Three-card wagering system and method

Abstract

A wagering event requires a first and second wager to receive a partial hand for a player position and a dealer position. After receipt of the partial hand, a play wager must be made at the player position for the event to continue to a potentially positive conclusion, or the first and second wagers are taken by the dealer position. Cards are dealt to complete the hands and poker ranks in the player hand and dealer hand are compared and wagers resolved, including by a comparison with poker ranks in a paytable.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of performing a wagering event using playing cards comprising:
 a) providing a set of randomized playing cards;   b) placing two separate compulsory wagers at a player position, the two separate wagers comprising:
 i) a first ante wager in an underlying poker rank competition of the player position hand rank of playing cards against a dealer position hand rank of plying cards; 
 ii) a second wager based on a final poker hand rank at the player position against a paytable, the second wager being exactly equal in value to the first game wager; 
   c) providing a partial hand of random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards at the player position;   d) providing a partial hand of random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards at the dealer position;   e) placing a play wager at least equal to the first ante wager at the player position and providing additional random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards and completing a player hand at the player position;   f) not placing a play wager at the player position, and the dealer position collecting at least one of the first ante wager and the second wager, concluding a round of the wagering event; and   g) if the additional random playing cards were received in e), providing additional random playing cards from the randomized set of playing cards and completing a dealer hand at the dealer position, then resolving the first ante wager and the play wager with a direct comparison of poker ranks in the completed player hand and the completed dealer hand, with a relatively higher poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank winning at least 1:1 on the first ante wager and the play wager; with a relatively lower poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank losing both the first ante wager, the second wager and the play wager; and a tie between the poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank pushing both the first ante wager, the second wager and the play wager; and the poker rank of the completed player hand being compared against a paytable identifying poker ranks, and with a relatively higher poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank resolving the second wager to determine odds to be paid against attainment of ranks listed in the paytable, with the second wager being a push if no at least minimum poker hand rank is present in the completed player hand.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the player partial hand consists of exactly two random playing cards. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dealer partial hand consists of exactly one or exactly two or exactly three random playing cards, with at least one of the exactly one or exactly two or exactly three random playing cards in the dealer partial hand being exposed to general view. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein additional random playing cards in e) and g) consist of exactly enough random playing cards to complete a hand of three random playing cards. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein additional random playing cards in e) and g) consist of exactly enough random playing cards to complete a hand of three random playing cards. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set of playing cards comprises multiple sets of standard decks of 52 playing cards. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the set of playing cards comprises multiple sets of standard decks of 52 playing cards with one or two additional jokers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the completed player hand consists of exactly four random playing cards. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the completed player hand consists of exactly five random playing cards. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the set of playing cards comprises multiple sets of standard decks of 52 playing cards. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the set of playing cards comprises multiple sets of standard decks of 52 playing cards with one or two jokers. 
     
     
         12 . A system for providing a wagering event with playing cards for the method of  claim 1  comprising:
 i. a gaming table with a playing surface providing markings on the playing surface identifying player position; 
 ii. the gaming table playing surface identifying positions at multiple player positions for the first game wager, the second wager and the play wager; 
 iii. a source of random playing cards on the gaming table; 
 iv. markings on the playing surface identifying player position; and 
 v. a display identifying odds resolving the second wager. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  having a second display identifying a paytable with odds to be paid for poker ranks in the completed player hand. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second wager is resolved against a paytable according to ranges of: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   SECOND WAGER PAYTABLE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                    25 to 1 through 100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind Suited 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   15 to 1 through 40 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 through 7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 through 6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Suited Pair 
                   2 to 1 through 4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Any Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   High Card 
                   PUSH 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the second wager is resolved against a paytable according to ranges of: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   SECOND WAGER PAYTABLE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                    25 to 1 through 100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind Suited 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   15 to 1 through 40 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 through 7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 through 6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Suited Pair 
                   2 to 1 through 4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Any Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   High Card 
                   PUSH 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second wager is resolved against a paytable according to ranges of: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   SECOND WAGER PAYTABLE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                    25 to 1 through 100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind Suited 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   15 to 1 through 40 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 through 7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 through 6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Suited Pair 
                   2 to 1 through 4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Any Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   High Card 
                   PUSH 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the second wager is resolved against a paytable according to ranges of: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   SECOND WAGER PAYTABLE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                    25 to 1 through 100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind Suited 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   15 to 1 through 40 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 through 7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 through 6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Suited Pair 
                   2 to 1 through 4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Any Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   High Card 
                   PUSH 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the second wager is resolved against a paytable according to ranges of: 
       
         
           
                 
               
                     
                 
                   SECOND WAGER PAYTABLE 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                    25 to 1 through 100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind Suited 
                   20 to 1 through 50 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Three-of-a-Kind 
                   15 to 1 through 40 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   4 to 1 through 7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 through 6 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Suited Pair 
                   2 to 1 through 4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Any Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                   High Card 
                   PUSH 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
               
            
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         19 . A method of performing a wagering event using playing cards comprising:
 a) providing a set of randomized playing cards;   b) placing two separate compulsory wagers at a player position, the two separate wagers comprising:
 i) a first ante wager in an underlying poker rank competition of the player position hand rank of playing cards against a dealer position hand rank of plying cards; 
 ii) a second wager based on a final poker hand rank at the player position against a paytable; 
   c) providing a partial hand of random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards at the player position;   d) providing a partial hand of random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards at the dealer position;   e) placing a play wager at least equal to the first ante wager at the player position and providing additional random playing cards from the set of randomized playing cards and completing a player hand at the player position;   f) not placing a play wager at the player position, and the dealer position collecting at least one of the first ante wager and the second wager, concluding a round of the wagering event; and   g) if the additional random playing cards were received in e), providing additional random playing cards from the set of playing cards and completing a dealer hand at the dealer position, then resolving the first ante wager and the play wager with a direct comparison of poker ranks in the completed player hand and the completed dealer hand, with a relatively higher poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank winning at least 1:1 on the first ante wager and the play wager; with a relatively lower poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank losing both the first ante wager and the play wager; and a tie between the poker rank in the completed player hand as compared to the completed dealer hand poker rank pushing both the first ante wager and the play wager; and the poker rank of the completed player hand being compared against a paytable identifying poker ranks, and resolving the second wager to determine odds to be paid against attainment of ranks listed in the paytable.