Method and apparatus for playing card games

Card games that combine the play of a Poker-variant card game (e.g., three-, four-, and five-card Poker) with a side wager (e.g., Pair Plus). Players wagering against a dealer's hand, optionally wager against a predetermined ranking of winning hands, and may place additional wagers. According to another aspect, players are provided with a wild card which is retained and used repeatedly by each player with each hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 The invention relates to card games. More particularly, the invention
 relates to card-type games suitable for gaming establishments and other
 environments.
 2. Description of Related Art
 Casinos and leisure establishments continually require new games to offer
 their clientele. Such games are generally required to enable each player
 to play against a banker (who usually also acts as dealer) provided by the
 casino, rather than against other players. Alternatively, in a "card room"
 game each player may have the option to act as banker while the
 establishment runs the game on behalf of the banker and takes fees from
 the players.
 Players typically enjoy games which can be played rapidly and which offer
 players a plurality of choices. A plurality of choices heightens player
 interest in games. It would therefore be desirable to provide card games
 including a plurality of new wagering options.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention provides card games that combine the play of a
 Poker-variant card game (e.g., three-, four-, and five-card Poker) with a
 side wager (e.g., Pair Plus). In a casino embodiment, the invention can be
 played in conjunction with a conventional casino-type table and a single
 standard deck of 52 playing cards. In such an embodiment, the table also
 displays a payoff scale on the side wager and further instructional and
 promotional information.
 In a three-card embodiment of the present invention, each player places an
 Ante wager and an optional Pair Plus wager at the beginning of a round of
 the game. The Ante wager is a bet that the player will receive a hand with
 a higher rank than that of a dealer. The Pair Plus wager is a bet that the
 player's hand will have a higher rank than a predetermined rank (e.g., a
 Pair).
 The dealer then deals himself (face-down) and each player three cards
 (either face-up or face-down). Each player, after inspecting his hand,
 places a Play wager if he desires to continue with the round. If, however,
 a player chooses not to proceed his Ante and Pair Plus (if placed) wagers
 are forfeited and his cards are discarded. The dealer then reveals his
 hand and those of each player (if not already visible) and resolves each
 player's wager(s).
 A wild card can also be used with the present invention. Such cards are
 distinguishable from the other cards in play and can also serve as a
 memento and/or a promotional item to be retained by the player.
 As the invention can be practiced on existing casino tables, the invention
 provides casino operators with additional revenue generating features
 without requiring extra casino tables, space, or game surveillance.
 The invention can also be readily implemented in a wide variety of
 additional forms and media including, single player slot video machines,
 multi-player slot video machines, electronic games and devices, lottery
 terminals, scratch-card formats, software as well as in-flight, home, and
 Internet entertainment. Moreover, the invention can be readily implemented
 in software, which can be stored on a disk (e.g., magnetic disk, compact
 disk (CD), etc.) and used with a computer system.
 The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be
 apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred
 embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawing, and the appended
 claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 The preferred embodiments of the invention arc now described with reference
 to the figure where like reference numbers indicate like elements.
 The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to card-type
 games wherein indicia of playing cards are displayed to one or more
 players and/or a dealer. As used herein, the phrase "indicia of playing
 cards" is meant to include actual playing cards, as well as images of
 playing cards displayed either mechanically, electro-mechanically,
 electronically or otherwise. For example, it is well within the scope of
 the present invention to display indicia of playing cards on an actual
 board game, on a mechanical slot machine, on an electronic gaming device,
 on another video screen, or utilizing another form of image generation
 such as holography. Similarly, the phrase "indicia of wild cards" as used
 herein may include jokers from a standard deck of playing cards but may
 also comprise other indicia which, according to rules of the game, may be
 used for at least one other value.
 The present invention provides improvements over the card games taught in
 commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 to Webb and commonly owned,
 co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/889,919, the disclosures of
 which are incorporated herein by reference.
 The card games taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 provide players the choice
 of betting their hands against a dealer hand (e.g., an "Ante" wager), or
 against a predetermined rank (e.g., a "Pair Plus" wager), or placing both
 wagers.
 Although these wager features should provide for a dynamic gaming
 experience, practice has shown that players tend to have a bias toward
 Pair Plus wagering. Accordingly, some of the unique advantages of the card
 games taught in the foregoing patent are not consistently realized in
 practice. Players appear to choose the Pair Plus wager option, at
 exclusion of the Ante option, for a number of reasons. Firstly, in a
 casino environment, table layout design requires that the higher odds
 payoff bet is placed closest to the dealer, and new players tend to
 automatically bet the wager closest to the dealer if they are unfamiliar
 with the game. Secondly, dealer wages are basic minimums and are
 supplemented by tips or tokes, so if dealers perceive that a certain
 method of play generates more tokes then that mode of play is encouraged.
