High-low poker wagering games

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game comprises the steps of a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game and dealing at least a partial hand of cards to each player participating in the wagering game. The method includes providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds against a pay table, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand. Additional card are dealt, if necessary to complete each player hand. The method further includes the step of paying a player a payout on the first wager for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of: 
 a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game;    dealing at least a partial hand of cards to each player participating in the wagering game;    providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds, wherein the set of-winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;    dealing additional cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and    paying a player a payout on the first wager for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein all the cards in the complete player's hand are dealt in the initial dealing step.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least a partial hand is fewer than all of the cards forming the hand, and further comprising the step of the player electing to make a second wager prior to receiving additional cards to complete a hand.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the second wager does not require the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranaing hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein when the player elects not to make the second wager, the player folds and loses the ante wager.  
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a wagering game against a dealer hand, comprising the steps of: 
 A player placing a first wager to participate in a single player hand against a single dealer hand;    Dealing at least a partial hand of cards to each player participating in the wagering game;    Dealing at least a partial hand of cards to the dealer;    Providing additional cards, when needed according to the game rules to complete the single player hand and single dealer hand;    Comparing the player completed hand and the dealer completed hand using a predetermined set of game rules, the rules providing for comparison of hands at least on both the basis of a minimum high-ranking hand and a maximum low ranking hand; and    Paying a player a payout on the first wager for obtaining a winning outcome for player hands ranking higher than a ranking of the dealer's hand and for player hands that have a ranking at or below the maximum low ranking hand.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined set of game rules comprises standard poker rankings to determine rank.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein a number of cards in each completed hand is 5, and the predetermined set of game rules for the high-ranking comprises five-card poker rankings.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a number of cards in each completed hand is 3, and the predetermined set of game rules for the high-ranking comprises three-card poker rankings, where a straight is a higher rank than a flush.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the maximum low ranking hand is a 9 high.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined set of game rules comprises assigning a numerical value to each card and summing the numerical values in each hand to arrive at a hand count.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein Aces count as 1 or 11 in a low hand according to rules of the wagering game, 1 or 11 in a high hand according to rules of the wagering game, face cards count as 10, and numbered cards count as the respective number printed on the card.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and    a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 a pair equal to or greater than a rank selected from the group consisting of  2 ,  3 ,  4 , 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10; and    a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and    a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank selected from the group consisting of Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and    a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank selected from the group consisting of Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 there are at least two different odds available for a high hand, one different odds being for a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank, and a second different odds being for three-of-a-kind; and    a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and    there are at least two different odds available for a low hand, one different odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a first specific rank, and a second odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card in the hand equal to or less than a second specific rank, the second specific rank being lower than the first specific rank.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 6  wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions: 
 there are at least two different odds available for a high hand, one different odds being for a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank, and a second different odds being for three-of-a-kind; and    there are at least two different odds available for a low hand, one different odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a first specific rank, and a second odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card in the hand equal to or less than a second specific rank, the second specific rank being lower than the first specific rank.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 6  wherein play of the wagering game includes underlying play of pai gow poker with a specific wager on a) a front hand, b) a back hand or c) both front hand and back hand to play the wagering game.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 6  wherein different rules of ranking are used in determining a minimum high-ranking hand and a maximum low ranking hand.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the wagering game comprises a stud poker game.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the wagering game comprises a draw poker game.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the wagering game requires the use of community cards for players.  
     
     
         25 . A method of playing a wagering poker game comprising: 
 a player placing an at least three-part wager;    each player placing an at least three-part wager being dealt a partial hand that that player can inspect;    a dealer receiving at least two community cards, community cards being positioned face down;    each player electing to withdraw or keep in play a first part of the at least three-part wager before a first of the at least two community cards is exposed; and    exposing at least one community card at a time until all community cards are exposed;    wherein any part of the at least three-part wager remaining in play upon exposure of all community cards will be paid against a pay table that includes payment for ranks of both a) hands that are equal to or exceed a minimum rank and b) hands that must be equal to or less than a maximum rank.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  wherein each part of the at least three-part wager is played against a pay table and not against a dealer hand.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the game is played with a standard deck of playing cards.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the game is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the game is played with a standard playing card deck of 52 cards, 53 cards, or 54 cards, with all cards in excess of 52 cards being a wild card.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein there are exactly four parts to the at least three-part wager, and three parts are equal in value and fourth part is double the value of one of the three parts.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein if one particular part of the three parts is withdrawn, another part of the three equal parts must be forfeit to the house.  
     
