AU773436B2

AU773436B2 - Poker game

Info

Publication number: AU773436B2
Application number: AU35060/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chi Fat Au-Yeung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-11
Filing date: 2001-04-06
Publication date: 2004-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-06
Also published as: ZA200102907B; AU3506001A; GB0100368D0; GB0008723D0; EP1145743A2; EP1145743A3; US20010040345A1

Description

S&FRef: 551879

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Chi Fat Au-Yeung 105 Overdale Road Quinton Birmingham B32 2QR United Kingdom Chi Fat Au-Yeung Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower,Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Poker Game The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c POKER GAME The present invention relates to a casino house game which is a variant of five card stud poker.

Stud poker is a popular game, in casinos and the game has been adapted over the years to evolve new variants such as "Hold'em" and "Omaha". Hitherto, with such games and variants, the player plays against fellow players, rather than the casino.

US 5382025 discloses a variant of stud poker in which three or more hands are dealt and the players are able to bet on whichever of the hands they believe will win.

The present invention provides a method of playing a poker game in which each 1o player plays against a dealer.

This game requires a certain degree of skill and decision making which in turn makes the game challenging and interesting.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a card game comprising a conventional set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; wherein the gaming cloth provides; a first area in which cards may be dealt to one or more players; a second area in which cards may be dealt to dealer; and a third area in which common cards may be dealt; *a fourth area for each player in which an initial bet may be placed; and 20 a fifth area for each player in which a further bet may be placed; the game comprising: the player placing an initial bet in the fourth area provided therefor; two cards being dealt face-down to the player in the first area provided therefor; S 25 two cards being dealt face-down to the dealer in the second area provided therefor; three common cards being dealt face-up to the third area provided therefor; the player placing a further bet in the fifth area provided therefor, if he :decides on the basis of the two cards dealt to him in the first area and three common cards, that he wishes to continue in the game; two further common cards then being dealt face-up to the third area provided therefor; and hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the first area and five common cards in the third area and two cards dealt to the second area and five common cards in the third area, then being compared to decide the outcome of the game.

[R:\LIBLL] 15441 .doc:gxt The result of the game is decided on the conventional ranking of poker hands. If however the house's hands is below a predetermined minimum value, the house forfeits the game, paying out on the player's initial bet.

The minimum qualifying hand for the house may be of any specified rank, but will typically be a pair of fours.

According to a further embodiment of the game, if the player wins, the house would pay out odds, at least on the player's initial bet, depending on the rank of the player's hand.

According to a preferred embodiment, further areas are provided for each player in which further bets may be placed on the outcome of a comparison of the two cards dealt to each player plus optional additional cards and two cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards, played in accordance with conventional blackjack rules.

0 0oo:0 ooo *go o°0o oooo go go o• *g g [R:\LIBLL] 15441.doc:gxt The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 illustrates a gaming cloth in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 illustrates a gaming cloth in accordance with a modification to the embodiment illustrated in Fig.1.

10 As illustrated in Fig.1 a gaming cloth 10 is marked with areas 12 in which oO.o o **cards from a conventional pack of playing cards may be dealt to one or more players; an area 14 in which cards may be dealt to a dealer; and an o area 16 marked 'flop' in which common cards may be dealt.

ooooo 15 A first betting box 18 marked 'ante' is provided for each player and a second betting box 20 marked 'call' is provided for each player.

Before the play, the player places a bet in the box 18 marked 'ante'. The dealer, on behalf of the house, then deals two cards in areas 12 to each player and two cards in area 14 to himself. All cards are dealt face-down.

The dealer then deals three common 'community cards face-up in area 16.

If the players decide to continue with the game, then they place a bet, of double their initial bet, in the box 18 marked 'call'. Alternatively, the player may pass their hand and lose the bet placed in box 18.

Two further cards are then dealt face-up in area 16.

Each player then selects five cards from the two dealt to him in area 12 and the five cards in area 16 to achieve the best poker hand on the basis of the conventional poker ranking.