 Although the perception is erroneous, this is the case with the Pair Plus
 wager. Thirdly, some players play poorly when playing Ante and have a more
 negative experience than they should, and thus gravitate towards Pair
 Plus. Fourthly, some casinos may not have utilized best methods of
 shuffling for this type of game, which may have resulted in more premium
 hands being generated than was expected by random distribution.
 As a result of these various factors, such embodiments operate at less than
 optimal levels. For example, with a player bias toward Pair Plus waging,
 player win frequency is lower. Secondly, there is less player-dealer
 interaction, thus the sociability aspect of the game is adversely
 effected. Thirdly, the game does not appear as attractive to a spectator
 trying to learn the game. Fourthly, the overall volume of business is
 reduced when some players are not exploiting all the wager options.
 Fifthly, the casino results are more volatile as more wagers are
 concentrated on the higher payoff scale. Sixthly, the combined factors
 described impact unfavorably on the casinos most commonly used measurement
 of relative game merit, the hold percentage.
 The present invention provides card games that also combine the play of a
 Poker-variant card game (e.g., three-, four-, and five-card Poker) with a
 side wager (e.g., Pair Plus). However, the wager options in the present
 invention are structured to ensure greater overall game performance.
 FIG. 1 illustrates a playing surface or table layout 10 on which one
 embodiment of the present invention may be played. Layout 10 may be marked
 or placed on any suitable surface such as a gaming table. For example, the
 layout may be in the form of a layout cloth supported on a supporting
 surface. In general, the invention can be practiced on existing casino
 tables, thus providing casino operators with additional revenue generating
 features without requiring extra casino tables, space, or game
 surveillance.
 Layout 10 provides a playing area 12 for a plurality of players, for
 example seven players, and a separate area 14 for a banker who also
 preferably acts as a dealer. Each playing area 12 has a number of marked
 sections or zones 16, 18, and 20 for the player to place various wagers as
 will be described hereinafter. Layout 10 also displays various payout
 schedules 22, 24, and 26. Other wager areas and/or information can be
 displayed on layout 10, such as the "Three Card Poker" promotional
 markings illustrated in FIG. 1.
 Each player takes a place at one of the areas 12. The game is played in a
 number of rounds as will be described. In each round, each player plays
 against the dealer and optionally wagers on the rank of his hand. The game
 can be played with a standard 52-card deck or a modified deck as described
 herein.
 At the commencement of a game, each player who decides to play a particular
 round of the game must wager on the value of that player's hand against
 that of the dealer (Ante wager) and may place an optional wager (Pair Plus
 wager). Each player makes an Ante wager by placing an appropriate wager,
 such as a toke (or chip), in section 18 of his playing area 12. The gaming
 chips may be of any conventional kind and available in a number of
 denominations such as are well known within the art. If the player wishes
 to make the optional Pair Plus wager based on the value of his hand, he
 places an appropriate toke (or chip) in section 16 of his playing area 12.
 In an alternative variation of the game, the Pair Plus wager can only be
 placed if the Ante wager is also placed. This variation is illustrated in
 the Figure beneath the "Three-Card Poker" promotional marking, providing
 "TO BET Pair Plus ALSO BET Ante." In the present example, the rules of the
 game provide that payouts will be made according to displayed payout
 schedules 22 (Pair Plus payouts starting at a Pair or better) and 24 (Ante
 payouts).
 In a three-card version of the game, hands are preferably ranked according
 to the following hierarchy, wherein A=Ace, K=King, Q=Queen, J=Jack, and
 numbers 10 to 2 designate the other cards:

Highest: Straight Flush: Three of one suit in sequence
 AKQ highest
 KQJ next highest
 QJ10 next highest,
 and so on, until
 32A lowest
 Three of a Kind: Three of one rank
 AAA highest
 KKK next highest,
 and so on, until
 222 lowest
 Straight: Three of mixed suits in sequence
 AKQ highest
 KQJ next highest,
 and so on, until
 32A lowest
 Flush: Three of one suit
 AKJ highest
 AK10 next highest,
 and so on, until
 532 lowest
 Pair: Two of same rank
 AAK highest
 AAQ next highest,
 and so on, until
 223 lowest
 Lowest: High card: A hand comprising none of the above
 AKJ highest
 AK10 next highest,
 and so on, until
 532 lowest
 Ace is high, but can be low in 3-2-A sequence
 As would be apparent to one skilled in the art other rankings can be
 practiced with the invention.
