Description

METHOD OF PLAYING AN

IMPROVED VERSION OF THE GAME OF PAI GOW

Technical Field

The present invention is directed toward the game of Pai Gow and more particularly toward a method of playing an improved version of the game of Pai Gow which is intended to make the game more interesting and easier for the average person to play while increasing revenues for casinos.

Background Art

Pai Gow Tiles is a game which has been played by Asian families in their homes for hundreds and hundreds of years just as poker is played in American homes. It is also a well-known casino game played by mostly Asians in casinos across the United States today. Yet, the game has not been made to be easily understood and comprehensible by the English-speaking public.

In the game of Pai Gow Tiles, there are 32 dominoes or tiles that make up sixteen pairs. These pairs are ranked in a predetermined order. Each tile has a numeric value determined by adding the spots on the tile. Each player is dealt two hands where each hand consists of two tiles. The object of the game is to set the tiles into two pairs for the best ranking combination which is determined by comparing the hand to a ranking chart. The point value of a hand is determined by adding the numeric value of each tile in a hand. The highest point value can only be nine because the last digit of the hand's total is used to determine the point value. There are also 20 combinations higher than a point value.

Pai Gow Poker, frequently referred to as Asian Poker, is a variation on the game of Pai Gow and has recently gained wide spread acceptance in gambling casinos throughout the United States. As is well known in the art, the game is conventionally played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards. In some versions of the game, a joker is also utilized although the same normally can be used to represent only a limited number of cards such as an ace or as part of a straight or flush. Rankings in conventional Pai Gow Poker are substantially the same as rankings in other types of poker games. Pai Gow Poker is typically played in a casino at a table much like that utilized for Blackjack or Baccarat or the like. That is, there is a dealer position and six player positions equally spaced around the perimeter of the table. At each player position, there are normally markings or indicia for the player's high and low hands (to be explained hereinafter) and a spot for each player to place his or her ante or bet.

The game is typically started by each player placing a bet. In the conventional game, the dealer then deals seven cards to himself and to each of the six player positions. Each player, including the dealer, then forms two hands from his holding of seven cards. One hand, referred to as the low hand, consists of two of the dealt cards. The other hand, referred to as the high hand, consists of the remaining five cards that were dealt to that player.

The only requirement in forming the high and low hands is that the low hand must be of a lower rank than the high hand. The ranking of the hands is similar to traditional poker with the exception as pointed out above that the joker can be used to represent an ace or to represent any one card of either a straight or a flush. Thus, the highest possible hand is five aces.

If the player's low hand and high hand are higher in rank than the low and high hand of the dealer or banker, the player is a winner and the banker loses. However, if the dealer or banker's hands are higher than the player's, the player is a loser and the banker wins. In conventional Pai Gow

Poker the banker's hand is normally considered to be the winner in the event of a tie.

If the player's low hand is of a higher rank than the banker's low hand but the player's high hand is of a lower rank than the banker's high hand, neither wins and there is considered to be a push. Similarly, a push exists when a player's low hand is of a lower rank than the banker's low hand and the player's high hand is of a higher rank of the banker's high hand. There is, therefore, no winner when a push exists.

In some casinos, the banker and the dealer are one in the same and is employed by the casino. More frequently, however, the players are given an option, in turn, to be the banker and each of the other players would then play against the banker/player. When this is done, the house takes a commission by way of a percentage on all winning wagers.

While conventional Pai Gow Poker has gained some popularity and is somewhat easier to play than Pai Gow Tiles, it is still rather complex and intimidates many potential players. There is a need, therefore, for a simpler and more easily understood variation of Pai Gow that will attract and retain more players. This not only leads to more enjoyment for the players but also will have the result of increasing revenues for the casino.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved game of Pai Gow that may be played as a casino game. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved game of Pai Gow that utilizes a standard deck of fifty-two cards plus two jokers.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved game of Pai Gow that can be easily learned and played. In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a method of playing a Pai Gow card game comprising the steps of each player first

placing a bet. Thereafter, the dealer deals four cards to each player and to the dealer. Each player and the dealer then separate his or her four cards into two hands, a high hand and a low hand, each consisting of two cards. The high hand must be higher than the low hand and are ranked in accordance with a hierarchy established by the rules of the improved game. If the player's high and low hands beat the dealer's high and low hands, the player wins. If the dealer's high and low hands beat the player's high and low hands, the player loses. If one of the player's hands wins but the other loses, it is considered a push.

Additionally, each player may place an optional bonus side bet before the dealer begins dealing cards to each of the players. If a bonus bet is made and if the player's four cards meet certain predetermined criteria, a bonus is paid in accordance with a payout schedule. The bonus bet and payout based thereon has no bearing on the remaining play of the game.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

Brief Description of the Drawing

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawing one form which is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

The sole figure is a plan view of a gaming table top showing a layout for playing the improved Pai Gow game of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown in the Figure a layout for the Pai Gow game of the present invention and designated generally as 10. The layout 10 is similar to the standard layout for Pai Gow Poker as played in many casinos with a minor exception as will be explained below.

