Method of playing poker

Abstract

The invention comprises multiple methods for playing a game of poker over a communication network such as the internet which are simple and easy to learn. In a first method, all participants place bets of equal value into a pot with no additional opportunities to raise or place additional bets. In a second method, players are provided with an option to place bets on various rules of winning, wherein bets are paid depending on the outcome of the three-card flop. In a third method, players are presented with timed intervals during which players can place a fixed bet into the pot to be eligible to stay in the hand. Significantly, all players decide whether to place additional bets simultaneously or during the same time interval rather than sequentially as is done in traditional versions of poker.

1 . A method of playing a game of poker over a communication network with two or more players comprising the steps of: 
 having each of the players place a bet of equal value into a pot before any cards are dealt;    displaying for each player an initial number of cards dealt from a deck of poker playing cards without allowing placement of additional bets by any player after said initial number of cards are dealt and wherein said initial number of cards is less than the number of cards needed for a complete five-card poker hand;    dealing a subsequent number of cards for purposes of forming a complete five-card poker hand; and    awarding said pot to the player having the best complete five-card poker hand.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said initial number of cards is two cards and said subsequent number of cards is five cards.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said initial number of cards is three cards and said subsequent number of cards is four cards.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said initial number of cards is four cards and said subsequent number of cards is five cards.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a house representative taking a portion of said pot prior to awarding said pot.  
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a game of poker over a communication network with at least first, second and third players comprising the steps of: 
 having said players place bets that are not necessarily equal in value;    placing in a first pot an amount from each player that is equal to the smallest bet, and placing in a second pot an amount from each of the players who made the largest bets that is equal to what is left of the second lowest bet after it is reduced by the amount placed in the first pot;    displaying for each player cards dealt from a deck of poker playing cards without allowing placement of additional bets by any player after any of said cards have been dealt;    awarding said first pot to the player having the best complete five-card poker hand; and    awarding said second pot to the player having the best complete five-card poker hand of those players whose bets were placed into said second pot.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of taking a portion of said bets in said first and second pots for the house representative.  
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a game of poker over a communication network with at least one player and a house comprising the steps of: 
 each player placing a bet;    dealing an initial number of cards to the house and to each player from a deck of poker playing cards without allowing placement of additional bets by the players after said initial number of cards are dealt and wherein said initial number of cards dealt is less than the number of cards needed for a five-card poker hand;    dealing a subsequent number of cards for forming said five-card poker hand; and    paying winnings to each player who has a better complete five-card poker hand than said house.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of taking a portion of said winnings of each player who has a better complete five-card poker hand than said house.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a game of poker having a three-card flop with a player and a house over a communication network comprising the steps of: 
 placing a side bet by said player on a possible outcome of said three-card flop;    displaying said three-card flop dealt from a deck of poker playing cards comprising 26 black cards and 26 red cards; and    forfeiting said side bet to said house if said possible outcome does not correspond to said three-card flop, or awarding said side bet if said possible outcome does correspond to said three-card flop.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said possible outcome of said three-card flop is three red cards.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein in said awarding step said player is awarded a multiple of eight times said bet.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said possible outcome of said three-card flop is three black cards.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein in said awarding step said player is awarded a multiple of eight times said bet.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bet which is placed by said player is drawn from an account maintained at said house by said player.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein in said awarding step a multiple of said side bet is credited to said player's account.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said bet placing step occurs prior to the play of a hand in which said side bet is placed on said possible outcome of said three-card flop.  
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a game of poker having a three-card flop with a player and a house over a communication network comprising the steps of: 
 placing a side bet by said player on a possible outcome of said three-card flop;    displaying said three-card flop dealt from a deck of poker playing cards comprising 26 cards of a first color and 26 cards of a second color; and    losing said side bet to said house if said possible outcome does not correspond to said three-card flop, or winning said side bet if said possible outcome does correspond to said three-card flop.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said possible outcome of said three-card flop is three cards of a selected color.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein in said winning step said player wins a multiple of eight times said bet.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the bet which is placed by said player is drawn from an account maintained at said house by said player.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein in said winning step a multiple of said side bet is credited to said player's account.  
   
   
       23 . A method of playing a game of poker having a three-card flop comprising the steps of: 
 allowing a player to place a bet on a rule of winning;    dealing an initial number of cards from a deck of poker playing cards to players at a table;    displaying the three-card flop dealt from said deck; and    determining that said player wins the bet if said rule of winning corresponds to said flop or that said player loses the bet if said rule of winning does not correspond to said flop.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said method is practiced over a communication network.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said method is practiced by live players in a casino.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said rule of winning is a permutation where all cards of said three-card flop are either hearts or diamonds.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said player wins an amount equal to eight times said bet.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said rule of winning is a permutation where all cards of said three-card flop are either spades or clubs.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said player wins an amount equal to eight times said bet.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bet which is placed by said player is drawn from an account maintained at said house by said player.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein winnings are credited to said player's account.  
   
   
       32 . A method of playing a poker game having a three-card flop with a player and a house comprising the steps of: 
 placing a side bet by said player on a rule of winning prior to dealing said three-card flop;    displaying said three-card flop dealt from said deck; and    awarding said side bet to said player when said rule of winning corresponds to said flop, and awarding said side bet to said house when said rule of winning does not correspond to said flop.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said player is given an option to place said side bet on a rule of winning prior to the commencement of a hand of poker.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said placing of said side bet occurs before the beginning of a hand.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said placing of said side bet occurs before any cards are dealt.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said rule of winning is met when said permutation of cards is three cards of spades or clubs.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said bet is awarded by said house by paying said player an amount eight times the amount of said bet.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said rule of winning is met when said permutation of cards is three cards of hearts or diamonds.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said bet is awarded by said house by paying said player an amount eight times the amount of said bet.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the bet which is placed by said player is drawn from an account maintained at said house by said player.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein in said awarding step, said account is credited.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising the step of allowing a player to place bets drawn from said account in a sequential number of hands.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said bets are placed by said player until all funds from said account are exhausted.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said bets are placed by said player until said player deactivates said bets.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising the step of activating said bet for a pre-determined number of hands.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of placing said bet by said player on said rule of winning occurs after an initial number of cards are dealt.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the step of placing said bet by said player on said rule of winning occurs before any cards are dealt.  
   
   
       48 . A method of playing a poker game over a communication network with a plurality of players comprising the steps of: 
 placing a first bet into a pot by each of said players;    dealing one or more cards for said players;    each of said players deciding whether to place an additional bet into said pot, wherein each of said players who decides to place said additional bet is eligible to continue playing;    indicating to said players which players have decided to place said additional bet into said pot only after all of said players have decided;    repeating said dealing, deciding and indicating steps until only one of said players has decided to place said additional bet or said game is concluded;    awarding said pot to one of said players when all other players have decided not to place an additional bet, or awarding said pot to one or more of said players having the best poker hand at the conclusion of said game.    
   
   
       49 . A method of playing a poker game over a communication network with a plurality of players comprising the steps of: 
 placing a first bet into a pot by each of said players;    dealing one or more cards from a deck of poker playing cards for said players;    providing a time interval for placing an additional bet into said pot by each said players;    placing said additional bet by said players wherein each of said players who place said additional bet continue to participate in said game and wherein each of said players who do not place said additional bet stop participating in said game;    repeating said dealing, providing and placing additional bet steps until there is a sole player who places said additional bet or until said hand is completely dealt;    awarding said pot to said sole player or to said player who has a best hand after said hand is completely dealt.