 Additionally, for hands other than three cards, rankings would be suitably
 changed as would predetermined ranks and payouts. One skilled in the art
 will appreciate that other rankings can be practiced with the invention
 and that various other names may be used for the hands in the illustrative
 hierarchy set forth herein. For example, Straight Flush may also be known
 as a Brag or Bouncer, Three of a Kind may also be known as Trips or Prile;
 and a Straight may also be known as a Run.
 The payout schedule may be varied in accordance with rules of the game
 and/or by the casino. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1 (schedule 22),
 the payout schedule of this preferred embodiment is as follows:

Straight Flush 35 to 1
 Three of a Kind 33 to 1
 Straight 6 to 1
 Flush 4 to 1
 Pair 1 to 1.
 Alternatively, in a gaming establishment or jurisdiction where high odds
 payouts are not favored, a wager can be made that the value of the hand
 will be a Pair or greater, and the payout may be, for example, 14 to 5.
 One skilled in the art would appreciate that payouts may be varied without
 departing from the scope of the invention.
 The payout schedules are preferably displayed in a convenient manner and
 location. The details of payouts and any other payouts (e.g., extra bonus)
 may be marked on each player's playing area 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
 However, alternative arrangements can be used with the invention.
 According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two
 wagering options are independent, so that a player may wager unequal
 amounts on the Ante and Pair Plus options. In an alternative variation of
 the game, the Ante and Pair bets have a prescribed relationship. For
 example, as illustrated under the "Three-Card Poker" promotional marking
 in the Figure, the maximum Pair Plus wager is double the Ante wager.
 After the above wagers are placed, the dealer preferably shuffles the cards
 (manually or otherwise) and then deals a three-card hand to each player
 and to himself. The cards may initially be dealt to the players face-up or
 face-down depending upon casino policy. All the dealer's cards are dealt
 face-down in this preferred embodiment.
 After the cards have been dealt, the player inspects his hand and
 determines whether he wishes either to forfeit his Ante wager and not to
 play the hand, or to continue. If he wishes to continue, according to this
 illustrated embodiment, he must place a Play wager, which must be of
 proportionate value to and is preferably the same as the Ante wager. The
 Play wager is made by placing an appropriate toke (or chip) in section 20
 of his playing area 12. After making the Play wager, the player places his
 cards in the area below section 20.
 If a player has only made an Ante wager and decides not to make a Play
 wager, he forfeits his Ante wager, which is taken by the banker and the
 player's cards are discarded before the game proceeds. If the player has
 also placed a Pair Plus wager, that wager is not affected, but the player
 must make a Play wager if he has a winning Pair Plus wager.
 At this point, the dealer then reveals his cards and arranges the cards to
 show the value of his hand. The dealer then in turn reveals each other
 player's hand (if not already visible) and resolves each player's
 wager(s).
 All players with Ante and Play wagers are automatically winners if the
 dealer does not have a Queen high hand or better. This rank may be varied
 in accordance with rules of the game or of the casino. As is illustrated
 in FIG. 1 (schedule 24), players are preferably paid even money (one to
 one) on their Ante wager and their Play wager is returned (a Push).
 If the dealer has a Queen high hand or better, each player's hand is
 compared with that of the dealer. If the player's hand is higher (i.e.,
 the rank of the player's hand exceeds that of the dealer's hand), the
 player is paid even money on both Ante and Play wagers (schedule 24). If
 the player's hand is lower, the player forfeits his Ante and Play wagers.
 If the dealer and player have the same hand, the player may either
 withdraw his wager or leave or amend it for the next round.
 Preferably an additional extra bonus payout (e.g., Ante Bonus) is made by
 the banker to any player who is in play against the dealer (i.e., who has
 made the Ante and Play wagers) and who has a hand of a high rank. The
 ranks to which such extra bonus payouts are made may be predetermined by
 rules of the game and/or the casino. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1
 (schedule 26), the extra bonus payout schedule of this preferred
 embodiment is as follows:

Straight Flush 6 to 1
 Three of a Kind 5 to 1
 Straight 1 to 1.
 Alternatively, the extra bonus payout may be 7 to 5 for a Straight or
 higher ranking hand. The extra bonus payout is preferably based on the
 Ante wager.
