Poker-type card game and method therefor

Abstract

A poker-type game capable in which participants compete against a dealer in hands whose number of cards progressively increases. Play begins with two cards dealt to a dealer and two cards dealt to each player. Whoever has a superior two-card hand may place a wager into a transitional wagering area. At least three community cards are dealt creating first a three-card, then a four-card and ultimately a five-card poker hand. At each stage, whoever between the dealer and each at least one player has the inferior hand may place a wager into that player's transitional wagering area. Whoever has the best five-card poker hand collects all wagers placed in the transitional wagering area.

1 . A method of playing a poker-type card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 receiving an ante wager from at least one player;   dealing two cards to each said at least one player;   dealing two cards to a dealer;   comparing a poker hand value of the two-card dealer hand with a poker hand value of each at least one two-card player hand;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said two-card dealer hand and each said at least one two-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said ante wager of each said at least one player to a transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior two-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said ante wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior two-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a second wager in order to continue their play, the second wager being an amount selected by said at least one player and in a range of one to two times said ante wager;   dealing a first community card;   revealing said first community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the three-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card with a poker hand value of each at least one three-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said three-card dealer hand and each said at least one three-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said second wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior three-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said second wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior three-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a third wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager in order to continue their play;   dealing a second community card;   revealing said second community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the four-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card with a poker hand value of each at least one four-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said four-card dealer hand and each said at least one four-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said third wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior four-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said third wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior four-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a fourth wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager and said third wager in order to continue their play;   dealing a third community card;   revealing said third community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the five-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card with a poker hand value of each at least one five-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card;   selecting as a winning hand whichever of said five-card dealer hand and each said at least one five-card player hand having a higher poker value;   collecting said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said dealer having a winning five-card hand; and   said dealer paying an amount equal to said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said at least one player having a winning five-card hand.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said poker value of two-card and three-card and four-card and five-card poker hands being determined by standard poker hand hierarchy and wherein hands of identical poker value being a tie resulting in no wager assignment to said transitional wagering area. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing two cards to each at least one player face down;   dealing two cards to said dealer face down; and   revealing said two cards dealt to said dealer and said two cards dealt to each said at least one player after receiving said ante wager from each said at least one player.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing two cards to each at least one player face up;   dealing two cards to said dealer face down; and   revealing said two cards dealt to said dealer after each said at least one player having been dealt their two cards.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first community card and said second community card and said third community card being dealt at the same time face down prior to being individually revealed. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of collecting from each said at least one player having a winning five-card hand a commission on wagers paid by said dealer. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of permitting said at least one player to become eligible to receive a bonus payout in the event that said at least one player receives a hand having a pre-determined poker value. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of collecting a bonus wager from said at least one wager in order to qualify for said bonus payout. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of permitting said at least one player to become eligible to receive a bad beat payout in the event that said at least one player receives a losing hand having a pre-determined poker value. 
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a poker-type card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 receiving an ante wager from at least one player;   dealing two cards to each said at least one player;   dealing two cards to a dealer;   comparing a poker hand value of the two-card dealer hand with a poker hand value of each at least one two-card player hand;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said two-card dealer hand and each said at least one two-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said ante wager of each said at least one player to a transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior two-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said ante wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior two-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a second wager in order to continue their play, the second wager being an amount selected by said at least one player and in a range of one to two times said ante wager;   dealing at least three community cards;   comparing a poker hand value of the five-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said at least three community cards with a poker hand value of each at least one five-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said at least three community cards;   selecting as a winning hand whichever of said five-card dealer hand and each said at least one five-card player hand having a higher poker value;   collecting said second wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said dealer having a winning five-card hand; and   said dealer paying an amount equal to said second wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said at least one player having a winning five-card hand.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said poker value of two-card and five-card poker hands being determined by standard poker hand hierarchy and wherein hands of identical poker value being a tie resulting in no wager assignment to said transitional wagering area. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing two cards to each at least one player face down;   dealing two cards to said dealer face down; and   revealing said two cards dealt to said dealer and said two cards dealt to each said at least one player after receiving said ante wager from each said at least one player.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing two cards to each at least one player face up;   dealing two cards to said dealer face down; and   revealing said two cards dealt to said dealer after each said at least one player having been dealt their two cards.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing said at least three community cards face down;   revealing a first community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the three-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card with a poker hand value of each at least one three-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said three-card dealer hand and each said at least one three-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said second wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior three-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said second wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior three-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit said ante wager and said second wager and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a third wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager in order to continue their play;   revealing a second community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the four-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card with a poker hand value of each at least one four-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said four-card dealer hand and each said at least one four-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said third wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior four-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said third wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior four-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit said ante wager and said second wager and said third wager and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a fourth wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager and said third wager in order to continue their play;   revealing a third community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the five-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card with a poker hand value of each at least one five-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card;   selecting as a winning hand whichever of said five-card dealer hand and each said at least one five-card player hand having a higher poker value;   collecting said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said dealer having a winning five-card hand; and   said dealer paying an amount equal to said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said at least one player having a winning five-card hand.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of collecting from each said at least one player having a winning five-card hand a commission on wagers paid by said dealer. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of permitting said at least one player to become eligible to receive a bonus payout in the event that said at least one player receives a hand having a pre-determined poker value. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of collecting a bonus wager from said at least one wager in order to qualify for said bonus payout. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of permitting said at least one player to become eligible to receive a bad beat payout in the event that said at least one player receives a losing hand having a pre-determined poker value. 
   
