Casino Poker Game With Community Pool

Abstract

A wagering card game where multiple players can play at a same table. An original community cards are dealt, and each player, in succession, can replace selected cards from the original community cards to try to form a highest possible ranking poker hand. A pool is maintained and players that can form a hand of a predetermined rank or higher will be entitled to the pool.

1 . A method to play a wagering game, the method comprising:
 receiving a first player deal wager from a first player;   receiving a second player deal wager from a second player;   dealing a set of community cards;   allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a first set of replacement cards to form a first player's hand formed with the first replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the first player to be replaced;   paying or taking the first player deal wager based on a poker rank of the first player's hand;   allowing the second player to indicate second replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a second set of replacement cards to form a second player's hand formed with the second replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the second player to be replaced;   paying or taking the second player deal wager based on a poker rank of the second player's hand.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the first player an instant payout on the deal wager. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a first player pool bet from the first player, wherein the first player wins at least a portion of the pool if the poker rank of the first player's hand is at least a predetermined rank. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the first player whether to fold or draw, if the first player folds, then the first player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the first player draws then receiving a draw wager from the first player in order to perform the allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards 
   
   
       6 . A method to play a wagering game, the method comprising:
 providing a pool of a variable monetary amount;   receiving a deal wager from a player and a pool wager from a player;   dealing a set of community cards;   allowing the player to indicate replacement cards out of the community cards, and replacing the replacement cards with newly dealt cards to form a final hand;   determining if the rank of the final hands meets a predetermined minimum winning rank, and if so, then paying the deal wager based on a rank of the final hand, and if not, then taking the deal wager; and   determining if the rank of the final hand meets a predetermined minimum pool qualifying rank, and if so, then paying the player part or all of the pool,   wherein the predetermined pool qualifying rank is higher than the predetermined minimum winning rank.   
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the player an instant payout on the deal wager. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising receiving a player pool bet from the player, wherein the player wins at least a portion of the pool if rank of the final hand is at least a predetermined rank. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the player whether to fold or draw, if the player folds, then the player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the player draws then receiving a draw wager from the player in order to perform the allowing the player to indicate first replacement cards. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus to play a wagering game, the apparatus comprising:
 a processing unit performing:   receiving a first player deal wager from a first player;   receiving a second player deal wager from a second player;   dealing a set of community cards;   allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a first set of replacement cards to form a first player's hand formed with the first replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the first player to be replaced;   paying or taking the first player deal wager based on a poker rank of the first player's hand;   allowing the second player to indicate second replacement cards to replace in the set of community cards, and dealing a second set of replacement cards to form a second player's hand formed with the second replacement cards and cards in the set of community cards not indicated by the second player to be replaced;   paying or taking the second player deal wager based on a poker rank of the second player's hand; and   an output unit to display results of the processing unit.   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further performs, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then paying the first player an instant payout on the deal wager. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further performs, determining whether the set of community cards forms a rank of a predetermined hand or higher, and if so, then offering the player to choose one out of both of the following choices: a) receiving an instant payout on the deal wager and ending the game, b) continuing the method. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further performs, receiving a first player pool bet from the first player, wherein the first player wins at least a portion of the pool if the poker rank of the first player's hand is at least a predetermined rank. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the processing unit further performs, after the dealing the set of community cards, receiving a choice from the first player whether to fold or draw, if the first player folds, then the first player loses the first player's deal wager and the game is over, and if the first player draws then receiving a draw wager from the first player in order to perform the allowing the first player to indicate first replacement cards