Asia poker with three hands per player and bonus payout

Abstract

The standard game of Asia Poker is modified by dividing the seven cards dealt to each participant into three groups or hands rather than two, with the three groups containing four cards, two cards or one card, respectively. To win, a player must win on at least two of three hands, and because there are three hands rather than two, the number of tied hands or “pushes” is greatly reduced. Each player is also allowed to place a separate bonus wager that the cards of the hand of the player will match one hand of a posted table of payout hands. In addition, each player is also allowed to place a separate “win all three” wager that all three hands of the player will be of higher rank than the three hands of the dealer.

1 . A method of playing a game of chance involving up to six players and a dealer, wherein each player plays against the dealer, and using a deck of cards including at least the 52 cards of a standard deck, said method comprising:
 placing an “ante” wager by each of the up to six players;   dealing, by the dealer, a total of seven cards to the dealer and a total of seven cards to each of the up to six players;   arranging of the cards, by the dealer and each player, into a low hand of one card, a medium hand of two cards and a high hand of four cards, wherein the medium hand must be higher in rank than the low hand and the high hand must be higher in rank than the medium hand,   individually comparing each of the low, medium and high hands of each player with the low, medium and high hands of the dealer;   determining a winner for the “ante” wager between each player and the dealer when at least two out of the three hands of one is of higher rank than the corresponding hands of the other;   taking the wager of the player by the dealer when the dealer is determined to be the winner, and paying, by the dealer, the amount of the wager by a player to a player determined to be the winner;   providing, prior to the step of dealing the cards, an opportunity for each player to place a bonus wager that the hand of the player will match one of a posted table of payout hands, said posted table of payout hands including at least two of the following hands:
 four of a kind and three aces, with no joker; 
 seven picture cards, with no joker; 
 three of a kind twice, with no joker; 
 three pair straight, with no joker; 
 four card straight flush, with no joker; 
 three pair, with no joker; and 
 three of a kind, with no joker; and 
   following the step of dealing the cards, paying, according to predetermined odds, each player (i) who has placed a bonus wager and (ii) who has a hand matching one of the posted payout hands.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said posted table of payout hands includes a hand having four eights with three aces and no jokers. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined odds for said bonus wager are as follows:
 10,000 to 1 for four of a kind and three aces, with no joker;   2,000 to 1 for seven picture cards, with no joker;   500 to 1 for three of a kind twice, with no joker;   250 to 1 for a three pair straight, with no joker;   40 to 1 for a four card straight flush, with no joker;   5 to 1 for three pair, with no joker; and   3 to 1 for three of a kind, with no joker.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing, prior to the step of dealing the cards, each player to place a “win all three” wager that all three hands of the player will be of higher rank than the three hands of the dealer; and   paying, following the step of determining a winner for the “ante” wager, according to predetermined odds, each player having placed the “win all three” wager and having all three hands of higher rank that the three hands of the dealer.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said predetermined odd for said “win all three” wager are 6 to 1. 
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a game of chance involving up to six players and a dealer, wherein each player plays against the dealer, and using a deck of cards including at least the 52 cards of a standard deck, said method comprising:
 placing an “ante” wager by each of the up to six players;   dealing, by the dealer, a total of seven cards to the dealer and a total of seven cards to each of the up to six players;   arranging of the cards, by the dealer and each player, into a low hand of one card, a medium hand of two cards and a high hand of four cards, wherein the medium hand must be higher in rank than the low hand and the high hand must be higher in rank than the medium hand,   individually comparing each of the low, medium and high hands of each player with the low, medium and high hands of the dealer;   determining a winner for the “ante” wager between each player and the dealer when at least two out of the three hands of one is of higher rank than the corresponding hands of the other;   taking the wager of the player by the dealer when the dealer is determined to be the winner, and paying, by the dealer, the amount of the wager by a player to a player determined to be the winner;   allowing, prior to the step of dealing the cards, each player to place a “win all three” wager that all three hands of the player will be of higher rank than the three hands of the dealer; and   paying, following the step of determining a winner for the “ante” wager, according to predetermined odds, each player having placed the “win all three” wager and having all three hands of higher rank that the three hands of the dealer.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said predetermined odd for said “win all three” wager are 6 to 1. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 allowing, prior to the step of dealing the cards, each player to place a bonus wager that the hand of the player will match one of a posted table of payout hands, said posted table of payout hands including at least two of the following hands:
 four of a kind and three aces, with no joker; 
 seven picture cards, with no joker; 
 three of a kind twice, with no joker; 
 three pair straight, with no joker; 
 four card straight flush, with no joker; 
 three pair, with no joker; and 
 three of a kind, with no joker; and 
   paying, following the step of dealing the cards, according to said posted odds, each player (i) who has placed a bonus wager and (ii) who has a hand matching one of the posted payout hands.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said posted table of payout hands includes a hand having four eights with three aces and no jokers. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said predetermined odds for said bonus wager are as follows:
 10,000 to 1 for four eights with three aces and no joker;   2,000 to 1 for seven picture cards, with no joker;   500 to 1 for three of a kind twice, with no joker;   250 to 1 for a three pair straight, with no joker;   40 to 1 for a four card straight flush, with no joker;   5 to 1 for three pair, with no joker; and   3 to 1 for three of a kind, with no joker.