Poker Ranking Hand Royal Flush Straight Flush Four of a Kind Full House Straight Three of a Kind Two Pair One Pair High Card in Hand Example 7,8,9,1 0,J(suited) 3,3,3,3,K 7,7,7,Q,Q 3,4,5,6,7(unsuited) 10,10,10,7,3 A,A,7,7,J 5,5,K,J,7 A,K,7,5,3(unsuited) a The players best poker hand is then compared with the best poker hand made up from the two cards dealt face-down to the dealer in area 14 and five cards in area 16 to decide the winner.

If however the dealer's hand is lower than a pair of fours, he fails to qualify and pays the bets placed in box 18 of all the players who are still in the game.

If the dealer's hand is a pair of fours or better and he loses to a player then he pays the player's bets in boxes 18 and 20 at even money. If however the dealer's hand is higher than the player's hand then he takes the player's bets from both boxes 18 and In a variation of the game, if the player's hand is better than the dealer's hand, the house will pay odds on the players "ante" bet, for example, on the basis of the following lists.

Hand Odds Version 1 Version 2 Version 3 Straight Flush 20 to 1 20 to 1 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 10 to 1 5 to 1 20 to 1 Full House 3 to 1 3 to 1 2 to 1 Flush 2 to 1 2 to 1 6 to 4 10 In accordance with a modification to the embodiment illustrated in Fig.1, .ooo further boxes 22 may be provided in which each player may place an additional bet. The additional bet being decided after completion of the game described above, on the basis of the two cards dealt to each player in area 12 and two cards dealt to the dealer in area 14, one card being oo.ooi 15 face-up and the other card being face-down. The additional bet being decided on the basis of the two cards plus optional additional cards, the value of the cards totalling 21 or under in accordance with conventional blackjack rules.

While in the accompanying drawing five positions are provided for players, any number of players may play the game, each player playing against the dealer.

The above described game may also be adapted for Internet entertainment and video slot machines. It could furthermore be stored on a disk and played on a computer or interactive television.

Claims

1. A card game comprising a conventional set of playing cards and a gaming cloth; wherein the gaming cloth provides; a first area in which cards may be dealt to one or more players; a second area in which cards may be dealt to a dealer; and a third area in which common cards may be dealt; a fourth area for each player in which an initial bet may be placed; and a fifth area for each player in which a further bet may be placed; the game comprising: the player placing an initial bet in the fourth area provided therefor; two cards being dealt face-down to the player in the first area provided therefor; two cards being dealt face-down to the dealer in the second area provided therefor; three common cards being dealt face-up to the third area provided therefor; the player placing a further bet in the fifth area provided therefor, if he decides on the basis of the two cards dealt to him in the first area and three common cards, that he wishes to continue in the game; S 20 two further common cards then being dealt face-up to the third area provided .therefor; and hands of five cards made up from the two cards dealt to the first area and five common cards in the third area and two cards dealt to the second area and five common cards in the third area, then being compared to decide the outcome of the game.

2. A card game according to claim 1 wherein the hands are compared on the basis of the conventional ranking of poker hands.

3. A card game according to claim 1 or 2 wherein if the house's hand is below a predetermined value the house forfeits the game.

4. A card game according to claim 3 wherein if the house's hand is below a pair of fours, the house forfeits the game.

A card game according to any one of the preceding claims wherein if the player wins, the house pays odds depending on the rank of the player's hand. [R:\LIBLL] I 5441.doc:gxt

6. A card game according to claim 5 wherein if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 10tol 1 Full House 3 to 1 Flush 2 to 1

7. A card game according to claim 5 wherein if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 20 to 1 Four of a Kind 5to 1 Full House 3 to 1 Flush 2 to 1

8. A card game according to claim 5 wherein if the player wins, the house pays odds as follows: Straight Flush 50 to 1 Four of a Kind 20 to 1 Full House 2 to 1 Flush 6 to 4

9. A card game according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein one or more o 20 players may play against the house.

10. A card game as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a sixth 0, 6% S. area is provided for each player in which additional bets may be placed, the additional bets being decided on the basis of the two cards dealt to each player plus optional additional cards and two cards dealt to the dealer plus optional additional cards, on the basis of conventional blackjack rules.

11. A card game substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 o of the accompanying drawings. Dated 26 March, 2004 Chi Fat Au-Yeung Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL] I 5441 .doc:gxt