paytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the blind wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of the predetermined rank or higher. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising accepting a bonus wager from at least one participating player, forming a best player card hand of only player cards held by the at least one player, and paying a bonus fixed odds payout based on a different, bonus wager paytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the bonus wager to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of another predetermined rank or higher. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout if the best player card hand is a pair or better. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout regardless of whether the at least one player has folded on the ante wager and any play wagers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein paying the Play fixed odds payout, the blind fixed odds payout, and the bonus fixed odds payout comprises paying according to the following paytables for each respective wager: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Best Hand Achieved 
                   Play Wager Payout 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                   100 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Four-of-a-Kind 
                   10 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                   6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   5 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Two Pair 
                   2 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Pair of Tens or Better 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Best Hand Achieved 
                   Blind Wager Payout 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                   1,000 to 1    
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   200 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Four-of-a-Kind 
                   30 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                   4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   2 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Pair of Tens or Better 
                   Push; 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
       and 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Best Hand Achieved 
                   Bonus Wager Payout 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   40 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   30 to 1  
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising accepting a bonus wager from at least one participating player, forming a best player card hand of only player cards held by the at least one player, and paying a bonus fixed odds payout based on a different, bonus wager paytable, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, on the bonus wager to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of another predetermined rank or higher. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus fixed odds payout if the best player card hand is a pair or better. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein paying the bonus fixed odds payout to the at least one participating player if the best player card hand is of the another predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the bonus payout regardless of whether the at least one player has folded on the ante wager and any play wagers. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising taking the ante wager of each participating player who did not make at least one of the first, second, and third play wagers. 
     
     
         14 . A method of administering a wagering game, comprising:
 accepting an ante wager and a blind wager from each participating player;   accepting an optional bonus wager from at least one participating player;   dealing three player cards to each participating player, face up;   dealing three community cards, face down;   receiving from each participating player a first check indication or a first bet indication and accepting a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who made the first bet indication;   revealing a first community card of the three community cards;   receiving from each eligible player a second check indication or a second bet indication and accepting a second Play wager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second bet indication;   revealing a second community card of the three community cards;   receiving from each eligible player a fold indication or a third bet indication and accepting a third Play wager of a third, least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication;   revealing a third community card of the three community cards;   identifying a best five-card poker hand for each player who did not fold from the three player cards and the three community cards;   identifying a best three-card poker hand for each player who made the optional bonus wager from the three player cards;   paying an even-money payout for the ante wager, a blind fixed odds payout based on a blind paytable for the blind wager, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, and a Play fixed odds payout based on a different Play paytable for any Play wager, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, to each player holding a best five-card poker hand of a predetermined rank or higher who did not fold; and   paying a bonus fixed odds payout based on a still different bonus paytable for any bonus wager, with increasing amounts being paid for higher ranked hands, to each player holding a best three-card poker hand of another predetermined rank or higher who made the bonus wager.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein paying the payouts for the ante wager, the blind wager, and any Play wager to each player holding a best five-card poker hand of the predetermined rank or higher comprises paying the payouts to each player holding a best five-card poker hand of a pair of tens or better who did not fold and wherein paying the payout on the bonus wager to each player holding a best three-card poker hand of another predetermined rank or higher who made the bonus wager comprises paying the payout to each player holding a best three-card poker hand of a pair or better who made the bonus wager. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming table for administering a wagering game, comprising:
 a playing surface including at least one player interface for at least one player position;   at least one dealer interface; and   at least one processor programmed to:
 accept an ante wager from each participating player; 
 process rank and suit information of player cards dealt to each participating player, face up; 
 process rank and suit information of at least three community cards, face down; 
 receive from each participating player a first check indication or a first bet indication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who made the first bet indication; 
 verify revelation of a first community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a second check indication or a second bet indication and accept a second Play wager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second bet indication; 
 verify revelation of a second community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a fold indication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of a third, least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication; 
 verify revelation of a third community card of the at least three community cards; 
 identify a best hand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at least three community cards; and 
 pay a first payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher. 
   
     
     
         17 . A system for administering a wagering game over a network, comprising:
 a game server configured to be accessed by a client server, the game server being programmed to:
 accept an ante wager from each participating player; 
 deal player cards to each participating player, face up; 
 deal at least three community cards, face down; 
 receive from each participating player a first check indication or a first bet indication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who made the first bet indication; 
 reveal a first community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a second check indication or a second bet indication and accept a second Play wager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second bet indication; 
 reveal a second community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a fold indication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of a third, least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication; 
 reveal a third community card of the at least three community cards; 
 identify a best hand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at least three community cards; and 
 pay a first payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher. 
   
     
     
         18 . An electronic gaming machine for administering a wagering game, comprising:
 at least one player display and at least one player interface; wherein the player interface enables a player to input a wager instruction; and   at least one processor programmed to:
 accept an ante wager from each participating player; 
 deal player cards to each participating player, face up; 
 deal at least three community cards, face down; 
 receive from each participating player a first check indication or a first bet indication and accept a first Play wager of a first, greatest value from each participating player who made the first bet indication; 
 reveal a first community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a second check indication or a second bet indication and accept a second Play wager of a second, intermediate value from each eligible player who made the second bet indication; 
 reveal a second community card of the at least three community cards; 
 receive from each eligible player a fold indication or a third bet indication and accept a third Play wager of a third, least value from each eligible player who made the third bet indication; 
 reveal a third community card of the at least three community cards; 
 identify a best hand for each eligible player from the player cards and the at least three community cards; and 
 pay a first payout on a first basis for the ante wager and a second payout on a second, different basis for any Play wager to each eligible player holding a best hand of a predetermined rank or higher. 
   
     
     
         19 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one player display comprises a single player display configured for single player play. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one player display comprises a common display, wherein the machine is configured for multiple players to play the same game.