 Players who have also wagered on the value of the hand (i.e., Pair Plus
 wagers) win if the hand is at least a Pair, and are paid by the banker
 according to the posted scale (e.g., schedule 22 of FIG. 1. These payouts
 are independent of the results of the game against the dealer.
 This procedure completes a single round of the game. Play then continues in
 another round, with players commencing by making Ante and optional Pair
 Plus wagers.
 Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of:
 establishing a hierarchy of a plurality of possible hands; establishing a
 predetermined plurality of winning card combinations; placing a wager that
 a player's hand rank will exceed that of a dealer's hand; providing the
 player with at least one wagering option, wherein one of the wagering
 options is that the player's hand will have a rank of a predetermined
 plurality of winning combinations; displaying a plurality of indicia of
 playing cards to format at least one player's hand and a dealer's hand;
 and resolving wagers of the at least one player.
 According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided
 a method of playing a card-type game involving one or more persons acting
 as a dealer and a banker, and at least one player, the method includes the
 steps of: the or each player placing a first wager the player's hand will
 exceed the dealer's hand; the or each player placing an optional second
 wager that the player's hand will be at least a first predetermined rank,
 where all possible hands are ranked according to predetermined rules; the
 dealer dealing to each player (including himself) a hand of cards; the or
 each player inspecting his or her hand and deciding either to forfeit the
 first wager to the banker or to place a third wager; the dealer revealing
 his hand (if already not shown) and determining whether the dealer's hand
 is at least a second predetermined rank; and if the dealer's hand is not
 at least the second predetermined rank, the banker paying each player an
 amount based on the first wager and returning the third wager to the
 player; or if the dealer's hand is at least the second predetermined rank,
 comparing the dealer's hand in turn with that of each other player and if
 the player's hand is higher, the banker paying the player an amount based
 on both the first and third wagers, and if the player's hand is lower, the
 player forfeiting both the first and third wagers to the banker; the
 banker paying in accordance with a predetermined scale any player who
 placed the second and third wagers and whose hand is at least the first
 predetermined rank; and the banker paying an extra bonus if the player's
 hand exceeds a third predetermined rank.
 The present invention can also be practiced with a wild card. The wild card
 is a combined playing and promotional card that may be used separately or
 in conjunction with one of the other embodiments of the present invention.
 Examples of such wild cards are as illustrated and described in U.S. Pat.
 No. 5,685,774. The wild card provides a dual function. As discussed below,
 during the play of a game, in accordance with the invention, the card can
 be used as a wild card. Subsequent to the game, the card can be taken away
 by the player and retained as a memento and also serves as a promotional
 item.
 In a three-card version of the game described above, a player may be
 provided with two standard cards and a wild card to form a three-card
 Poker hand. Alternatively, at least one player may be provided with three
 cards and be permitted to discard one card in order to form his best
 three-card hand using the wild card.
 Similarly, in four- and five-card versions of the game a wild card can be
 issued to each player and to the dealer. The players and dealer then use
 the wild card repeatedly in conjunction with each four-card hand dealt to
 them to make a five-card Poker hand. In a five-card game each player and
 the dealer may substitute the wild card for any card in their hand to
 improve the five-card hand they hold. This has the result of creating
 higher hand values and adding excitement to the game. According to each of
 these embodiments, the dealer is also preferably provided with the same
 number of standard cards and a wild card as provided to each player.
 In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with a wild
 card, a method includes the steps of: designating at least one playing
 card indicia as a wild indicia; providing each player with at least one of
 the wild indicia for repeated use by the player; and playing a plurality
 of card games wherein the wild indicia is used repeatedly in each of the
 hands.
 Various other embodiments of the present invention provide methods of
 playing the card-type game involving one or more persons acting as a
 dealer and a banker, at least one player, and a wild card. For example,
 one such method includes the steps of: each player receiving a wild card
 which the player retains throughout the game for use with each hand of
 cards dealt to him; the dealer dealing to each player successive hands of
 cards as the game progresses, each hand of cards being played in
 accordance with the rules before the next hand is dealt; and the player
 using the wild card in conjunction with each hand to improve the rank of
 the hand in accordance with predetermined hand rankings.
 From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
 various modifications may be made without department from the scope of the
 present invention. For example, the naming of the wagers, the naming
 and/or ranking of any hand, the payout schedule and predetermined winning
 or losing ranks may be varied in accordance with the requirements of the
 casino. The table layout may be varied from that described and shown. The
 rules may be varied, or additional rules imposed, within the scope of the
 invention.
