CA2508080A1 - Face up hold 'em virtual poker game - Google Patents
Face up hold 'em virtual poker game Download PDFInfo
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- CA2508080A1 CA2508080A1 CA 2508080 CA2508080A CA2508080A1 CA 2508080 A1 CA2508080 A1 CA 2508080A1 CA 2508080 CA2508080 CA 2508080 CA 2508080 A CA2508080 A CA 2508080A CA 2508080 A1 CA2508080 A1 CA 2508080A1
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- predetermined number
- cards
- community cards
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- hand
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3286—Type of games
- G07F17/3293—Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
Abstract
A virtual poker style card game, in which a first number of potential community cards from which a final poker hand could be constructed, in combination with their "hole cards", are initially revealed to the players, some of the community cards later being systematically removed during game play so as to reduce the actual number of community cards which can ultimately be utilized by the players in forming their final poker hand. To begin game play, all players would initially be dealt their two "hole" cards. Then, a first number of potentially usable community cards are revealed to all the players, face up. All players can now see their two hole cards and the first number of potentially usable community cards. The computer processor will then randomly sequentially remove some of the community cards, during game play, to arrive at a second, final number of community cards, from which, in combination with their "hole cards", a final poker hand is constructed by the players, the second, final number of community cards being smaller in number than the first number of potentially usable community cards which were revealed initially to the players.
Description
FACE UP HOLD'EM VIRTUAL POKER GAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a poker-style card game, and more particularly to a poker-style card game which can be played on a video gaming machine or virtual system/network, in which the 6 players can initially view a plurality of potentially usable community cards from which a poker hand could be constructed by the players, in combination with their "hole cards", some of the community cards then being removed during game play so as to arrive at a final, smaller number of community cards which can be utilized by the players in forming a poker hand.
Poker-style card games have been played in casinos and establishments for many years. Texas Hold' em is by far the most popular poker game because of the large number of players who can play at one time and the fast action and large pots that are generated. The game is fast because only two cards are dealt to each player, with the remaining cards being dealt to a "Flop", "Turn" and "River"
16 which forms the community cards from which each player makes up the rest of his hand. (Of course, in Texas Hold'em, "The Turn "also refers to fourth card which is dealt face up in the middle of the table. Play proceeds as in the previous round, except now all bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size. "The River" refers to a fifth and final card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. Play proceeds as in the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet 21 size.) Each hand, however, has a single set of community cards which all players use as part of their poker hand. Therefore, the winning hand usually comes from that player whose two cards best fit with the community cards (Of course the winning hand could be the five community cards).
With the strong growth of wagering type poker games such as Texas Hold'em since the turn of the decade, millions of players throughout the world have taken up the game of poker online, in I casinos and now, in professional tours. In 2003, Texas Hold'em exploded in popularity as a spectator sport in the United States due to events such as the World Poker Tour and the winner of the World Series of Poker was a player who qualified online, which has really helped the growth of the game.
One of the biggest reasons the game exploded was the invention of placing little cameras inside the table that allowed the television audience to see the players' hidden cards, whereby players at home 6 could now "play along" with the pros, watching them bet, raise and fold.
Texas Hold'em is considered a game of skill, and a difficult game for the novice player to learn to play because it takes considerable study, practice and a large bankroll to become a competent player. Although Texas Hold' em has really grown in popularity amongst the number of players who 11 play the game of poker, it has many drawbacks that hold the game back. One such negative with Texas Hold'em is it is very "tight", with little room for error. Because the game is a game of skill and players only get two cards initially as "hole" cards, it can be a game which features numerous instances where hands are folded by players. While online versions of the game can be somewhat more exciting, because players are playing a wild and crazy version of the game for fun chips, and I 6 not with the risk associated with playing for money, it can be stated that when the game is played for money, it is a totally different game altogether. In fact, it is not uncommon for players in money games or tournaments to fold 5, I O or 20 straight hands in a row. The reason players do this is they are waiting for that one good hand to play. As a result, the amount of folding which can come into play in Texas Hold'em serves to decrease the excitement and enjoyment level of the players 21 watching and participating in the game. Another equally unexciting situation in Texas Hold'em often presents itself when the best poker hand on the table, is actually the five community cards, as opposed to those of the players.
Although this is strategy for many players, it would be preferable if there was a game that 26 entices the player to play more, ultimately building on average bigger pots. Obviously if the game is being played where the house is taking a rake, or a percentage of every pot, the bigger per pot average means more house profits as well.
Yet another drawback to a seemingly great game is that although it is broadcast on TV, and is thought to be a spectator sport, is it truly? Action is very seldom seen in the game. One hardly 6 ever fords 6 players in at the very end, all with high hands and creating exciting thrilling moments.
It can easily be argued that Texas Hold'em's perceived exciting play is directly attributable to the lack of other comparable options.
In a strange paradox, one of Texas Hold'em's bright points is also a drawback.
In addition, 11 the game of Texas Hold'em itself has not been a game with a lot of variations. For example, games such as Blackjack seem to have numerous different variations, as do most card games in the casino.
However, variations of Texas Hold'em have not evolved in a similar manner. It should be noted that there have been variations of poker-style card games that have utilized certain elements contained in games like Texas Hold'em, such as the use of community cards from which each player makes up 16 the rest of his hand, such as United States Patent No. 5,531,448 (Moody), which discloses a poker-style card game that allows each player to choose, from four groups of two cards, which two he will add to his three "hole" cards to make the highest ranking poker hand. However, this patent describes a game in which players only use 5 cards to make their hands as opposed to seven cards, that is to say there are only two community cards. Such a method reduces the amount of cards with which a 21 player has available to them to construct a high ranking poker hand.
Further, it is doubtful that this game could even be considered poker, from a purist's standpoint. For one thing, all community cards are flipped at once, and players do not play against each other for a pot.
There is also no betting after each community card is flipped, and no raising.
26 Another such variation is United States Patent No. 5,657,993 (Merlino et a~, wherein, in making up a complete poker hand, each of the players will utilize his or her two "hole" cards and t three of the community cards. However, this patent describes a game in which players construct their hands in much the same manner as that in Texas Hold 'em, where the winning hand comes from that player whose two cards best fit with the single set of community cards, the essential difference being that instead of flipping the flop (first three cards), the turn (the fourth card) and finally the river (the fifth and last community card), the game disclosed in Merlino et al flips the community cards one 6 at a time. As such, many of the same problems and concerns outlined above in connection with Texas Hold 'em will also apply to this game, in that it can be a game which features numerous instances where hands are folded by players, which, as a result, serves to decrease the excitement and enjoyment level of the players watching and participating in the game.
11 With Texas Hold 'em, at the very start of the game, when players first start making their bets, they are only able to see two cards, these being the "hole cards" dealt to them. A player who must base game play decisions on just these two initial cards limits the possibilities of what may or may not occur during game play. For example, many initial hands dealt to players are not good starting hands, such as a hand with a 2 of Hearts and an 8 of Spades, which would likely be discarded and 16 folded each and every time a player received that hand, regardless of the community cards which are turned up. With this in mind, a need still exists for a poker-style card game in which the players can initially view a greater number of potential community cards from which a final poker hand could be constructed by the players (in combination with their "hole cards"), some of the community cards being removed during game play so as to reduce the actual number of community cards which can 21 ultimately be utilized by the players in forming a final poker hand, with a view to enticing players to stay in the game longer rather than folding their hand early, thus contributing to further betting.
