Method of playing card games

[0001] 1 . Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to methods of playing card games, and more particularly pertains to variations of a conventional card game known as Pai Gow Poker.

[0003] 2 . Description of the Related Technology The conventional game of Pai Gow Poker is played in many casinos. The game is played with a single standard deck of 52 playing cards plus a Joker. The game is typically started by each player placing an ante or bet and then a dealer dealing seven cards to himself and to each of up to six players. Usually, the dealer is a casino employee. As explained hereinafter, the players compete against the casino via the dealer. A player forms two hands from his seven-card holding. One hand, called a Low Hand, consists of two of the player's seven cards. The other hand, called a High Hand, consists of the remaining five cards of the player's original seven cards. In a similar manner, the dealer forms a High Hand and a Low Hand from his seven cards. The only requirement in forming the hands is that the Low Hand must be of a lower rank than the High Hand. The ranking of a hand is the same as in traditional poker with the exception that the Joker can be used to represent an Ace or to represent one card of either a straight or a flush. Because of the Joker, five Aces is the hand with the highest possible rank. When the player forms his Low Hand and his High Hand so that they are respectively higher in rank than the Low Hand and the High Hand of the dealer, the player is a winner and the dealer is a loser. Conversely, when the player forms his Low Hand and his High Hand so that they are respectively lower in rank than a Low Hand and a High Hand of the dealer, the player is a loser and the dealer is a winner. In cases where one of the player's hands is of the same rank as a corresponding one of the dealer's hands, the dealer's hand is deemed to be of higher rank than the player's hand. When the player's Low Hand is of a higher rank than the dealer's Low Hand and the player's High Hand is of lower rank than the dealer's High Hand, what is known as a push exists. Similarly, the push exists when the player's Low Hand is of a lower rank than the dealer's Low Hand and the player's High Hand is of higher rank than the dealer's High Hand. When the push exists, there is no winner. A determination of a winner correspondingly determines the outcome of the bet between the player and the dealer. Hence, the wager is neither won nor lost when the push exists, but is rather refunded to the player.

[0004] A variety of methods of playing card games, including methods of playing variations of Pai Gow Poker, are reflected in the following U.S. Patents:

U.S.
Pat. No.	Inventor	Issue Date	Title
5,275,411	Breeding	Jan. 4, 1994	Pai Gow Poker Machine
5,584,486	Franklin	Dec. 17, 1996	Jackpot Pai Gow Poker
5,607,161	Skratulia	Mar. 4, 1997	Method of playing an
			improved version of the game
			of Pai Gow Poker
5,863,041	Boylan	Jan. 26, 1999	Pai gow poker with auxiliary
			game
5,931,472	Ko	Aug. 3, 1999	Pai Gow game
6,007,424	Evers	Dec. 28, 1999	Pai Gow Poker game method,
			device and system for pushes
6,027,119	De Lisle	Feb. 22, 2000	Method for playing a card
			game game
6,062,565	Chadband	May 16, 2000	Method of bet placement and
			wager distribution in double-
			hand games
6,070,876	Ko	Jun. 6, 2000	Pai gow game
6,270,078	Leone	Aug. 7, 2001	Method of playing an
			improved version of the game
			of Pai Gow Poker
6,113,103	Mostashari	Sep. 5, 2000	Dragon poker
6,135,453	Srichayaporn	Oct. 24, 2000	Method and apparatus for
			playing a high/low poker
			game

[0005] The entire disclosure of each of the foregoing patents is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

