Method of playing three card poker   

The embodiments described herein relate to gambling games and more particularly to a method of playing three card poker that provides the player additional options for placing a wager.

The game of three-card poker is played between a dealer and at least one player with at least one deck of playing cards comprising 52 cards. A player wins if the player's three-card poker hand is higher then the dealer's three-card poker hand.

In three-card poker, cards may be dealt from a single deck. Cards are ranked from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace, with 2 being lowest and Ace being highest.

Conventionally, after each player makes an ante wager, both the dealer and each player receive 3 cards face down. If, after looking at his/her cards, a player does not believe his/her hand can beat the dealer's hand, the player can fold and the wager is lost. If a player believes that his/her hand can beat the dealer's hand, the player may raise his/her wager with a wager equal to the ante amount.

After each player has had the opportunity to raise or fold, the dealer will reveal his/her cards. If the dealer has a qualifying hand, for example if the dealer has a Queen or higher, the dealer will then compare the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who did not fold. Hands may be ranked according to standard poker ranking rules with the exception that a straight is higher then a flush. If the dealer's hand is higher than a player's hand, that player loses both the ante and raise wagers. If a player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand, that player wins the amount the player has wagered. If a player has a straight or better, the player may be paid an ante bonus according to schedule, such as Schedule A set out in FIG. 1. In the event of a tie, both the ante and the raise wager push.

If the dealer does not have a qualifying hand, the dealer does not compare hands. Each player who did not fold is paid 1:1 on the ante wager and the raise wager is returned as a push.

The object of the pair plus game is to wager on whether you will receive a three-card poker hand with any pair or better. In addition to the ante wager, each player may make an optional pair plus wager on whether the player will receive a 3 card poker hand with any pair or better. The pair plus wager is played against predetermined pay schedule, such as Schedule B set out in FIG. 2. The pair plus wager is won if the player's hand comprises a pair or higher. If the player wagers on the ante and folds, the pair plus wager is also forfeited.

FIG. 3 exemplifies a conventional three-card poker table 100. To place an ante wager, the player must place a wager on the ante diamond 102. To place a pair plus wager, the player places a wager on the pair plus circle 106. The dealer then deals 3 cards face down to each of the players and 3 cards to himself from the deck of cards 108. If a player feels they can beat the dealer after looking at their cards, then they may place their cards face down on the play box 104 and place a wager equal to the value of the ante wager on top of their cards. Otherwise, if the player wishes to fold, they may put their cards face down beside the ante diamond 102.

In accordance with this invention, any three-card poker game is provided with an additional optional dealer plus wager or bet. The additional dealer plus optional bet is a wager that may be placed by each player on whether the dealer will receive at least a designed hand or higher, preferably a pair or higher (i.e. a “pair plus dealer wager”). This wager may be payable even if the player does not make an ante wager, preferably if the player makes an ante wager and, more preferably, as long as the player makes the ante wager and does not fold. However, in one embodiment, it will be appreciated that the player may win a pair plus dealer wager as long as the player makes the ante wager even if the player folds during the game.

As the wager is on the content of the hand that the dealer receives, and not a comparison of the dealer's hand with a player's hand, preferably, the player may win the wager even if the dealer has a higher hand. However, in a variant, it will be appreciated that the pair plus dealer wager may only be payable if the player wins the hand, i.e. the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand based on a set of predetermined ranking of winning hands.

An advantage of this additional wager is that the potential exists to significantly increase a player's average bet. For example, by providing a player with an additional opportunity to place a wager with each hand, which may be won independent of the player having a hand that outranks the dealer's hand, the player may place an additional wager with each hand. This additional wager provides the potential for additional revenue for the house.

A player may be motivated to place a pair plus dealer wager on the dealer's hand for several reasons. If the pay out scale is similar to that of a standard pair plus wager placed on a player's hand, which is preferred, then the player has an opportunity to win a large payout on a small wager. Alternately, or in addition, the player may believe in streaks and may shift from placing a pair plus wager on the player's own hand to a placing a pair plus wager on the dealer's hand. Alternately, or in addition, the player may believe that the dealer always wins and therefore may place a pair plus wager on the dealer's hand.

