Method for playing a poker game   

Abstract: A method of playing a poker game where the Ocean community card is a true ocean card as it is sequentially dealt in order of play and remains down until the final round of betting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application no. 61/422,509, filed Dec. 13, 2010 and entitled “Method and Apparatus for Playing a Poker Game”, which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure generally relates to method for playing poker games. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for playing a poker game that utilizes a true ocean card as it is sequentially dealt in order of play and improves and increases gaming strategies, affords players a higher level of poker skills utilization, and is adaptable to current and established cash games and tournament play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The card game of poker, with its many variations, has become an extremely popular form of entertainment, Poker is now a common social pastime for both gamblers and non-gamblers. The general aim of poker is to either collect a five card hand that is better than the five card hand of one or more opponents, or to try to bet in such a way as it causes opponents to believe their hand is inferior and subsequently “fold” their hand. Typically, the game of poker involves several players competing against one another for one cumulative “pot” or sum of money.

One of the most popular poker games is Texas Hold\'em where each player receives an initial hand of two cards. Typically, there is a betting round followed by the dealing of three community cards face up, known as “the flop”. After another betting round, a fourth community card, known as “the turn” is dealt face up. After yet another round of betting, the final community card known as “the river” is dealt face up, After the river, there is a final round of betting, assuming two or more players remain in the game. In Texas a player may use any combination of the two hole cards and the five community cards to form the best five-card poker hand.

It is a primary objective of this invention to provide an improved poker card game similar to Texas Hold\'em but with instead an Ocean card that remains down until the final round of betting.

Other characteristics, advantages and Objects of the invention can be more readily appreciated from the following description and appended claims. When taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, this description forms a part of the specification wherein like references and characters designate corresponding parts in several views.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is generally directed to an improved method of playing poker. An illustrative embodiment of the method includes and improved poker game where the Ocean community card remains down until the final round of betting.

In some embodiments, the method of playing poker may include a “2 Flip” version card. game. The 2 Flip method game includes providing a physical deck of cards; providing a plurality of wagering tokens; dealing at least one face up card from the deck of cards to each of a plurality of card players, the card player having the highest face up card being denoted as the Button Position player; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a blind round of bating wherein blind bets are placed according to the Button Position; dealing at least two face down cards from the deck of cards to each of the plurality of card players remaining in the game, the at least face down card being denoted as Hole cards; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a first round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards; dealing at least two face up community cards from the deck of cards, the at least two face up community cards being denoted as First Flip cards; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a second round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards and the First Flip cards; dealing at least one community card face down from the deck of cards, the at least one face down community card denoted as an Ocean card; dealing at least two face up community cards from the deck of cards, the at least two face up community cards being denoted as Second Flip cards; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a third round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards, the First Flip cards, and the Second Flip cards; exposing the at least one Ocean card; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a final round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards, the First Flip cards, the Second Flip cards, and the exposed Ocean card, wherein the card players remaining in the game after the wagering of tokens in the final round expose their Hole cards, the total amount of wagered tokens denoted as the Jackpot; and awarding the Jackpot to the card players remaining in the game according to standard poker game hands and rules.