[0006] Methods of playing live and electronic versions of card games according to example preferred embodiments of the invention include the steps of (a) affording each player an opportunity to place an ANTE wager to participate in the game, (b) affording each player an opportunity to make an optional EXTRA BET wager; (c) dealing seven cards to each player and to a dealer; (d) affording each player an opportunity to view their cards and to divide their cards into a two-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand according to predetermined rules for dividing cards; (e) affording each player an opportunity to either fold and forfeit their ANTE wager, or call by making a BET wager exactly twice the amount of the ANTE wager; (f) dividing the dealer's hand into a two-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand according to the predetermined rules for dividing cards; (g) evaluating whether the dealer's High Hand qualifies by achieving a predetermined poker rank of a pair of 6s or better; and (h) settling wagers by (1) if the dealer's High Hand does not qualify, refunding the ANTE and BET wagers to each remaining player and paying each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on a point value of the player's Low Hand; (2) if the dealer's High Hand does qualify, comparing each remaining player's High Hand with the dealer's High Hand using poker rank as the criterion for comparison and comparing each remaining player's Low Hand with the dealer's Low Hand using point value as the criterion for comparison, (I) wherein if the dealer wins both of the High and Low Hands, the house wins the ANTE and BET wagers and pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand; (II) wherein if the dealer wins one of the High and Low Hands, the house refunds the ANTE and BET wagers to each remaining player and pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand; and (III) wherein if a player wins both of the High and Low Hands, the player wins the ANTE wager and is paid on the BET wager an amount according to a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand and the house pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand.

[0007] These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a method of playing a card game according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a continuation of the flow chart shown in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example gaming table layout for use in playing a live casino version of a card game according to one embodiment of a method of the present invention.

[0011] Referring now to the drawings, and referring in particular to FIG. 3, one embodiment of a method of playing a card game according to the present invention may be implemented on a conventional type of casino gaming table layout 10 of the type used in casinos to play Twenty-One or Black Jack. Preferably, the table layout 10 includes a dealer position 20 adj acent a chip rack 30, and six player positions 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 spaced around a curved perimeter of the layout 10, in a conventional manner.

[0012] As an alternative, the card game methods disclosed by the present invention may be implemented on an electronic gaming device of the type employed by casinos for playing electronic card game simulations, for example of draw poker, stud poker, Caribbean Stud TM Poker, etc. Other alternative ways of playing card games according to the methods of the present invention include software implementations on personal computers, either in stand alone modes, over local networks, or over the Internet. A still further implementation contemplates printing card representations on lottery cards and scratching away covering portions of the lottery card to reveal card hands. Accordingly, in conjunction with the instant application, the terms cards, dealing, hand and the like should be understood as encompassing both live card games with a human dealer and one or more players, as well as electronic games with electronic representations of cards displayed on a video screen. Similarly, the terms wager, bet, and extra bet should be understood as encompassing the use of currency, coins, chips, tokens, or electronic representations of value, in both live and electronic versions of implementation.

[0013] The game begins with one or more players placing an ANTE wager as a requirement to playing the game. In connection with a live version of the game, this can be accomplished, for example, by a player placing a conventional token or chip in an ANTE region designated on the felt surface 40 of the layout 10 of a conventional casino gaming table, as shown in connection with the player position 50, depicted in FIG. 3. In connection with an electronic version, a player may press an ANTE or WAGER button on an electronic gaming device, or may touch designated regions of a touch sensitive video screen.

[0014] As a preferred optional feature, all players that elect to play by placing the ANTE wager are afforded an additional option to place an EXTRA BET wager prior to the deal of cards and most preferably before any player views any dealt cards. The sequence of placing the ANTE wager and the EXTRA BET wager is preferably irrelevant. In a live casino version of the game, the EXTRA BET wager may be placed by a player positioning a token in a region disposed on a surface 40

[0015] of the layout 10 designated for the purpose, as shown adjacent player position 50 in FIG. 3. In an electronic version of the game, the EXTRA BET wager may be accomplished by touching regions of a touch sensitive type of screen, or by pushing appropriate buttons on the electronic gaming device.

