US 2004.0075216A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0075216 A1 Moody (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 22, 2004

(54) POKER GAME Publication Classification

(76) Inventor: Ernest W. Moody, Las Vegas, NV (US) (51) Int. Cl." ...... A63F 1700 (52) U.S. Cl...... 273/292; 273/303 Correspondence Address: JOHN EDWARD ROETHEL (57) ABSTRACT 2290 S. JONES BLVD. #100 LAS VEGAS, NV 89146 (US) A conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards is modified by the addition of at least one extra card which can be of any (21) Appl. No.: 10/429,569 of the conventional card ranks, which can be of a fifth Suit or a duplicate of one of the conventional cards and which is (22) Filed: May 3, 2003 preferably an . This is additional card can also be of any Related U.S. Application Data rank of the conventional cards, but can having a Suit designation of all of the Suits, and is preferably an Ace of all (60) Provisional application No. 60/319,639, filed on Oct. of the Suits. This modified deck of playing cards is used to 21, 2002. play Video poker. US 2004/0075216 A1 Apr. 22, 2004

POKER GAME 0008. The classic draw poker machine has been modified to use Jokers as wild cards or to use Deuces (or even other CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED cards) as wildcards. “Jokers Wild” and “Deuces Wild” draw APPLICATION poker Still display to the player a single five card hand and allow the player to discard unwanted cards and receive 0001. This application is based on and claims the benefit replacement cards. The payout table is modified to recognize of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/319,639, filed Oct. the differing odds for achieving various poker hands when 21, 2002, entitled “Poker Game”, now pending. wild cards are involved. Furthermore, different poker hand 0002 This invention relates primarily to a poker game, rankings are used in the pay table to recognize different and more particularly to a poker game that can be played as winning combinations that can be achieved using wildcards. a live table game or as a Video poker game. One or more 0009. There are many poker formats used in video draw additional cards are added to a Standard fifty-two card deck poker. These poker game formats include Jacks (or even of playing cards. Tens) or Better Draw Poker, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, Double Double Bonus Poker, Super Double Bonus BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Poker, Triple Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild Poker, Jokers Wild Poker, Deuces and Jokers Wild Poker, etc. Many electronic 0.003 Poker is a well known game that traditionally uses Video poker gaming machines are provided with a menu So a fifty-two card deck of Standard playing cards. This deck that the player can indicate his choice of the poker game has four Suits , , and and each format that the player wishes to play and the player then Suit has thirteen cards of the ranks Deuce up to Ace. makes his wager based on upon that choice of poker game 0004 Poker uses poker hand rankings to determine the format. Each poker format has its own pay table associated value of the poker hand. In five card poker, the traditional therewith. poker hand rankings are Royal Flush, a Straight Flush, a 0010 Poker games are played using a “standard” deck or Four of a Kind, a Full House, a Flush, a Straight, a Three of “conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards. As is well a Kind, a Two Pair, one Pair and High Card in the hand. known, a Standard or conventional deck of playing cards has 0005 Poker started as a multiple player game in which a four suits Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs) with each player attempted to achieve a poker hand having a higher Suit having thirteen ranked cards (Deuce, Three, Four, Five, ranking than the poker hand of the other players. With the Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, , , and Ace). advent of casino gaming, poker has also become a single 0011. There have been attempts to add additional cards player game, most often player on an electronic video poker (besides the addition of one or more Jokers) to the conven machine which has become a well know gaming device and tional fifty-two card deck and to use Such a modified deck in is found in most gaming establishments. a Video poker game. In one version, five extra cards were 0006 Video poker that is played on an electronic video added to the fifty-two card deck. These cards were an Ace, poker gaming machine is designed to replicate the play of a a King, a Queen, a Jack and a Ten of a fifth Suit. The hand of poker. Typically, the player is not playing against resulting deck had fifty-Seven cards. The method of play any other player's hands or against a dealers hand; the using this deck was five card draw poker and winning hand player is simply attempting to achieve the highest ranking combinations included Five-of-a-Kind (of , Kings, poker hand possible from the cards displayed to the player. Queens, Jacks or Tens) and a Royal Flush of the fifth suit. The higher the ranking of the poker hand achieved by the 0012 One of the drawbacks of this game was that the player, the greater the player's winnings based on the difficulty of achieving winning hand combinations increases number of , tokens or credits wagered by the player. dramatically when five extra cards are added to the conven Typically, a payout Schedule is posted on the gaming tional fifty-two card deck. The number of possible ending machine to advise the player of the payoffs available for five card hands increases from approximately 2.6 million to certain winning card combinations. approximately 4.2 million. 0007. The forerunner of all electronic video poker gam 0013. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ing machines is the video Draw Poker machine that deals new poker game in which at least one extra card is added to cards from a Standard fifty-two card poker deck and displayS the conventional fifty-two card deck to create at least a a single five card hand to the player. The player then Selects fifty-three card deck. which of the five cards he wishes to hold (or discard 0014. It is a feature of the present invention to provide for depending on the format of the gaming machine). The draw a method of playing poker in which a modified deck of poker machine then displayS replacement cards for the cards playing cards is used. A fifty-third card, which can be of any the player has discarded. The player wins or loses based on of the conventional card ranks but is of a fifth Suit, is added conventional poker hand rankings for the resulting five card to a standard fifty-two card deck. Preferably this fifty-third hand. In video Draw Poker, the conventional poker hand rankings that are winning combinations are a Royal Flush, card is an Ace. a Straight Flush, a Four of a Kind, a Full House, a Flush, a 0015. It is an alternate feature of the present invention to Straight, a Three of a Kind, a Two Pair and a Pair of Jacks provide for a method of playing poker in which a different or Better. Any other poker hand ranking is conventionally a modified deck of playing cards is used. A fifty-third card, losing hand. A payout table is established which shows the which can be of any the conventional card ranks and any of amount to be awarded to the player for winning hands and the original card Suits, is added to a Standard fifty-two card is based on the number of coins wagered by the player and deck. Preferably this fifty-third card is an Ace, such as the the type of poker hand achieved. . US 2004/0075216 A1 Apr. 22, 2004

0016. It is another alternate feature of the present inven 0026. This alternative additional fifty-third card provides tion to provide for a method of playing poker in which a for additional winning outcomes Such as Five-of-a-Kind. If different modified deck of playing cards is used. A fifty-third the fifty-third card is an Ace of All Suits, then the additional card, which can be of any the conventional card ranks and winning card combination would be Five Aces. The prob all of the original card Suits, is added to a Standard fifty-two ability of achieving Some of the conventional winning card card deck. Preferably this fifty-third card is an Ace which is combinations is also increased. considered as having all of the Suits as its Suit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 0.017. It is an advantage of the present invention that, PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS when the additional card is from a fifth Suit, additional winning card combinations can be used which gives the 0027. Either of the modified decks of playing cards and player additional chances to achieve winning outcomes. the methods of the present invention can be applied to any These winning card combinations can include Five-of-a- poker format used for Video poker. A conventional electronic Kind. Video poker machine is used to display the method of play 0.018. It is an alternative advantage of the present inven of the present invention. tion that, when the additional card is from a one of the 0028) Version #1 conventional ranks and from one of the original Suits, 0029. The conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards additional winning card combinations can be used which that is typically used in conventional Video poker is modified gives the player additional chances to achieve winning by the addition of at least one extra card. This fifty-third outcomes. These winning card combinations can include Five-of-a-Kind. The probability of achieving a conventional card, which can be of any of the conventional card ranks but winning outcome may also be increased. is of a fifth suit, is added to the standard fifty-two card deck. 0030) Any of the conventional card ranks can be used 0019. It is another alternative advantage of the present from Deuce through Ace. In the preferred embodiment of the invention that, when the additional card is from a one of the present invention, this fifty-third card is an Ace of any conventional ranks and is considered to be all of the original Suitable fifth Suit, Such as the Ace of Stars. Suits, additional winning card combinations can be used which gives the player additional chances to achieve win 0031. The method of play is conducted in the conven ning outcomes. These winning card combinations can tional manner. The modified fifty-three card deck is elec include Five-of-a-Kind. The probability of achieving a con tronically shuffled and five cards are displayed to the player. Ventional winning outcome may also be increased. The player Selects which of the cards the player wishes to hold and the remaining cards are discarded. Replacement 0020. Other objects, features and advantages of the cards are displayed to the player to create the final five card present invention will become apparent from a consideration hand. The poker hand ranking of the final five card hand is of the following detailed description. determined. If the player has achieved a winning poker hand ranking for the final five card hand, the player receives an SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION award. The amount of the award is based on a pay table which has been displayed to the player. The pay table is 0021. A conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards is determined mathematically based on the probability of modified by the addition of at least one extra card. This achieving the various combinations that are designated as fifty-third card, which can be of any of the conventional card winning poker hand combinations. ranks but is of a fifth Suit, is added to a standard fifty-two card deck. Preferably this fifty-third card is an Ace. 0032) The addition of a fifty-third card of a fifth suit increases the number of possible final five card outcomes 0022. This additional fifty-third card provides for addi from approximately 2.6 million to approximately 2.9 mil tional winning outcomes Such as Five-of-a-Kind. If the lion. Thus the pay table must be adjusted to account for the fifty-third card is an Ace of a fifth suit, then the additional change in the probability of achieving the pre-designated winning card combination would be Five Aces. winning poker hand combinations. Any Suitable pay table 0023 Alternatively, this fifty-third card, which can be of can be used depending on the overall game return which the any the conventional card ranks and any of the original card gaming establishment wishes to offer to the player. suits, is added to a standard fifty-two card deck. Preferably 0033 Since the fifty-third card can be of any conven this fifty-third card is an Ace, Such as the Ace of Spades. tional card rank but of a fifth Suit, an additional winning 0024. This alternative additional fifty-third card provides poker hand ranking of Five-of-a-Kind can be used. If the for additional winning outcomes Such as Five-of-a-Kind. If fifty-third card is an Ace, the additional winning poker hand the fifty-third card is an Ace of Spades, then the additional ranking of Five Aces can be used. winning card combination would be Five Aces. The prob 0034. Additionally, the fifty-third card can be used as a ability of achieving Some of the conventional winning card “kicker much as Aces, Deuces, Threes and Fours are used combinations is also increased. as “kickers” in various poker formats such as in the Double 0.025 In another alternative embodiment, this fifty-third Double Bonus Poker format. The effect of a “kicker' is to card, which can be of any the conventional card ranks and increase the payouts in a pay table when the player achieves is considered to be all of the original card Suits, is added to certain Four-of-a-Kinds as a winning hand combination. a standard fifty-two card deck. Preferably this fifty-third card 0035. For example, if the fifty-third card is an Ace of a is an Ace which is considered to be all of the original card fifth Suit, Such as the Ace of Stars, then the payouts can be Suits. increased when the player achieves Four-of-a-Kind with the US 2004/0075216 A1 Apr. 22, 2004

Ace of Stars as the fifth card kicker. Typically, the payouts by the addition of at least one extra card. This fifty-third would be doubled for achieving a Four-of-a-Kind with this card, which can be of any of the conventional card ranks and kicker. is considered to be all of the conventional Suits, is added to the standard fifty-two card deck. The additional card could 0036 Version #2 be called an All Suits card. 0037. The conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards 0046) Any of the conventional card ranks can be used that is typically used in conventional Video poker is modified from Deuce through Ace. In the preferred embodiment of the by the addition of at least one extra card. This fifty-third present invention, this fifty-third card is an Ace of all of the card, which can be of any of the conventional card ranks and conventional Suits, Such as the Ace of All Suits. any of the conventional Suits, is added to the Standard fifty-two card deck. 0047 The method of play is conducted in the conven tional manner. The modified fifty-three card deck is elec 0.038 Any of the conventional card ranks can be used tronically shuffled and five cards are displayed to the player. from Deuce through Ace. In the preferred embodiment of the The player selects which of the cards the player wishes to present invention, this fifty-third card is an Ace of any of the hold and the remaining cards are discarded. Replacement conventional Suits, Such as the Ace of Spades. cards are displayed to the player to create the final five card 0.039 The method of play is conducted in the conven hand. The poker hand ranking of the final five card hand is tional manner. The modified fifty-three card deck is elec determined. If the player has achieved a winning poker hand tronically shuffled and five cards are displayed to the player. ranking for the final five card hand, the player receives an The player selects which of the cards the player wishes to award. The amount of the award is based on a pay table hold and the remaining cards are discarded. Replacement which has been displayed to the player. The pay table is cards are displayed to the player to create the final five card determined mathematically based on the probability of hand. The poker hand ranking of the final five card hand is achieving the various combinations that are designated as determined. If the player has achieved a winning poker hand winning poker hand combinations. ranking for the final five card hand, the player receives an 0048. The addition of a fifty-third card of any conven award. The amount of the award is based on a pay table tional card rank and any conventional card Suit increases the which has been displayed to the player. The pay table is number of possible final five card outcomes from approxi determined mathematically based on the probability of mately 2.6 million to approximately 2.9 million. Thus the achieving the various combinations that are designated as pay table must be adjusted to account for the change in the winning poker hand combinations. probability of achieving the pre-designated winning poker 0040. The addition of a fifty-third card of any conven hand combinations. Any Suitable pay table can be used tional card rank and any conventional card Suit increases the depending on the Overall game return which the gaming number of possible final five card outcomes from approxi establishment wishes to offer to the player. mately 2.6 million to approximately 2.9 million. Thus the 0049 Since the fifty-third card can be of any conven pay table must be adjusted to account for the change in the tional card rank and is considered to be of all of the probability of achieving the