Wagering game method and apparatus

Abstract

A method for playing a wagering card game includes accepting between 1 and n wagers where n is a positive integer, dealing a house card, dealing a first card to a first player, comparing the first card to the house card, and paying all payouts won. The first player wins a payout as a function of a first wager and a first payout rate if the first card has a lower value than the house card, and loses the first wager if the first card has a value greater than or equal to the house card. If the first player has a second wager and has won on the first wager, a second card is dealt and compared to the first card, and another payout is won as a function of the second wager and a second payout rate if the second card has a lower value than first card.

1 . A method for playing a wagering card game, the method comprising:
 accepting between 1 and n wagers for each participating player, where n is a positive integer representing the maximum number of possible wagers in a hand;   dealing a house card;   dealing a first card to a first player, wherein the first player's first card is associated with a first wager;   comparing the first player's first card to the house card, wherein the first player wins a payout as a function of the first player's first wager and a first payout rate if the first player's first card has a lower value than the house card, and wherein the first player loses the first player's first wager if the first player's first card has a value greater than or equal to the house card;   if the first player has a second wager and has won on the first wager, dealing a second card to the first player;   if a second card has been dealt to the first player, comparing the first player's second card to the first player's first card, and wherein the first player wins a payout as a function of the first player's second wager and a second payout rate if the first player's second card has a lower value than the first player's first card; and   paying all payouts won by the first player to the first player.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein n is equal to five (5). 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first player loses all of the first player's wagers if the first player's first card has a value greater than or equal to the house card. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first player keeps the first player's second wager if the first player's first and second cards are equal in value. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first player loses all of the first player's wagers other than the first player's first wager if the first player's second card has a value greater than or equal to the first player's first card. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  and, after all of the first player's card have been addressed, further comprising:
 dealing a first card to a second player, wherein the second player's first card is associated with a first wager; and   comparing the second player's first card to the house card, wherein the second player wins a payout as a function of the second player's first wager and a first payout rate if the second player's first card has a lower value than the house card, and wherein the second player loses the first wager if the second player's first card has a value greater than or equal to the house card.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  and, if the second player has a second wager, further comprising:
 dealing a second card to the second player;   if a second card has been dealt to the second player, comparing the second player's second card to the second player's first card, and wherein the second player wins payout as a function of the second player's second wager and a second payout rate if the second player's second card has a lower value than the second player's first card; and   paying all payouts won by the second player to the second player.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the house card and each of the first player's cards are all dealt from a single deck of cards. 
   
   
       9 . A method for playing a wagering card game, the method comprising:
 accepting between 1 and n wagers for each participating player, where n is a positive integer representing the maximum number of possible wagers in a hand;   dealing a house card;   dealing a first card to a first player, wherein the first player's first card is associated with a first wager;   comparing the first player's first card to the house card, wherein the first player wins a payout as a function of the first player's first wager and a first payout rate if the first player's first card has a greater value than the house card, and wherein the first player loses the first player's first wager if the first player's first card has a value less than or equal to the house card;   if the first player has a second wager and has won on the first wager, dealing a second card to the first player;   if a second card has been dealt to the first player, comparing the first player's second card to the first player's first card, and wherein the first player wins payout as a function of the first player's second wager and a second payout rate if the first player's second card has a greater value than the first player's first card; and   paying all payouts won by the first player to the first player.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein n is equal to five (5). 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first player loses all of the first player's wagers if the first player's first card has a value less than or equal to the house card. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first player keeps the first player's second wager if the first player's first and second cards are equal in value. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first player loses all of the first player's wagers other than the first player's first wager if the first player's second card has a value less than or equal to the first player's first card. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  and, after all of the first player's card have been addressed, further comprising:
 dealing a first card to a second player, wherein the second player's first card is associated with a first wager; and   comparing the second player's first card to the house card, wherein the second player wins a payout as a function of the second player's first wager and a first payout rate if the second player's first card has a greater value than the house card, and wherein the second player loses the first wager if the second player's first card has a value less than or equal to the house card.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  and, if the second player has a second wager, further comprising:
 dealing a second card to the second player;   if a second card has been dealt to the second player, comparing the second player's second card to the second player's first card, and wherein the second player wins payout as a function of the second player's second wager and a second payout rate if the second player's second card has a greater value than the second player's first card; and   paying all payouts won by the second player to the second player.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the house card and each of the first player's cards are all dealt from a single deck of cards. 
   
   
       17 . A wagering game method comprising:
 (a) accepting one or more sequential wagers by a player for a hand;   (b) dealing a house card, wherein the house card is initially designated as the card to be beat;   (c) dealing a first player card, wherein the first player card is initially designated the card in play;   (d) determining a value relationship between the card in play and the card to be beat;   (e) paying out a sum at a first payout rate if the card in play has a predetermined value relationship to the card to be beat;   (f) if the sum is paid out at step (e) and the player has at least one unaddressed wager, dealing another player card;   (g) if the sum is paid out at step (e), redefining the card to be beat to be the card in play;   (h) if the card to be beat is redefined at step (g), redefining the card in play to be the last player card dealt at step (e); and   (i) repeating step (e) and subsequent steps if conditions for the performance of those steps are met.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising after step (a):
 accepting one or more sequential wagers by a subsequent player for the hand.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined value relationship is defined as the card in play having a value less than the card to be beat. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined value relationship is defined as the card in play having a value greater than the card to be beat.