     
         32 . A method of playing a wagering poker game comprising: 
 a player placing an at least four-part wager, a fourth part of the four-part wager being at least twice the value of at least one of three parts of the at least four-part wager,    each player placing an at least four-part wager being dealt a partial hand that that player can inspect;    a dealer receiving at least two community cards, community cards being positioned face down;    each player electing to withdraw or keep in play a first part of the at least four-part wager before a first of the at least two community cards is exposed; and    exposing at least one community card at a time until all community cards are exposed;    wherein any part of the at least four-part wager remaining in play upon exposure of all community cards will be paid against a pay table that includes payment for ranks of both a) hands that are equal to or exceed a minimum rank and b) hands that must be equal to or less than a maximum rank.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein each part of the at least four-part wager is played against a pay table and not against a dealer hand.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the game is played with a standard deck of playing cards.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the game is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the game is played with a standard playing card deck of 52 cards, 53 cards, or 54 cards, with all cards in excess of 52 cards being a wild card.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein there are exactly four parts to the at least three-part wager, and three parts are equal in value and fourth part is double the value of one of the three parts.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein if one particular part of the three parts is withdrawn, another part of the three equal parts must be forfeit to the house.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein a first part of the three equal parts may be withdrawn before revelation of a first community card, and a second part of the three equal parts may be withdrawn prior to revelation of a second community card.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein, if the second part of the three equal parts is withdrawn, then the third part of the three equal parts must be forfeit.  
     
     
         41 . A method of playing a wagering poker game comprising: 
 a player placing at least four parts to an initial wager, three of the four parts of the initial wager are equal in value, and a fourth wager is twice the value of each of the three equal wagers;    each player placing the four-part wager being dealt a partial hand that that player can inspect;    a dealer receiving at least two community cards, community cards being positioned face down;    each player electing to withdraw or keep in play a first one part of the three equal wagers before a first of the at least two community cards is exposed;    after all players have made an election to withdraw or keep in play the first one part of the three equal parts, exposing a first community card;    after exposure of the first community card, each player electing to withdraw or keep in play a second part of the three equal parts before a second of the at least two community cards is exposed;    after all players have made an election to withdraw or keep in play the second one part of the three equal parts, exposing a second community card;    wherein any of the four parts of the initial wager remaining in play upon exposure of all community cards will be paid against a pay table that includes payment for ranks of both a) hands that are equal to or exceed a minimum rank and b) hands that must be equal to or less than a maximum rank.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein each part of the at least four-part wager is played against a pay table and not against a dealer hand.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the game is played with a standard deck of playing cards.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the game is played with a standard 52-card deck and no wild cards.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the game is played with a standard playing card deck of 52 cards, 53 cards, or 54 cards, with all cards in excess of 52 cards being a wild card.  
     
     
         46 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel communicatively connected to a computer based processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer,    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table.    
     
     
         47 . The automated gaming system of  claim 44  wherein each player position has an individual player processing board dedicated to that position.  
     
     
         48 . The automated gaming system of  claim 45  wherein each individual player processing board communicates directly with the main game processor.  
     
     
         49 . The automated gaming system of  claim 45  wherein each individual player processing board communicates directly with a single Dealer game engine processor.  
     
     
         50 . The automated gaming system of  claim 47  wherein the single Dealer game engine processor communicates directly with the display processor.  
     
     
         51 . The automated gaming system of  claim 45  wherein the main game processor contains data enabling the play of at least three different casino table games wherein cards are used in the play of each of the games.  
     
     
         52 . The automated gaming system of  claim 45  wherein the video display surface has changeable light filtering that can screen displayed images from various angles.  
     
     
         53 . The automated gaming system of  claim 50  wherein the light filtering can be changed upon command by the processor.  
     
     
         54 . The automated gaming system of  claim 45  wherein player input is provided at least in part by controls in the video display surface and controls comprise touch screen controls.  
     
     
         55 . The automated gaming system of  claim 52  wherein additional player input can be provided from player input provided on a surface below the video display surface and facing a position where players are to be seated.  
     
     
         56 . The automated gaming system of  claim 46  wherein communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         57 . The automated gaming system of  claim 54  wherein either the main game processor or the individual player processor can start a transaction.  
     
     
         58 . The automated gaming system of  claim 48  wherein communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         59 . The automated gaming system of  claim 56  wherein either the main game processor or the individual player processor can start a transaction.  
     