   
       19 . A method of playing a poker-type card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
 receiving an ante wager from at least one player;   dealing two cards to each said at least one player;   dealing two cards to a dealer;   comparing a poker hand value of the two-card dealer hand with a poker hand value of each at least one two-card player hand;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said two-card dealer hand and each said at least one two-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said ante wager of each said at least one player to a transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior two-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said ante wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior two-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a second wager in order to continue their play the second wager being an amount selected by said at least one player and in a range of one to two times said ante wager;   dealing a first community card;   revealing said first community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the three-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card with a poker hand value of each at least one three-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said three-card dealer hand and each said at least one three-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said second wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior three-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said second wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior three-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a third wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager in order to continue their play;   dealing a second community card;   revealing said second community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the four-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card with a poker hand value of each at least one four-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card;   selecting as a superior hand whichever of said four-card dealer hand and each said at least one four-card player hand having a higher poker value;   assigning said third wager of each said at least one player to said transitional wagering area when said dealer having a superior four-card hand;   said dealer placing in said transitional wagering area an amount equal to said third wager of said at least one player when said at least one player having a superior four-card hand;   permitting each said at least one player to forfeit any wagers in said transitional wagering area and terminate their play;   permitting each said at least one player to place a fourth wager equal to one of said ante wager and said second wager and said third wager in order to continue their play;   dealing a third community card;   revealing said third community card;   comparing a poker hand value of the five-card dealer hand comprised of a combination of the two-card dealer hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card with a poker hand value of each at least one five-card player hand comprised of a combination of the two-card player hand and said first community card and said second community card and said third community card;   selecting as a winning hand whichever of said five-card dealer hand and each said at least one five-card player hand having a higher poker value;   collecting said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said dealer having a winning five-card hand; and   said dealer paying an amount determined by a paytable and based upon said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area of each said at least one player when said at least one player having a winning five-card hand and wherein the amount being determined by the paytable being:   100 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a royal flush;   50 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a straight flush;   20 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having four of a kind;   10 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a full house;   6 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a flush;   4 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a straight   2 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having three of a kind;   1.5 times said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having two pair;   1 time said fourth wager and all other wagers placed in said transitional wagering area for each said at least one player having a pair;   1 time said ante wager only for each said at least one player having a high card.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of:
 dealing two cards to each at least one player face down;   dealing two cards to said dealer face down; and   revealing said two cards dealt to said dealer and said two cards dealt to each said at least one player after receiving said ante wager from each said at least one player.