Seven-card poker game with pot game feature

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game is disclosed. The method includes the step of providing a standard deck of playing cards. Each participating player makes a mandatory Ante wager and a mandatory Blind wager to participate in the game. A dealer deals a plurality of at least three cards to each individual player. The dealer deals at least one common card to a common card area on the table, wherein the at least one common card is dealt face down. Each player views at least a portion of the at least three cards and either checks or makes a Play wager that is a first multiple of the Ante wager. The dealer reveals at least one common card, and each player considers the at least one common card and the viewed at least three cards and decides to either fold or making a Play wager that is a second multiple of the ante wager. The second multiple is smaller than the first multiple. The dealer or each player reveals an additional card, wherein the players make a best poker hand from all player cards, all common cards and the additional card. The Play wager is resolved according to a first pay table. The Ante wager is resolved according to a second pay table; and the Blind wager is resolved according to a third pay table.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game, the game comprising the steps of:
 providing a standard deck of playing cards;   each participating player making a mandatory Ante wager and a mandatory Blind wager to participate in the game;   a dealer dealing a plurality of at least three cards to each individual player;   the dealer dealing at least one common card to a common card area on the table, wherein the at least one common card is dealt face-down;   each player viewing at least a portion of the at least three cards and either checking or making a Play wager that is a first multiple of the Ante wager;   the dealer revealing at least one common card;   each player considering the at least one common card and the viewed at least three cards and either folding or making a Play wager that is a second multiple of the Ante wager, wherein the second multiple is smaller than the first multiple;   the dealer or each player revealing an additional card, wherein the players make a best poker hand from all player cards, all common cards and the additional card;   wherein the Play wager is resolved according to a first pay table;   the Ante wager is resolved according to a second pay table; and   the Blind wager is resolved according to a third pay table.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each player receives five cards, and views the first four cards before checking or making a Play wager. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dealer deals between two and three common cards to the common card area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a total of seven cards are considered in making a best five card poker hand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Ante and Blind wagers are equal. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a minimum of three cards and a maximum of five cards are dealt to each player. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Player is given multiple opportunities to make Play wagers or check elections, and wherein the Play wager may only be elected once in a round of play. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first multiple is between 2× and 5× and the second multiple is between 1× and 4×. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Play wager is resolved according to the following pay table: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
               
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   HAND 
                   Odds (Payout) 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   Royal Flush 
                   100 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight Flush 
                   20 to 1 
                 
                     
                   4-of-a-Kind 
                   7 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Full House 
                   4 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Flush 
                   3 to 1 
                 
                     
                   Straight 
                   2 to 1 
                 
                     
                   3-of-a-Kind 
                   3 to 2 
                 
                     
                   2 Pair 
                   1 to 1 
                 
                     
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Ante wager pays 1:1 as long as the hand qualifies with a minimum hand ranking. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the minimum hand ranking is two pair or better. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Blind wager pays 1:1 as long as the hand qualifies with a minimum hand raking. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the minimum hand raking is Three of a Kind or better. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the Blind wager pushes if the player has two pair or better, but less than Three of a Kind. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising an optional pot bet. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pot bet is progressive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the player must qualify with a minimum hand ranking in order to qualify to win the pot, and hold the highest ranking hand of all participating players. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the minimum qualifying hand ranking is flush. 
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a wagering game, the game comprising the steps of:
 providing a standard deck of playing cards;   each participating player making a mandatory Ante wager and a mandatory equal Blind wager to participate in the game;   a dealer dealing five cards to each individual player, wherein the first four cards are considered by the player and the fifth card remains face-down on the table;   the dealer dealing two common cards to a common card area on the table, wherein the common cards are dealt face-down;   each player viewing the first four cards and either checking or making a Play wager that is a first multiple of the Ante wager;   the dealer revealing a first common card;   each player considering the first four cards and the first common card and either checking if the player previously made a Play wager or making a Play wager that is a second multiple of the Ante wager, wherein the second multiple is smaller than the first multiple;   the dealer revealing a second common card;   each player considering the first four cards and the two common cards and either folding, checking if the player previously made a Play wager or making a Play wager that is a third multiple of the Ante, wherein the third multiple is smaller than the second multiple;   the dealer or each player revealing the fifth face-down card and considering all 7 cards to make a best 5 card poker hand;   wherein the Play wager is resolved according to a first pay table;   the Ante wager is resolved according to a second pay table; and   the Blind wager is resolved according to a third pay table.   
     
     
         20 . A method of playing a casino card game, comprising:
 making a wager to participate in a game of chance;   each player optionally making a wager to participate in a pot wager;   a dealer providing cards to each player who made a wager in the game of chance; wherein the cards may be dealt to the player, dealt to a common area or a combination thereof;   providing a visual indication of participation in the pot wager at a player position of all participating players; and   wherein the pot is won by a player that holds a qualifying hand and holds a high hand in a round of play, wherein the pot grows in value between rounds of play, and wherein only players who wager on successive rounds as evidenced by the visual indication qualify to win the pot.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the visual indication is a marker. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the marker is a lamer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pot wager is a fixed amount wager. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the qualifying hand is a flush or better. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a house provides seed money to the pot. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the pot wager has no house advantage. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the house takes a rake from the pot wagers. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the house takes a rake and then uses at least a portion of the rake to seed the pot.