[0016] With reference to the flow chart shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, after each of the players has placed the ANTE wager and decided whether to place an EXTRA BET WAGER, each player and the dealer are dealt seven cards from a preferably shuffled, standard 52-card deck of conventional playing cards. The use of a standard 52-card deck allows seven card hands to be dealt to each of six players and to one dealer. In connection with an electronic version of the game, the dealing involves displaying electronic representation of seven cards on a video screen, actuated, for example, by a player pressing a DEAL button on a video gaming device.

[0017] Players are then afforded an opportunity to view their seven cards, and to divide the seven cards into two separate and distinct hands: a so-called High Hand consisting of two cards, and a so-called Low Hand consisting of five cards. Preferably, players must divide their seven cards into the High and Low Hands according to predetermined rules, which regulate, at least to some extent, the manner in which the cards can be allocated between the High and Low Hands. According to one embodiment of the invention, the predetermined rules require that the High Hand must use the best two available cards from the total of seven cards so as to make the highest ranked High Hand possible. In this regard, the High Hands are ranked first according to the highest pair, and next according to the highest cards. For example, Ace-Ace beats King-King, etc. according to the conventional poker ranking of conventional playing cards, and Ace-five beats King-Queen, and Ace-Ten beats Ace-five, etc. Thus, the High Hand must contain the highest pair from the original seven cards dealt, and, if the original seven cards dealt do not contain any pairs, then the two highest ranking cards must be allocated to the High Hand. In the case of the live casino version of the game, players accomplish the division or allocation of cards to the High and Low Hands by placing the cards in regions of the gaming table layout surface 40 (FIG. 3) specially designated for the purpose. For example, the table layout 10 may include indicia designating two squares for the reception of two standard playing cards, in conjunction with the indicia High Hand and may also include additional indicia designating five cards for the reception of five standard playing cards, in conjunction with the indicia Low Hand. Preferably, such indicia for the reception of the High and Low Hands is provided at each of the six player positions 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100, as well as at the dealer position 20, as shown in FIG. 3. In connection with an electronic version of the game, card designation may be accomplished by touching regions of a touch sensitive type of screen, or by pushing appropriate buttons on the electronic gaming device, or alternatively, a microprocessor may be programmed to arrange the cards into the High Hand and the Low Hand automatically.

[0018] After each player has been afforded an opportunity to view their cards, and to allocate their cards between High and Low Hands, but before the dealer has been permitted an opportunity to inspect the dealer's cards, each player is preferably afforded an option to either FOLD and surrender their ANTE wager, or to continue play by placing a BET wager. In one embodiment of the invention, the BET wager must be exactly twice the amount of the ANTE wager. In connection with the live version of the game, a player may make the BET wager by placing an appropriate token or other indicator in a region of the gaming table layout 10 (FIG. 3) designated for the purpose, as shown adjacent the player position 50 . In an electronic version of the game, a player may make a BET wager by pressing an associated button on an electronic gaming device, or by touching an appropriate region of a touch sensitive video screen.

[0019] The timing of the BET option being made prior to inspection of the dealer's cards prevents the dealer from either intentionally or inadvertently communicating information regarding the dealer's hand to the players.

[0020] After each player has been afforded the option to either FOLD or place a BET wager, the dealer views the dealer's seven cards, and divides or allocates the seven cards into a two card High Hand and a five card Low Hand. Preferably, the dealer's seven cards must be allocated between the High and Low Hands according to the same predetermined rules described above with respect to allocation of the players' cards. In connection with the live version of the game, such allocation may be accomplished by placement of the dealer's cards into appropriately designated regions on the surface of the gaming table layout 10, for example designated by the indicia LOW HAND and HIGH HAND as shown in FIG. 3. In connection with the electronic version of the game, such designation may be performed by a microprocessor operating under control of software or firmware and operative to reveal electronic card representations from a face down to a face up orientation, and to move such card representations to designated regions on a video screen for viewing by a game player.

