Poker-type game having adjustable payouts and method therefor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a poker-style game has a player making an opening wager. The player is permitted to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand. The payout odds are adjusted on winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand. A hand of cards are then dealt to the player. The player is allowed to hold desired cards of the hand. Replacement cards are dealt to the player. One determines if a new hand of cards is a winning hand. Paying the player is based on the adjusted payout odds.

1 . A method of playing a poker-style game comprising: 
 making an opening wager by a player;    permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand;    adjusting payout odds on all winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand;    dealing a hand of cards to the player;    allowing the player to hold desired cards of the hand;    dealing replacement cards to the player;    determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand; and    paying the player based on the adjusted payout odds.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 2  wherein determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand further comprises: 
 determining if the player has placed a wager on a certain selected winning hand;    determining if the new hand of the player is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and    determining if the new hand of the player is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand after the player has made an opening wager above a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand.  
   
   
       5 . A video poker-style game comprising: 
 a video display adapted to display to a player a hand of cards for a poker-style game;    means for permitting said player to make an opening wager by the player;    means for permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand;    means for permitting the player to hold a desired number of the hand of cards;    means for permitting the player to receive replacement cards;    means for displaying a payout table associated with probabilities of obtaining the at least one selected winning hand of said game;    means for displaying the payout associated with each said at least one wager;    means for determining if a winning hand has been achieve; and    means for paying the player in accordance with the payout table.    
   
   
       6 . The video poker-style game of  claim 5  wherein the player is only permitted to make said at least one wager when said player had also made a wager on obtaining any non-selected winning hand.  
   
   
       7 . The video poker-style game of  claim 5  wherein the player is only permitted to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand.  
   
   
       8 . The video poker-style game of  claim 5  wherein the means for determining if a winning hand has been achieve further comprises: 
 means for determining if the player has a hand which is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and    means for determining if the player has a hand that is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.    
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a video style poker game comprising: 
 providing a video display adapted to display to a player a hand of cards for a poker-style game;    making an opening wager by a player;    permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand;    adjusting payout odds on all winning hands based on an amount of the opening wager and the at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand;    displaying a hand of cards to the player on the video display;    allowing the player to hold desired cards of the hand by pressing hold buttons underneath the desired cards;    dealing replacement cards to the player;    displaying the replacement cards on the video display;    determining if a new hand of cards is a winning hand; and    paying the player based on the adjusted payout odds.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein determining if a new hand of cards is a winning-hand further comprises: 
 determining if the player has placed a wager on a certain selected winning hand;    determining if the new hand of the player is the same as the certain selected winning hand; and    determining if the new hand of the player is the same as a traditional winning hand in video poker.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand after the player has made an opening wager above a predetermined amount.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein permitting the player to make at least one wager to obtain at least one certain selected winning hand further comprises permitting the player to place a second wager on the at least one certain selected winning hand only after placing a first wager on a second certain select winning hand.