As the pair plus wager on the dealer's hand is preferably operated on the same rules and pay out schedule as the pair plus wager on the player's own hand, dealers and regular players will immediately understand the rules and pay out schedule. This familiarity with the rules and pay out schedule will enable players to quickly adopt the wager and adapt it to the player's betting strategy.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a method of playing three card poker with a dealer and one or more players, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards; (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the playing cards; (c) at least one of the players also making pair plus dealer wager that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale; (d) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to form a player hand; (e) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands; and, (f) if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination, then paying each player who made the pair plus dealer wager according to the predetermined pay scale.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises at least one of the players making an ante wager.

In another embodiment, if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands and resolving the ante wager and, if the dealer's hand is less then a predetermined qualifying hand, then paying each player based on the ante wager.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises permitting each player who makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made an ante wager and not folded and (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based on the ante wager and the raise wager; and (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.

In another embodiment, if the dealer's hand is less then the predetermined qualifying hand, then returning each raise wager as a push.

In another embodiment, the at least one deck of playing cards is a standard deck of 52 playing cards.

In another embodiment, the raise wager must be equal to or higher then the ante wager.

In another embodiment, the qualifying hand is a queen high.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 1:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has a pair.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 5:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has a straight.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 15:1 if a pair plus dealer wager is made and the dealer's hand has three of a kind.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of playing a poker game with a dealer and one or more players, the method comprising: (a) providing at least one deck of playing cards; (b) providing a predetermined ranking of winning hands of the playing cards; (c) at least one of the players making an ante wager; (d) at least one of the players also making plus dealer wager that is to be paid based on a predetermined pay scale; (e) dealing a plurality of playing cards to the dealer to form a dealer hand and to each player who has made an ante wager to form a player hand; (f) comparing the dealer's hand to each player's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands and resolving the ante wager; and, (g) if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination, then paying each player who made the plus dealer wager according to the predetermined pay scale.

In one embodiment, each poker hand includes three cards.

In another embodiment, the method further comprises permitting each player who makes an ante wager to make a raise wager and if the dealer's hand is equal to or greater than a predetermined qualifying hand, then comparing the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has made an ante wager and not folded and (i) if the player's hand outranks the dealer's hand using the predetermined ranking of winning hands, paying the player based on the ante wager and the raise wager; and (ii) if the dealer's hand outranks the player's hand, forfeiting the qualifying the player's ante and raise wager.

In another embodiment, the at least one deck of playing cards is a standard deck of 52 playing cards.

In another embodiment, the raise wager must be equal to or higher then the ante wager.

In another embodiment, the qualifying hand is a queen high.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 1:1 if the dealer's hand includes a pair or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 1:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has a pair.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 5:1 if the dealer's hand includes a straight or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 5:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has a straight.

In another embodiment, the predetermined pay scale includes a payout rate of at least 15:1 if the dealer's hand includes three of a kind or higher combination and the method further comprises paying out at a rate of at least 15:1 if a dealer plus wager is made and the dealer's hand has three of a kind.

Further aspects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will be revealed in the following description along with the accompanying drawings.

For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary chart of possible ante bonus hand ranks and payouts;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary chart of possible pair plus hand ranks and payouts;

FIG. 3 is a conventional three card poker table according to the prior art; and,

FIG. 4 is an exemplary embodiment of a three-card poker table for use with the current invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements or steps. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing the implementation of the various embodiments described herein.

In one embodiment, the method is provides an additional wager that may be made by any player who is playing three-card poker. This method may be used with any rules used for three-card poker. Accordingly, the rules of the modified three-card poker game described herein, referred to as three-card poker plus, may be the same as the rules for conventional three-card poker but with a new type of player wager being offered. In three card poker plus, the player may wager a pair plus wager (of any amount allowed by the table stakes), on the dealer's hand, referred to as a pair plus dealer wager, in addition to or in lieu of the optional pair plus wager on the player's own hand. The payouts on the pair plus dealer wager are preferably the same as on the conventional pair plus wager, an example of which is shown in Schedule B of FIG. 2. Accordingly, three-card poker may be played using the rules set out in the Background of the Invention section of this specification.