Moreover, such a wagering card game should increase player excitement, and should increase the revenues of each gaming machine and/or casino.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual poker-style card game in which a first number of potentially usable community cards are initially revealed to the players, from which a poker hand could be constructed by the players in combination with their "hole" cards, some of the community cards then being removed during game play, so as to provide a final, smaller number of community cards available to the players in forming a poker hand.
6 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a virtual poker-style card game in which a plurality of potential community cards are provided, some ofwhich community cards are then removed so as to leave a smaller plurality of community cards, wherein the players then use their "hole cards" in combination with the smaller plurality of community cards remaining so as to construct a poker hand.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a poker-style card game in which; by allowing players to initially view a greater number of potential community cards from which a final poker hand could be constructed, and then reducing this number during game play to arrive at a smaller number of community cards, players will stay in the game longer rather than folding their 16 hand early, thus contributing to further betting, which leads to increased excitement.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a virtual poker gaming system comprising a display device; at least one user interface device; a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor 21 interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carnes out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player; (b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device; (c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed 26 into a pot; (d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards; (e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand; and (f)examining each of the players completed poker 1 hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
A fiu-ther aspect of the present invention provides for a virtual poker gaming system comprising a display device; at least one user interface device; a processor for executing a game 6 program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows: (a) each player making a first wager to participate in the card game; (b) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to said each player;
(c) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display 11 device; (d) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (e) removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a second round of 16 betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (g) removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards; (h) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting 21 being placed into a pot; (i) removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;(j) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (k) turning up the initial hands of two 26 cards of each of the players on the display device; (1) each of the players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards; (m)examining the completed poker hands of each of the players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; (n) paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the pot; and (o) repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
A still further aspect of the present invention provides for a method performed by a game 6 program for playing a card game on a virtual poker gaming system comprising the steps of (a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player; (b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device; (c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (d) removing at least one community card 11 from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards; (e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand; and (fjexamining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising (a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager 21 to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen; (b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen; (c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
26 (d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot; (e) the processor removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined 1 number of community cards; (f) each of the at least two players combining any combination of the second predetermined number of community cards with their initial hand of two cards so as to each form a completed poker hand;(g) the processor examining each of the at least two players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; and (h) the processor awarding the accumulated jackpot to 6 a player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising (a) displaying a wagering 11 area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
16 (c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated j ackpot;(e) the processor removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards; (f j each of the 21 at least two players conducting a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(g) the processor removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;(h) each of the at least two players conducting a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community 26 cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(i) the processor removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards; (j) each of the at least two players conducting a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth 1 predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount ofthe betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(k) the processor turning up the initial hands of two cards of the at least two players on the display screen;(1) each of the at least two players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in the final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;(m) the processor examining the 6 completed poker hands of each of the at least two players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, the poker hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; (n) the processor paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the accumulated jackpot; and (o) the processor repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
11 Of course, in an alternative embodiment, the table game could be played on a poker or Blackj ack style table where players sit around and the cards are dealt by a dealer. In this style of game the dealer would deal the predetermined number of community cards all face up on the game layout.
Likely some electronic means would be used to select what cards would be placed in play (and which would predetermined number of community cards would be removed). This could be a LED display 16 that chooses numbers randomly and the numbers would correspond to the actutal cards on the table layout. Other methods could be used to determine what cards come into play such as dice or some other random action that gives the desired results.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved virtual poker-style card 21 game in which, by allowing players to initially view a first number of potential community cards from which a poker hand could be constructed, and then reducing this number during game play to arnve at a smaller number of community cards, players will stay in the game longer rather than folding their hand early, as in traditional Texas Hold'Em, thus contributing to further betting, which leads to increased excitement.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it allows an improved virtual poker-style card game in which, by initially showing the player more potentially usable community cards which could be used in conjunction with their 'hole" cards so as to form their poker hand, more hand 1 creation possibilities and game play options are provided to the players than that available in poker and other variations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
6 A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a video poker machine incorporating the present mvenhon;
Figure 2 illustrates the relevant functional blocks which maybe used to implement the present invention;
Figure 3 is flow chart illustrating the basic steps for a five card poker game in accordance with 16 the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a continuation of the flow chart illustrated in Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
21 The present invention relates to playing games of poker namely on a video lottery terminal (VLT) or other virtual embodiment (such as on a mobilelcellular phone or network, or the Internet), and involves a playing method called "FACE UP HOLD 'EM". This method of playing poker style games could be used in conjunction with the rules for such games as "Texas Holdem TM", "Flat Line Hold 'em TM, "Seven Card Stud" TM, "Omaha"TM and the like. The present invention could also be 26 added to games like "Blackjack"TM, "Caribbean Stud" TM, or "Let It Ride"TM
in casinos as a table game or in the Virtual world. Of course, virtual embodiments can comprise games played on a desktop computer or other computing device.
By way of further illustration and without intending to limit the present invention, virtual embodiments can also include video lottery kiosks or other similar stand-alone devices configured to play the game, computer software implementing the invention which run's on a user's computer, and network based software which uses wired or wireless networks, such as the Internet or cellular telephone networks to communicate and coordinate the game with one or more remote computing 6 devices. In addition, of course, almost all poker games can be played either Limit, Spread Limit, Pot Limit or No Limit, and the present invention is no different, in that these versions could, if deemed necessary, be utilized during game play.
One of the most popular poker games in the world is Texas Hold 'em TM. In Texas Hold 'em 11 TM players receive two "hole" cards and also use what are called community cards that are flipped face up on the layout as a means to construct a poker hand. In Texas Hold 'emTM five community cards are played in what is known as the Flop, Turn and River. The "Flop"
comprises 3 cards, and the "Turn" and "River" are one card each. At the very start of the game, when players first start making their bets, they only get to see two cards (their hole cards) in Texas Hold 'em TM '. Having 16 to base your decision on just two cards limits the possibilities of what may or may not occur. Most hands that are not good starting hands, such as a hand with a 2 of Hearts and an 8 of Spades, would likely be discarded each and every time a player got that hand. When players fold out in this manner, this decreases excitement in the game. The present invention is based on the premise that, with reference to the example above, a player starting with the 2 r and 8 ~ who normally might have 21 folded might be enticed to stay to see the flop cards if they had more options initially available in the poker game to them. The present invention allows for methods of over coming some of the serious drawbacks to games like Texas Hold 'em TM as well as creating more excitement different strategies when playing card and poker style games.
26 In one embodiment of the present invention, the game is dealt from a deck of cards, it being understood that in the virtual world, either in Video Poker or on other virtual embodiments such as 1 the Internet, there needs be no limit at all to the number of decks used. As with traditional poker, each card has a rank and the present invention uses the traditional ranking of each card. Ace is the highest ranking card, followed by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3, and 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. Of course in poker, the winning hands are decided by a poker ranking comprising of a 5 card hand. The poker hands from 6 highest to lowest are listed:
Royal Flush (Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit) Straight Flush (a 5 card Straight, which is suited) Four of a Kind (lE. 6 Clubs, 6 Diamonds, 6 Spades, 6 Hearts) Full House (Three of a kind plus one pair) 11 Flush (five cards of one suit) Straight (S consecutive cards, including Ace, 2,3,4,5, but not all the same suit) Three of a Kind Two Pairs One Pair 16 Highest Card in Rank As with traditional poker, any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any two pair beats a pair). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better.
In playing the virtual poker game of the present invention, and using the variation of poker known as Texas Hold 'em TM as an example of how the present invention could be utilized in conjunction therewith, it is understood that players would have options with respect to the timing and availability of betting, folding, raising, calling, etc., as would be involved in Texas Hold 'em TM or any other poker game variation.
