Abstract:
An improved game of pai-gow poker is set forth that includes offering the player a way of playing the game of pai-gow poker and three card poker combined. A wager for the basic game and an optional low hand wager can be placed. Each player receives 6 cards, the player will set the 6 cards and make two poker hands of 3 cards each. The “High hand” must always be higher than the “Low hand”. This game Improves the game of 3 card poker and 7 card Pai-Gow Poker.

Description:
REFERENCES CITED [REFERENCED BY] 
     U.S. Patent Documents 
       [0001]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,444 August 1997 Dahl 
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,392 August 1997 Hansen 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,774 November 1997 Webb 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,614 December 1997 Patter et al. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,574 February 1998 Hughes 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,216 March 1998 Jones 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,472 August 1999 Ko 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to poker games commonly seen in casinos. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Poker is played world wide. The game is played using a set of 52 playing cards (standard deck in common use today). Basically to play the game, players make a wager, and at his discretion may elect to place a wager on the consolation prize pool. All wagers for the basic wager and consolation prize wager must be made before the start of a hand. A dealer shuffles the cards and distributes to each player 6 cards. The players arrange their cards as to the standard ranking of poker hands (known to all who play poker). After the players have arranged their high and low hands, the dealer then turns over his/her cards and arranges them into the highest possible high hand and best possible low hand. The high hand must always be higher than the low hand. Each player&#39;s hands is then compared to the dealer&#39;s. If the dealer&#39;s two hands are higher than the players hand the player looses his basic wager. If the second wager was made on the consolation prize pool the dealer then compares the players hand to the list of consolation prize list as listed in claim  3 . If the player&#39;s hand matches any of the combinations listed in the consolation hand the player is awarded an amount listed in the payoff schedule. Hence it is now obvious that the player can win even as he lost the basic wager. 
         [0010]    One of the drawbacks of poker is that a player can have an extremely high ranking hand and still end up with a loss. This can be frustrating as a player who may only rarely see such a combination of hands. 
         [0011]    A further drawback of poker is that a player cannot expect to receive a large reward several times their initial wager. For a player to win a large amount they must risk a large amount. Making a wager on the consolation prize pool allows the player a chance to receive a large payout for being a very poor hand. 
         [0012]    There is therefore a need for an improved method of playing poker. The consolation prize pool overcomes the drawbacks noted above by providing opportunities to reap greater rewards, by rewarding players who obtain certain combinations regardless of the ultimate outcome of the hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    There is therefore set forth according to the present invention a method for playing an improved game of poker which may be embodied in either a table game format or in an electronic device. 
         [0014]    The method includes the player making a decision prior to the dealing of the cards opting to make at least one on a base wager and a second on a consolation prize wager. Similarly a player need not make a consolation prize wager. A player can opt to make both of the wagers. After the wagering options have been exercised, the dealer deals cards to each player and the dealer in the traditional poker fashion. Each player and the dealer arrange their 6 cards into two hands of 3 cards each. Players and dealer attempt to set the highest hands that they can achieve, If the player has made a base wager and his hand is outranks the dealer&#39;s corresponding hand the player is declared to have obtained a winning hand and the player is rewarded an amount equal to their base wager minus a 5% commission. If the player has made a consolation prize wager and his cards include one of the lowest hands possible card combinations, the player is declared to have obtained a consolation prize outcome and the player is rewarded based upon the amount of their consolation prize wager. The consolation prize card outcome combinations may be any selected combinations but combinations of
       (a) 2,3,5 (b) 2,3,6 (c) 2,3,7 (d) 2,4,5 (e) 2,4,6 (f) 2,4,7 (g) 2,5,6 (h) 2,5,7 (i) 2,6,7   (j) 3,4,6 (k) 3,4,7 (I) 3,5,6 (m) 3,5,7 (n) 3,6,7 (o) 4,5,7 (p) 4,6,7 (q) any special meaning to the casino   (r) excludes straights and flushes, Ace is always the highest card or as desired by the casino. the highest card or as desired by the casino.       
