Abstract:
The One Two Three poker is a hybrid poker card game playing in a live casino game table and electronic device such as computer, slot machine, video game, etc. and using 52 standard playing cards without jokers. Players play against to dealer (banker) by using conventional poker strategy and ranking system with Asian poker playing method. Both dealer (banker) and players are dealt six cards and arrange them into three groups, one card, two cards and three cards, called three hands. A bonus bet is assigned to one card bet. Players can fold the hand or raise the bet.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 12/807,966 filed Sep. 17, 2010 entitled “One Two Three Poker.” 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the general field of conventional poker games, Chinese poker game, modified poker game such as Pai Gow poker and Wild Deuce (also called Da Lao Ear) and Asian poker. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The game of Asian Poker, often referred to Thirteen Cards Poker, Wild Deuce often referred to Chinese Poker and a two hands poker, named Pai Gow Poker that is modified from 13 cards poker. 
         [0004]    Pai Gow Poker is dealing both player and dealer seven cards, and required the seven cards arranged into two hands, a two-card hand called low hand and a five-card hand called high hand; the low hand must be of a lower rank than the high hand. The ranking of the hands are the same as in conventional poker ranking of the hands with the exception that the joker can be used to represent an ace or to represent one card of either a straight or a flush. Because of the use of a joker, five aces is the highest possible hand. 
         [0005]    The game is started by each player placing a bet (ante). The house dealer then deals seven cards to himself and each of six players. The player is allowing play as the banker to play against to other players and house dealer when house dealer is not banking. 
         [0006]    The rules of the game are (1) both dealer and players have to form his low hand and his high hand respectively based on the ranking system, the rank of five cards hand should higher in rank than the two cards hand; (2) player should win both low hand and high hand in order to win the game; (3) when both player and dealer have the same rank of two cards hand or five cards hand, dealer wins the hand; (4) when both player and dealer win one hand and lose one hand, it is called a “push”; a “push” is declared and no one wins; (5) if a player wins both hands, the bet made is matched, an even money bet is paid, less a commission of typically 5%. 
         [0007]    Thirteen Cards Poker is dealing both player and dealer thirteen cards, and required the thirteen cards arranged into three hands, a two-card hand called low hand and a five-card hand called medium hand and a five-card hand called high hand; the low hand must be of a lower rank than the medium hand and high hand, the medium hand must be of a lower rank then high hand. The ranking of the hands are the same as in conventional poker ranking of the hands. Thirteen cards poker is using a deck of 52 playing cards without joker that limiting the number of player to four players. 
         [0008]    Wild Deuce is a poker game required player using traditional poker ranking to get rid of all the cards in his/her hand; the player who gets rid of all 13 cards first wins the game. It starts with a maximum of four players; each player is dealt 13 cards, who has a spade deuce should show off to the other players and gets the right to throw away any number of cards from a minimum of one card up to a maximum of five cards in his/her hand first. The players estimate the chance of get rid of all 13 cards in his/her hand based on the ranking of cards and formation of poker hands; who eliminates a higher ranking card or higher poker hand, who will take over the lead and decide how many cards to throw away next until any other player come out any suited single card or higher formation of poker hand has a higher rank than his/her card or cards. When there is no one has a higher rank card or higher rank of formation, the same person will show the deuce and change the number of cards to eliminate, or any one has a deuce will take over the lead. In thirteen card poker the pattern of playing also is ranked, spade is higher than heart, heart is higher than diamond, and diamond is higher than club. Deuce is a winning card. 