Figure 1 illustrates one of the many embodiments of a video poker gaming machine that can incorporate the present invention. Of course, virtual embodiments of the present invention could be implemented through arrangements which support a wide variety of implementations including, but 6 not limited to, kiosks, home computers and client/server based arrangements (which may be useful in casinos and on the Internet). The particular machine shown in Figure 1 is an example of a gaming machine 10 at which the user may sit and play the machine for extended periods. The gaming machine consists primarily of a housing 12 of conventional design, and a video display screen 14 which displays the various presentations during the play of the game (and which may be any form of display 11 screen such as a CRT, plasma screen, liquid crystal screen, LED screen or the like). The display screen may be a touch screen display, for example, in a preferred embodiment, or by providing a plurality of push buttons, or the like. Of course, the video display screen 14 provides a continuous display screen on which images of cards being dealt to the players, the dealer, the wagering amounts of the players) and touch screen player input functions are displayed. The gaming machine 10 further 16 comprises a coin input tray 18 by which the player can wager units such as coins and tokens. Bill verifier 16 enables the player to accumulate credits for wagering with the gaming machine 10 through use of currency, identification cards, player tracking cards, ticket in/ticket out acceptance, and the like.
Additionally, means may be provided for the player to wager from funds on a debit card, credit card or the like as known in the art. Display board 22 can be used to identify the various hand rankings, 21 for example, or other information. A control panel on the gaming machine, referred to generally as 28, may include physical buttons for making player selections, including buttons whereby a player can deal/draw cards 24, make a bet or wager 26, fold out 30 and so forth. A credit meter (not shown) for the player on the video display screen could also be used, and incremented accordingly to reflect the amount of the credits the player has obtained to play the game, or which would reflect totals if the 26 accumulated jackpot is won.
1 The electronic hardware used to implement the present invention can be conventional. For example, Figure 2 illustrates the basic functional units in one embodiment of the video poker gaming machine of the present invention. To begin a game, the player inserts into the machine coins, bills, or other means representing credits. Such means may include a card with a magnetic strip or other known means. If the machine uses a touch screen, the player then places a bet by touching virtual 6 buttons displayed on the CRT screen 14. If there are physical buttons, the player makes selections by depressing actual buttons (such as 26 in Figure 1). The electronics associated with the touch screen or physical buttons are termed control inputs 32 in FIG. 2. A player then, in one embodiment, presses a "deal" button (24 in Figure 1 ) on the touch screen to initiate the game. A
processor 34 receives instructions from a program memory 36 for carrying out the game sequence.
Program memory 36 may 11 be a ROM or other memory device external to or part of processor 34. The selection of cards from, for example, a fifty-two card deck is made using a random number generator 38 of conventional design. The random number generator 38 may be included in program memory 36.
Multiple virtual decks or an infinite deck may also be used.
16 The display of the cards on screen 14 is performed in a conventional manner. A code generated by processor 34 is converted into the relatively complex pixel pattern of a card by an image memory 40. Image memory 40 identifies the illumination levels of the various pixels on screen 14 to create the image of the card displayed to the player. A display driver 42 converts the output of image memory 40 into electrical signals for screen 14. After the game is over, the displayed results are 21 compared to entries in a payout table 44, which identifies the appropriate award to be granted to the player. The award may be issued as credits or, if the player wishes to cash out, a payout mechanism 46 provides either coins or other representation of the player's award, such as by providing credits on a magnetic strip on a card.
In utilizing such a gaming machine 10 to play the method of game play described in the 26 present invention, all players would be initially dealt their two "hole"
cards, these being shown on the display screen. Also, at this time a pre-determined number of potential community cards could also be revealed, face up, to all the players on the display screen, it being understood that these potential 1 community cards could also be initially placed face down, then all simultaneously turned face up. In this example, the next ten cards drawn from the virtual deck are randomly inserted into ten card display areas on the display screen, face down. In a preferred embodiment, as noted above, these cards are displayed on the screen simultaneously, and revealed to the players.
6 In this manner, the present invention provides that a first number of potentially usable community cards which are initially revealed to the players on the screen (from which a poker hand could later be constructed by the players in combination with their "hole"
cards), and then some of the community cards are then randomly removed during game play, so as to provide a final, smaller number of community cards available to the players in forming a poker hand. In a preferred 11 embodiment, using the example above,l0 cards comprise the first number of potentially usable community cards initially revealed to the players, but it will be readily understood that any number of cards could be used, depending upon the variation of poker game used. Of course, the computer processor knows which of these cards will be removed during game play, and which will ultimately comprise the final, smaller number of community cards (ie: the flop, turn and the river cards) that can 16 be used by the players but the players do not.
An example of ten potential community cards revealed by the processor for Pre-flop betting is provided below:
21 8~~ 2~'~ 8h Arp Kh 8r'~ Qr? 4~p 5h 2I?
These cards are the same for every player and all players can now see their two hole cards and the 10 potential community cards, of which, in a preferred embodiment, only five will make the final five community cards. It will of course, also be understood that this number of community cards 26 removed during game play is also variable, depending upon the variation of poker game used.
Using the example of a player having drawn a 2 r and an 8 ~ as "hole cards", this player might fold if playing a game such as Texas Hold 'em. Using the game play method described by the 1 present invention, however, this player can easily see how they could end up with a much better hand, like three of a kind or even better, and this player will likely now bet instead of folding this hand, as hereinafter described.
Under normal Texas Hold 'em rules, the player would have only seen the 2 r and the 8 ~ and 6 now the dealer would bury (burn) a card from the deck and place three cards face up in the Flop area.
The present invention is somewhat similar, as noted in the following example of the ten cards for flop:
(The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation purposes only) 11 8~? 2~? 8~? Ar? K~? 8r? Qr? 4~? 5~? 2~?
In the preferred embodiment, Card #7, the Qr?, would get buried and the cards placed in the "Flop"
are Card #3 (8~?), #9 (5~?), #1 (8~?) 16 The new layout would look like this:
2~? - Ar? K~? 8r? - 4~? - 2~?
21 With the community cards available to the players being:
8~? s~? 8~?
Now of course all the betting is the same depending on the game that is being played. The player in our example is now very excited about his hand. Our player has the 2 r and the 8 ~ giving 26 this player three Ss (his "hole" 8 ! and the 8~ and 8~ community cards).
There are still 6 potential community cards displayed on the display screen showing, of which one-third of them will come into in play (one on the "Turn" and the other on the "River") and comprise the final, smaller 1 number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands.
In the example above, our player is in a very powerful position. He knows that no other player can get four of a kind. If cards #2, #6 or #10 com into play our player will have either four of a kind or a full house. Of course other players could be sitting with two diamonds in their hand, hoping for 6 one of the diamonds in #5 or #10. Other players could be sitting with a pocket pair in the hold, say a pair of Aces or Kings, giving them a full house. Yet another player could be sitting with a hand consisting of a 6 and 7 in the hold, and could hope for four in #8 comes into play, giving them a straight.
11 After the next round of betting the next card in the original deck would be burned and another card would be added to the community cards, this card known as the Turn.
Example of the ten cards for Turn: (The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation of our example purposes only) 2~~ - Ark K1'~ Sr? - 4~~ - 21?
Card #5 (K~?) would get buried 21 The Turn card, which will comprise part of the final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands, is: Card #8 (4~~) The new layout of potential community cards would look like this:
26 - 2~~ - Ar'~ - 8r~ - - - 2~~
With the community cards available to the players now being:
1 81? s~? 8~? 4~?