 In addition, the present invention can be practiced with a further option
 of a player wagering on a high odds payout wager or on a fixed or variable
 jackpot which is paid out in accordance with rules of the casino on a
 premium hand, or when a high ranked hand is beaten by the dealer. Examples
 of odds available could be 5000 to 1 or more against a Royal Flush-Ace,
 King, Queen suited or up to 250,000 to 1 or more against a Straight Flush
 being beaten by a higher Straight Flush. In addition, the player's hand
 may be combined with the dealer's hand to form a six-card hand offering
 odds of up to 4,000,000 to 1 or more against Ace to nine in the same suit
 (i.e., Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, and 9 suited). Two or more of these
 wagers could be combined with suitably reduced odds and if desired
 consolation payouts could be made to players having hands less than the
 premium hand and/or to other players who have taken part in the jackpot.
 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a player may be
 provided with a payout based on one or more of the following:
 (a) a player's hand of a specified ranking is an automatic winner, with a
 payout based either on the Ante or the Play wager or both, regardless of
 the contest against the dealer (i.e., even if the dealer has a higher hand
 than the player);
 (b) a player's hand of specified ranking could be an automatic non-loser
 (i.e., the player's stake is returned) based on either the Ante or Play
 wager or both regardless of the contest against the dealer (i.e., even if
 the dealer has a higher hand); and/or
 (c) a player's hand of specified ranking could win the play wager if the
 dealer's hand is of a specified ranking below the dealer's minimum
 specified ranking (i.e., in the embodiment described above the specified
 ranking is Queen high or better, so that the additional specified ranking
 could be Jack high or lower).
 In addition, another jackpot wager can be used with the present invention.
 For example, in order for a player to place a jackpot wager, both Ante and
 Pair Plus wagers must be placed. This jackpot wager can have a high payoff
 on premium hands only. One preferred payout schedule is as follows:

Straight Flush 255 to 1
 Three of a Kind 200 to 1.
 Also, Ace, King, and Queen suited could be called a Royal Flush with the
 following preferred payout schedule:

Royal Flush 1,000 to 1
 Straight Flush 200 to 1
 Three of a Kind 150 to 1.
 Furthermore, if desired, an additional wager may be placed on the total
 numerical value of a player's hand. For example, picture cards preferably
 count as ten points, Aces count as one point, and the other cards two to
 ten points, the total being compared to the dealer's total and the higher
 total winning. Tied hands may be won by the dealer or half stakes won by
 the dealer on tied hands.
 Where the game incorporates jackpot and/or numerical hand value wagers,
 separate designated wagering areas may be provided for these wagers. These
 areas may be incorporated at any convenient position on the players'
 playing areas. In addition, the wild and promotional card may also be
 modified or omitted as desired in such embodiments with jackpot and/or
 numerical hand value wagers.
 While the foregoing preferred embodiments have been particularly described
 for play in a gaming establishment environment, it would be apparent to
 one skilled in the relevant art that the present invention can be embodied
 in a wide variety of forms and media including, but not limited to, single
 player slot video machines, multi-player slot video machines, electronic
 games and devices, lottery terminals, scratch-card formats, software as
 well as in-flight, home, and Internet entertainment. The gaming devices
 can facilitate games for a single player against the playing device.
 However, it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a
 multi-unit video format wherein a plurality of players may play against
 each other and/or against a dealer. Those skilled in the art will
 appreciate that suitable controls can be provided for receiving and
 processing the necessary inputs and therefore will not be described in
 detail herein. In addition, the invention can be readily implemented as a
 computer program product (e.g., floppy disk, compact disk (CD), etc.)
 comprising a computer readable medium having control logic recorded
 therein to implement the features of the invention as described in
 relation to the other preferred embodiments. The control logic can be
 loaded into the memory of a computer and executed by a central processing
 unit (CPU) to perform the operations described herein.
 Accordingly, one preferred embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for
 playing a card-type game including at least: means for informing at least
 one player of a hierarchy of a plurality of possible hands and a
 predetermined plurality of winning card combinations; means for receiving
 a first wager that a player's hand will have a higher ranking than a hand
 of a dealer; means for receiving an optional second wager that the
 player's hand will have at least one of the predetermined plurality of
 winning combinations; and means for displaying a plurality of indicia of
 playing cards to form at least one player's hand and a dealer's hand.
 Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with
 reference to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
 by those skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and
 details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
 the invention as defined in the appended claims.