[0021] Following allocation of the dealer's cards between a High Hand and a Low Hand according to predetermined rules, one or both of the dealer's hands are evaluated according to predetermined criteria to ascertain whether one or both of the dealer's hands have qualified. According to one preferred embodiment, the dealer's High Hand must qualify by achieving a poker rank of a pair of6s, or higher. Other alternative criteria for qualification may be employed within the scope of the invention. For example, qualification may be based upon the dealer's High Hand achieving a poker rank other than a pair of 6s. Alternatively, qualification may be based upon the dealer's Low Hand achieving a point value above or below a particular value. As a still further alternative, qualification may be based upon both of the dealer's hands. For example, the dealer may qualify by either achieving a High Hand of at least a certain poker rank, or by achieving a Low Hand having a point value of more or less than a particular value. As another example, the qualification criteria may require that both the dealer's High Hand and the dealer's Low Hand meet particular requirements. For purposes of illustration, the methods of playing card games according to the present invention are described below in connection with an example embodiment wherein the qualification criteria consist of the dealer's High Hand achieving a poker rank of a pair of 6s or better.

[0022] If the dealer's High Hand does not achieve a poker rank of a pair of 6s or higher, then the dealer or house must refund both the ANTE and BET wagers of each remaining player (each player that did not elect to FOLD). However, each remaining player that elected to place the EXTRA BET wager is preferably paid a payout on the EXTRA BET wager according to a predetermined Extra Bet Payout Table. A preferred example Extra Bet Payout Table appears as TABLE 2 below. Note that the preferred Extra Bet Payout Table provides that only certain point values win a payout on the EXTRA BET, with the non-listed player hand values resulting in the EXTRA BET wager being won by the house. each remaining player's High Hand is compared with the dealer's High Hand using poker rank as the criterion for comparison. Also, each remaining player's Low Hand is compared with the dealer's Low Hand using point value as the criterion for comparison. If the dealer wins both of the High and Low Hands, the house wins the ANTE and BET wagers and pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand. An example preferred Extra Bet Payout Table appears as TABLE 2 below. If the dealer wins only one of the High and Low Hands, the house refunds the ANTE and BET wagers to each remaining player and pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand. In evaluating whether one of the dealer's hands beats one of the player's hands, tie hands are preferably awarded to the dealer. If a player wins both of the High and Low Hands, the player wins the ANTE wager and is paid on the BET wager an amount according to a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand and the house pays to each remaining player who opted to make the EXTRA BET wager an amount determined by a predetermined pay table based on the point value of the player's Low Hand. An example preferred Bet Payout Table appears as TABLE 1 below.

[0023] It should be understood that other payout tables or schedules for both the BET and EXTRA BET wages may be employed. Within the scope of the present invention, the terminology determined payout table should be understood as encompassing both fixed, randomly generated, and progressive payout amounts, as well as combinations of fixed, randomly generated, and progressive payout amounts. In addition to, in combination with, or as an alternative, the payouts may include electronic credits, gift vouchers, free or reduced entry into other contest, merchandise, services, etc.

[0024] In totaling or ranking the Low Hands of players and the dealer, the following point values assigned:

Low Hand Card Point Values
	Card	Point Value
	Ace	1
	King	10
	Queen	10
	Jack	10
	10	10
	9	9
	8	8
	7	7
	6	6
	5	5
	4	4
	3	3
	2	2
	Any Pair, Triple, or	0
	Four of a Kind
	Suited Run	0

[0025] In connection with the instant specification and the appended claims, the term Any Pairis used in the conventional sense, such that a 9 of diamonds and a 9 of spades contained with the same Low Hand would total 0 points. The term Suited Run means any two or more consecutively ranked cards of the same suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades). For example, Ace, 2, 3 suited; or King, Queen suited, etc. For purposes of a run an Ace can be combined only with a 2, and not with a King; in other words, for purposes of a run an Ace is given only its low rank.

[0026] The following examples serve to further illustrate the preferred predetermined rules for allocation of cards into the High and Low hands, as well as the manner of evaluating the rank of High Hands and the point value of Low Hands.

