[001] POKER GAMES

[002] Cross References to Related Applications [003] None

[004] Field of the Invention

[005] The present invention relates to card games, particularly card games that are related to the game of poker.

[006] Background

[007] Conventional poker games, such as Omaha High Low Poker and Texas Hold'em, are very popular and are often played on television. Many internet sites offer these games. The popularity of these games may be attributed to the fact that many players find excitement in the unpredictability of their outcomes, the opportunities to form a variety of winning strategies, or the potential of winning generous rewards.

[008] Conventional Texas Hold'em Poker is typically played as shown in figure 1. Two hole cards are dealt to each player (step 20). A betting round occurs usually starting from the left of the established dealer button (step 21). Conventional blinds may be included in the first round of betting. During a betting round, each player may be prompted to take one of the following actions: checking, betting, calling, raising, or folding. ^' After all the players have taken one of the actions and the betting is called final, three community cards are dealt (step 22). The three community cards are typically displayed and laid on the table. A second betting round occurs (step 23). After all the players have taken one of the five possible actions, a fourth community card (sometimes referred to as the "turn") is displayed and laid

on the table (step 24). A third betting round then occurs (step 25). After all the players have taken one of the five possible actions, a fifth and final community card (sometimes referred to as the "river") is displayed and laid on the table (step 26). A fourth betting round follows (step 27).

[009] Each player may make a best high hand by combining any of his hole cards with any of the five community cards. With reference now to figure 2, a sample game is shown wherein player 1 has 10 ψ and 4 ♦ and player 2 has 9 V and ace ψ. The community cards are 10 4, king ψ, and 8 ψ. The turn card is 2 *. The river card is 3 4. It can be realized that player 1 has a pair of 10s as its highest hand. Player 2 does not have any pair or five card combination and only has an ace as its highest card. Thus, player 1 wins and claims the entire pot generated from the four betting rounds. Occasionally, however, the 5 highest cards on the table are the five table cards. This would result in the remaining players in the game at that time splitting the pot proportionally.

[0010] Conventional Omaha High Low Poker is typically played as shown in figure 3. Steps 30-37 are similar to steps 20-27 in Texas Hold'em as described in figure 1, except that 4 hole cards are dealt to each player initially at step 30. The players may then form five card poker hand combinations using only any 2 of the 4 hole cards and only any 3 of the 5 community cards. The conventional Omaha High Low Poker offers two ways of winning. First, the player having a five card poker hand with the highest value may win (step 38). Second, the player having a five card poker hand with the lowest value may win (step 39). Conventionally, to qualify for the lowest hand, the hand cannot have any card higher than an 8, with the exception of the ace, which is considered the lowest card. Players must not also have five card poker hands with a pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind when qualifying for the lowest hand. Because of these rules, when the game is played, it is common to have only a player winning with the high hand and no player winning the low hand. In this case, the

player wins all the bets from the betting rounds. If there are winners for both the high and the low hands, the bets from the betting rounds may equally be split into two. In the conventional Omaha High Low Poker, one player may win both the high and the low hand. [0011] Players who play conventional Texas Hold'em or Omaha High Low Poker may long for some changes in these conventional games to make the outcome less predictable, to have a renewed opportunity to formulate new winning strategies, or generally, to play a new poker game that offers refreshing excitement and challenge to the conventional poker games. The present invention satisfies these long felt but unmet needs of these players.

[0012] Brief Description

[0013] The present invention includes a method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of: dealing four cards to a plurality of players; providing two community cards; providing a third community card; providing a fourth community card; allowing at least one player to form at least one five card poker hand, the five card poker hand comprising only any 2 or 3 cards dealt to the player and only any 2 or 3 community cards.

[0014] The present invention also includes a method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of: dealing four cards to a plurality of players; dealing two initial community cards; dealing a third community card, the third community card being dealt at a separate time from when the two initial community cards are dealt; dealing a fourth community card, the fourth community card being dealt at a separate time from when the two initial community cards and the third community card are dealt; allowing at least one player to form a five card poker hand; defining a game outcome; and determining the game outcome.