Our player is very excited with the 2 r and 8 ~ hole cards he was dealt initially. The king getting buried took away the pocket kings and the flush that could have bet this player's current 3 of a kind. There are only 4 cards left and one of them will be in play. Of course our player now knows 6 that 3 of the 4 cards better their hand. As long as the Ace does not become the river card our player will have the strongest hand. By betting too much they could cause their opponents to fold but the odds of losing this hand are now very slim. Good players who knew they could not catch and make a winning hand would have folded long ago and would not be in a position to get beat on the river by a hand another player hand no business playing.
At this time once the betting ends, the next card from the original deck would be buried and the final "River" card would come into play. Of course the last two cards would have never been exposed as they were cards in the deck that came after the final River card.
Example of the ten cards for the "River" card about to be revealed: (The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation purposes only) ~r ~ ~ r Card #4 (Ar?) would get buried River card, which will comprise part of the final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands, is: Card #2 (2~?) 26 The new layout of potential community cards would look like this:(This layout would at this time likely disappear off the game layout, as the remaining cards, in a preferred embodiment, are discarded and removed from play, these being, in this example, the 8r? and the 21?) ... _ _ _ _ gr~ - _ _ ZI'~
The final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands is now complete, these being:
6 8~'~ S~'~ 8~'~ 4~? 2~'P
Our player who started with a terrible hand for Texas Hold 'em TM, one that would have been folded has turned it into the best possible hand at this stage of the game.
Other players sitting with pocket pairs of 4s or Ss might be excited, or even players with an Ace-3 or 6-7, knowing they have 11 a straight with only one possible 8 in play for one 8 in position #6 was exposed but never came into play.
Of course the present invention can be used for all poker style games. The present invention 16 could use the same premise for games like Omaha TM or Flat Line Hold 'em TM
and could vary the number of cards shown to be more or less. As a standard, twice the number of exposed community cards could be shown to the players. A game like Flat Line Hold 'em TM that uses more community cards, say 9, could show 15 or 18 different cards to the player.
21 Of course house banked games like Blackj ack could also use this same premise, like showing the players all four of the dealers cards. It would be understood that when the dealer plays their hand, the two cards the dealer would have had would now be their starting hand. The other cards could be discarded and if the dealer needs to draw they could draw from a fresh deck or the actual cards in order of the discarded cards.
It is possible to play a game of Blackjack TM whereas the dealer deals the cards after every hand, but the player gets to see the next S cards, or more or less before they make any decision on their hand. This way here a player who was thinking of doubling their 2 card 11, might not knowing only one of the next five cards is a face card.
Games like Let It Ride TM and Caribbean Stud TM could use the present invention. The player could be shown a number of cards, say 6 or 7 at Let It Ride TM and maybe 10 at Caribbean Stud TM;
the dealer's hand would be made from these cards.
The present invention adds entirely new strategies to already fun and exciting poker games.
In player to player games where players are playing against one another, all players see the same cards so no advantage is drawn by the exposing of the cards. The present invention also takes away some heavy betting at the start of the game, when most people will fold to a bigger bet. This keeps more 11 players in the game which can create further excitement at the end of the game.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included 16 within the scope of the following claims.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a poker-style card game, and more particularly to a poker-style card game which can be played on a video gaming machine or virtual system/network, in which the 6 players can initially view a plurality of potentially usable community cards from which a poker hand could be constructed by the players, in combination with their "hole cards", some of the community cards then being removed during game play so as to arrive at a final, smaller number of community cards which can be utilized by the players in forming a poker hand.
Poker-style card games have been played in casinos and establishments for many years. Texas Hold' em is by far the most popular poker game because of the large number of players who can play at one time and the fast action and large pots that are generated. The game is fast because only two cards are dealt to each player, with the remaining cards being dealt to a "Flop", "Turn" and "River"
16 which forms the community cards from which each player makes up the rest of his hand. (Of course, in Texas Hold'em, "The Turn "also refers to fourth card which is dealt face up in the middle of the table. Play proceeds as in the previous round, except now all bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet size. "The River" refers to a fifth and final card is dealt face up in the middle of the table. Play proceeds as in the previous round. All bets and raises must be equal to the high limit bet 21 size.) Each hand, however, has a single set of community cards which all players use as part of their poker hand. Therefore, the winning hand usually comes from that player whose two cards best fit with the community cards (Of course the winning hand could be the five community cards).
With the strong growth of wagering type poker games such as Texas Hold'em since the turn of the decade, millions of players throughout the world have taken up the game of poker online, in I casinos and now, in professional tours. In 2003, Texas Hold'em exploded in popularity as a spectator sport in the United States due to events such as the World Poker Tour and the winner of the World Series of Poker was a player who qualified online, which has really helped the growth of the game.
One of the biggest reasons the game exploded was the invention of placing little cameras inside the table that allowed the television audience to see the players' hidden cards, whereby players at home 6 could now "play along" with the pros, watching them bet, raise and fold.
Texas Hold'em is considered a game of skill, and a difficult game for the novice player to learn to play because it takes considerable study, practice and a large bankroll to become a competent player. Although Texas Hold' em has really grown in popularity amongst the number of players who 11 play the game of poker, it has many drawbacks that hold the game back. One such negative with Texas Hold'em is it is very "tight", with little room for error. Because the game is a game of skill and players only get two cards initially as "hole" cards, it can be a game which features numerous instances where hands are folded by players. While online versions of the game can be somewhat more exciting, because players are playing a wild and crazy version of the game for fun chips, and I 6 not with the risk associated with playing for money, it can be stated that when the game is played for money, it is a totally different game altogether. In fact, it is not uncommon for players in money games or tournaments to fold 5, I O or 20 straight hands in a row. The reason players do this is they are waiting for that one good hand to play. As a result, the amount of folding which can come into play in Texas Hold'em serves to decrease the excitement and enjoyment level of the players 21 watching and participating in the game. Another equally unexciting situation in Texas Hold'em often presents itself when the best poker hand on the table, is actually the five community cards, as opposed to those of the players.
Although this is strategy for many players, it would be preferable if there was a game that 26 entices the player to play more, ultimately building on average bigger pots. Obviously if the game is being played where the house is taking a rake, or a percentage of every pot, the bigger per pot average means more house profits as well.
Yet another drawback to a seemingly great game is that although it is broadcast on TV, and is thought to be a spectator sport, is it truly? Action is very seldom seen in the game. One hardly 6 ever fords 6 players in at the very end, all with high hands and creating exciting thrilling moments.
It can easily be argued that Texas Hold'em's perceived exciting play is directly attributable to the lack of other comparable options.
In a strange paradox, one of Texas Hold'em's bright points is also a drawback.
In addition, 11 the game of Texas Hold'em itself has not been a game with a lot of variations. For example, games such as Blackjack seem to have numerous different variations, as do most card games in the casino.
However, variations of Texas Hold'em have not evolved in a similar manner. It should be noted that there have been variations of poker-style card games that have utilized certain elements contained in games like Texas Hold'em, such as the use of community cards from which each player makes up 16 the rest of his hand, such as United States Patent No. 5,531,448 (Moody), which discloses a poker-style card game that allows each player to choose, from four groups of two cards, which two he will add to his three "hole" cards to make the highest ranking poker hand. However, this patent describes a game in which players only use 5 cards to make their hands as opposed to seven cards, that is to say there are only two community cards. Such a method reduces the amount of cards with which a 21 player has available to them to construct a high ranking poker hand.
Further, it is doubtful that this game could even be considered poker, from a purist's standpoint. For one thing, all community cards are flipped at once, and players do not play against each other for a pot.
There is also no betting after each community card is flipped, and no raising.
26 Another such variation is United States Patent No. 5,657,993 (Merlino et a~, wherein, in making up a complete poker hand, each of the players will utilize his or her two "hole" cards and t three of the community cards. However, this patent describes a game in which players construct their hands in much the same manner as that in Texas Hold 'em, where the winning hand comes from that player whose two cards best fit with the single set of community cards, the essential difference being that instead of flipping the flop (first three cards), the turn (the fourth card) and finally the river (the fifth and last community card), the game disclosed in Merlino et al flips the community cards one 6 at a time. As such, many of the same problems and concerns outlined above in connection with Texas Hold 'em will also apply to this game, in that it can be a game which features numerous instances where hands are folded by players, which, as a result, serves to decrease the excitement and enjoyment level of the players watching and participating in the game.
11 With Texas Hold 'em, at the very start of the game, when players first start making their bets, they are only able to see two cards, these being the "hole cards" dealt to them. A player who must base game play decisions on just these two initial cards limits the possibilities of what may or may not occur during game play. For example, many initial hands dealt to players are not good starting hands, such as a hand with a 2 of Hearts and an 8 of Spades, which would likely be discarded and 16 folded each and every time a player received that hand, regardless of the community cards which are turned up. With this in mind, a need still exists for a poker-style card game in which the players can initially view a greater number of potential community cards from which a final poker hand could be constructed by the players (in combination with their "hole cards"), some of the community cards being removed during game play so as to reduce the actual number of community cards which can 21 ultimately be utilized by the players in forming a final poker hand, with a view to enticing players to stay in the game longer rather than folding their hand early, thus contributing to further betting.
Moreover, such a wagering card game should increase player excitement, and should increase the revenues of each gaming machine and/or casino.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a virtual poker-style card game in which a first number of potentially usable community cards are initially revealed to the players, from which a poker hand could be constructed by the players in combination with their "hole" cards, some of the community cards then being removed during game play, so as to provide a final, smaller number of community cards available to the players in forming a poker hand.
6 It is a further object of the present invention to provide a virtual poker-style card game in which a plurality of potential community cards are provided, some ofwhich community cards are then removed so as to leave a smaller plurality of community cards, wherein the players then use their "hole cards" in combination with the smaller plurality of community cards remaining so as to construct a poker hand.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a poker-style card game in which; by allowing players to initially view a greater number of potential community cards from which a final poker hand could be constructed, and then reducing this number during game play to arrive at a smaller number of community cards, players will stay in the game longer rather than folding their 16 hand early, thus contributing to further betting, which leads to increased excitement.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a virtual poker gaming system comprising a display device; at least one user interface device; a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor 21 interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carnes out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player; (b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device; (c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed 26 into a pot; (d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards; (e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand; and (f)examining each of the players completed poker 1 hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
A fiu-ther aspect of the present invention provides for a virtual poker gaming system comprising a display device; at least one user interface device; a processor for executing a game 6 program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows: (a) each player making a first wager to participate in the card game; (b) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to said each player;
(c) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display 11 device; (d) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (e) removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a second round of 16 betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (g) removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards; (h) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting 21 being placed into a pot; (i) removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;(j) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (k) turning up the initial hands of two 26 cards of each of the players on the display device; (1) each of the players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards; (m)examining the completed poker hands of each of the players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; (n) paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the pot; and (o) repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
A still further aspect of the present invention provides for a method performed by a game 6 program for playing a card game on a virtual poker gaming system comprising the steps of (a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player; (b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device; (c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot; (d) removing at least one community card 11 from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards; (e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand; and (fjexamining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising (a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager 21 to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen; (b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen; (c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
26 (d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot; (e) the processor removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined 1 number of community cards; (f) each of the at least two players combining any combination of the second predetermined number of community cards with their initial hand of two cards so as to each form a completed poker hand;(g) the processor examining each of the at least two players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; and (h) the processor awarding the accumulated jackpot to 6 a player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising (a) displaying a wagering 11 area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
16 (c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated j ackpot;(e) the processor removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards; (f j each of the 21 at least two players conducting a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(g) the processor removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;(h) each of the at least two players conducting a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community 26 cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(i) the processor removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards; (j) each of the at least two players conducting a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth 1 predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount ofthe betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;(k) the processor turning up the initial hands of two cards of the at least two players on the display screen;(1) each of the at least two players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in the final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;(m) the processor examining the 6 completed poker hands of each of the at least two players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, the poker hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; (n) the processor paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the accumulated jackpot; and (o) the processor repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
11 Of course, in an alternative embodiment, the table game could be played on a poker or Blackj ack style table where players sit around and the cards are dealt by a dealer. In this style of game the dealer would deal the predetermined number of community cards all face up on the game layout.
Likely some electronic means would be used to select what cards would be placed in play (and which would predetermined number of community cards would be removed). This could be a LED display 16 that chooses numbers randomly and the numbers would correspond to the actutal cards on the table layout. Other methods could be used to determine what cards come into play such as dice or some other random action that gives the desired results.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides an improved virtual poker-style card 21 game in which, by allowing players to initially view a first number of potential community cards from which a poker hand could be constructed, and then reducing this number during game play to arnve at a smaller number of community cards, players will stay in the game longer rather than folding their hand early, as in traditional Texas Hold'Em, thus contributing to further betting, which leads to increased excitement.
A still further advantage of the present invention is that it allows an improved virtual poker-style card game in which, by initially showing the player more potentially usable community cards which could be used in conjunction with their 'hole" cards so as to form their poker hand, more hand 1 creation possibilities and game play options are provided to the players than that available in poker and other variations thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
6 A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a video poker machine incorporating the present mvenhon;
Figure 2 illustrates the relevant functional blocks which maybe used to implement the present invention;
Figure 3 is flow chart illustrating the basic steps for a five card poker game in accordance with 16 the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a continuation of the flow chart illustrated in Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
21 The present invention relates to playing games of poker namely on a video lottery terminal (VLT) or other virtual embodiment (such as on a mobilelcellular phone or network, or the Internet), and involves a playing method called "FACE UP HOLD 'EM". This method of playing poker style games could be used in conjunction with the rules for such games as "Texas Holdem TM", "Flat Line Hold 'em TM, "Seven Card Stud" TM, "Omaha"TM and the like. The present invention could also be 26 added to games like "Blackjack"TM, "Caribbean Stud" TM, or "Let It Ride"TM
in casinos as a table game or in the Virtual world. Of course, virtual embodiments can comprise games played on a desktop computer or other computing device.
By way of further illustration and without intending to limit the present invention, virtual embodiments can also include video lottery kiosks or other similar stand-alone devices configured to play the game, computer software implementing the invention which run's on a user's computer, and network based software which uses wired or wireless networks, such as the Internet or cellular telephone networks to communicate and coordinate the game with one or more remote computing 6 devices. In addition, of course, almost all poker games can be played either Limit, Spread Limit, Pot Limit or No Limit, and the present invention is no different, in that these versions could, if deemed necessary, be utilized during game play.