         [0009]    Other poker games such as, Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride, Three cards poker, and Four Card poker, etc. provides a better betting strategy, such as, bonus, ante and play. But, players have no control of how to play the hand as playing Asian poker and Chinese poker. The video poker games often offer players a chance to improve their hand by requiring players throw away the cards they don&#39;t want and hold the cards they want. 
         [0010]    One Two Three poker combined both western poker style and Asian poker style to provide more interesting in playing poker game on live game table and electronics device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The new invention, One Two Three Poker is a modified Asian poker card game using a standard deck of playing card without joker, total 52 cards. It allows six players playing against to a dealer/banker, house dealer or one of the players who act as dealer/banker; which is a traditional Chinese poker playing method called rotation banker. It allows players to peeking few cards then decide to continue play the game or fold the hand as traditional western poker playing method. Both player and dealer/banker will be dealt six cards in total; the six cards dealt to each participant has to arrange into three groups, also named three hands; with the three groups containing three cards, two cards and one card, respectively. To win the game, a player must win on at least two of three hands, and because there are three hands rather than two, the number of “pushes” is greatly reduced. Further, because in a preferred embodiment, the dealer (whether the house (casino) or a customer acting as the dealer/banker) wins all ties or “copy hands,” “pushes” can be completely eliminated. 
         [0012]    The invention is provided a method of playing poker game in a live casino game table and electronic device such as computer, slot machine, video game etc. involving six players and a dealer, wherein each player plays against the dealer, and using a deck of 52 standard playing cards without jokers. 
         [0013]    Players have to place an optional wager on One Card Bonus betting circle and a mandatory wager on ante betting circle before the first initial card is dealt; after the second and third card are dealt to both player and dealer, players will be allow to look the second and third cards only; players then should place an optional wager on Raise X2 betting circle to continue play the hands or fold the hand by losing the wager on Ante; the wager and the one initial card on One Card Bonus will be resolve after the 4 th , 5 th  and 6 th  card are dealt to each of six participants. 
         [0014]    House dealer will deal a total of six cards to the dealer/banker and a total of six cards to each of the six players in three different steps; one first initial card is dealt face down and place under the wager of One Card Bonus; the second and third card are dealt face down to the position of two cards; players are allowing to look the two card; then, house dealer has to wait for the respond from players; players who fold the hand will lose the wager on Ante, but stay in the game for One Card Bonus bet; house dealer will collecting the wager and two discard cards; players who place the wager on Raise X2 will receive three more cards; house dealer will turn over the one initial card of dealer and player, and make a comparing to determine who the winner is after the last three cards are dealt to participants. 
         [0015]    After the wager on One card Bonus is resolved, both player and dealer should arrange six cards into a low hand of one card, a medium hand of two cards and a high hand of three cards wherein the medium hand must be higher in rank than the low hand and the high hand must be higher in rank than the medium hand, 
         [0016]    House dealer then will individually compare each of the low, medium and high ranks of each player with the low, medium and high hands of the dealer; 
         [0017]    House dealer will determine a winner between each player and the dealer when at least two out of the three hands of one is of higher rank than the corresponding hands of the other based on the game rules, and taking the wager of the player by the dealer when the dealer is determined to be the winner, and paying, by the dealer, the amount of the wager by a player to a player determined to be the winner. 
         [0018]    When the dealer and a player have a corresponding hand of equal rank, and the dealer is determined to be the winner. 
         [0019]    The rankings of the three cards, from highest to lowest poker hand, is as follows: 
         [0000]    (1) three aces;
 