[0027] Original 7 Cards: Ace (spades), King (clubs), Queen (clubs), Ace (hearts), 8 (spades), 10 (spades), 7 (spades)

[0028] High Hand: Ace (spades), Ace (hearts)

[0029] Low Hand: King (clubs), Queen (clubs), 10 (spades),8 (spades), 7 (spades)

[0030] Total Point Value of Low Hand: 10, because suited, consecutive King (clubs) and Queen (clubs) count as 0 points; 10 (spades) counts 10 points; and suited, consecutive 8 (spades) and 7 (spades) count as 0 points.

[0031] Original 7 Cards: King (diamonds), 9 (clubs), 10 (spades), 9 (diamonds), 8 (diamonds) Queen (hearts), Ace (clubs)

[0032] High Hand: 9 (clubs), 9 (diamonds)

[0033] Low Hand: Ace (clubs), King (diamonds), Queen (hearts), 10 (spades), 8 (diamonds)

[0034] Total Point Value of Low Hand: 1101010839 points. Note that the Low Hand does not contain any pairs nor any suited, consecutive cards.

[0035] TABLE 1 below reflects the payout ratio associated with particular point values of a player's Low Hand for the BET wager. For example, if a player's Low Hand had a point value of 6 and the player wagered $2 for the BET wager, the player would be paid $6 (3:1 payout ratio) if the player met the conditions for winning the BET wager.

TABLE 1
Bet Payout
Low Hand Point	16	11-15	6-10	2-5	0	Ace	48 or 49
Value
Payout Ratio	1:1	2:1	3:1	4:1	5:1	11:1	0

[0036] TABLE 2 below reflects the payout ratio associated with particular point values of a player's Low Hand for the EXTRA BET wager. For example, if a player's Low Hand had a point value of 5 and the player wagered $1 for the EXTRA BET wager, the player would be paid $7 (7:1 payout ratio) if the player met the conditions for winning the EXTRA BET wager.

TABLE 2
Extra Bet Payout
Low Hand	16-20	11-15	6-10	2-5	0	Ace	48 or 49
Point Value
Payout Ratio	push	1:1	2:1	7:1	15:1	15:1	100:1

[0037] TABLE 3 below reports statistical payback calculations based upon a computer simulation and the BET and EXTRA BET payout ratios indicated.

TABLE 3
Payback Statistics
Low Hand Point Value	16-20	11-15	6-10	2-5	0	Ace	48 or 49	Payback
Bet Payout Ratio	1:1	2:1	3:1	4:1	5:1	11:1	0	96.30%
Extra Bet Payout Ratio	push	1:1	2:1	7:1	15:1	15:1	100:1	96.75%
Alternate Extra Bet	0	3:1	4:1	8:1	15:1	15:1	100:1	96.67%
Payout Ratio

[0038] The above tables illustrate particular calculated statistical paybacks obtained in connection with particular preferred payout tables for the BET and EXTRA BET wagers. Other alternative payout tables may be employed within the scope of the invention. The EXTRA BET wager may be paid independently of whether the dealer qualifies, and independently of whether the player's hands beat the dealer's hands. Alternatively, certain preconditions may be required for a player to win the EXTRA BET wager. For example, the method of playing the game may require that the dealer qualify to make a player eligible to win the EXTRA BET wager. Or the method of playing the game may require that one or both of the player's hands beat one or both of the dealer's hands in order to make a player eligible to win the EXTRA BET wager.

[0039] As an alternative to dividing the seven player and dealer cards into a two-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand, the High Hand may consist of two cards dealt as the High Hand and the Low Hand may consist of five cards dealt as the Low Hand. Also, a greater or lesser number of cards than seven may be employed. For example, each hand may consist of eight cards divided into a three-card High Hand and a five-card Low Hand. Also, the game may be played with the player having an option to place either the ANTE wager or the EXTRA BET wager or both and may be played with the player required to place both wagers.

[0040] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.