Abstract:
A method of poker side betting based on burn cards is disclosed. The method enhances enjoyment of a poker game and increases house revenue, without slowing or detracting from the game itself. Before a poker round is dealt, players make bets predicting the identity of a burn card poker hand that will be produced by combining the burn cards of the poker round. After the round is played, the burn cards are revealed. Winnings are distributed for all bets that meet specified winning requirements. Bets can be placed into a side pot to be distributed among winners, or placed directly against the house according to house-established odds. In preferred embodiments, bets are made electronically via touch screens and locked before play begins, the burn cards are electronically scanned after play of the round and displayed on the touch screens, and winnings are distributed electronically.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention generally relates to poker card games, and more specifically to side bets in poker. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Poker is a well known card-based betting game. Poker games sometimes include side bet options, wherein the players can bet on the likelihood of certain occurrences happening during the course of normal play. These side bets are independent of the main betting, but are often related to the cards that are played. Side bets are popular because of the profit they can generate for the house, and the added entertainment value they can provide for players. 
         [0003]    There are various methods for making poker side bets known in the prior art. Side bets that are related to the cards used for the main betting are popular. However, they are somewhat limited in the added interest and entertainment they can generate, because they depend on the cards in play, which are already under scrutiny. Other methods for side betting require dealing of additional cards, which can slow down and distract from the main play. Still other types of side bets are unrelated to poker hands, or to playing cards in general. For example, in some prior art methods a side bet can be placed predicting which player will win a round of poker. However, these side bets either lack sophistication and variety, and therefore provide only limited interest, or they require a player to learn sophisticated rules unrelated to poker, and therefore require an unrealistic investment of time and effort on the part of the player. 
         [0004]    One general aspect of the present invention is a method of side betting in a poker game that includes generation of burn cards. The method includes placing of a side bet by a player, the side bet being based on a prediction of a burn card poker hand, playing of a round of poker, including a dealer dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card poker hand, revealing the burn card poker hand, and awarding burn card winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card poker hand meets a specified winning requirement. 
         [0005]    In preferred embodiments, if the playing of the round of poker terminates before a complete burn card poker hand has been produced, the method further includes the dealer dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of poker until a complete burn card poker hand has been produced. 
         [0006]    In some preferred embodiments the prediction of the burn card poker hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card. In other preferred embodiments the prediction of the burn card poker hand can include a prediction of the suit of a card included in the burn card poker hand, and/or a numerical value of a card included in the burn card poker hand. 
         [0007]    In various preferred embodiments, the side bet is placed into a side pot, the contents of which are divided, after playing of the round of poker, among all players who placed side bets based upon predictions that met a specified winning requirement. And in certain preferred embodiments the side bet is placed against a house represented by the dealer, and the burn card winnings are awarded according to odds predetermined by the house. 
         [0008]    Another general aspect of the present invention is a method of side betting in a poker game that includes a dealer representing a house, and generation of burn cards. The method includes accepting entry of a side bet by a player, an electronic device being used by the player to enter the side bet into a computer, the side bet being based upon a prediction of a burn card poker hand, playing of a round of poker, including the dealer dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce the burn card poker hand, the dealer revealing the burn card poker hand, the computer awarding burn card winnings to the player if the prediction of the burn card poker hand meets a specified winning requirement, and the computer awarding the side bet to the house if the prediction of the burn card poker hand does not meet any specified winning requirement. 
         [0009]    In some preferred embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can be one of a royal flush, a straight flush, four of a kind, a full house, a flush, a straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and a high card. In other preferred embodiments, the prediction of the burn card poker hand can include a prediction of the suit of a card included in the burn card poker hand, and/or a numerical value of a card included in the burn card poker hand. 
         [0010]    In preferred embodiments, the electronic device used to place the side bet includes a touch screen accessible to the player. In various preferred embodiments the method further includes the dealer causing the computer to electronically saving and locking all side bets before the playing of the round of poker. And in certain preferred embodiments if the playing of the round of poker terminates before a complete burn card poker hand has been produced, the house dealer deals additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of round of poker until a complete burn card poker hand has been produced. 
         [0011]    In some preferred embodiments, the side bet is placed into a virtual side pot, and the computer awards the burn card winnings by dividing the contents of the virtual side pot between players who placed side bets based on predictions of the burn card poker hand that met specified winning requirements. And in other preferred embodiments the side bet is placed against the house, and the burn card winnings are awarded according to odds pre-established by the house. 
         [0012]    In preferred embodiments, the house dealer revealing the burn card poker hand includes the house dealer electronically scanning the identities of the burn cards into the computer. And in some of these preferred embodiments the house dealer revealing the burn card poker hand includes displaying of the burn card poker hand on the electronic device. 
         [0013]    Yet another general aspect of the present invention is a method of enhancing enjoyment of a poker game that includes generation of burn cards. The method includes playing of a round of poker, including a dealer dealing a plurality of burn cards so as to produce a burn card poker hand, revealing the burn card poker hand, and awarding winnings to at least one player if the burn card poker hand meets a specified winning requirement. 
