Poker-type multistage wagering card game method

Abstract

A poker-type multistage wagering card game played between a dealer and at least one player or played amongst at least two players and providing a bonus card or other poker advantage to the dealer and/or player(s) according to a pre-determined set of rules.

1 . A method of playing a poker-type multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 providing at least one deck of playing cards;   requiring at least one player to wager at least one wager;   dealing at least one card to at least one player in order to provide said player with an initial player hand;   dealing at least one card to a dealer in order to provide said dealer with an initial dealer hand;   providing a first predetermined poker advantage to said at least one player when said initial player hand being one of above and below a first predetermined poker value, wherein said first predetermined poker advantage being at least one of a greater number of cards, at least one additional card, and a selection choice of cards;   providing a second predetermined poker advantage to said dealer when said initial dealer hand being one of above and below said first predetermined poker value, said second predetermined poker advantage being at least one of said first predetermined poker advantage, at least one of a greater number of cards, at least one additional card, and a selection choice of cards;   determining a final player hand for said at least one player wherein said final player hand being one of said initial player hand wherein said at least one player has not received said predetermined poker advantage, and a player advantaged hand wherein said at least one player has received said predetermined poker advantage;   determining a final dealer hand wherein said final dealer hand being one of said initial dealer hand wherein said dealer has not received said predetermined poker advantage, and a dealer advantaged hand wherein said dealer has received said predetermined poker advantage;   comparing said final player hand for said at least one player to said final dealer hand;   declaring a winning hand between said at least one final player hand and said final dealer hand wherein said winning hand having a higher poker value;   paying at least a portion of said at least one wager to said at least one player when said at least one player having a winning hand;   collecting at least a portion of said at least one wager from said at least one player when said dealer having a winning hand;   declaring a tie when said at least one final player hand and said final dealer hand being of equal poker value; and   returning at least a portion of said at least one wager to said at least one player when said final player hand and said final dealer hand being of equal poker value.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a video gaming machine; and   displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said predetermined poker value being a pair. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one card dealt to said at least one player being five cards and wherein said at least one card dealt to said dealer being five cards. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 declaring a non-qualifying dealer hand wherein said final dealer hand being below a second predetermined poker value; and   paying a reduced award to said at least one player when said final dealer hand being a non-qualifying hand.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said second predetermined poker value being king-queen high. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps of:
 collecting a first wager from each said at least one player;   requiring each said at least one player having wagered said first wager to perform one of wagering a second wager, checking, and folding;   collecting said first wager from each said at least one player having performed said act of folding;   paying to each said at least one player an amount equal to said first wager and said second wager and returning said first wager and said second wager when said final player hand being a winning hand and said final dealer hand being a qualifying hand, said qualifying hand being one of equal to and above said second predetermined poker value;   paying to each said at least one player an amount equal to said first wager and returning said first wager and said second wager said final dealer hand being a non-qualifying hand; and   collecting from each said at least one player said first wager and said second wager when said final dealer hand both being a winning hand and being said qualifying hand.   
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a poker-type multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 providing at least one deck of playing cards;   requiring at least one player to wager an ante wager;   dealing at least one bonus card face down;   dealing at least two community cards face up;   dealing at least two cards to each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager, wherein a combination of said at least two cards dealt to each said at least one player and said at least two community cards form an initial player hand having at least five cards;   dealing at least two cards face down to a dealer;   requiring each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager to perform one of wagering a second wager and folding;   collecting said ante wager from each said at least one player having performed said act of folding;   revealing said at least two cards dealt to said dealer, wherein a combination of said at least two cards dealt to said dealer and said at least two community cards form an initial dealer hand having at least five cards;   revealing said at least one bonus card when at least one of said initial dealer hand and said initial player hand having less than a first predetermined poker value;   assigning said at least one bonus card to at least one of said initial dealer hand and said at initial player hand to create at least one of an advantaged dealer hand having at least six cards and an advantaged player hand having at least six cards when at least one of said initial dealer hand and said initial player hand having less than a first predetermined poker value;   paying an amount equal to said ante wager and returning said ante wager and said second wager to each player having wagered a second wager ante wager when one of said initial player hand and said advantaged dealer hand having a poker value of less than a second predetermined value;   paying an amount at least equal to said ante wager and said second wager and returning said ante wager and said second wager to each remaining said at least one player when said at least one player having one of said initial player hand having a higher poker value than that of said advantaged dealer hand, said initial player hand having a higher poker value than said initial dealer hand when said dealer has not received said advantaged dealer hand, said advantaged player hand having a higher poker value than said advantaged dealer hand, and said advantaged player hand having a higher poker value than said initial dealer hand when said dealer has not received said advantaged dealer hand;   returning said ante wager and said second wager to said at least one player having one of said advantaged player hand having an identical poker value to that of said advantaged dealer hand, said advantaged player hand having an identical poker value to that of said initial dealer hand when said dealer has not received said advantaged dealer hand, said initial player hand having an identical poker value to that of said advantaged dealer hand when said player has not received said advantaged player hand, and said initial player hand having an identical poker value to that of said initial dealer hand when said player has not received said advantaged player hand and said dealer has not received said advantaged dealer hand; and   collecting said ante wager and said second wager from each remaining said at least one player having one of said initial player hand when said player has not received said advantaged player hand and said advantaged player hand with a lower poker value than one of said initial dealer hand when said dealer has not received said advantaged dealer hand and said advantaged dealer hand.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said second wager being equal to said ante wager and