     
         60 . The automated gaming system of  claim 52  wherein each player position has an individual player processing board dedicated to that position and communication between the main game processor and the individual player processor is performed through a transaction-based protocol.  
     
     
         61 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel communicatively connected to a computer based processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer;    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table    and a plurality of player stations, each player station having its own intelligence.    
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 59  wherein each player station and the main game processor are in communication.  
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 60  wherein the communication is event driven.  
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 61  wherein information communicated is included in an information packet.  
     
     
         65 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel communicatively connected to a computer based processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 an upright video display panel, the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer,    a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions, each player position having an intelligent board; and    at least one main game processor and optionally at least one additional game display processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the main processor or at least one display processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and the main game processor providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table;    wherein the intelligent boards are in communication with the main game processor, sending packets of information from player positions as events occur.    
     
     
         66 . The automated gaming system of  claim 63  wherein the communication between the intelligent boards and the main game processor comprises communication of player input.  
     
     
         67 . The automated gaming system of  claim 64  wherein there is a dealer game engine intermediate the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         68 . A method of playing an automated game having an upright video display panel communicatively connected to a computer based processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1 , the panel displaying a virtual image of a dealer, a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a substantially horizontal video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions, each of the at least two player positions having an intelligent board, and a main game processor, the method comprising sending packets of information from intelligent boards at player positions to the main game processor as events occur at player positions.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 66  wherein player input initiates the communication between the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67  wherein there is a dealer game engine intermediate the communication path between the intelligent boards and the main game processor.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 66  wherein there the packets of information are sent directly from the intelligence boards to the main game processor for communication of player input.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the communication is event driven.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the communication comprises a cyclic redundancy check.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 66  wherein the communication is transaction based.  
     
     
         75 . An automated wagering gaming event system connected to at least one processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 at least two distinct video displays, a first display for showing a dealer in a card game and at least a second display showing playing cards to individual players;    the at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;    multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;    wherein the at least one processor can a) feed or b) receive and feed at least two different multiple video images and merge the at least two multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, wherein the background comprises at least one dynamic image.    
     
     
         76 . An automated wagering gaming event system connected to at least one processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 at least two distinct video displays, a first dealer display for showing a dealer in a card game and at least a second display showing playing cards to individual players;    the at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;    multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;    wherein at least one processor can feed at least two different multiple video images and merge the at least two multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, the processor having a feed from a live video image that can be used to provide a background component for a video feed of the image of the dealer.    
     
     
         77 . An automated wagering gaming event system connected to at least one processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 at least two distinct video displays, a first dealer display for'showing a foreground image of a dealer in a card game, and at least a second display showing playing cards to individual players;    the at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;    multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;    wherein at least one of the processors can feed at least three different sets of video image data and merge the at least three multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, the processor feeding at least one set as a mask layer and at least one set as an auxiliary dynamic background image.    
     
     
         78 . The automated wagering system of  claim 75  wherein the auxiliary image is presented as a picture-in-picture image may also be positioned into at least one of the dealer display or the second image display.  
     
     
         79 . The automated wagering system of  claim 74  wherein a picture-in-picture image may also be positioned into at least one of the dealer display or the second image display.  
     
     
         80 . The automated wagering system of  claim 75  wherein a picture-in-picture image may also be positioned into at least one of the dealer display or the second image display.  
     
     
         81 . The automated wagering system of  claim 73  wherein a multiple number of dynamic background images for the dealer foreground image are stored in the system and are available for feed into the first dealer display.  
     
     
         82 . The automated wagering system of  claim 74  wherein a multiple number of background images for the dealer foreground image are available for feed into the first dealer display, wherein at least one background image is a dynamic background image.  
     
     
         83 . The automated wagering system of  claim 75  wherein a multiple number of background images for the dealer foreground image are available for feed into the first dealer display.  
     
     
         84 . The automated wagering system of  claim 78  wherein a multiple number of background images for the dealer foreground image are available for feed into the first dealer display.  
     
     
         85 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel connected to at least one processor that provides software to practice the method of  claim 1  comprising: 
 a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display and at least two different player positions; and    the at least one main game processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table.    
     
     
         86 . The automated gaming system of  claim 83  wherein each player position has an individual player processing board dedicated to that position.  
     
     
         87 . The automated gaming system of  claim 84  wherein each individual player processing board communicates directly with a main game processor.