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Poker gamePoker game description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070241504, Poker game. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION DATA [0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/791,360, filed Apr. 12, 2006. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002]The present invention relates generally to games, particularly to card games and more particularly to poker-type card games. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003]Poker is a favorite and frequently played card game which, in addition to its basic attraction, is very popular as a casino game. The traditional format of playing against live players has recently become even more widespread, and this has increased the appeal of the electronic format of poker played on gaming machines. As is known, this is commonly referred to as "video poker". In a typical game of video poker, a player makes a wager and receives a conventional set of five cards known as a hand. The player attempts to obtain a hand which comprises a predetermined combination of winning cards. More specifically, the player tries to make the best possible hand by selectively holding certain cards and discarding certain cards and receiving replacement cards for those discarded. [0004]The term generally used to define the character of a hand is its "rank". In most video poker games, the lowest ranked hand that qualifies as a winning hand and for a corresponding payout is often a pair of Jacks. As the rank of the hand increases, so does the payout. [0005]The highest ranked hand in a conventional poker game is generally a Royal Flush, which consists of an Ace-high straight, with all of the cards having the same suit. The hand with the next highest rank is a Straight Flush, where all cards are likewise of the same suit but consist of cards of any five consecutive values other than 10 through Ace. The third highest ranked hand in a conventional poker game is Four-of-a-Kind, which consists of four cards of the same value, such as four Threes. The fourth highest ranked hand is a Full House, which consists of three cards of the same value paired with two cards of the same value, but with the values of the two different sets being different. An example of a Full House is three Kings and two Queens. When playing video poker, the hands just described generally qualify for the highest payouts in descending order. [0006]Of course, there are a variety of poker game variations. In one variation, "wild cards" may be utilized in play of the game. These wild cards may be additional cards (such as Jokers) to a standard 52 card deck, or designated cards of a 52 card deck (such as "one-eyed Jacks). Generally, a player is permitted to treat a wild card as any card of the deck. Thus, the wild card permits formation of additional hands to the normal poker hands. For example, a "Five of a Kind" hand may be formed from four cards of the same value (such as four 5s) along with a wild card (which is assigned a value of 5). [0007]In certain poker games, other hands may be designated winning hands or hands of the standard ranks may be assigned different values. For example, a Royal Flush where the cards are in sequential order may be awarded a higher payout than one where the cards are not. In another poker game variation, a Four of a Kind hand may be awarded different payouts depending upon the value of the fifth card (or "kicker" card) of the hand. [0008]The goal of the player is to receive a hand which has a high rank, and thus associated payout. It can, however, be appreciated that the probability of receiving the higher ranked hands is relatively low. Thus, the excitement of the game is tempered and infrequently experienced. [0009]It is thus desired to provide a game of poker which offers increased excitement by increasing the chances of obtaining hands of the highest rank, as well as adding to the anticipation of such a hand by modifying the manner in which the cards are revealed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]The present invention comprises a method of playing a game, and particularly, a poker-type card game. [0011]In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the step of initially dealing a set of cards to a player. The player may select none, one or more of the cards from the set as cards to be held. It follows that the player is allowed to discard non-selected cards from the set initially dealt. [0012]In a preferred embodiment, the method includes the step of replacing each non-selected card with a new card on a first draw to the player to make a first draw set of cards. It is conventionally at this point that the value of a hand is determined and a payout is made if the hand is a winning one. Periodically, a player will obtain a winning hand comprised of Three-of-a-Kind, i.e. three cards of the same value. While this is a winning hand qualifying for a payout, it can be appreciated that the hand can also be described as being one card away from the much higher ranked hand of Four-of-a-Kind, or alternatively, two perfecting cards short of the higher ranked hand of a Full House. [0013]In another circumstance, a player may obtain two pairs, i.e. two sets of two cards each, with each card in a set having the same value and with the values of each set being different from one another. This hand also is a winning hand qualifying for a payout. Yet it can be seen that the hand is also one card shy of the higher ranked hand of a Full House. [0014]The novel method of the present invention enhances the excitement of the game by allowing play in these circumstances to continue after the first draw. More particularly, the inventive method incorporates the step of communicating a prompt to the player that the first draw set of cards comprises a combination of cards that is at least one perfecting card short of a complete set of a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards other than a Royal Flush. For example, as previously described, the Three-of-a-Kind hand is one perfecting card short of a higher ranked Four-of-a-Kind hand, i.e. a predetermined combination of winning cards comprising a plurality of cards having the same value. In some poker games that utilize wild cards, the Three-of-a-Kind hand is two perfecting cards shy of another predetermined combination of winning cards comprising a greater plurality of cards having the same value, i.e. a Five-of-a-Kind hand. The Three-of-a-Kind hand may also be viewed in a different manner as being two perfecting cards short of a Full House hand. A Full House may broadly be described as a predetermined combination of winning cards comprising a first set of cards and a second set of cards, each card in the first set having an equal first value and each card in the second set having an equal second value. The two-pair hand described above is also one perfecting card short of a higher ranked Full House hand. [0015]As play is allowed to continue in accordance with the inventive method, the player is given an opportunity, on at least second draw, to try to obtain the at least one perfecting card in a second draw set of cards. Thus, the player is given an additional chance at improving the hand. [0016]In one embodiment, the inventive method further incorporates the step of placing a wager. The wager provides an expectation by the player to receive a payout should he or she obtain a winning hand during play. Thus, the inventive method further comprises the step of determining if the first draw set of cards comprises a predetermined combination of winning cards. In a further embodiment, there may be included the step of determining if the second draw set of cards comprises a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards. [0017]In accordance with the gaming intent, one embodiment of the method comprises the step of paying an award if the first draw set of cards results in a predetermined combination of winning cards. In a related embodiment, the method may include the step of paying an award if the second draw set of cards does not result in a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards. Preferably, the method may incorporate the step of paying an award if the second draw set of cards results in a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards. [0018]In accordance with the previously described steps, the inventive method may comprise the step of paying a first full winning amount if the first draw set of cards results in a predetermined combination of winning cards. A related embodiment of the present invention contemplates the step of paying a first reduced winning amount if the first draw set of cards results in a predetermined combination of winning cards but the second draw set of cards does not result in a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards. Further, in one embodiment of the invention, the method contemplates paying a second winning amount in the event the set of cards after the second draw is in a predetermined enhanced combination of winning cards. [0019]In a further embodiment of the invention, the method may comprise the step of placing a first wager prior to the dealing step and a second wager prior to the step where the at least second draw is allowed. This may alter play strategy, and thus increase interest in the game, if the player risks additional money for the chance to get a perfecting card in an additional draw. [0020]In a further effort to bring excitement to the game, the method contemplates revealing cards on the initial deal at a first speed and revealing one or more cards at the replacing step at a second speed. In one embodiment of invention, the second speed is slower than the first speed. At the point of any of a plurality of draw steps, where there is the anticipation of possibly receiving a perfecting card to obtain a hand of very high rank, the use of a slow draw feature further increases the excitement associated with the method of the invention. Continue reading about Poker game... Full patent description for Poker game Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Poker game patent application. 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The player may fold and lose the ante, or place ... ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Poker game or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: 21 royale blackjack Next Patent Application: Poker game and apparatus for play thereof Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Poker game patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.10151 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
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