DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. With reference to FIG. 1, the game is preferably played on a table having thereon a layout 10 providing various indicated areas for one or more players to place their wagering options. Alternatively, the game could be played on video machine or computer which displays a video representation of the layout 10. Players place their bets on the layout 10 wherein each designated area indicates the proposition being wagered upon according to the method of the present invention. When the game according to the method is played in a live table game format, a casino dealer stands at one side 12 of the layout 10 to oversee the game and deal the cards. About the layout 10 are positions for the players to occupy during the play of the game. With reference to FIG. 2 a bank and work area 20 is provided adjacent to the layout 10 for the dealer to stack and arrange checks.

[0020] To play the game according to the method of the present invention each player makes one or more selected wagers by placing their checks (also referred to as chips) in wagering areas on the layout 10 corresponding to their desired wager. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that numerous wagering opportunities are presented for the player, these wagering opportunities related to playing cards. These wagering opportunities will now be described.

[0021] 1. Single Card

[0022] With reference to the layout 10 there is seen representations of twelve playing cards, Ace-Queen for each suit of Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs.

[0023] Accordingly the layout 10 is divided into twelve card areas 22a-l each bearing a designation for a playing card value, e.g. a “Q” for a Queen, a “6” for a 6. Each of the aforesaid areas 22a-f is further divided into four quadrants 24a-d to designate the suit for each card value. As shown, 24a designates 24b designates 24c designates ⋄ and 24d designates Thus quadrant 24a in area 22a designates a Queen of Hearts (QThis sequence is replicated for each value of the cards represented on the layout 10. While the layout 10 does not include any areas for Kings, which according to the preferred embodiment are excluded from single card wagers (or multiple card wagers as hereinafter describer) it should be understood that the method could be embodied by excluding Queens, Jacks or any other selected card from the wagering layout 10.

[0024] Also included on the layout 10 is an area 26 designated as “Joker” by which the player may make a wager on the Joker.

[0025] Thus the player may wager upon one or more single cards by indicating a wager in the corresponding area. In the preferred embodiment and in the table game format the player would be issued distinguishing color chips (as in Roulette) and he would indicate his wager by placing his color chip(s) in the desired amount in the quadrant 24a-d for the area 22a-l. For example the player may place a chip in quadrants 24a,c in area 22a indicating wagers on a Queen of Hearts and Queen of Diamonds. The player may make as many single card wagers as he desires.

[0026] 2. Split

[0027] The player may also split a wager between two, three and four cards. For example to place a split wager for the ⋄ and Athe player would place their chip on the line between the areas 24c and 24a for the Queen and Ace areas 22a, 22g. The player has thus split their wager between two cards.

[0028] To wager on three cards, the only position on the table permitting a three-way wager is between the Joker area 26 and a selected and adjoining pair of cards at the Queen-Ace areas 22a, 22g. For example, by placing a chip at the intersection of the line between the Q⋄ and Aand at the line denoting the Joker area 26 the player would be wagering on the Joker, Q⋄ and A

[0029] For a four way split wager the player can place their wager at the intersection of four quadrants. For example, to wager on the Q⋄, QAAthe player would place their chip at the intersections of the quadrants 24c, 24d for the Queen and quadrants 24a, 24b for the Ace. Shown by chip 38.

[0030] 3. Red/Black/High/Low

[0031] With reference to the layout 10 there is seen color areas 28a,b which relate to the red and black colors of the suits of playing cards. Thus the player may wager that the table card selected in the manner described below will be of a suit of a certain color, i.e. red or black. To make such a wager the player placed their color chip in the color area 28a,b indicating the desired wager.

[0032] Also seen are high and low areas 30a,b. By placing a chip in the high area 30a the player is wagering that the table card will be of a value, regardless of suit, of 7-Queen. By making a low wager the player is wagering that the selected table card will be of a value, regardless of suit, of Ace-6.

[0033] 4. Suit Wager

[0034] Suit areas 32a-d are provided on the layout 10 for the player to wager that the table card will be of a particular suit, Hearts, Diamonds, Spades or Clubs, respectively.

[0035] 5. Section Wagers

[0036] On the layout 10 are provided section areas 34a-c which designate wagers on groups of four cards each of any suit. Thus a wager placed in section area 34a indicates a wager that the table card will be one of a Queen, Jack, Ace or 2 (any suit). Such a wager in effect covers sixteen individual cards.

[0037] 6. Column Wagers

[0038] The layout 10 includes column wager areas 36a-d which correspond to certain cards in the grid including the areas 22a-f. A wager placed in a column wager area 36a-d correspond to a wager that the selected table card will be one of a plurality of cards as described below: 1

[0039] Thus each column wager embraces twelve individual cards.

[0040] 7. Street Wager

[0041] a. Single Street Wager

[0042] To make a Single Street wager, the player places his chip(s) at the end of a line of two adjacent areas 22a-l, i.e. areas 22a,g running toward the one side of the table and associated with suit colors red or black. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, a wager placed at 41 is a wager that the table card will be one of a Queen or Ace or ⋄ encompassing four cards.

[0043] b. Double Street Wager

[0044] A double street wager is a wager placed upon to adjacent “Streets”. For example, if the wager at position 41 were placed instead at 43, the player would be wagering that the selected card will be one of a Queen or Ace of any suit thus encompassing eight cards. A wager placed at position 45 would be a wager on the cards of QQAAJJ⋄, 2and 2⋄.

[0045] 8. Joker's 3-Way

[0046] This wager is wagering that the outcome will be a Joker or one of the cards of the adjacent areas, i.e. Joker or QQ⋄, or a Joker or AA⋄. In the preferred embodiment of the game two Jokers are used, hence the wager encompasses three outcomes.

[0047] 9. Corner

[0048] This wager is place at a corner and encompasses four cards. For example if the wager is placed at 38 the wager encompasses four cards Q⋄, QAA

[0049] 10. Six Cards

[0050] This wager is at the end of the table on the line between and includes the “Joker” (two Jokers) and the QQ⋄, Aand A⋄.

[0051] The above wagers illustrate the various and many wagering opportunities for the basic game according to the present invention. Additional wagers may be made by placing wagers at various intersections on the layout 10 grid.

[0052] In addition two bonus wager areas 65a, b are provided for the player to make a bonus wager as hereinafter described. To participate in bonus aspect of the game the player must make a Joker's Wild or Kings Bonus wager area 65a or b. The features of the bonus aspects of the game will now be described.

[0053] The Joker's Wild Bonus Wager

[0054] A wager by the player in the Joker's Wild jackpot area 65a is a wager by the player directed to the composition of the game hand. For this wager, the Joker is wild and can represent any other card in the deck to complete a jackpot outcome. For example, if the game hand includes a Joker and four 4s, the game hand would by a Five-of-a-Kind. The rankings and payoffs provided for a Joker's Wild Jackpot wager are based upon the rankings of hands of Poker and are as set forth in Table 1 below: 2

[0055] The payoffs suggested above provide the casino with a 1.87% advantage. Of course the payoffs could be adjusted to provide a greater or lesser advantage. Thus if the player has placed a wager in area 65a and the five card game hand has one of the winning outcome combinations set forth in Table 1 the player would receive a payoff. Otherwise the player loses their wager.

[0056] As an alternative embodiment the game hand may be dealt to have seven cards with the outcome being the highest ranking five card Poker hand which can be assembled from those seven cards. In such as case the pay table of Table 1 would have to be adjusted accordingly. Still further the outcome could also be determined on a deuces wild format (where the 2s are wild) or a Jokers and deuces wild format. Again in such an instance the pay table of Table 1 would have to be adjusted to accommodate the higher likelihood that winning combinations can be obtained.

[0057] The Kings Bonus

[0058] By placing a wager in the Kings Bonus area 65b the player is wagering that the game hand will contain one or more Kings. The pay table for the Kings Bonus is set forth in Table 2 below. 3

[0059] If a player makes both bonus wagers they can win both, e.g. a game hand of four Kings and a Joker would be, for the Joker's Bonus, a five-of-a-kind and for the Kings Bonus a four-of-a-kind. Again, the game can be played with more cards in the game hand, e.g. seven or in a deuces wild or Joker's and deuces wild format and the pay table adjusted accordingly. For example, for the King's Bonus, the Joker(s) could be wild resulting in a pay out table as suggested below. Thus the Joker's can be wild for both the King's and Joker's Bonuses. 4

[0060] To select an outcome for the game the dealer, from a standard, shuffled, deck of playing cards and two Joker cards deals, face up, five playing cards 50a-e each into the dealt card area 52a-e on the layout 10 near the dealer position 12. The five cards 50a-e are randomly selected from the deck as by dealing and representing a five card table hand. In the preferred embodiment, the deck of cards is a standard fifty-two card deck plus two Jokers, however, it is contemplated that fewer or more Jokers could be used.

[0061] After the five cards 50a-e have been dealt, the dealer resolves any bonus wagers by the players. If any bonus outcome, Jokers or Kings Bonus, has been wagered upon and a qualifying outcome is represented by the game hand, any winning wagers are paid according to Tables 1 or 2 above. If the game hand does not result in a winning outcome for any bonus wager, any corresponding wagers are lost and such wagers are collected by the dealer and removed from the playing surface.

[0062] After both bonus wagers are resolved, a player is selected to select a table card from the cards of the game hand. This selection is done randomly. A method for selecting the table card is by the selected player using a shaker and a six sided die with the sides denoted 1-5 and “Pass”. Instead of using a shaker, a designated location may be provided on the table for the player to throw the die. Each player in turn has an opportunity to roll the die to select the table card from the five cards 50a-e. If a player at their turn rolls a Pass the die is passed to the next player in order. After a player has rolled the die to select an outcome. I.e. not a “Pass” outcome, the die is passed to the next player for the next hand of play. Alternatively the dealer can roll the die or a random number generator such as a computer can randomly select a number between one and five. A clock feature may also be provided to denote the time between selection of outcomes for the players to make their wagers.

[0063] After a random number between one and five is selected, the card 50a-e corresponding to that card as numbered from right to left for the players, becomes the table card. For example, if the player rolled a four, the table card would be a 10. It is to be noted that if the selected table card is a King value card, the card to the right from the player's perspective is selected until a non-King value table card is established defining a table card outcome for the game. A puck or other marker may be used to designate the outcome on the layout similar to that of Roulette.

[0064] With the table card revealed as an outcome the dealer pays and collects the wagers corresponding to that outcome. The payoff is according to the following schedule of Table 3: 5

[0065] After all wagers have been paid or collected, the game hand is removed and the deck reshuffled for the play of the next hand.

[0066] While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set forth herein. For example the game, insofar as the bonus wager and winning table hand combinations is concerned could be played in a Joker/Deuces wild format with the payoffs adjusted accordingly. An alternate embodiment is contemplated in which a single player or multiple players play against a video machine or computer which displays the layout 10 and provides by touch screen or otherwise the various wagering opportunities, or a selected group thereof, for the player. In this embodiment, where a group of players play using a common outcome a timer is necessary and the video machine or computer deals electronic representations of five playing cards 50a-e and the selection of the table card when prompted by the player.

[0067] Still further, more than five cards may be selected to constitute the table hand, e.g. seven cards, with the best five cards used to form the highest table hand outcome for purposes of determining the bonus wagers.