One of the most popular poker games in the world is Texas Hold 'em TM. In Texas Hold 'em 11 TM players receive two "hole" cards and also use what are called community cards that are flipped face up on the layout as a means to construct a poker hand. In Texas Hold 'emTM five community cards are played in what is known as the Flop, Turn and River. The "Flop"
comprises 3 cards, and the "Turn" and "River" are one card each. At the very start of the game, when players first start making their bets, they only get to see two cards (their hole cards) in Texas Hold 'em TM '. Having 16 to base your decision on just two cards limits the possibilities of what may or may not occur. Most hands that are not good starting hands, such as a hand with a 2 of Hearts and an 8 of Spades, would likely be discarded each and every time a player got that hand. When players fold out in this manner, this decreases excitement in the game. The present invention is based on the premise that, with reference to the example above, a player starting with the 2 r and 8 ~ who normally might have 21 folded might be enticed to stay to see the flop cards if they had more options initially available in the poker game to them. The present invention allows for methods of over coming some of the serious drawbacks to games like Texas Hold 'em TM as well as creating more excitement different strategies when playing card and poker style games.
26 In one embodiment of the present invention, the game is dealt from a deck of cards, it being understood that in the virtual world, either in Video Poker or on other virtual embodiments such as 1 the Internet, there needs be no limit at all to the number of decks used. As with traditional poker, each card has a rank and the present invention uses the traditional ranking of each card. Ace is the highest ranking card, followed by King, Queen, Jack, Ten, 9,8,7,6,5,4,3, and 2. There is no ranking between the suits - so for example the king of hearts and the king of spades are equal. Of course in poker, the winning hands are decided by a poker ranking comprising of a 5 card hand. The poker hands from 6 highest to lowest are listed:
Royal Flush (Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten of the same suit) Straight Flush (a 5 card Straight, which is suited) Four of a Kind (lE. 6 Clubs, 6 Diamonds, 6 Spades, 6 Hearts) Full House (Three of a kind plus one pair) 11 Flush (five cards of one suit) Straight (S consecutive cards, including Ace, 2,3,4,5, but not all the same suit) Three of a Kind Two Pairs One Pair 16 Highest Card in Rank As with traditional poker, any hand in a higher category beats any hand in a lower category (so for example any two pair beats a pair). Between hands in the same category the rank of the individual cards decides which is better.
In playing the virtual poker game of the present invention, and using the variation of poker known as Texas Hold 'em TM as an example of how the present invention could be utilized in conjunction therewith, it is understood that players would have options with respect to the timing and availability of betting, folding, raising, calling, etc., as would be involved in Texas Hold 'em TM or any other poker game variation.
Figure 1 illustrates one of the many embodiments of a video poker gaming machine that can incorporate the present invention. Of course, virtual embodiments of the present invention could be implemented through arrangements which support a wide variety of implementations including, but 6 not limited to, kiosks, home computers and client/server based arrangements (which may be useful in casinos and on the Internet). The particular machine shown in Figure 1 is an example of a gaming machine 10 at which the user may sit and play the machine for extended periods. The gaming machine consists primarily of a housing 12 of conventional design, and a video display screen 14 which displays the various presentations during the play of the game (and which may be any form of display 11 screen such as a CRT, plasma screen, liquid crystal screen, LED screen or the like). The display screen may be a touch screen display, for example, in a preferred embodiment, or by providing a plurality of push buttons, or the like. Of course, the video display screen 14 provides a continuous display screen on which images of cards being dealt to the players, the dealer, the wagering amounts of the players) and touch screen player input functions are displayed. The gaming machine 10 further 16 comprises a coin input tray 18 by which the player can wager units such as coins and tokens. Bill verifier 16 enables the player to accumulate credits for wagering with the gaming machine 10 through use of currency, identification cards, player tracking cards, ticket in/ticket out acceptance, and the like.
Additionally, means may be provided for the player to wager from funds on a debit card, credit card or the like as known in the art. Display board 22 can be used to identify the various hand rankings, 21 for example, or other information. A control panel on the gaming machine, referred to generally as 28, may include physical buttons for making player selections, including buttons whereby a player can deal/draw cards 24, make a bet or wager 26, fold out 30 and so forth. A credit meter (not shown) for the player on the video display screen could also be used, and incremented accordingly to reflect the amount of the credits the player has obtained to play the game, or which would reflect totals if the 26 accumulated jackpot is won.
1 The electronic hardware used to implement the present invention can be conventional. For example, Figure 2 illustrates the basic functional units in one embodiment of the video poker gaming machine of the present invention. To begin a game, the player inserts into the machine coins, bills, or other means representing credits. Such means may include a card with a magnetic strip or other known means. If the machine uses a touch screen, the player then places a bet by touching virtual 6 buttons displayed on the CRT screen 14. If there are physical buttons, the player makes selections by depressing actual buttons (such as 26 in Figure 1). The electronics associated with the touch screen or physical buttons are termed control inputs 32 in FIG. 2. A player then, in one embodiment, presses a "deal" button (24 in Figure 1 ) on the touch screen to initiate the game. A
processor 34 receives instructions from a program memory 36 for carrying out the game sequence.
Program memory 36 may 11 be a ROM or other memory device external to or part of processor 34. The selection of cards from, for example, a fifty-two card deck is made using a random number generator 38 of conventional design. The random number generator 38 may be included in program memory 36.
Multiple virtual decks or an infinite deck may also be used.
16 The display of the cards on screen 14 is performed in a conventional manner. A code generated by processor 34 is converted into the relatively complex pixel pattern of a card by an image memory 40. Image memory 40 identifies the illumination levels of the various pixels on screen 14 to create the image of the card displayed to the player. A display driver 42 converts the output of image memory 40 into electrical signals for screen 14. After the game is over, the displayed results are 21 compared to entries in a payout table 44, which identifies the appropriate award to be granted to the player. The award may be issued as credits or, if the player wishes to cash out, a payout mechanism 46 provides either coins or other representation of the player's award, such as by providing credits on a magnetic strip on a card.
In utilizing such a gaming machine 10 to play the method of game play described in the 26 present invention, all players would be initially dealt their two "hole"
cards, these being shown on the display screen. Also, at this time a pre-determined number of potential community cards could also be revealed, face up, to all the players on the display screen, it being understood that these potential 1 community cards could also be initially placed face down, then all simultaneously turned face up. In this example, the next ten cards drawn from the virtual deck are randomly inserted into ten card display areas on the display screen, face down. In a preferred embodiment, as noted above, these cards are displayed on the screen simultaneously, and revealed to the players.
6 In this manner, the present invention provides that a first number of potentially usable community cards which are initially revealed to the players on the screen (from which a poker hand could later be constructed by the players in combination with their "hole"
cards), and then some of the community cards are then randomly removed during game play, so as to provide a final, smaller number of community cards available to the players in forming a poker hand. In a preferred 11 embodiment, using the example above,l0 cards comprise the first number of potentially usable community cards initially revealed to the players, but it will be readily understood that any number of cards could be used, depending upon the variation of poker game used. Of course, the computer processor knows which of these cards will be removed during game play, and which will ultimately comprise the final, smaller number of community cards (ie: the flop, turn and the river cards) that can 16 be used by the players but the players do not.
An example of ten potential community cards revealed by the processor for Pre-flop betting is provided below:
21 8~~ 2~'~ 8h Arp Kh 8r'~ Qr? 4~p 5h 2I?
These cards are the same for every player and all players can now see their two hole cards and the 10 potential community cards, of which, in a preferred embodiment, only five will make the final five community cards. It will of course, also be understood that this number of community cards 26 removed during game play is also variable, depending upon the variation of poker game used.