 said first predetermined poker value being a pair, and said second predetermined poker value being ace-high.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said second wager being equal to said ante wager,
 said first predetermined poker value being a pair, and said second predetermined poker value being king-queen high.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a video gaming machine; and   displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said at least two community cards being two community cards and said at least two cards dealt to each said at least one player being three cards to each said at least one player and said at least two cards dealt face down to a dealer being three cards dealt face down to said dealer, and said at least one bonus card being one bonus card. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 allowing at least one player to wager a bonus wager prior to the step of dealing; and   paying said at least one player having wagered said bonus wager according to a predetermined bonus payout schedule based on a poker value of said at least one player's said initial player hand and said at least one bonus card.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said predetermined bonus payout schedule being:
 paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager even money on any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of one of a pair consisting of Jacks or better and a two pair;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 3 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a three of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 4 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 7 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a flush;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 10 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a full house;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 25 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a four of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 75 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight flush; and   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 250 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a royal flush.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a video gaming machine; and   displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said predetermined bonus payout schedule being:
 paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager even money on any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of one of a pair consisting of Jacks or better and a two pair;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 3 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a three of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 4 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 7 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a flush;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 9 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a full house;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 20 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand value of a four of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 75 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight flush; and   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 250 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a royal flush.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said predetermined bonus payout schedule being:
 paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager even money on any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of one of a pair consisting of Jacks or better and a two pair;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 3 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a three of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 4 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 6 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a flush;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 8 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a full house;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 30 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a four of a kind;   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 75 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a straight flush; and   paying each said at least one player having wagered a bonus wager 250 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having an at least five card player hand and said at least one bonus card having a poker value of a royal flush.   
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a poker-type multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 providing at least one deck of playing cards;   requiring at least one player to wager an ante wager;   dealing a bonus card face down;   dealing two community cards face up;   dealing three cards to each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager, wherein a combination of said three cards dealt to each player and said two community cards form a five-card player hand;   dealing three cards face down to a dealer;   requiring each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager to perform one of wagering a second wager equal to said ante wager and folding;   collecting said ante wager from each said at least one player having performed said act of folding;   revealing said three cards dealt to said dealer, wherein a combination of said three cards dealt to said dealer and said two community cards form a five-card dealer hand;   revealing said bonus card when at least one of said five-card dealer hand and said five-card player hand having less than a pair;   assigning said bonus card to said five-card dealer hand to create a six-card dealer hand when said five-card dealer hand having less than a pair;   assigning said bonus card to said five-card player hand to create a six-card player hand when said five-card player hand having less than a pair;   paying an amount equal to said ante wager and returning said ante wager and said second wager to each player having wagered a second wager equal to said ante wager when said six-card dealer hand having a poker value of less than king-queen high;   paying an amount at least equal to said ante wager and said second wager and returning said ante wager and said second wager to each remaining said at least one player when said at least one player having one of said five-card player hand having a higher poker value than that of said six-card dealer hand, said five-card player hand having a higher poker value than said five-card dealer hand when said dealer has not received said bonus card, said six-card player hand having a higher poker value than said six-card dealer hand, and said six-card player hand having a higher poker value than said five-card dealer hand when said dealer has not received said bonus card;   returning said ante wager and said second wager to said at least one player having one of said six-card player hand having an identical poker value to that of said six-card dealer hand, said six-card player hand having an identical poker value to that of said five-card dealer hand when said dealer has not received said bonus card, said five-card player hand having an identical poker value to that of said six-card dealer hand when said player has not received said bonus card, and said five-card player hand having an identical poker value to that of said five-card dealer hand when said player has not received said bonus card and said dealer has not received said bonus card;   collecting said ante wager and said second wager from each remaining said at least one player having one of said five-card player hand when said at least one player has not received said bonus card and said six-card player hand with a lower poker value than one of said five-card dealer hand when said dealer has not received said bonus card and said six-card dealer hand.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a video gaming machine; and   displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.   
   