[0015] The present invention further includes a method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of: dealing a plurality of hole cards to a plurality of players; allowing

each player to select whether to call, raise, or fold; requiring a bet from each player selecting to call or raise; forming a pot from the player's bets; dealing a plurality of community cards; allowing the players to form individual five card poker hands; providing a plurality of predefined poker values; defining a first winning hand, the first winning hand having the highest poker value; defining a second winning hand, the second winning hand having the lowest poker value, wherein to qualify to win the second winning hand, the player must have no card having a value higher than 7, a pair, a three of a kind, or a four of a kind; and determining the game outcome based on the first and second winning hand definitions. [0016] The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of embodiments of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There may be, of course, other features of the invention that will be described below and may form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0017] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is substantially a flowchart showing the steps executed in playing a conventional game of Texas Hold'em.

[0019] Figure 2 is substantially a front view of cards used in playing a conventional game of

Texas Hold'em

[0020] Figure 3 is substantially a flowchart showing the steps executed in playing a conventional game of Omaha High Low Poker.

[0021] Figure 4 is substantially a flowchart showing the steps executed in playing an embodiment of the poker game of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 5 is substantially a front view of cards that may be used in playing the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 6 is substantially a front view of five card poker combinations formed from the cards in figure 5.

[0024] Figure 7 is substantially a flowchart showing the steps executed in playing another embodiment of the poker game of the present invention.

[0025] Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0026] In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0027] The order in which the steps are presented below is not limited to any particular order and does not necessarily imply that they have to be performed in the order presented. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the order of these steps can be rearranged and performed in any suitable manner. It will further be understood by those of

ordinary skill in the art that some steps may be omitted or added and still fall within the spirit of the invention.

[0028] The present invention provides new methods of playing games of poker. In the first embodiment, the object of the game is preferably to form a poker hand with the highest value using a combination of only any 2 or 3 out of the 4 cards provided to each player and only any 2 or 3 out of the 4 cards provided as community cards. The poker game embodiment is preferably played as shown in figure 4. At step 40, each player is preferably dealt 4 hole cards face down. The 4 hole cards are preferably distributed one at a time for each player. The distribution of the cards revolves around each player starting from the player to the left of the player with the dealer button until all players receive 4 hole cards. A betting round may then be executed wherein each player is given an option to call, bet, check, raise, or fold (step 41). The betting round preferably starts from the player to the left of the player with the dealer button. A conventional small and big blind may be included in the poker game embodiment to guarantee betting action. It can be realized that the bets collected from each betting round form a pot to distribute to the winning player at the conclusion of the game. [0029] Next, at step 42, two flop cards or community cards are preferably displayed on the betting table face up and fully exposed. At step 43, a second betting round is preferably executed wherein the players may be given several options to take. A third community card or a turn card may then be dealt and displayed on the table face up and fully exposed (step 44). A third betting round preferably follows (step 45). At step 46, a fourth and final community card or a river card may then be dealt and displayed on the table face up and fully exposed. A fourth betting round preferably follows after the river card is displayed (step 47). [0030] It is noted that the flop cards, the turn card, and the river card are not preferably displayed simultaneously. A betting round preferably takes place in between when the flop cards are displayed and when the turn card is displayed. Another betting round preferably

takes place in between when the turn card is displayed and when the river card is displayed. In addition to the betting rounds, a card may be burned or set aside face down prior to dealing the flop cards, the turn card, and the river card. It can be appreciated that, by not dealing the flop cards, the turn card, and the river card simultaneously, an element of suspense is provided into the game. Additional bets may also be generated to increase the amount of the pot. As used herein, the term betting table may be used to refer to conventional physical tables or virtual computer generated tables. The betting table (not shown) preferably includes two spots for the flop cards, 1 spot for the turn card that is substantially separated from the two flop cards, and another spot for the river card, which is preferably substantially spaced from the flop cards and the turn card. The spots may be marked by a rectangle or some other indicia that are appropriately spaced to mark that they are reserved their respective community card.