Using the example of a player having drawn a 2 r and an 8 ~ as "hole cards", this player might fold if playing a game such as Texas Hold 'em. Using the game play method described by the 1 present invention, however, this player can easily see how they could end up with a much better hand, like three of a kind or even better, and this player will likely now bet instead of folding this hand, as hereinafter described.
Under normal Texas Hold 'em rules, the player would have only seen the 2 r and the 8 ~ and 6 now the dealer would bury (burn) a card from the deck and place three cards face up in the Flop area.
The present invention is somewhat similar, as noted in the following example of the ten cards for flop:
(The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation purposes only) 11 8~? 2~? 8~? Ar? K~? 8r? Qr? 4~? 5~? 2~?
In the preferred embodiment, Card #7, the Qr?, would get buried and the cards placed in the "Flop"
are Card #3 (8~?), #9 (5~?), #1 (8~?) 16 The new layout would look like this:
2~? - Ar? K~? 8r? - 4~? - 2~?
21 With the community cards available to the players being:
8~? s~? 8~?
Now of course all the betting is the same depending on the game that is being played. The player in our example is now very excited about his hand. Our player has the 2 r and the 8 ~ giving 26 this player three Ss (his "hole" 8 ! and the 8~ and 8~ community cards).
There are still 6 potential community cards displayed on the display screen showing, of which one-third of them will come into in play (one on the "Turn" and the other on the "River") and comprise the final, smaller 1 number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands.
In the example above, our player is in a very powerful position. He knows that no other player can get four of a kind. If cards #2, #6 or #10 com into play our player will have either four of a kind or a full house. Of course other players could be sitting with two diamonds in their hand, hoping for 6 one of the diamonds in #5 or #10. Other players could be sitting with a pocket pair in the hold, say a pair of Aces or Kings, giving them a full house. Yet another player could be sitting with a hand consisting of a 6 and 7 in the hold, and could hope for four in #8 comes into play, giving them a straight.
11 After the next round of betting the next card in the original deck would be burned and another card would be added to the community cards, this card known as the Turn.
Example of the ten cards for Turn: (The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation of our example purposes only) 2~~ - Ark K1'~ Sr? - 4~~ - 21?
Card #5 (K~?) would get buried 21 The Turn card, which will comprise part of the final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands, is: Card #8 (4~~) The new layout of potential community cards would look like this:
26 - 2~~ - Ar'~ - 8r~ - - - 2~~
With the community cards available to the players now being:
1 81? s~? 8~? 4~?
Our player is very excited with the 2 r and 8 ~ hole cards he was dealt initially. The king getting buried took away the pocket kings and the flush that could have bet this player's current 3 of a kind. There are only 4 cards left and one of them will be in play. Of course our player now knows 6 that 3 of the 4 cards better their hand. As long as the Ace does not become the river card our player will have the strongest hand. By betting too much they could cause their opponents to fold but the odds of losing this hand are now very slim. Good players who knew they could not catch and make a winning hand would have folded long ago and would not be in a position to get beat on the river by a hand another player hand no business playing.
At this time once the betting ends, the next card from the original deck would be buried and the final "River" card would come into play. Of course the last two cards would have never been exposed as they were cards in the deck that came after the final River card.
Example of the ten cards for the "River" card about to be revealed: (The numbers one through ten above the cards are just for explanation purposes only) ~r ~ ~ r Card #4 (Ar?) would get buried River card, which will comprise part of the final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands, is: Card #2 (2~?) 26 The new layout of potential community cards would look like this:(This layout would at this time likely disappear off the game layout, as the remaining cards, in a preferred embodiment, are discarded and removed from play, these being, in this example, the 8r? and the 21?) ... _ _ _ _ gr~ - _ _ ZI'~
The final, smaller number of actual community cards the players have the option of using in constructing their hands is now complete, these being:
6 8~'~ S~'~ 8~'~ 4~? 2~'P
Our player who started with a terrible hand for Texas Hold 'em TM, one that would have been folded has turned it into the best possible hand at this stage of the game.
Other players sitting with pocket pairs of 4s or Ss might be excited, or even players with an Ace-3 or 6-7, knowing they have 11 a straight with only one possible 8 in play for one 8 in position #6 was exposed but never came into play.
Of course the present invention can be used for all poker style games. The present invention 16 could use the same premise for games like Omaha TM or Flat Line Hold 'em TM
and could vary the number of cards shown to be more or less. As a standard, twice the number of exposed community cards could be shown to the players. A game like Flat Line Hold 'em TM that uses more community cards, say 9, could show 15 or 18 different cards to the player.
21 Of course house banked games like Blackj ack could also use this same premise, like showing the players all four of the dealers cards. It would be understood that when the dealer plays their hand, the two cards the dealer would have had would now be their starting hand. The other cards could be discarded and if the dealer needs to draw they could draw from a fresh deck or the actual cards in order of the discarded cards.
It is possible to play a game of Blackjack TM whereas the dealer deals the cards after every hand, but the player gets to see the next S cards, or more or less before they make any decision on their hand. This way here a player who was thinking of doubling their 2 card 11, might not knowing only one of the next five cards is a face card.
Games like Let It Ride TM and Caribbean Stud TM could use the present invention. The player could be shown a number of cards, say 6 or 7 at Let It Ride TM and maybe 10 at Caribbean Stud TM;
the dealer's hand would be made from these cards.
The present invention adds entirely new strategies to already fun and exciting poker games.
In player to player games where players are playing against one another, all players see the same cards so no advantage is drawn by the exposing of the cards. The present invention also takes away some heavy betting at the start of the game, when most people will fold to a bigger bet. This keeps more 11 players in the game which can create further excitement at the end of the game.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included 16 within the scope of the following claims.
Claims (40)
1. A virtual poker gaming system comprising:
a display device;
at least one user interface device;
a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:
(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player;
(b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand;
and (f)examining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
a display device;
at least one user interface device;
a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:
(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player;
(b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand;
and (f)examining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined number of community cards is ten, and the second predetermined number of community cards is five.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the game program also contains instructions for allowing the player to play multiple hands.
4. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of (g) awarding the pot to the player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
5. A virtual poker gaming system comprising:
a display device;
at least one user interface device;
a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:
(a) each player making a first wager to participate in the card game;
(b) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to said each player;
(c) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(d) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(e) removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(g) removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(h) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(i) removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;
(j) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(k) turning up the initial hands of two cards of each of the players on the display device;
(l) each of the players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;
(m)examining the completed poker hands of each of the players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand;
(n) paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the pot;
and (o) repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
a display device;
at least one user interface device;
a processor for executing a game program, including generating game play images on the display device, wherein the processor interprets input from the at least one user interface device and carries out the game program utilized by the virtual poker gaming system as follows:
(a) each player making a first wager to participate in the card game;
(b) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to said each player;
(c) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(d) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(e) removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(g) removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(h) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(i) removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;
(j) each of the players utilizing the at least one user interface device to conduct a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(k) turning up the initial hands of two cards of each of the players on the display device;
(l) each of the players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;
(m)examining the completed poker hands of each of the players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand;
(n) paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the pot;
and (o) repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first predetermined number of community cards dealt is ten, and the final predetermined number of community cards is five.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein an amount of the second predetermined number of community cards removed is three cards.
8. The system of claim 5, wherein an amount of the third predetermined number of community cards removed is one card.
9. The system of claim 5, wherein an amount of the fourth predetermined number of community cards removed is one card.
10. The system of any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein, prior to removing the second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, a first one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down so as to be unavailable to be used the players.
