Abstract:
A method, device and system are set forth for playing a new Flush Poker card game. The method includes dealing a thirteen card hand to the player. The player selecting a group of suited cards from the thirteen card hand to hold and therefore discarding the remaining cards. The player is dealt replacement cards for the discarded cards. The hand is evaluated for a qualifying hand ranking based on a new variation of poker ranking. Winning hands are paid according to a predetermined pay schedule based on hand rankings and amounts wagered. The device includes a processor programmed to play the game according to the method. The system provides for linking devices to amass a progressive jackpot should the player obtain a qualifying hand.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to electronic five card draw video poker games. Generally, the electronic five card draw video poker games deal five cards to the player from a standard 52 card poker deck. The player can hold or discard any of the five cards dealt and redraw to replace discarded cards from the remaining cards in the standard 52 card poker deck. The object of the game is to achieve the highest five card standard poker ranking. Many of these games offer a progressive payout for the top ranking hand, the Royal Flush. Because the Royal Flush is relatively easy to achieve in draw poker, the progressive jackpot payout is limited. In order to achieve a substantial progressive jackpot payout, the odds of obtaining the highest ranking hand would have to be at least one in a million. The present invention uses a thirteen card hand instead of a five card hand and a new variation of the five card standard poker rankings using straight flush and flush combinations, and offers players the ability to receive a substantial progressive jackpot payout for the highest ranking hands. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of the present invention includes a player making a wager and receiving a thirteen card hand. The player selects a group of suited cards from the thirteen card hand therefore discarding the remaining cards. The player receives replacement cards for the discarded cards. The final thirteen card hand is ranked based on a new variation of the five card standard poker rankings of straight flush and flush combinations. The player is paid for winning hands according to a predetermined pay schedule. 
     Also according to the present invention, an electronic gaming device is set forth for playing the game of Flush Poker, the device including a processor having a first data structure representing each card of a standard deck of 52 cards (or the fifty-two cards plus a Joker) and means for randomly selecting from the data structure a thirteen card player hand. The processor further includes a second data structure of qualifying hand payoff combinations. A display is provided to display the player&#39;s cards. Means are provided for accepting a wager representing an actual monetary wager or a fictitious wager and for initiating the play of the game. Means are provided for the player to select a group of suited cards therefore discarding the remaining cards. The processor provides replacement cards for discarded cards and then compares the player&#39;s hand to a predetermined qualifying hand ranking and the player is paid according to a predetermined pay schedule for qualifying hands. 
     Further, the gaming devices according to the present invention may be interlinked within a gaming facility or between gaming facilities and provide for allocation of a portion of each wager to one or more progressive jackpots to be awarded if a player obtains a jackpot qualifying hand. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better appreciated with reference to the specifications, claims and drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 Illustrates a display of an electronic device for playing the game of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a logic schematic for the processor of the device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a system including electronic gaming devices linked to provide a progressive jackpot. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the new Flush Poker game according to the present invention, is to obtain the highest thirteen card qualifying hand ranking. Qualifying hand rankings are based on the data represented in Table 1 below. It is to be understood that the terms straight flush and flush are based on traditional poker hand rankings and terminology. 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Ranking 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                  1 
                 13 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  2 
                 12 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  3 
                 12 Card Flush containing an 11 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  4 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 10 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  5 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  6 
                 12 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  7 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  8 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                  9 
                 11 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 10 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 10 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 11 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 12 
                 11 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 13 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 14 
                 10 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 15 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 16 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 17 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 18 
                 10 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 19 
                 11 Card Flush 
               
               
                 20 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 21 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 22 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 23 
                 10 Card Flush 
               
               
                 24 
                 9 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 25 
                 9 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 26 
                 8 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 27 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 28 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 29 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 30 
                 7 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 31 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 32 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 33 
                 7 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 34 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 35 
                 9 Card Flush 
               
               
                 36 
                 6 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 37 
                 7 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 38 
                 8 Card Flush 
               
               
                 39 
                 6 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                 40 
                 7 Card Flush 
               