 
         [0018]    In some of the traditional games of poker, a player may elect to be the banker for a hand and therefore plays against the dealer and the remaining players for the base wagers only. Any consolation wager is always guaranteed by the house, and collected by the house even if a player elects to be the banker. The house is in control of the consolation prize pay out. 
         [0019]    The payoffs for winning consolation prize wagers may range from even money (1:1) up to, 100:1 or more as determined by the difficulty to achieve a give combination of cards. 
         [0020]    As can be appreciated, the game provides for players to obtain high rewards during the play of poke, rather than simply winning even money less a house commission. The base wagers, players can participate in the consolation prize wager and reap greater rewards. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, a player having made a consolation prize wager and obtaining a qualifying consolation prize combination is rewarded regardless of whether or not his base wager has won or lost. Furthermore, by providing the consolation prize feature, players unfamiliar with the game can simply make consolation prize wagers and if their cards achieve a qualifying consolation prize outcome, they can win. They need to know nothing about the arranging of the hand to participate in the game. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    These and other features and advantages will become better appreciated as the same becomes better understood with reference to the claims, specification and drawings wherein 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows the arranged of three card poker with the highest card being a  5  in the order of ranking according to the rules; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows the arranged of three card poker with the highest card being a  6  in the order of ranking according to the rules; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows the arranged of three card poker with the highest card being a  7  in the order of ranking according to the rules; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows the special consolation prize combinations of the selected numbers that have particular significance to the casino and is played according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a typical layout of the playing table used for this game 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]    Turning to the drawings, the improved poker games according to the present invention will now be described. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , shows the preferred 3 card poker lowest hands to win the consolation prize wager. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , shows the preferred 3 card poker low hands to win the consolation prize wager with a six and lower. 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , shows the preferred 3 card poker low hands to win the consolation prize wager with a seven and lower. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 4  shows the special meaning numbers that can be created by the casino using the 3 card poker hands with a special meaning to the casino, that can win the consolation prize wager (i.e. years in business) 
         [0033]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , shows the preferred table layout with the consolation prize wager area. 
         [0034]    While the following description is directed to play of the improved game as a live action game, it is to be understood that the method according to the present invention could be incorporated into an electronic device for playing by a player. 
         [0035]    To play the game, each player opts to make one wager and an optional consolation prize wager. The player need not make both and can make only one as desired to participate in the game. Depending upon the wager or wagers desired by the player, the player places their base wager in the base wager area and a consolation prize wager in the consolation prize wager area, to signify to the dealer that the wagers are being made. Table minimums and maximums may dictate the minimum and maximum amount of such wagers that can be made by the player. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, should a player so desire, the player can wager multiples of the base wager. for the hand in a manner well known with the play of traditional poker games. If the player so declares themselves to be the banker,(if the house rules allow) they then play against the other players and the dealer and in essence book the base wagers. However, typically the dealer, is supplied by a casino, acts by default as the banker for the hands. The consolation prize is always played against house and will make all payouts. The following description will assume that no player has declared themselves the banker for the hand and therefore the casino dealer acts as the banker. In advance of dealing the hand, the dealer mixes the cards and, as is well known, continues to deal 6 cards to each player who has placed a wager. After the players have received their cards, each set their best poker hands (high and low hand). If less than seven players are playing the game, undistributed hands are removed from play and set aside. 
         [0037]    The player having received their cards, arranges their cards into the best and highest hands, in both the front and back hands failing to have a high hand he would look to see if his hand is on the lowest possible list to qualify for the consolation prize (assuming he placed a wager for the consolation prize). Thereafter, the dealer turns over players cards without changing any hand. The player&#39;s hands are then compared to the dealers hands in order to determine if both hands are higher, lower, or higher on one and lower on one. To determine if the player has obtained a winning, losing or push outcome. For players only making consolation prize wagers, the hand is examined for the lowest possible hand. For players having made the wager and where their hand outranks the dealer&#39;s hand , the player is declared to obtain a winning outcome and the player is rewarded even money for their base wager less a 5% commission. 
