Video poker system and method

Abstract

A system and method of playing a video poker game by a player. The video poker game has a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards. The method includes the steps of displaying on a video screen a number of plurality of playing cards. The number of cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards. The player is given an opportunity to stop play and receive a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards. If the player does not stop play, a first number of the plurality of playing cards is deleted and a first remaining plurality of playing cards is displayed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, the video poker game having a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards, including the steps of: 
 displaying on a video screen a number of plurality of playing cards, the number of plurality of cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards;    giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards; and,    if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a first remaining plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         2 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first remaining plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         3 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the second pay table provides enhanced payouts of an increased payout over the first pay table.  
     
     
         4 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first remaining plurality of playing cards; and,    if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a second number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a second remaining plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         5 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of cards is five.  
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined number of cards is seven.  
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first number is predetermined.  
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first number may be selected by the player.  
     
     
         9 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the first number may be selected by the player and the second pay table is determined as a function of the first number.  
     
     
         10 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the player selects the first number from a plurality of choices and the second pay table has a higher payout based on a higher first number.  
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , including the step of graphically identifying any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the step of graphically identifying any winning combination of cards includes the step of cycling through each winning combination if there is more then one winning combination.  
     
     
         13 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , including the steps of: 
 displaying the first pay table; and,    graphically identifying any winning combination on the displayed pay table.    
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the step of graphically identifying any winning combination of cards includes the step of cycling through each winning combination if there are more then one winning combination.  
     
     
         15 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards includes the steps of: 
 sequentially identifying groups of at least one card and graphically identifying the groups to the player, each group having a number of cards equal to the first number; and,    allowing the player to choose a desirable group through manipulation of a player interface; and,    selecting one of the groups as a function of user manipulation of the player interface, where the selected group is deleted.    
     
     
         16 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the randomly selected plurality of playing cards are selected from at least one virtual deck, the virtual deck including at least 52 playing cards.  
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 16 , the virtual deck including at least one wild card.  
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , including the step of allowing the player to lock at least one of the plurality of playing cards, wherein any locked card cannot be deleted.  
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the player selects the at least one of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         20 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of playing cards is randomly selected.  
     
     
         21 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , including the step of the player placing a wager to start the game.  
     
     
         22 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the step of giving the player an opportunity to stop play includes the step of requiring the player to place a wager to not stop play.  
     
     
         23 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of playing cards are randomly selected.  
     
     
         24 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein cards deleted from the plurality of playing cards form an alternative hand of playing cards, the method including the step of paying an alternative payout as a function of an alternative pay table and any winning combination of cards in the alternative hand of playing cards.  
     
     
         25 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 1 , including the steps of: 
 displaying a plurality of selectable playing cards face down; and    allowing the player to select the plurality of playing cards from the plurality of selectable playing cards.    
     
     
         26 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, the video poker game having a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards, including the steps of: 
 displaying on a video screen of plurality of playing cards, the plurality of cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards in the hand;    giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards;    if the player does not stop play, permitting the player to receive an additional number of cards, the plurality of playing cards and the additional number of cards forming a first set of playable cards;    giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first set of playable cards;    if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a second set of playable cards; and.    paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the second set of playable cards.    
     
     
         27 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, the video poker game having a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards, comprising: 
 a video display for displaying the video poker game to the player;    a player interface for receiving input from the player;    a game controller coupled to the video display and the player interface, the game controller for displaying on the video screen a number of plurality of playing cards, the number of cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards, for giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards, and, if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a first remaining plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         28 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , the game controller adapted to pay a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first remaining plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         29 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 28 , wherein the second pay table provides enhanced payouts for winning combinations over the first pay table.  
     
     
         30 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , the game controller for giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first remaining plurality of playing cards, and, if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a second number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a second remaining plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         31 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined number of cards is five.  
     
     
         32 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined number of cards is seven.  
     
     
         33 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the first number is predetermined.  
     
     
         34 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller is adapted to allow the player to select the first number.  
     
     
         35 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the first number may be selected by the player and the second pay table is determined as a function of the first number.  
     
     
         36 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein the player selects the first number from a plurality of choices and the second pay table has a higher payout based on a higher first number.  
     
     
         37 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller displays on the video display any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         38 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein the game controller cycles through each winning combination if there are more then one winning combination.  
     
     
         39 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller displays the first pay table on the video display and graphically identifies any winning combination of cards on the displayed pay table.  
     
     
         40 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 39 , wherein the game controller cycles through each winning combination if there are more then one winning combination.  
     