Reference will now be made to FIG. 4, which shows an exemplary three-card poker plus table 200. The three card poker plus table 200 is similar to the conventional three card poker table 100 shown in FIG. 3 except that a new pair plus dealer wager area 210 appears on the table for a pair plus dealer wager.

As with conventional three-card poker, in three cards poker plus, each player preferably first places an ante wager, such as by placing the actual wager on the ante diamond 102. To place a conventional pair plus wager, a player may place a wager on the pair plus circle 106. This wager is placed before the player sees the player's own cards and, preferably, before the cards for that hand are dealt. To place a pair plus dealer wager, a player may place a wager on the pair plus dealer wager area 210. This wager is placed before the player sees the dealer's cards, preferably before the player sees the player's own cards and, more preferably, before the cards for that hand are dealt.

The dealer deals 3 cards face down to each of the players and 3 cards to the dealer from the deck of cards 108. If a player believes that they can beat the dealer after looking at their cards, then they may proceed with the hand, such as by placing their cards face down on play box 104 and, e.g., place a raise wager equal to the value of the ante wager on top of their cards. Alternately, the player may fold, such as by placing the player's own cards face down beside the ante diamond 102.

After each player has had the opportunity to raise or fold, the dealer may reveal the dealer's cards. The game may require the dealer to have a qualifying hand for the dealer to be able to win. The qualifying hand may be a Queen or higher. In such a case, if the dealer has a Queen or higher, the dealer will then compare the dealer's hand to the hand of each player who has not folded using a predetermined ranking of winning hands. The predetermined ranking of winning hands is preferably the standard poker ranking rules. If the dealer's hand is higher than a player's hand, that player loses both the ante and any raise wagers. If a player's hand is higher than the dealer's hand, that player wins the amount the player has wagered in the ante and the raise wagers. Optionally, if a player has a designated hand, e.g., a straight or better, the player may be paid an ante bonus according to Schedule A of FIG. 1. In the event of a tie, the ante and the raise wager may be pushed.

If the dealer does not have a qualifying hand, then preferably, the dealer does not compare hands. Each player who has not folded may be paid 1:1 on the ante wager and the raise wager may be returned as a push.

In addition to the preferred but optional ante wager, each player may make an optional pair plus wager, which is played against a predetermined pay table, such as Schedule B of FIG. 2. The pair plus wager may be made by placing the amount that is wagered the pair plus circle 106. The pair plus wager is won if the player's hand comprises a pair or higher. If the player wagers on the ante and folds, the pair plus wager may also forfeited. Alternately, the player may still be entitled to win, even if the player has folded.

In three-card poker plus, each player has the option to make a pair plus dealer wager. This pair plus dealer wager is based on the hand that is dealt to the dealer. The player places the wager on the assumption that the dealer will have a hand that is at least a pair or higher. The advantage of using a pair or higher is that a player may place a wager on the belief that the dealer will always win. Therefore, using a pair or an even higher hand will increase the use of the wager and increase the excitement of the game. Increasing the enjoyment of a game will result in more players playing the game and a higher utilization of available gaming tables.

Preferably, the pair plus dealer wager is played against a predetermined pay table. Preferably, this table is similar to, and more preferably the same as, the one used for pair plus wagering. Accordingly, the higher the dealer's hand, the greater the payout rate and the more the player may win, even if the player places only a small pair plus dealer wager.

The pair plus dealer wager may be made by placing the amount that is wagered on the pair plus dealer wager area 210. The pair plus dealer wager is won if the dealer's hand comprises at least the same as the designated hand, preferably a pair or higher. If the player wagers on the ante but folds, the pair plus dealer wager may also be forfeited. Alternately, in another variant, the player may still win even if they have folded.

In accordance with another embodiment, this dealer plus wager may be placed on the requirement that the dealer's designated hand must be higher than a pair. Accordingly, even if the dealer has a pair, the player would not win if the minimum ranking designated hand were, e.g., a straight. Therefore, player may place a dealer plus wager on the assumption that the dealer will have a hand that is of at least, e.g., a straight or higher. Alternately, selected combinations of high-ranking hands may be used.

While certain features of the various embodiments described herein have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications.