Draw poker with auxiliary hand

Abstract

A game for play by a player includes a main wager associated with a main hand and an auxiliary wager associated with an auxiliary hand. The main hand is initially presented to the player so as not to reveal the composition thereof (i.e., facedown), while the auxiliary hand is selected from the main hand prior to revealing the main hand. An auxiliary paytable lists a plurality of card combinations, with the player receiving a payout based on the auxiliary wager if the auxiliary hand includes at least one of the card combinations. The main hand is ultimately used to play traditional draw poker following resolution of the auxiliary hand. The auxiliary hand may include any number of cards less than the number of cards in the main hand, with the auxiliary paytable differing based on the number of cards in the auxiliary hand. Preferably, the player selects the auxiliary hand.

1 . A draw poker game for play by a player comprising: 
 a main wager;    a main hand presented to said player facedown, said main hand ultimately being used to play traditional draw poker;    an auxiliary wager;    an auxiliary hand; and    an auxiliary paytable listing a plurality of card combinations, said player receiving an auxiliary payout if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations;    wherein said auxiliary hand is selected from said main hand prior to revealing said main hand.    
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said main hand includes five cards.  
   
   
       3 . The game of  claim 2 , wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.  
   
   
       4 . The game of  claim 3 , wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in said auxiliary hand.  
   
   
       5 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said player selects cards from said main hand to create said auxiliary hand.  
   
   
       6 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said game is played using a video display.  
   
   
       7 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein said game is played using a tangible display.  
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a draw poker game comprising: 
 defining an auxiliary paytable including a plurality of card combinations;    wagering a main wager;    wagering an auxiliary wager;    dealing a main hand to a player, said main hand being dealt so as not to reveal the composition thereof;    selecting an auxiliary hand from said main hand, said auxiliary hand being selected prior to revealing said main hand;    comparing said auxiliary hand to said auxiliary paytable; and    awarding an auxiliary payout to said player if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said auxiliary paytable.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including: 
 defining a main paytable including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings;    revealing said main hand;    comparing said main hand to said main paytable; and    awarding a main payout to said player based on said main wager if said main hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said main paytable.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further including: 
 defining a main paytable including a plurality of card combinations based on traditional poker rankings;    revealing said main hand;    replacing at least of the cards in said main hand to create a final hand;    comparing said final hand to said main paytable; and    awarding a main payout to said player based on said main wager if said final hand includes at least one of said plurality of card combinations in said main paytable.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said main hand includes five cards.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in said auxiliary hand.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said player selects cards from said main hand to create said auxiliary hand.  
   
   
       15 . A game for play by a player comprising: 
 a main paytable including a plurality of main card combinations;    an auxiliary paytable including a plurality of auxiliary card combinations;    a main wager;    an auxiliary wager;    a main hand, said player being awarded a payout based on said main wager if said main hand includes at least one of said plurality of main card combinations; and    an auxiliary hand, said player being awarded a payout based on said auxiliary wager if said auxiliary hand includes at least one of said plurality of auxiliary card combinations;    wherein said main hand is initially dealt so as not to reveal the composition thereof, with said auxiliary hand being a subset of said main hand selected prior to revealing said main hand.    
   
   
       16 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein said auxiliary hand is selected by said player.  
   
   
       17 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein said main hand includes five cards.  
   
   
       18 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein said auxiliary hand includes one of two, three and four cards.  
   
   
       19 . The game of  claim 18 , wherein said auxiliary paytable differs based on the number of cards in the auxiliary hand.  
   
   
       20 . The game of  claim 15 , wherein said game is played at least partially electronically.