(2) a royal flush formed by A-K-Q of the same suit;
 
(3) a straight flush formed by three cards in consecutive rank of the same suit, wherein the highest ranking straight flush is A-K-Q of the same suit and the second highest is K, Q, J of the same suit;
 
(4) a flush formed by three cards of the same suit, regardless of rank, wherein the highest ranking card determines the highest flush;
 
(5) a straight formed by three cards consecutive in rank, regardless of suit, wherein the highest ranking card will determine the highest straight, wherein A-K-Q is the highest ranking straight, K-Q-J is the second highest straight and 4-3-2 is the lowest straight;
 
(6) three of a kind formed by three cards of the same rank regardless of suit wherein three aces is the highest ranking three of a kind and three twos is the lowest ranking three of a kind;
 
(7) there is no two pair hand
 
(8) one pair wherein two aces is the highest ranking pair and two twos is the lowest ranking pair; and
 
(9) no pair, which occurs when none of the poker hands set forth above are formed and wherein the highest ranking single card will determine the winner wherein, and in comparing hands of a player of the of that dealer, the highest ranking card is identical, the next highest ranking card will determine the winner.
 
         [0020]    For example, for medium hand, the two cards hand, the highest hand is a pair of aces and the lowest hand is 2-3. 
         [0021]    For example, for low hand, one card hand, the highest hand is an ace and the lowest hand is a two. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the house dealer is a casino employee who can be the dealer/banker. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the player is a casino customer who can be the dealer/banker. 
         [0024]    A hand is set improperly in each of the following situations: 
         [0000]    Any part of the three segment hands has the wrong number of cards.
 
Any part of the three segment hands are set out of ranking order.
 
Any player that sets his or her hand improperly consider as lose.
 
       Dealing Procedure 
       [0000]    
       
         
           
             1. House dealer starts deal one initial card face down and place it under the wager of One Card Bonus to the players and banker/dealer from the first left player of the banker clockwise at the first rotation. 
             2. House dealer shall compare players&#39; one card to the dealer/banker&#39;s one card individually after all six cards are dealt to player and dealer/banker or after player fold the hand and there no any other cards need to be draw; high card wins and match to the banker/house dealer called tie wins 3 to 1 or the odds casino offer. 
             3. House dealer deals two cards face down to the players and banker/dealer clockwise at second rotation for Ante. 
             4. House dealer shall allow players to look the two cards and leave the one initial card face down on the table and wait for players&#39; decision, to play or fold the hand. 
             5. House dealer shall lock the cards and wager on Ante of the player who fold the hand when house dealer is the banker; and lock the cards and move the wagers on the Ante to the center of the of the table of players who fold the hand when one of the player is the dealer/banker. 
             6. House dealer deals the final three cards to players who wager on the Raise x2 and dealer/banker and house dealer himself/herself clockwise. 
             7. House dealer turn over the initial one card of player and dealer/banker and compare them individually and resolving the bonus bet. 
             8. Allow players pick up the one initial card with other five cards to form three hands named low hand with one card, medium hand with two cards, and high hand with three cards. After all the players set down three hands o the table, the banker shall arranger his six cards into three hands, low, medium hand and high hand; if house dealer acts as dealer/banker, the three hands shall arranger into three hand according to the house way. 
             9. House dealer shall compare dealer/banker&#39;s three hands to the players&#39; three hands individually. 
             10. House dealer shall take 5% commission out of winning when one of the players is acted as the banker. 
           
         
       
     
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    The present invention is modified based on the basic game of Asian Poker and Chinese poker; but in accordance with an important feature thereof, dealing six cards to each six players and dealer in three rotations with one initial card, two cards and three cards; and keep the conventional Asian Poker style and Chinese poker style, designated as low, medium and high hands, the medium hand, (two-cards hand) must be higher than the low hand (one-card hand) and high hand (three cards hand) must be higher than the medium hand; 
         [0036]    In order to beat the dealer&#39;s hand, a player must win on two out of three hands. 
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the standard rules of Asian poker and, all ties (also called copy hands) go to the dealer; the dealer wins all hands of the three hands wherein the hands of the dealer and player are of an equivalent value. In this embodiment, all overall pushes are eliminated. 
         [0038]    In a preferred embodiment, a joker is not used as in conventional Asian Poker and Chinese poker so that a standard fifty-two card can be used in One Two Three poker. 
         [0039]    The highest winning hand for the low hand (one card) is an ace while a deuce is the lowest and the person having the highest card wins. 
         [0040]    The highest winning hand for the medium hand is a pair of aces. A pair beats a non-pair and if there are no pairs, the highest card wins. 
         [0041]    With respect to the high hand (three cards hand) rankings, the following rankings are preferably used: 
       1. Three Aces; 
       [0042]    2. Royal Flush: A-K-Q of the same suit;
 
3. Straight flush: four cards in consecutive rank of the same suit. The highest ranking straight flush is A-K-Q of the same suit. The second highest is K-Q-J of the same suit;
 
4. Flush: three cards of the same suit, regardless of rank. The highest ranking card will determine the highest flush;
 
5. Straight: three cards in a consecutive run, regardless of suit. The highest ranking card will determine the highest straight. A-K-Q is the highest ranking straight. K-Q-J is the second highest straight, 4-3-2 is the lowest straight;
 
6. Three of a kind: three cards of the same rank, regardless of suit. Three aces is the highest ranking three of a kind. 2-2-2 is the lowest ranking three of a kind.
 