   
       20 . A method of playing a poker-type multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 providing at least one deck of playing cards;   requiring at least two players to wager an ante wager into a wagering pot;   dealing at least one card to each said at least two players in order to provide each said at least two players with an initial player hand;   requiring each said at least two players to one of place a second wager into said wagering pot and fold;   providing a predetermined poker advantage to each said at least two players having an initial player hand being one of above and below a predetermined poker value, wherein said predetermined poker advantage being at least one of a greater number of cards, cards having a higher poker value, and having a selection choice of said cards;   determining a final poker hand for each of said at least two players, said final poker hand being one of a player's said initial player hand wherein said player has not received said predetermined poker advantage and a player advantaged hand;   comparing said final poker hand of each said at least two players;   declaring a winning player wherein said winning player being at least one of a sole remaining player and a player having a final poker hand of a highest poker value of any remaining players;   paying an award from said wagering pot to said winning player;   declaring a tie when said final hand of said at least two players being equal and returning said ante wagers and said second wagers to each said at least two players.   
   
   
       21 . A method of playing a poker-type multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 providing at least one deck of playing cards;   requiring at least one player to wager an ante wager;   dealing three cards to each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager in order to provide said at least one player with an initial player hand;   dealing three cards face-up to a dealer in order to provide said dealer with an initial dealer hand;   dealing a bonus card face-down;   requiring each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager to perform one of wagering a second wager and checking;   dealing two additional cards to each said at least one player having wagered an ante wager and combining said two additional cards with said three cards to each said at least one player having wagered said ante wager in order to provide said at least one player with an intermediate player hand;   requiring each said at least one player having wagered said first wager to perform one of wagering a third wager and folding;   collecting said first wager and any said second wager from each said at least one player having performed said act of folding;   dealing three additional cards to said dealer in order to provide said dealer with said dealer hand wherein said at least one player having performed said act of wagering a third wager;   revealing said bonus card;   assigning said bonus card to each said at least one player having wagered said third wager and having said intermediate player hand having a poker value of less than a pair in order to provide a bonus player hand;   comparing one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said at least one player has not been assigned said bonus card to said final dealer hand for each said at least one player having wagered said third wager;   returning to each said at least one player having wagered said third wager said ante wager and any said second wager and said third wager wherein one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value equal to said final dealer hand;   collecting from each said at least one player having wagered said third wager said ante wager and any said second wager and said third wager wherein one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value less than said final dealer hand;   paying an amount equal to said ante wager and returning said ante wager to each said at least one player having wagered said third wager and having one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value higher than said final dealer hand wherein said final dealer hand having a poker value of one of an Ace-high and greater than an Ace-high;   returning said ante wager to each said at least one player having wagered said third wager and having one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value higher than said final dealer hand wherein said final dealer hand having a poker value of lower than an Ace-high;   paying an amount equal to said second wager and returning said second wager to said at least one player wherein said at least one player has wagered a second wager and has wagered said third wager wherein said at least one player having one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein a player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value higher than said final dealer hand;   paying an amount equal to said third wager and returning said third wager to each said at least one player having wagered said third wager wherein said at least one player having one of said bonus player hand and said intermediate player hand wherein said player has not been assigned said bonus card having a poker value higher than said final dealer hand.