[0031] The remaining players may then form their individual poker hand (step 47). hi this embodiment, each poker hand is preferably a five card poker hand comprising only any 2 or 3 out of the 4 hole cards in combination with only any 2 or 3 out of the 4 community cards. That is, if 2 hole cards are used for the combination, 3 community cards must be used. If 3 hole cards are used for the combination, 2 community cards must be used. A set of predefined values for each poker hand may be provided. The set of pre-defined poker hand values may be the same as the set in conventional Texas Hold'em. All the poker hands of the players are preferably compared. The player with the poker hand that has the highest predefined value preferably wins and receives the pot (step 47).

[0032] To illustrate the poker game embodiment further, with reference now to figure 5, at step 40, player 1 receives 5ψ, 7ψ, 7*, and 6* as his hole cards 56. Player 2 receives A*, 10*, 9*, and 10* as his hole cards 58. The first betting round follows (step 41) then the flop cards 50 displayed are 84 and 7* (step 42). The second betting round occurs (step 43). At step 44,

the turn card (52) displayed is 8*. The third betting round follows (step 45). At step 46, the river card (54) displayed is 6*. Referring now to figure 6, from step 47, player l's best five card hand (60) is a full house comprising 7ψ, 74 (from the hole cards 56) 7* (from the flop 50) 84 (from the flop 50) and 8φ (from the turn 52). Player 2's best five card hand (62) is a straight 6* (from the river 54), 7* (from the flop 50), 8* (from the turn 52), and 9*104 (from hole cards 58). Player 1 wins over player 2 and preferably collects all the bets from the betting rounds.

[0033] In another embodiment, steps 40-47 of the first embodiment are preferably executed. After the river card is shown and the fourth betting round is completed, for every player, only any 2 or 3 of the 4 hole cards are preferably combined with only any 2 or 3 out of the 4 community cards. That is, if 2 hole cards are used for the combination, 3 community cards must be used. If 3 hole cards are used for the combination, 2 community cards must be used. The combinations may either be the five card poker hand with the highest value (hereinafter "High Hand"), the five card poker hand with the lowest value (hereinafter "Low Hand") or both. To qualify to win with a Low Hand combination, the following rules preferably apply. First, the player must not have any card above the 7. Second, the player's five card poker hand must not have a pair, three of a kind, or four of a kind. Third, the player may have a straight or a flush in his Low Hand. Fifth, an ace is preferably the card with the lowest value. [0034] All the High Hands are preferably compared. All the Low Hands are preferably compared. The pot is preferably split between the player with the best High Hand and the player with the best Low Hand. It is noted that in certain situations, there may only be a High Hand winner and no Low Hand winner. In this situation, the player wins the entire pot. It is also noted that in certain situations, the same player may have the High Hand and the Low Hand. In this situation, the player also wins the entire pot.

[0035] With reference back to figures 5 and 6, if the second embodiment of the poker game of the present invention is played with the cards shown, it can first be observed that a Low Hand cannot be formed from the cards of Player 1 because a pair will exist with Player 1 's five card whether he only uses the combination of 2 hole cards and 3 community cards or 3 hole cards and 2 community cards. A Low Hand also cannot be formed from the cards of Player 2 because all cards of Player 2 are above 7. Since no Low Hand exists, the winner will only be the set of cards with the highest value. Since Player 1 has a full house and Player 2 only has a straight, Player 1 wins and takes the pot.

[0036] The poker games of the present invention may be played with a 52 card deck. Preferably 2 to 10 players may play. It is noted that in conventional Omaha High Low Poker, the number of cards that exist to make a low hand is 32, counting the aces thru the eights. With the second embodiment of the present invention, the total for low is 28 each, counting the aces thru the sevens for low. Thus, the present invention provides lesser cards to form the low hand than the convention.

[0037] It can now be realized that the present invention provides various forms of poker games, which can bring refreshing excitement and challenge to poker players. The poker games of the present invention can attract novice, intermediate, and expert players of conventional poker games with their unique rules and the unique impact on the outcome of the games that these rules bring. The poker games of the present invention may also provide new poker games that may have less predictable outcomes than the conventional, popular, and often played poker games. They may also present renewed opportunity to formulate new winning strategies to players.

[0038] Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the game may be played

in various settings, such as casinos, homes, and online gaming sites. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. The invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the above description or as illustrated in the drawings.