     
         41 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller sequentially identifies groups of at least one card and graphically identifies the groups to the player, each group having a number of cards equal to the first number, allows the player to attempt to choose a desirable group through manipulation of a player interface, and selects one of the groups as a function of user manipulation of the player interface, where the selected group is deleted.  
     
     
         42 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the randomly selected plurality of playing cards are selected from at least one virtual deck having at least 52 playing cards.  
     
     
         43 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 42 , wherein the virtual deck of playing cards includes at least one wild card.  
     
     
         44 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller allows the player to lock at least one of the plurality of playing cards, wherein any locked card cannot be deleted.  
     
     
         45 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein the player selects the at least one of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         46 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 44 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of playing cards is randomly selected.  
     
     
         47 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the player places a wager to start the game.  
     
     
         48 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the player must place a wager to not stop play.  
     
     
         49 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of playing cards are randomly selected by the game controller.  
     
     
         50 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein the game controller displays a plurality of selectable playing cards face down on the video display and allows the player to select the number of plurality of playing cards from the plurality of selectable playing cards.  
     
     
         51 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 27 , wherein cards deleted from the plurality of playing cards form an alternative plurality of playing cards, the game controller for paying an alternative payout as a function of an alternative pay table and any alternative winning combination of cards in the alternative plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         52 . A video poker game machine for playing a video poker game by a player, the video poker game having a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards, comprising: 
 a video display for displaying the video poker game to the player;    a player interface for receiving input from the player; and,    a game controller coupled to the video display and the player interface, the game controller for displaying on the video screen a plurality of playing cards, the plurality of cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards in the hand, for giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards, if the player does not stop play, for permitting the player to receive an additional number of cards, the plurality of playing cards and the additional number of cards forming a first set of playable cards, for giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the first set of playable cards.    
     
     
         53 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, the video poker game having a hand composed of a predetermined number of cards, including the steps of: 
 (a) the player making a wager;    (b) displaying on a video screen a plurality of playing cards, the number of plurality of playing cards being greater than the predetermined number of cards;    (c) determining all subsets of the plurality of playing cards that form a combination which matches one or more of a predetermined list of winning combinations;    (d) giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of an active pay table and at least one of the winning combinations; and,    (e) if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying the remaining plurality of playing cards, activating a new active paytable, and repeating steps (c) through (e) using the new active paytable and the remaining plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         54 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the step of giving the player an opportunity to stop play includes the step of requiring the player to place a wager to not stop play.  
     
     
         55 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the first number is predetermined.  
     
     
         56 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the first number is determined by the player and wherein the new active paytable is determined as a function of the first number.  
     
     
         57 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , including the step of graphically identifying the subsets of the plurality of playing cards that form a winning combination.  
     
     
         58 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 57 , includes the step of cycling through each subset if there are more then one winning combination.  
     
     
         59 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the step of randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards includes the steps of: 
 sequentially identifying groups of at least one card and graphically identifying the groups to the player, each group having a number of cards equal to the first number; and,    allowing the player to choose a desirable group through manipulation of a player interface; and,    selecting one of the groups as a function of user manipulation of the player interface, where the selected group is deleted.    
     
     
         60 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein the randomly selected plurality of playing cards are selected from at least one virtual deck, the virtual deck including at least 52 cards.  
     
     
         61 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , including the step of allowing the player to lock at least one of the plurality of playing cards, wherein any locked card cannot be deleted.  
     
     
         62 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 61 , wherein the player selects the at least one of the plurality of playing cards.  
     
     
         63 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 61 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of playing cards is randomly selected.  
     
     
         64 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, as set forth in  claim 53 , wherein cards deleted from the plurality of playing cards form an alternative hand of playing cards, the method including the step of paying an alternative payout as a function of an alternative pay table and any winning combination of cards in the alternative hand of playing cards.  
     
     
         65 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, including the steps of: 
 displaying on a video screen a plurality of playing cards;    giving the player an opportunity to stop play and paying a payout as a function of a first pay table and any winning combination of cards in the plurality of playing cards;    if the player does not stop play, randomly deleting a first number of the plurality of playing cards and displaying a remaining plurality of playing cards; and, paying a payout as a function of a second pay table and any winning combination of cards in the remaining plurality of playing cards.    
     
     
         66 . A method of playing a video poker game by a player, including the steps as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein cards deleted from the plurality of playing cards form an alternative plurality of playing cards, and paying an alternative payout as a function of an alternative pay table and any alternative winning combination of cards in the alternative plurality of playing cards.