123 poker

Abstract

A method of playing a poker game comprises: each player making a first bet (and optional side bet in some embodiments of the invention); dealing a first card to each player; dealing two dealer cards face down to the dealer; dealing a community card face up; requiring each player to either fold or make a second bet; dealing a second card to each player; requiring each player who made the second bet to either fold or make a third bet; revealing the two dealer cards; each player forming a player hand comprised of the first card, second card, and community card; the dealer forming a dealer hand comprised of the two dealer cards and community card; comparing the hand of each player who made the third bet with the dealer hand using poker rankings; and resolving the first bet, the second bet, the third bet, and optional side bet.

1 . A method of playing a poker game between a dealer and at least one player, the method comprising:
 (a) each player making at least one bet before any cards are dealt;   (b) dealing one community card;   (c) dealing a first card and a second card to each player;   (d) dealing two dealer cards to the dealer;   (e) revealing the two dealer cards;   (f) each player forming a player hand comprised of the first card, the second card, and the one community card;   (g) the dealer forming a dealer hand comprised of the two dealer cards and the one community card;   (h) comparing each player hand with the dealer hand using traditional poker rankings; and   (i) resolving the at least one bet.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one bet comprises a first bet and an optional side bet. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the optional side bet wins if the player hand is comprised of a straight flush, a three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, or a one-pair. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising
 after the first card is dealt and before the second card is dealt, requiring each player to either fold or place a second bet; and   after the first card and the second card are dealt and before the two dealer cards are revealed, requiring each player who made the second bet to either fold or make a third bet.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein,
 (i) each player who made the third bet loses the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand is less than the dealer hand;   (ii) each player who made the third bet pushes the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand ties with the dealer hand;   (iii) each player who made the third bet wins the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand qualifies; and   (iv) each player who made the third bet wins the first bet and pushes the second bet and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand does not qualify.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the dealer hand qualifies with at least a 9-high. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the side bet is resolved according to a payout schedule wherein:
 the side bet is paid 40-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   the side bet is paid 25-to-1 if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   the side bet is paid 6-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight;   the side bet is paid 4-to-1 if the player hand comprises a flush; and   the side bet is paid 1-to-1 if the player hand comprises a one-pair.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the side bet is resolved according to a payout schedule wherein:
 the side bet is paid 40-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   the side bet is paid 30-to-1 if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   the side bet is paid 6-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight;   the side bet is paid 3-to-1 if the player hand comprises a flush; and   the side bet is paid 1-to-1 if the player hand comprises a one-pair.   
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a poker game between a dealer and at least one player, the method comprising:
 (a) requiring each player to make a first bet;   (b) dealing a first card to each player;   (c) dealing two dealer cards face down to the dealer;   (d) dealing a community card face up;   (e) requiring each player to either fold or make a second bet;   (f) dealing a second card to each player;   (g) requiring each player who made the second bet to either fold or make a third bet;   (h) revealing the two dealer cards;   (i) having each player form a player hand comprised of the first card, the second card, and the community card;   j) having the dealer form a dealer hand comprised of the two dealer cards and the community card;   (k) comparing the player hand of each player who made the third bet with the dealer hand using traditional poker rankings; and   (l) resolving the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising allowing each player to optionally make a side bet before any cards are dealt. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the side bet wins if the player hand is comprised of a straight flush, a three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, or a one-pair. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the second bet and the third bet must each equal the first bet. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein resolving the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet comprises:
 (i) collecting the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand is less than the dealer hand;   (ii) pushing the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand ties with the dealer hand;   (iii) paying even money on the first bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand qualifies;   and   (iv) paying even money on the first bet and pushing the second bet and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand does not qualify.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the dealer hand qualifies with at least a 9-high. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the side bet is resolved according to a payout schedule wherein
 the side bet is paid 40-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   the side bet is paid 25-to-1 if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   the side bet is paid 6-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight;   the side bet is paid 4-to-1 if the player hand comprises a flush; and   the side bet is paid 1-to-1 if the player hand comprises a one-pair.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the side bet is resolved according to a payout schedule wherein
 the side bet is paid 40-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   the side bet is paid 30-to-1 if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   the side bet is paid 6-to-1 if the player hand comprises a straight;   the side bet is paid 3-to-1 if the player hand comprises a flush; and   the side bet is paid 1-to-1 if the player hand comprises a one-pair.   
   
   
       17 . A method of playing a poker game between a dealer and at least one player, the method comprising:
 (a) requiring each player to make an ante bet;   (b) allowing each player to optionally make a side bet;   (c) dealing a first card face down to each player;   (d) dealing two dealer cards face down to the dealer;   (e) dealing a community card face up;   (f) requiring each player to either fold or make a second bet equal to the ante bet;   (g) dealing a second card face down to each player;   (h) requiring each player who made the second bet to either fold or make a third bet equal to the ante bet;   (i) revealing the two dealer cards;   (j) having each player form a player hand comprised of the first card, the second card, and the community card;   (k) having the dealer form a dealer hand comprised of the two dealer cards and the community card;   (l) comparing the player hand of each player who made the third bet with the dealer hand using traditional poker rankings; and   (m) resolving the ante bet, the second bet, and the third bet, wherein resolving the ante bet, the second bet, and the third bet comprises:
 (i) collecting the ante bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand is less than the dealer hand, 
 (ii) pushing the ante bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand ties with the dealer hand, 
 (iii) paying even money on the ante bet, the second bet, and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand qualifies, and 
 (iv) paying even money on the ante bet and pushing the second bet and the third bet if the player hand beats the dealer hand and the dealer hand does not qualify; and 
 (n) resolving the side bet. 
   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the dealer hand qualifies with at least a 9-high. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the side bet wins if the player hand is comprised of a straight flush, a three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, or a one-pair. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein resolving the side bet comprises:
 paying 40-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   paying 25-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   paying 6-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a straight;   paying 4-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a flush; and   paying 1-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a one-pair.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein resolving the side bet comprises:
 paying 40-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a straight flush;   paying 30-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a three-of-a-kind;   paying 6-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a straight;   paying 3-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a flush; and   paying 1-to-1 of the side bet if the player hand comprises a one-pair.