In some embodiments, the method of playing poker may include a “5 Bet” version card game. The 5 Bet game includes providing a physical deck of cards; providing a plurality of wagering tokens; dealing at least one face up card from the deck of cards to each of a plurality of card players, the card player having the highest face up card being denoted as the Button Position player; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a blind round of betting wherein blind bets are placed according to the Button Position, the card player to the left of the Button Position places a first blind bet, the first blind bet being denoted as a Small Blind, and a second player left of the Button Position places a second blind bet, the second blind bet being denoted as a Big Blind; dealing at least two face down cards from the deck of cards to each of the plurality of card players remaining in the game, the at least face down card being denoted as a Hole cards; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards; dealing at least two face up community cards from the deck of cards, the at least two face up community cards being denoted as First Flip cards; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least an additional round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards and the First Flip cards; dealing at least one community card face down from the deck of cards, the at least one face down community card denoted as an Ocean card; dealing at least one face up community card from the deck of cards, the at least one face up community card being denoted as a Turn card; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least an additional round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards, the First Flip cards, and the Turn card; dealing at least one face up community card from the deck of cards, the at least one face up community card being denoted as River card; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least an additional round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards, the First Flip cards, the Turn card, and the River card; exposing the at least one Ocean card; using the plurality of wagering tokens to initiate at least a final round of betting the wagering tokens in conjunction with the Hole cards, the First Flip cards, the Turn, the River card, and the exposed Ocean card, wherein the card players remaining in the game after the wagering of tokens in the final round expose their Hole cards; and awarding the wagered tokens to the card players remaining in the game according to standard poker game hands and rules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be made, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a “2 Flip” method of playing a card game;

FIG. 2 is a top view is a game playing environment for conducting gameplay according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a game playing environment for conducting gameplay according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a “5 Bet” method of playing a card game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments, As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

The method of the present invention provides an improved poker game. Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a method 100 for playing a game of cards in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is set forth. In step 105 a physical deck of cards is provided. Preferably the deck of cards is a standard deck of 52 cards without Jokers.

In step 110, a plurality of wagering tokens are provided. Preferably the wagering tokens are standard wagering tokens typically used in casino gaming. in some embodiments, the wagering tokens are maintained in the dealer box 252.

In step 115, the button position is determined. Referring specifically to FIG. 2, in some embodiments the dealer 250 deals a card-face up to a plurality of players, players A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, and J, with the player having been dealt the highest card 201 being denoted as the Button Position, or player E. Preferably there are at least two players and at most ten players. Most preferably there are nine players.

In step 120, when three or more players are playing, the first player to the left of the button position, player F, places a bet or Small Blind 202 and the second player to the left of the button position, player G, places a bet or Big Blind 203. In some embodiments, the game may be played as a 2 player heads up game where the button position player places a Small Blind and the first player to the left of the button position player places a Big Blind. In general, the blind bets would be made in accordance with current and existing standards for blinds in poker games. For example, in a $3.00/$6.00 game, the Small Blind would be $1.00 and the Big Blind would be $3.00.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3, in step 130, the hole cards are dealt. The dealer 350 deals two cards face down to each player, denoted as Hole cards 304, In some embodiments, three or more Hole cards may be dealt. Such games would include the poker games known as Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Tahoe, and other three Hole card forms of poker and Omaha and other four Hole card forms of poker.

In step 135, the first betting round is accomplished. Using the wagering tokens and starting with the third player from the left of the Button Position, known as “under the gun”, player H, the players place bets based on their two Hole cards 304. The Hole cards 304 remain face down. When betting, checking, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 140, the dealer 350 burns the next card 309 in the deck by placing it face down to side of the game and removing it from play.

In step 145, the two next cards are dealt face up in the middle and are known as the community First Flip cards 306.

In step 150, the second betting round is accomplished. As in step 135, using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game left of the Button Position 301, the players place bets based on their two Hole cards 304 and the two face up community First Flip cards 306. The Hole cards 304 remain face down. When checking, betting, raising, re raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 155, the dealer 350 burns the next card 307 in the deck by placing it face down to side of the game and removing it from play.

In step 160, the dealer 350 deals the next card face down in the middle which is referred to as the community Ocean card 308.

in step 165, the dealer burns the next card 305 in the deck by placing it face down to the side of the game and removing it from play.

In step 170, the dealer 350 deals the two next cards face up in the middle which are reined to as the community Second Flip cards 310. In step 175, the third betting round is accomplished. As in steps 135, and 145, using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game left of the Button Position, the players place bets based on their two Hole cards 304 and the four face up community cards, that is, the two First Flip cards 306 and two Second Flip cards 310, and face down community Ocean card 308. The Hole cards 304 remain face down. When betting, checking, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step. At this point dealer 350 is done dealing and sets the deck of cards aside.