         [0014]    In preferred embodiments, if the playing of the round of poker terminates before a complete burn card poker hand has been produced, the method further includes the dealer dealing additional cards in a manner simulating continued play of the round of poker until a complete burn card poker hand has been produced. And in various preferred embodiments the specified winning requirement is a requirement that the burn card poker hand be a specific poker hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A method of side-betting in poker is claimed that increases the number of cards in play, without requiring additional cards to be dealt, by allowing betting on poker hands formed from “burn cards,” which are cards dealt from the deck and discarded (“burned”), so that they are not used by the players during play of a round of poker. The method thereby expands the number of cards that draw interest from the players, enhancing the enjoyment of a poker game, and increasing house revenues, without significantly slowing down or distracting from the main play. 
         [0016]    Before each round of poker is dealt, participating players make burn hand bets based on predictions of the identity of the poker hand that will be produced by the burn cards of the poker hand. After the round is played, the burn cards are revealed, and winnings are collected by any players who made predictions that meet specified winning requirements. In some embodiments, the burn hand bets are placed into a side pot, and the side pot is shared equally among any winners, or is awarded to the house if there are no winners. In other embodiments, each burn hand bet is placed against the house, and winnings are paid by the house to successful betters according to predetermined odds. In preferred embodiments, if the round is not played to completion, the dealer deals additional cards in the same order as if the round had been completed, so as to generate a complete set of burn cards. 
         [0017]    In further preferred embodiments, players use electronic touch screens to enter side bets into a computer, placing the bets either into a virtual side pot or against the house. In these embodiments, after the round of poker has been played, the burn cards are electronically scanned by the dealer so as to be visible on the touch screens, and the winnings are awarded and/or divided electronically. Use of the touch screens and the computer ensures that the side betting does not slow down, nor detract from, the main play of the poker game. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a poker table in a preferred embodiment that includes manual betting and result processing; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a poker table in a preferred embodiment that uses electronic touch screens and card scanning; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a touch screen showing bet options, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a touch screen showing a locked bet, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a touch screen showing a burn card hand, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a touch screen showing a side bet outcome, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 5A ; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The present invention is a method of enhancing the play of poker by the awarding of burn bonus winnings according to burn card criteria that depend on a burn card poker hand formed by combining burn cards dealt during the play of a main poker hand. In various embodiments, the burn card criteria require that the burn card poker hand be a specific hand, such as a royal flush. For example, a fixed amount of winnings can be set aside in a jackpot, for example by a house that is hosing the poker game, and distributed among all players at a gaming table if a royal flush burn card poker hand is dealt at that table. 
         [0028]    In many embodiments, the burn card criteria depend on poker players placing side bets based on predictions of specific burn card poker hands.  FIG. 1  is a top view of a poker table  100  used in such a preferred embodiment of the invention. The table  100  is set for ten players. In this figure, each player&#39;s station  102  is shown with two cards of a main hand  104 , a main bet area  106  that is related to the main hand, and a burn bet area  108  that is related to a burn hand that is produced by combining the burn cards that are dealt during the main hand. In the middle of the table  100  is a main hand card area  110 , where cards used for the main hand are placed, such as the flop, the turn, and the river. Closer to the dealer is a burn card area  111 , where all of the burn cards from the main hand are placed face down until the main hand is completed and the burn cards are revealed. A main pot area is located to the immediate left of the burn card area  111 . 
         [0029]    At the bottom of the table is a poker chips area  112 . In between the main card area  110  and the poker chips area  112  is a dealer&#39;s burn bet monitoring area  114 . The dealer can place player tokens  118  in appropriate burn hand areas  120  of the burn bet monitoring area  114 , according to the kind of hand that each player has bet upon. As shown in the figure, player  1  has bet upon a one pair burn hand, player  2  has bet upon a two pair burn hand, player  3  has bet upon a flush burn hand, player  4  has bet upon a high card burn hand, player  5  has bet upon a one pair burn hand, player  6  has bet upon a three of a kind burn hand, and  7  has bet upon a one pair burn hand. Certain hand options are omitted if they cannot be created by the number of burn cards generated in the variety of poker being played. Furthermore, the house can restrict the hand options according to its preferences. For example, the house can decide that a side pot is put towards a jackpot which is only paid if a certain burn hand is produced, such as a royal flush. 