               
                 41 
                 5 Card Straight Flush 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     It is to be understood that hand rankings and qualifying hands can be modified and or changed to provide different variations of the game according to the present invention. 
     To play the new Flush Poker game according to the present invention, the player makes a wager a thirteen card hand. It is noted that the game according to the present invention can be a standard deck of 52 playing cards or a deck of those same 52 playing cards plus a Joker. If a Joker is used, the Joker is wild to represent cards to complete a straight flush or flush. 
     The player then selects a group of suited cards to hold. For example, if the thirteen card hand contained three clubs, five diamonds, two spades and three hearts, the player would select all the cards in the suit of diamonds in hopes of drawing additional diamonds to make a qualifying hand. When the player selects a suit of cards, the remaining cards are discarded and replaced with new cards from the original deck. Now the player has a final thirteen card hand. The player compares the final thirteen card hand Table 1, above to determine if a qualifying hand can be made. Qualifying hands are based on the cards of one suit only. It does not matter that the suit held does not qualify, if a qualifying hand can be arranged using a different suit. 
     If the player has a qualifying hand, it is compared to the Pay Schedule referenced in Table 2, below to determine the amount of winnings due the player. Winning are paid to the player and the game is complete. If the player does not have a qualifying hand, the player&#39;s wager is forfeited. It is to be understood that the Pay Schedule can be modified and or changed to provide different variations of the game and different hold percentages according to the present invention. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Ranking 
                 Description 
                 Payout 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                  1 
                 13 Card Straight Flush 
                 1000000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                  2 
                 12 Card Straight Flush 
                 10000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                  3 
                 12 Card Flush containing an 11 Card Straight 
                 9000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  4 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 10 Card Straight 
                 8000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  5 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight 
                 7000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  6 
                 12 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight 
                 6000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  7 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight 
                 5000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  8 
                 12 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 4000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                  9 
                 11 Card Straight Flush 
                 1000 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 10 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 10 Card Straight 
                 900 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 11 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight 
                 800 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 12 
                 11 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight 
                 700 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 13 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight 
                 600 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 14 
                 10 Card Straight Flush 
                 500 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 15 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 500 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 16 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 9 Card Straight 
                 400 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 17 
                 11 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 400 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 18 
                 10 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight 
                 300 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 19 
                 11 Card Flush 
                 300 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 20 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight 
                 200 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 21 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 100 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 22 
                 10 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 75 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 23 
                 10 Card Flush 
                 50 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 24 
                 9 Card Straight Flush 
                 20 
                 to  
               
               
                 25 
                 9 Card Flush containing an 8 Card Straight 
                 15 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 26 
                 8 Card Straight Flush 
                 10 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 27 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight 
                 8 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 28 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 7 Card Straight 
                 7 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 29 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 6 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 30 
                 7 Card Straight Flush 
                 6 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 31 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 6 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 32 
                 9 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 5 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 33 
                 7 Card Flush containing a 6 Card Straight 
                 5 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 34 
                 8 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 5 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 35 
                 9 Card Flush 
                 5 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 36 
                 6 Card Straight Flush 
                 4 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 37 
                 7 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 4 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 38 
                 8 Card Flush 
                 4 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 39 
                 6 Card Flush containing a 5 Card Straight 
                 3 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
                 Flush 
               