11. The system of any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein, prior to removing the third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, a second one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down so as to be unavailable to be used the players.
12. The system of any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein, prior to removing the fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, a third one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down so as to be unavailable to be used the players.
13. The system of any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein, after removing the fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, any community cards remaining in the first predetermined number of community cards which do not form the final predetermined number of community cards are discarded and removed from play.
14. The system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein a progressive building jackpot is added to the game, an amount of the progressive building jackpot being displayed on the display device.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor further comprises means for allowing the at least two players to each place a side bet to enter a progressive building jackpot, the side bet being paid or collected in accordance with a pre-established rules set of rules, and wherein the progressive building jackpot is connected to other on-going virtual card games having the same or substantially similar rules, the other on-going virtual card games being run at a same location as the virtual card game, or elsewhere.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the progressive building jackpot is connected to other on-going card games having the same or substantially similar rules, the other on-going card games being run at a same location as the virtual card game, or elsewhere.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the other on-going card games are run simultaneously in occurrence with the virtual card game.
18. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the display device further comprises a touch screen.
19. The system of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the virtual poker gaming system is implemented as a kiosk.
20. The system of any one of claims 5 to 19, wherein the game program provides a minimum and a maximum limit set for placing the first wager.
21. The system of claim 4, wherein steps (a) to (g) are repeated to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
22. The system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the game program is stored within a computer readable medium configured for insertion within the virtual poker gaming system.
23. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the display device further comprises a display screen, the display screen being a CRT, plasma screen, liquid crystal screen, or LED
screen.
screen.
24. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the display device provides a plurality of push buttons for enabling the players to effect their selections.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor further comprises means to generate a display of each of the players hands on the display screen.
26. The system of any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the cards are dealt from a predetermined number of decks of playing cards.
27. The system of any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the each of the players further comprise a real player, and at least one virtual player.
28. A method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising:
(a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;
(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
(c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(e) the processor removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the at least two players combining any combination of the second predetermined number of community cards with their initial hand of two cards so as to each form a completed poker hand;
(g) the processor examining each of the at least two players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; and (h) the processor awarding the accumulated jackpot to a player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
(a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;
(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
(c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(e) the processor removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the at least two players combining any combination of the second predetermined number of community cards with their initial hand of two cards so as to each form a completed poker hand;
(g) the processor examining each of the at least two players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand; and (h) the processor awarding the accumulated jackpot to a player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
29. A method performed by a game program for playing a card game on a virtual poker gaming system comprising the steps of:
(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player;
(b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand;
and (f)examining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
(a) electronically dealing an initial hand of two cards to each player;
(b) electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display device;
(c) each of the players betting after the initial hand of two cards and first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into a pot;
(d) removing at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards so as to form a second predetermined number of community cards;
(e) each of the players combining the initial hand of two cards with the second predetermined number of community cards to each form a completed poker hand;
and (f)examining each of the players completed poker hands to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, with a hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand.
30. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of electronically dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up further comprises electronically dealing ten community cards,
31. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of removing the at least one community card from the first predetermined number of community cards further comprises removing five community cards to arrive at the second predetermined number of community cards.
32. The method of claim 29, wherein step (f) further comprises the step of (g) awarding the pot to the player with the winning hand having the highest poker hand ranking.
33. The method of claim 30, wherein steps (a) to (g) are repeated to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
34. A method for playing a video poker card game involving at least two players and a virtual dealer on a computer device having a processor for executing a set of game play instructions comprising:
(a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;
(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
(c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(e) the processor removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the at least two players conducting a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(g) the processor removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(h) each of the at least two players conducting a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(i) the processor removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;
(j) each of the at least two players conducting a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(k) the processor turning up the initial hands of two cards of the at least two players on the display screen;
(l) each of the at least two players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in the final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;
(m) the processor examining the completed poker hands of each of the at least two players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, the poker hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand;
(n) the processor paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the accumulated jackpot; and (o) the processor repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
(a) displaying a wagering area on a display screen for the computer device, wherein the at least two players place a first wager to start the game, the wager being added to an accumulated jackpot, an amount of the accumulated jackpot being displayed on the display screen;
(b) the virtual dealer starts a round of play by dealing an initial hand of two cards face down to each of the at least two players, the cards which have been dealt to the at least two players being displayed in respective Player Hand Areas on the display screen;
(c) the virtual dealer dealing a first predetermined number of community cards face up on the display screen;
(d) each of the at least two players conducting a first round of betting after the initial hand of two cards and the first predetermined number of community cards have been dealt, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(e) the processor removing a second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(f) each of the at least two players conducting a second round of betting, if necessary, after the second predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(g) the processor removing a third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards;
(h) each of the at least two players conducting a third round of betting, if necessary, after the third predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(i) the processor removing a fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards, so as to form a final predetermined number of community cards;
(j) each of the at least two players conducting a final round of betting, if necessary, after the fourth predetermined number of community cards have been removed, an amount of the betting being placed into the accumulated jackpot;
(k) the processor turning up the initial hands of two cards of the at least two players on the display screen;
(l) each of the at least two players forming a completed poker hand by selecting any combination of the community cards contained in the final predetermined number of community cards and the initial hand of two cards;
(m) the processor examining the completed poker hands of each of the at least two players to determine a poker hand ranking thereof, the poker hand having a highest poker hand ranking being declared a winning hand;
(n) the processor paying a player with the winning hand a preestablished amount of the accumulated jackpot; and (o) the processor repeating steps (a) to (n) to continue play and begin subsequent rounds, if necessary.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein, prior to the processor removing the second predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards in step (e), a first one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down by the processor so as to be unavailable to be used by the at least two players.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein, prior to the processor removing the third predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards in step (g), a second one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down by the processor so as to be unavailable to be used by the at least two players.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein, prior to removing the fourth predetermined number of community cards from the first predetermined number of community cards in step (i), a third one of the first predetermined number of community cards is turned down by the processor so as to be unavailable to be used by the at least two players.
38. The method of claim 34, wherein each of the at least two players can optionally combine their initial hand of two cards with the final predetermined number of community cards to form the completed poker hand.
39. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of each of the at least two players optionally combining their initial hand of two cards with the final predetermined number of community cards to form the completed poker hand further comprises the completed poker hand having five cards therein.
40. The method of claim 34, wherein each of the at least two players can optionally form the completed poker hand community cards contained in the final predetermined number of community cards.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2508080 CA2508080A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 | 2005-06-02 | Face up hold 'em virtual poker game |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2508080 CA2508080A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 | 2005-06-02 | Face up hold 'em virtual poker game |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2508080A1 true CA2508080A1 (en) | 2006-12-02 |
Family
ID=37480324
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2508080 Abandoned CA2508080A1 (en) | 2005-06-02 | 2005-06-02 | Face up hold 'em virtual poker game |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2508080A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8287356B2 (en) | 2008-02-20 | 2012-10-16 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller |
| US8523654B2 (en) | 2008-01-09 | 2013-09-03 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system |
-
2005
- 2005-06-02 CA CA 2508080 patent/CA2508080A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8523654B2 (en) | 2008-01-09 | 2013-09-03 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system |
| US9984537B2 (en) | 2008-01-09 | 2018-05-29 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a game controller and a gaming system |
| US8287356B2 (en) | 2008-02-20 | 2012-10-16 | Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited | Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller |
| US9142099B2 (en) | 2008-02-20 | 2015-09-22 | Aristocrat Technologies Austrailia PTY Limited | Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller |
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