         [0030]    The variety of poker being played can determine how many burn cards will make up the burn hand, and therefore the different kinds of burn hands that are possible. For example, in seven card stud, the burn hand can include four burn cards, while some other varieties of poker produce burn hands with five burn cards. Depending upon the number of burn cards, the burn hand may not be able to produce certain traditional kinds of poker hands. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 . First, all participating players place their bets into a burn bet side pot  200 . In alternative embodiments, the players can place their bets individually against the house. Next, the main round is dealt, and the burn cards are dealt out during the dealing of the main round  202 . If the main round is not completed  204 , and therefore does not produce a complete burn hand, additional cards are dealt as if the main round were completed  206 , so as to produce a complete burn hand. After all of the burn cards have been dealt, the dealer turns over the burn cards to reveal the burn hand  208 . If any players correctly predicted the burn hand  210 , those players share equally in the side pot  212 . In alternative embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, winning players are paid according to predetermined house odds. If no players correctly predicted the burn hand, the side pot is awarded to the house  214 . In embodiments where players place individual bets against the house, unsuccessful bets are awarded to the house and winning bets are rewarded according to odds determined by the house. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top view of a poker table  300  in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The table is set for ten players. In the figure, each player&#39;s station  302  is shown with two cards  304  of a main hand, a main bet area  306  is shown which relates to the main hand, and a touch screen  308  is provided at each player station that enables the player to make a burn bet based upon a prediction of a burn hand. As in  FIG. 1 , the burn hand is the hand produced by combining the burn cards that are dealt during the main round. 
         [0033]    Once entered on the touch screens  308 , the burn hand bets are stored and processed by a computer. In the middle of the table  300  is a main hand card area  310 , where cards used for the main round are placed, such as the flop, the turn, and the river. Closer to the dealer is a burn card scanner window  311 , where all of the burn cards from the main round are placed face down until the main round is completed, at which time the burn cards are scanned and revealed. A main pot area is to the immediate left of the burn card scanner window  311 . 
         [0034]    At the bottom of the table  300  is a poker chips area  312 . Next to the poker chips area  312  is a dealer&#39;s burn betting monitor touch screen  314 . Using the monitor touch screen  314 , the dealer can lock in all of the players&#39; burn bets before dealing out the cards for the main round. 
         [0035]    The variety of poker being played determines how many burn cards will be included in the burn hand, and therefore the different kinds of burn hands that are possible. For example, in seven card stud, the burn hand will include four burn cards. Some other varieties of poker will produce a burn hand that includes five burn cards. Depending upon the number of burn cards, the burn hand may not be able to produce certain traditional kinds of poker hands. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a touch screen  400  showing bet options in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 . In this figure, a player is presented with the various types of possible hands  402  that could be created by the burn cards. Certain hand options  402  are omitted if they cannot be created by the number of burn cards generated in the variety of poker being played. Furthermore, the house can restrict the hand options according to its preferences. For example, the house can decide to set up a tournament whereby winnings are only paid if a certain burn hand is produced, such as a royal flush. In  FIG. 4A , the options are high card, one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, straight flush, and royal flush. 
         [0037]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 4A , there are also card numerical value bet options  404  and card suit bet options  406 . In some embodiments of the invention, it is required that a player choose at least one numerical value option  404  related to the burn hand, and/or at least one suit option  406  related to the burn hand. For example, a casino house may require a player to choose the numerical value  404  and/or the suit  406  of a high card in a high card hand. In other embodiments a player is required to choose the numerical value  404  of the cards in a pair, the numerical value  404  of the high card in a straight, or the suit  406  of the cards in a flush hand. Other stipulations can be placed upon the burn bet as requirements, according to house preferences, or as options, so as to allow higher odds and therefore higher winning returns. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a touch screen  400  showing a locked bet  408 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the house dealer locks all players&#39; bets before dealing the main round. The player using the screen shown in this  FIG. 400  has placed a side bet  408  predicting a burn hand of a pair of sevens. In this example, the bet is included in a side pot that is worth ten dollars  410 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a touch screen  400  showing a burn hand  500  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 . After the main round is completed, the house dealer scans the burn cards, which are then displayed on all players&#39; touch screens  500 . In this example, the burn hand matches the hand predicted by the player. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a touch screen  400  showing a side bet outcome  502 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 5A . In this example, the side pot of ten dollars  504  is awarded to the player, who correctly bet on the burn hand  500  being a pair of sevens. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 3 . First, all participating players place their bets via personal touch screens  600 . The dealer then locks all players&#39; burn hand bets  602 , after which the main round is dealt and the burn cards are dealt during the dealing of the main round  604 . If the main round is not completed  606 , and therefore does not produce a complete burn hand, the dealer deals additional cards in the same order as if the round had been completed, so as to generate a complete set of burn cards  608 . After all of the burn cards have been dealt, the dealer scans the burn cards to reveal the burn hand on each player&#39;s touch screen  610 . If any players correctly predicted the burn hand  612 , their individual winnings are paid according to predetermined house odds  614 , or in alternative embodiments using a side pot, each winning player will share equally in the side pot. For all players who incorrectly predicted the burn hand  615 , their bet is awarded to the house  616 . If the bets were pooled into a side pot, the side pot can be electronically rewarded and divvied up as necessary, or the house can put the side pot into a jackpot, a tournament play, or the like. 
         [0042]    Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limit the invention except as indicated in the following claims.