               
                 40 
                 7 Card Flush 
                 3 
                 to 1 
               
               
                 41 
                 5 Card Straight Flush 
                 2 
                 to 1 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the device  26  includes a housing  28  of the type commonly used for electronic slot machines and video poker machines. The housing  28  has contained therein processing means for processing data as hereinafter described. Further the housing  28  includes a display  30  which may be a conventional video terminal (VDT). Disclosed on the housing  28  above the display  30  is a pay table  32  listing the payoffs for qualifying hands according to the present invention. The pay table  32  may also, or alternately, be displayed at the display  30 . 
     Below the display  30  are numerous buttons and controls to control the play of the game as hereinafter described. To provide a means for accepting a wager there is provided two bet buttons  34   a,b , respectively, by which a player may wager a single credit or the maximum amount permitted on the machine, e.g. five credits. For example, if the device  26  is a machine adapted to receive wagers in dollar increments, the player depressing the bet one credit bet button  34   a  would wager a single credit (one dollar) each time the button is depressed. If the player depresses the maximum bet button  34   b , the maximum of, for example, five credits (five dollars) would be wagered. Below the bet buttons  34   a,b  is a coin slot  36  to receive wagers made by a player. Alternatively or additionally, as is well known, a cash validator (not shown) may be incorporated into or used in conjunction with the device  26  to receive cash wagers to be applied as credits during play of the game. Below the display  30  are four selection buttons  38   a-d  by which the player, as described below, will control the game according to the present method. 
     With continuing reference to FIG. 1, there is also provided on the housing  28  a deal button  40  to indicated the play of the game, a play button  39  to indicate the play of the game and a cash out button  42  by which, in a known manner, the player may depress to cash out the credits accumulated during the play of the game. Not shown in FIG. 1 is a coin tray to receive the coins when cashing out. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, a logic schematic for the processor of the device  26  is shown. The processor may be of the type presently incorporated into machines such as video poker machines. The device  26  includes a means for accepting and determining the amount wagered. The wager may be a monetary wager, such as for example where the device  26  is used in a casino, or can be merely a fictitious wager such as where the game according to the present invention is played on a computer or handheld unit for entertainment purposes. These means for accepting a wager are shown generally as  44  (FIG. 2) and include a feature of accepting a deposited coin, such as having a coin inserted in coin slot  36  and for selecting maximum wager or a single token wager as described above. The display  30  includes a feature of displaying the total amount wagered for the player to confirm the appropriate wager. The processor by known means detects and stores in memory the total amount wagered. 
     Once the wager has been made, means are provided to enable the player to initiate play. Play may be initiated by the player making the maximum wager whereupon the processor, detecting the maximum wager, automatically initiates play. If less than a maximum wager has been made, the player depresses the deal button  40  (FIG. 1) to initiate play. When play is initiated, the processor from a first data structure  46  randomly selects thirteen cards for the player&#39;s hand  50 . The first data structure  46  includes data representing each of the 52 cards of a standard deck or, where a modified deck is used, the 52 cards of a standard deck plus a Joker. In the first data structure at  46  the randomly selected cards for the player&#39;s hand  50  are sorted according to suits e.g. Clubs, Diamonds, Spades and Hearts as shown in FIG.  2  and are displayed on the display  30 . 
     Once the player&#39;s hand  50  has been displayed on the display  30 , means are provided for the player to select a group of suited cards to hold. As shown in FIG. 1, the selection may be made by depressing one of the selection buttons  38   a-d  that correspond with the group of suited cards the player wants to hold. When one of the selection buttons  38   a-d  is depressed the corresponding suited cards are highlighted or otherwise distinguished from the remaining cards to be discarded on the display  30 . Once the player is satisfied that they have selected the appropriate suit, the player depresses the play button  39  or deal button  40  signaling the processor as indicated at  48  on FIG. 2 to randomly select cards to replace the player&#39;s discards from the current deck being used. The replacement cards are displayed in place of the discards in the player&#39;s hand on the display  30 , as shown on FIG. 2 in the first data structure at  48 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, the processor with a comparison test sequence  52  tests the player&#39;s hand  50  for the existence of thirteen cards all of the same suit. If a thirteen card same suit hand does not exist, the processor then tests for the existence of a twelve card straight flush. If a twelve card straight flush does not exist, the processor continues the sequence of testing as illustrated in FIG.  2 . The player&#39;s hand  50  is then compared at  56  to a progressive jackpot also stored in the second data structure  54 , described below, to determine whether or not the player qualifies for a progressive jackpot. If indeed the player does qualify, the processor issues a signal resulting in payment of the jackpot to the player as shown at  58 . 
     If the player does not qualify for the progressive jackpot, the processor compares at  56  to a predetermined qualifying payoff combinations stored in a second data structure  54 . Preferably the second data structure  54  includes the payoff combinations listed above in Table 1. If the players hand qualifies for a payout, the processor issues a signal resulting in payment to the player as shown at  58 . After the hand is resolved as above, the player makes a new wager to play a new hand and initiates play. 
     As can be appreciated, the device  26  as described above provides an exciting video version of the game according to the present invention. The progressive jackpots for predetermined hand rankings will afford traditional video poker player&#39;s with an opportunity to receive enormous progressive jackpots. 
     With reference to FIG. 3 yet a further feature of the present invention is shown. Like components have like reference numerals. 
     According to this embodiment, several of the devices  26  are interconnected by suitable communications links to a master controller  82 . The master controller  82  polls the processor of each device  26  and based upon the wagers received thereat, allocates a portion of each wager to assemble a progressive jackpot. The links between the devices  26  may be within a particular casino or may be linked throughout different casinos. It is to be understood that the greater the number of the devices  26  interconnected with the master controller the faster the progressive jackpot will grow. the master controller  82  in turn is linked to a progressive jackpot display  84  which may be included with the displays  30  of each device  26  or may be on a separate display associated with each device  26 . The progressive jackpot displays  84  display the current amount of the progressive jackpot. 
     To be awarded the progressive jackpot, the player must obtain a qualifying progressive jackpot holding of the player&#39;s hand  50 . Preferably, this progressive jackpot holding is a thirteen card Straight Flush. It is understood that any other progressive jackpot combination can be used to award the progressive jackpot. Further it is to be understood that lesser progressive jackpots can also be provided for other qualifying hand combinations. For example, a secondary progressive jackpot can also be assembled by the master controller  82  and displayed at each of the progressive jackpot displays  84 . If the player obtains a predetermined secondary progressive jackpot holding, the player would be awarded the secondary progressive jackpot. As but an example, the secondary progressive jackpot may be a twelve card Straight Flush or the like. 
     While we have shown and described certain embodiments to the present invention it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications and changes not departing from the spirit and scope of the claims presented herein. For example, where the device display  30  incorporates a touch screen feature the selection buttons may be incorporated into the touch screen display or the selection of cards for the player&#39;s hand could be made by the player touching the selected cards. Further, other payouts could be used to adjust the advantage to the casino. The invention is defined in the following claims.