In step 180, the Ocean card 308 is turned over and exposed 311.

In step 185, the final betting round is accomplished. As in steps 135, 145, and 165, using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game to the left of the Button Position , the players place bets based on their two Hole cards 304 and the four face up community cards (two First Flip cards 306 and two Second Flip cards 310), and face up exposed community Ocean card 311. The Hole cards 104 remain face down. When checking, betting, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 190, the players reveal their Hole cards 304 and the plurality of tokens are awarded to the player or players having the highest hand based on standard poker rankings.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the invention method includes a “2 Flip Lowball” and a “5 Bet Lowball” wherein the best hand being Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5. Straights and flushes are inconsequential. All existing Lowball rules would apply, plus new rules for “2 Flip” and “5 Bet”. Additionally, any of the Lowball card games may be played with three or four Hole cards down as in Omaha. Optionally, such games may be played as a high or high/low poker game.

In some embodiments, where a Hole card held by a player remaining in the game is of the same denomination as the Ocean card, the Hole card is treated as a card that can represent any other card in the deck of cards and is referred to as a Wild card. Preferably, if no player has a Wild card then the Ocean card remains at face value, For example, if the Ocean card is a deuce (2), and any of the players hold a deuce as a Hole card, then that card is also a Wild card, If a second card on the community board is also a deuce (2), that is, the same as the wild Ocean card, all three would be Wild cards, thus creating a best hand of five of a kind, with a rare possibility of holding seven of a kind. As in today\'s accepted standards of poker play, the best hand of 5 of a kind would beat any other hand including a Royal Flush. If none of the players (still in the game) are holding a similar card as the Ocean card, there would be no Wild cards in the game and all cards would play at face value.

In some embodiments as a table game version, as in 2 flip wild or 5 bet wild the players may pay a super bonus fee to be eligible to win a super bonus during the award of the jackpot denoted as a Super Bonus and the paid fee denoted as a Super Bonus Fee. The Super Bonus is a predetermined percentage of the Jackpot, awarded to a losing player who paid the Super Bonus Fee holding a predetermined losing hand of poker, the losing hand of poker denoted as a Bad Beat Hand, Preferably, the Super Bonus comprises half of the amount of the jackpot and the Bad Beat Hand comprises at least a jack high straight flush poker hand beaten by at least a five of kind poker hand. The other half of the Jackpot may be distributed as follows: the player holding the winning hand would receive 25% of the Jackpot, and the remaining players still in the game would receive a prorate share of the remaining 25% of the jackpot award. If there are only 2 players playing the game, the casino or house would retain 25%. In order to qualify for the Super Bonus, both Hole cards must play for both players and all players at the table have paid the Super Bonus Fee. The Bad Beat Super Bonus also applies to the “2 Flip”, “5 Bet”,and the “6 Bet”, the losing hand consisting of 4 Jacks, or higher, beaten by a Jack high straight flush or higher. The jackpot would be disbursed as above.

In the “2 flip wild” table game embodiment, there is the possibility of producing a 7 of kind poker hand. In this case, the 7 of a kind Super Bonus would be paid to a qualified player, as long as the player has paid the Super Bonus fee.

Those skilled in the art, will appreciate that although described a card game played by hand, the method of the present invention can be readily adapted for play as button or buttons poker, on-line over the internet, as video poker, or in conjunction with a standard or electronic casino table game.

