Modified stud poker game

A method of playing a wagering card game on a gaming device comprising at least a processer, input device and video monitor is disclosed. After wagering, three separate hands of cards dealt from a single deck of cards are displayed, each hand consisting of five cards and displayed as having one face-up card and four face-down cards. A separate area for a final five-card hand is also displayed. The player then chooses to play either one, two, or three of the hands. The face-up cards in the chosen hand(s) are transferred to the final hand, and then the face-down cards in those chosen hand(s) are revealed. The most beneficial revealed cards are then added to the face-up cards in the final hand to complete the final hand. Any wins are paid according to predetermined paytables.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A method of playing an electronic card game uses one deck of52standard playing cards having traditional symbols and rank. Alternately the deck may or may not contain additional cards such as Jokers or Wild Cards. The game is played utilizing at least a computer processor, input device and a video monitor screen. The game may be played at least on a casino gaming machine, an electronic table, an internet gaming site, or as a mobile application.

The card game is basically a stud poker game, modified to include a simple decision-making element that provides an extra excitement and anticipation not seen in traditional stud poker. The gameplay, like any stud poker, does not allow for discarding and drawing replacement cards for the discarded cards, yet the decision-making element allows for a game that requires a knowledge of basic strategy in order to receive the highest awards: It is this type of challenge in video poker that first attracts the player, and then keeps him playing.

The game (herein known as “1-2-3 Stud Poker”) begins with a wager being placed on a player input device in order to play. The wager may be in credits or cash. Alternately, the game may be played in a non-wagering environment and may require non-monetary tokens, vouchers or the like in order to play. The player is then dealt three separate playable hands of cards from the single deck of cards that are displayed on the screen. Each playable hand consists of five cards, with one face-up card and four face-down cards in each hand. Additionally, a separate area for a final 5-card hand is displayed. Also shown on the screen are three separate paytables: one paytable for choosing to play any one single hand, a second and different paytable for choosing to play any two hands, and a third and different paytable for choosing to play all three hands.

The player is then prompted to choose to play either one, two, or three of the playable hands to complete the final hand. That decision to choose hands is based on the makeup of the three face-up cards (one in each of the three hands) and will affect the outcome of the game. Because cards are required to be dealt from a randomly shuffled 52-card deck (or more cards, in the case of Wild Card games), the possible combinations are known, the frequency of the combinations can be calculated, and an optimal playing strategy can be devised. If the player chooses to play only one of the hands, the up card in that hand is transferred face up to the final hand. (Each reference of “transferring” incorporated herein may also mean “replicating”; i.e., chosen cards may be transferred to the final hand, leaving the initial card position blank, or replicated, keeping the card in its initial position as well as being transferred to the final hand. In either case, the cards chosen by the player will appear in the final hand.) The four face-down cards in that chosen hand are then revealed and transferred face up to the final hand, and the final 5-card hand is analyzed for any wins. If the player chooses to play any two hands, the two up cards in those hands are transferred face up to the final hand. The eight face-down cards in those chosen hands are then revealed and the three most beneficial cards (based on the optimum expected value) are transferred face up to the final hand, and the final 5-card hand is analyzed for any wins. If the player chooses to play all three hands, the three up cards in those hands are transferred face up to the final hand. The twelve face-down cards in those chosen hands are then revealed and the two most beneficial cards (based on the optimum expected value) are transferred face up to the final hand, and the final 5-card hand is analyzed for any wins.

Wins are paid according to predetermined paytables, the paytables being based on the amount of hands that the player chose to play. The paytable for one hand being played provides higher pays than the paytable for two hands being played, which in turn provides higher pays than the paytable for three hands being played. For example, a straight flush attained as a win with one hand being played may pay 10000 credits. A straight flush attained as a win with two hands being played may pay 300 credits. A straight flush attained as a win with three hands being played may pay 250 credits.

Illustrated below are three different sample paytables for a single game play, based on a bet of 15 credits per game.

1-2-3 STUD POKER

PLAY 1 HAND

PLAY 2 HANDS

PLAY 3 HANDS

Reference to the Figures will assist in further understanding of the practice of the present invention.

FIG. 1illustrates an electronic screen2depicting the basic elements of the present invention. An area for the first dealt hand4is shown, including an area for the first card12, an area for the second card14, an area for the third card16, an area for the fourth card18, and an area for the fifth card20. An area for the second dealt hand6is shown, including an area for the first card22, an area for the second card24, an area for the third card26, an area for the fourth card28, and an area for the fifth card30. An area for the third dealt hand8is shown, including an area for the first card32, an area for the second card34, an area for the third card36, an area for the fourth card38, and an area for the fifth card40. An area for the final hand10is shown, including an area for the first card42, an area for the second card44, an area for the third card46, an area for the fourth card48, and an area for the fifth card50. The name of the game52is shown. Also shown is a paytable54for playing any one hand, a paytable56for playing any two hands, and a paytable58for playing all three hands. The player's available credits (2000)60is shown, as well as an area for the player to bet or wager by pressing the touchscreen button62. A touchscreen Deal button64allowing the player to lock in his bet and have the cards dealt is shown. Three additional touchscreen buttons are shown, allowing the player to choose to play either any one hand66, any two hands68, or all three hands70. A play touchscreen button72is also shown. It should be appreciated that physical buttons, keyboard buttons, a mouse or any other like tool may be utilized instead of the touchscreen buttons in order to enable the player make his choice(s).