The Pai Gow game of the invention is played on a table with the layout 10 and includes a dealer position 12 and six player positions 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 as shown. Each player position includes groups of player station indicia which are well known. For example, the indicia 26 in the form of a vertical box is utilized by the player to place the cards representing the player's high hand while the indicia in the form of the horizontal box 28 is used by the player to place the cards representing his or her low hand. The indicia in the form of the circle 30 is where the player places his or her bet against the banker which is placed, of course, prior to any cards being dealt. The layout thus far described is essentially conventional and can be used to play the present game or most conventional games of Pai Gow Poker. According to an optional aspect of the present invention, there is also provided at each player position, an additional betting area. This additional betting area, such as shown at 32 allows the player to place an additional bonus bet before the cards are dealt. The manner in which the bonus aspect of the present invention is played will be described below. The game is played in the following manner utilizing a standard deck of 52 cards plus 2 Jokers. First, each player places a bet or ante in circle 30 at his or her player position. The dealer then deals four cards to each player and to himself. Using the four cards, each player and the dealer make two two- card hands, a high hand and a low hand. The two cards comprising the high hand are placed in box 26 at the player's position and the two cards comprising the low hand are placed in box 28. The high hand must be higher than the low

hand and the ranking of hands, from highest to lowest according to the invention, is as follows:

Pair of Jokers Pair of Aces

Pair of Kings

Pair of Queens

Pair of Jacks

Pair of 10's Pair of 9's

Pair of 8's

Pair of 7's

Pair of 6's

Pair of 5's Pair of 4's

Pair of 3's

Pair of 2's

King, Queen

King, Jack Queen, Jack

Numerical total of two cards (modulo 10) 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 , 0

Once the hands are set, each player compares his or her high hand with the dealer's high hand and compares his or her low hand with the dealer's low hand. In order to win or lose, the player must win or lose both the high hand and the low hand. If the player's high hand is better than the dealer's high hand but the player's low hand is worse than the dealer's low hand or vice versa, this is considered a push and the player receives his original wager back. In the event that a player does win, a five percent commission is paid to the house. As pointed out above, the card values are added up utilizing moduloiO. That is, when adding the value of cards, all cards having a point value of 10 such as picture cards are considered 0. An ace is considered a 1

and the cards 2 to 9 play at their face value. If any two cards add up to more than 10, the 10 is dropped. For example, a 7 and an 8 equal 5.

When comparing a player's hand to the dealer's (or banker's) hand, if the high hands are identical (referred to as a copy hand), the dealer wins. That is, if the player and dealer both have a K, 9, the dealer will win. If, on the other hand, the player's and the dealer's hand have the same value, then the rules require that the ranking of the cards be compared. For example, if the player has K, 9 and the dealer has Q, 9, the player wins because the King is higher in value than the Queen. The same rules apply to the low hands. If the player's low hand is 4, 3 and the dealer's low hand is 5, 2, the dealer will win even though they both have a value of 7 because the dealer's 5 is a higher- ranking card than the player's 4. Furthermore, the dealer will win with a copy hand. In addition, the dealer will always win if the player's hand equals 0. According to the rules of the game, a player can be the banker.

However, he or she can only bank the original bet that he or she had against the dealer's previous hand. Furthermore, players cannot bank twice in a row.

Preferably, three dice or a computerized random number generator can be used to select the player to whom the cards will first be dealt. The dealer position is always 1 , 8 and 15. The dealer starts the count from the dealer position and goes counterclockwise. Furthermore, the cards are dealt counterclockwise to all spots on the table even if that spot does not have a player thereon.

The two Jokers can be used as either a 3 or a 6. However, two Jokers would be the highest pair as pointed out above. Since the idea of the game is to get closest to 9 if there is no pair, a Joker will be used as a 6 if matched with an Ace, a 2, a 3, a 7, an 8, a 9, a 10 or a face card and will be used as a 3 if matched with a 4, 5 or 6. Furthermore, according to the preferred rules of play, when a Joker is used with a 3, it counts as a 6 to yield 9. It is not considered to be a pair of 3's. Similarly, when a Joker is used with a 6, it counts as a 3 and not a pair of 6's.

The foregoing provides the general rules of the game. There may also be house rules introduced into the play of the game which may vary from casino to casino. For example, the house may require that pairs never be split or that certain pairs always be split. Other rules may also be introduced.

The invention also contemplates that a bonus game can be played. That is, prior to any cards being dealt, a player may place an additional bonus wager in the circle 32 at that player's position. After the four cards are dealt, if certain criteria are met, the player wins a bonus based on a payout chart. All four cards are considered in the bonus round. However, once the bonus round is over, the four cards are then divided into high and low hands and the Pai Gow game is continued as pointed out above.

By way of example, the bonus will be paid only if the four cards that are dealt to the player are one of the following: 4 Aces, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a kind, Flush, Straight, 3 of a kind, 2 pair or a pair of Jacks or better in accordance with conventional Poker rules. The amount of the bonus, however, will depend on which of the foregoing is matched and a previously determined payout table.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.