In some embodiments, some or all of the following optional rules can be applied to any of the afore-described games: (1) if the initial First Flip card is exposed prior to all of the betting being finished, then an automatic misdeal will be declared and all monies bet is returned to all players who have placed bets; (2) if the dealer deals a 3 card flop, instead of a 2 card “Flip”, the third card would become the first burn card, and the dealer would deal the Ocean card face down; (3) if the Ocean card is accidentally dealt thee up instead of face down, it will be set aside and when all community cards and burn cards have been dealt, the dealer will wash the exposed Ocean card with the remainder of the deck of cards, excluding folded hands and burn cards, then the dealer will reshuffle, burn a card, and deal a new Ocean card; (4) if the dealer flips the 2nd flip card prior to all betting, the dealer will re-shuffle the two cards into the deck and deal two new cards, without burning a card; (5) if the Ocean card is accidentally exposed prior to the 4th round of betting being completed, the Ocean card will remain on the community board as part of the community board and the player or players who have not acted, can only call, thus proceeding to a showdown.

Referring now to FIG. 4 an alternative preferred embodiment is provided that includes a “5 Bet” poker game version according the present invention. The game proceeds in steps 405 through 465 as herein before described as steps 105 through 165 (FIG. 1).

In step 470, instead of dealing the second two flip cards as in step 170, the dealer deals a single fourth community card face up referred to as a Turn card.

In step 475, the third betting round is accomplished. As in steps 435, and 445, using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game left of the Button Position, the players place bets based on their two Hole cards and the three face up community cards, that is, the two First Flip cards and Turn card, and face down community Ocean card. The Hole cards remain face down. When betting, checking, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 480, the dealer bums the next card in the deck by placing it face down to side of the game and removing it from play.

In step 485, the dealer deals a single filth community card face up referred to as a River card.

In step 490, the fourth betting round is accomplished. As in step 475, using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game left of the Button Position, the players place bets based on their two Hole cards, the two First Flip cards, Turn card, River Card, and face down Ocean card. The Hole cards remain face down. When betting, checking, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 495, the Ocean card is turned over and exposed.

In step 500, the final betting round is accomplished. Using the wagering tokens and starting with the first player still in the game to the left of the Button Position , the players place bets based on their two Hole cards and the tour face up community cards (two First Flip cards, Turn card, and River card), and face up exposed community Ocean card. The Hole cards remain face down. When checking, betting, raising, re-raising, and folding in accordance with standard poker game rules is complete, the game proceeds to the next step.

In step 505, players reveal their Hole cards and the plurality of tokens are awarded to the player or players having the highest hand based on standard poker rankings.

In some embodiments, such as in the “5 bet” limit level of play, as in a $3/$6 is utilized wherein the Small Blind is $1.00, the Big Blind is $3.00, the first and second round bet limit is $3.00, the third and fourth round bet limit is $6.00, the final round bet limit is $9.00. Alternatively, in a $4/$8 the Small Blind is $2.00, the Big Blind is $4.00, the first and second round bet limit is $4.00, the third and fourth round bet limit is $8.00, the final round bet limit is $12.00. This structure is inconsequential to no limit, pot limit, and spread levels of play.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the invention method includes a “2 Flip Lowball” and a “5 Bet Lowball”. The best hand being A, 2, 3, 4, 5, Straights and flushes are inconsequential. All existing Lowball rules would apply, plus new rules for “2 Flip” and “5 Bet”.

In another preferred embodiment, any of the afore-described card games can be played with four card down (instead of two or three hole cards) as in Omaha and other four card forms of poker. It can be played a high or high/low poker game. Additionally, any of these games, may be played with four cards, such as “Omaha”, as a high/low game.

Another preferred embodiment includes a “6 Bet” poker game version according the present invention. The game proceeds as herein before described through step 440 (FIG. 4). But then in step 445, only a single community card is dealt face up followed by a round of betting, burning a card, and dealing a second community card face up. In this embodiment, the betting structure, as described above, would consist of the first three betting rounds at $3, the next two betting rounds at $6, with the final betting round of $9.

Although the present invention, in its various embodiments, has been described in the context of a poker game played with a physical deck of cards and a human dealer of those cards, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention could also be practiced as, or in conjunction with, an electronic table game, video poker, online poker, or other forms of casino and online gaming. Accordingly, while the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention and defined by this description.