         [0038]    For those players having made the consolation prize wager, the make-up of the player&#39;s cards is compared to determine whether one or more pre-determined consolation prize combinations can be formed. While any suitable combination or arrangement can be selected as a consolation prize combination, preferably, and with reference to claim  6  are deemed to be consolation prize combinations: 
         [0039]    The player&#39;s cards are examined to determine if a consolation prize combination can be made regardless of whether or not the hand has won or lost the basic wager. If the player has obtained a consolation prize outcome, the player is paid with a payoff based upon the amount of their consolation prize wager. 
         [0040]    Preferably only the lowest possible hand is used to determine the consolation prize payout. Pay-out will be on only the lowest hand. No payment for the second hand. 
         [0041]    As stated, even if a player has obtained a losing outcome for their base wager, they may have in their hand a consolation prize combination entitling them to a consolation prize payoff. Furthermore, the player may not even participate in the base game and may simply make consolation prize wagers and hope to obtain a consolation prize outcome. A player desiring not to play the consolation prize wager can simply play the consolation prize wager. 
         [0042]    The game thus described provides players with an opportunity to reap great rewards of up to 100:1 or the like by making a consolation prize wager. This contributes to the excitement of the playing. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, players unfamiliar with poker may simply make consolation prize wagers making the game more available to players who are completely unfamiliar with the game. As they play consolation prize wagers they may become more familiar with the game and thereafter decide to participate in the base wagers as well. Accordingly, the game provides players with various options as to how to play the game and provides, with the consolation prize wager, an opportunity to reap a payoff many times the amount of the wager. Still further, a player can receive a consolation prize payout even though they may lose a base wager to the dealer. As a further advantage, by selecting the consolation prize combinations as described above. This will sustain the player&#39;s interest in the game. Furthermore, while a bad hand obtaining a consolation hand, if the player has made a consolation prize wager, will entitle the player to a payoff as determined by the schedule pay-out. This makes the consolation prize wager in addition to the base wager the equivalent of buying insurance against a worst hand would normally be disappointing to a player playing the base game, would turn the event into a pleasant surprise for the player. Still further no skill is required to play the consolation prize wager. The dealer will identify the lowest ranking consolation prize outcome even if the player cannot identify it by himself. It is believed that this game will help cultivate new players to the game as they become more familiar with how to identify the hand combinations. Ultimately these players will wish to participate in the base game and set their own hands. 
         [0044]    The dual hand settings coupled with the consolation wager increases the excitement for the players. Furthermore, for those players who have also made the consolation prize wager, have a chance to win even as they loose their main wager. This means additional revenues for the casino. Still further, regardless of the hand, the casino always banks the consolation prize wagers and collects losing consolation prize wagers. 
         [0045]    Detailed description of play, referring to  FIG. 5   
         [0046]    Table  5  is the preferred layout for the dealer to control play. 
         [0047]    One to seven players  14  sit around table  5  at locations  1 ,  2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 . 
         [0048]    Players  14  place their basic wager in location  20  at all player  14  who desire to place the optional wager on the consolation prize place an additional wager on location  22 . 
         [0049]    Dealer  16  will pick up the shaker(or press the random number generator) to determine what position receives the first six cards. Cards to be dealt are in location  12 . 
         [0050]    Six cards are placed at each location even if no player  14  is seated at the location. 
         [0051]    The dealer  16  will collect all cards from vacant locations  14  and place them at location  24 . 
         [0052]    Each player  14  will now set their hands into two of the strongest hands possible. 
         [0053]    Hands are set with highest hand at location  18  high and the low hand at location  18  low. 
         [0054]    Dealer now sets his high and low hand and compares each high and low to his hand. 
         [0055]    If player  14  beats the dealer on both hands the dealer will pay even money minus a 5% house commission. If the player  14  wins one part and is beat on the second part it is a push and no wagers are taken. If the dealer beats the player  14  on both hands is a loss and the players  14  wager is taken. 
         [0056]    The players who have placed an additional wager on the  22  consolation prize will now be evaluated by the dealer to determine if there is a qualifying hand, if there is the payment is made regardless if the basic wager is won or lost on the basic wager. 
         [0057]    While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention it is to be understood that one skilled in the art can find other combinations not listed herein, in an attempt to circumvent the invention described in this invention, and it will be subject to modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.