Casino game with multiple playing modes and wagering options

Abstract

A casino game incorporates at least a first compulsory playing mode and one or more optional playing modes without a house advantage. Preferably, the first playing mode is a three-, five- or seven-card poker game against a payout scale based on the respective hand poker rank or against both a payout scale and the dealer. Optional modes without a house advantage include head-to-head poker games against the dealer only and poker games against other players. Side wager options are also available for high hands, thereby increasing player interest by providing a chance for a high payout.

1 . A method of playing a casino game, comprising: 
 (a) receiving at least a first wager for at least a first playing mode, the first playing mode being compulsory; and    (b) receiving at least a second wager for at least a second playing mode, wherein the second playing mode is without a house advantage;    (c) dealing playing cards to at least one player, dealing at least one non-player card, and forming a player hand;    (d) resolving the first wager according to a poker rank of the player hand against a payout scale; and    (e) resolving the second wager without a house advantage according to the poker rank of the player hand against a poker rank of another player hand.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is practiced by limiting an amount of the second wager to an aggregated amount of the first wager.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of resolving the first wager is practiced by paying a payout according to the player hand poker rank against a payout scale only if the player hand is better than the dealer hand.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the resolving step is further practiced by pushing the first wager if the player hand is tied with the dealer hand or if the player hand is inferior to the dealer hand.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the resolving step is further practiced by pushing the first wager if the player hand is tied with the dealer hand, and taking the first wager if the player hand is inferior to the dealer hand.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of dealing at least one non-player card comprises dealing a hand of playing cards to a dealer.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for playing a casino game, comprising: 
 means for receiving at least a first wager for at least a first playing mode, the first playing mode being compulsory;    means for receiving at least a second wager for at least a second playing mode, wherein the second playing mode is without a house advantage;    means for dealing playing cards to at least one player, for dealing at least one non-player card, and for forming a player hand;    means for resolving the first wager according to a poker rank of the player hand against a first payout scale; and    means for resolving the second wager without a house advantage according to the poker rank of the player hand against a poker rank of another player hand.