7. Two pairs: there is no two pair hand
 
8. One pair: A-A the highest ranking pair. 2-2 is the lowest ranking pair.
 
9. No pair: when none of the poker hands listed above is formed by any of the three card hands, the highest ranking single card will determine the winner. Further, if no player even has a pair, and when comparing the hands of a player and the dealer, the highest ranking card is identical of a player and the dealer, the next highest ranking card will determine the winner. In one preferred embodiment, if every card in the hands being compared is identical, this is all “copy” hand and the bank or dealer wins all copy hands.
 
         [0043]    As will be apparent from the foregoing, the object of the game is to beat at least two hands out of three hands (either high and medium, medium and low or high and low) held by the banker or dealer. It will be understood that the banker or dealer can be, for example, a casino dealer or a customer at the table, as discussed below. As indicated above, in a preferred embodiment, the game is played with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards without joker. Each customer receives six cards and will form three hands if they did not fold the hand before receive the last three cards. Conveniently, in playing the game, the three hands are arranged in a column in front of the player, with the single card hand at the front, two cards hand in the middle and the three cards hand at the back. 
         [0044]    As stated, initial one card has to deal to the One Card Bonus hand face down and place underneath the wager of one card bonus waiting to be compare with dealer&#39;s one initial card; the two cards, second and third card, have to be deal face down to the players and dealer, players will be allow to look the two cards and make a decision of play or fold; the hand is fold will be compare the one initial card to dealer&#39;s one initial card at the end of the game; the hand is play will be deal the last three cards. Then, both player and banker/dealer should arrange the six cards into three hands, one card hand represent the lower hand, two cards hand is the medium or middle hand, three cards hand is the higher hand with three cards. Preferably, the house handles all bets and charges a 5% commission on all winning wagers. 
         [0045]    Hands are ranked as traditional poker hands with the possible exceptions discussed above and a customer wins when two customer hands are higher than those of the banker. The customer loses when two customer hands out of three are lower than those of the banker. 
         [0046]    As indicated above, for medium (two-card) hands, the highest hand is a pair of aces and the lowest hand is 2, 3 while for low (one-card) hands, the highest hand is an ace and the lowest hand is a two. 
         [0047]    One Two three poker maintained the interesting aspects of conventional Asian Poker and Chinese poker, the opportunity for a player to bank the game; as the dealer/banker, i.e. The house dealer may offer the bank to a customer only after the house dealer has acted as the banker/dealer to begin the round of play. Each player at the table shall have the option to either be the bank or pass the bank to the next customer. The house dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the right of the dealer/banker, offer the bank to each player in a counterclockwise rotation around the table until a player accepts the bank. The house dealer shall place a banker button or the like in front of the customer who accepts the bank/dealer. The banking option shall rotate in a counterclockwise direction around the table until it returns to the house dealer. 
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING 
       [0048]      FIG. 1  a table layout for live game table and electronic device 
         [0049]      FIG. 2  a machine with display, player interface, and processor 
         [0050]      FIG. 3  mother board 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  programming of the game 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  image controlling circuit 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  programming of the payout schedule 
         [0054]      FIG. 7  programming of dealing procedure 
         [0055]      FIG. 8  the position of three hands 
         [0056]      FIG. 9   a  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of the first initial card is dealt face down 
         [0057]      FIG. 9   b  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of three cards face down 
         [0058]      FIG. 9   c  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of one card face up and two cards face down 
         [0059]      FIG. 9   d  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of six cards face down; 
         [0060]      FIG. 9   e  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of one card face up and five cards face down; 
         [0061]      FIG. 9   f  an example of dealing procedure and plan view of electronic device providing a video display of six cards face up;