FIG. 2refers to the elements inFIG. 1with the player choosing to wager 15 credits62and pressing deal64in order to play the game. (Player choices are depicted as white type on black.) The player's available credits have now been decremented to 1985 credits60. Three 5-card hands are then dealt: Hand 1 comprises a first face-up card, the 2 of Clubs112, and four face-down cards (114,116,118,120). (Face-down cards are depicted by horizontal lines.) Hand 2 comprises a first face-up card, the 2 of Hearts122, and four face-down cards (124,126,128,130). Hand 3 comprises a first face-up card, the 7 of Hearts132, and four face-down cards (134,136,138,140).

FIG. 3refers to the elements inFIG. 2with the player electing to play Hand 166and Hand 268, and pressing the Play button72to lock in his choice. Since the up cards in the selected hands provide a Pair of 2s, the player is hoping that the final hand may result in a winning hand of at least 2 Pairs. The up card112in Hand 1 is then transferred to the final hand 10. The up card122in Hand 2 is also transferred to the final hand. The paytable for playing two hands56is then highlighted.

FIG. 4refers to the elements inFIG. 3, with the face-down cards in Hand 1 being revealed (150,152,154,156) and the face-down cards in Hand 2 being revealed (158,160,162,164).

FIG. 5refers to the elements inFIG. 4, with the three most optimal cards to complete the final hand being highlighted: the 2 of Diamonds160, the King of Spades154and the King of Clubs158. These same three cards are then transferred to the final hand.

FIG. 6refers to the elements inFIG. 5with the final hand comprising a full house of three 2s and two Kings (112,122,160,154,158). According to the highlighted paytable56, the final hand is worth 30 credits, as is shown in area170. The 30 credits are then added to the player's available credits60, now shown as 2015 credits.

FIG. 7refers to the elements inFIG. 1with the available credits ofFIG. 6, with the player wagering 15 credits62and pressing deal64in order to play a separate subsequent game. The player's available credits have now been decremented to 2000 credits60. Three 5-card hands are then dealt: Hand 1 comprises a first face-up card, the 3 of Spades200, and four face-down cards (202,204,206,208). Hand 2 comprises a first face-up card, the 8 of Hearts210, and four face-down cards (212,214,216,218). Hand 3 comprises a first face-up card, the Ace of Clubs220, and four face-down cards (222,224,226,228).

FIG. 8refers to the elements inFIG. 7with the player electing to play Hand 370, and pressing the Play button72to lock in his choice. Since the up card in the selected hand provides an Ace, the player is hoping that the final hand may result in a winning hand of at least Jacks or Better. The up card220in Hand 3 is then transferred to the final hand10. The paytable for playing one hand54is then highlighted.

FIG. 9refers to the elements inFIG. 8, with the face-down cards in Hand 3 being revealed (250,252,254,256) and then transferred to the final hand10.

FIG. 10refers to the elements inFIG. 9, with the final hand comprising two Aces220and252, or a pay of Jacks or Better. According to the highlighted paytable54, the final hand is worth 30 credits, as is shown in area260. The 30 credits are then added to the player's available credits60, now shown as 2030 credits.

FIG. 11refers to the elements inFIG. 1with the available credits ofFIG. 10, the player wagering 15 credits62and pressing deal64in order to play a separate subsequent game. The player's available credits have now been decremented to 2015 credits60. Three 5-card hands are then dealt: Hand 1 comprises a first face-up card, the 8 of Hearts300, and four face-down cards (302,304,306,308). Hand 2 comprises a first face-up card, the 6 of Hearts310, and four face-down cards (312,314,316,318). Hand 3 comprises a first face-up card, the9of Hearts320, and four face-down cards (322,324,326,328).

FIG. 12refers to the elements inFIG. 11with the player electing to play Hand 166and Hand 268and Hand 370, and pressing the Play button72to lock in his choice. Since the up cards in the selected hands provide three Hearts, the player is hoping that the final hand may result in a winning hand of at least a Flush, but with the chance of winning for a Straight Flush. (Achieving Jacks or Better or Two Pair would also be possible, depending on the revealed down cards.) The up card300in Hand 1 is then transferred to the final hand10. The up card310in Hand 2 is also transferred to the final hand. The up card320in Hand 3 is also transferred to the final hand. The paytable for playing three hands58is then highlighted.

FIG. 13refers to the elements inFIG. 12, with the face-down cards in Hand 1 being revealed (400,402,404,406), the face-down cards in Hand 2 being revealed (408,410,412,414) and the face-down cards in Hand 3 being revealed (416,418,420,422).

FIG. 14refers to the elements inFIG. 13, with the two most optimal cards to complete the final hand being highlighted: the 9 of Clubs404, and the Ace of Spades410. (Note that in this example, no combinations of revealed cards would provide a winning final hand.) These same two cards are then transferred to the final hand.

FIG. 15refers to the elements inFIG. 14with the final hand comprising no wins. According to the highlighted paytable58, the final hand is worth 0 credits, as is shown in area500. The no credits are then added to the player's available credits60, which remain at 2015 credits.

Although specific examples and specific paytables have been provided in this discussion, these specifics are intended to be only support for the generic concepts of the invention and are not intended to be absolute limits in the scope of the technology discussed.