pre-designated winning poker conventional card Suits, an additional winning poker hand hand combinations. Any Suitable pay table can be used ranking of Five-of-a-Kind can be used. If the fifty-third card depending on the overall game return which the gaming is an Ace, the an additional winning poker hand ranking of establishment wishes to offer to the player. Five Aces can be used. 0041 Since the fifty-third card can be of any conven 0050 Additionally, the probability of achieving some of tional card rank and card Suit, an additional winning poker the conventional winning card combinations is also hand ranking of Five-of-a-Kind can be used. If the fifty-third increased. For example, if the fifty-third card added is the card is an Ace, the an additional winning poker hand ranking Aces of All Suits, the fifty-three card deck now has thirteen of Five Aces can be used. Spades, thirteen Hearts, thirteen Diamonds and thirteen Clubs and one card of All Suits. The fifty-three card deck 0.042 Additionally, the probability of achieving some of also has Five Aces. the conventional winning card combinations is also increased. For example, if the fifty-third card added is the 0051 Compared to the conventional fifty-two card deck Aces of Spades, the fifty-three card deck now has fourteen of playing cards, the probability of achieving a Straight Spades and Five Aces. Flush of Ace through Five, a Flush in any suit, a Straight that includes an Ace, Four Aces, Three Aces, a Pair of Aces, a 0.043 Compared to the conventional fifty-two card deck Full House which includes Aces, a Pair of Aces with another of playing cards, the probability of achieving a Spade Pair and even a Royal Flush of any suit have all been Straight Flush of Ace through Five, a Spade Flush, a Straight increased. Likewise, the probability of achieving all of the that includes an Ace, Four Aces, Three Aces, a Pair of Aces, other conventional winning poker hand combinations has a Full House which includes Aces, a Pair of Aces with been decreased. another Pair and even a Spade Royal Flush have all been increased. Likewise, the probability of achieving all of the 0052) If the player has made a wager to participate in the other conventional winning poker hand combinations has method of play of any of the versions of the present been decreased. invention and the player has achieved a winning poker hand combination, the award to the player is based on the pay 0044) Version #3 table and the amount of the player's wager. 004.5 The conventional deck of fifty-two playing cards 0053 Any of the modified decks of playing cards and the that is typically used in conventional Video poker is modified methods of the present can also be employed as a live table US 2004/0075216 A1 Apr. 22, 2004

game in which a dealer deals cards to one or more players 11. The method of playing a card game that uses only a Seated around a gaming table. The game is carried out players hand to determine winning or losing outcomes and Substantially the Same as if being played on an electronic a modified deck of playing cards comprising: Video poker machine. a) providing the modified deck of playing cards which 0054 While the invention has been illustrated with consists essentially of a Standard deck of fifty-two cards respect to Several Specific embodiments thereof, these and a fifty-third card consisting of a card of a fifth Suit embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than and of a rank Selected from the group consisting limiting. Various modifications and additions may be made essentially of Deuce, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace, the invention should not be limited by the foregoing descrip tion, but rather should be defined only by the following b) displaying an initial player's hand of five cards; claims. c) Selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from the initial player's hand as cards to be held; What is claimed is: 1. A deck of playing cards consisting essentially of a d) discarding from the initial player's hand the face up standard deck of fifty-two cards and a fifty-third card cards that were not Selected to be held and replacing consisting of a duplicate of one of the cards of the Standard each of those cards with a face up card resulting in a deck of fifty-two cards. final five card player's hand; 2. The deck of claim 1 in which the fifty-third card is an e) determining the poker hand ranking of the final player's Ace. hand; and 3. A deck of playing cards consisting essentially of a standard deck of fifty-two cards and a fifty-third card f) providing the player an award if the poker hand ranking consisting of a card of a fifth Suit and of a rank Selected from of the final players hand is a winning hand. the group consisting essentially of Deuce, Three, Four, Five, 12. The method of claim 11 in which the player makes a Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace. wager to participate in the game and the award is a monetary 4. A deck of playing cards consisting essentially of a award based on the amount of the wager. standard deck of fifty-two cards and a fifty-third card 13. The method of claim 13 in which the monetary award consisting of an Ace of a fifth Suit. is based on a pay table. 5. A deck of playing cards consisting essentially of a 14. The method of claim 11 in which the fifty-third card standard deck of fifty-two cards and a fifty-third card is an Ace. consisting of a card having a rank Selected from the group 15. The method of claim 14 in which the player makes a consisting essentially of Deuce, Three, Four, Five, Six, wager to participate in the game and the award is a monetary Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Jack, Queen, King and Ace and award based on the amount of the wager. having a Suit of all of the conventional Suits. 16. The method of claim 15 in which the monetary award 6. The deck of claim 5 in which the fifty-third card is an is based on a pay table. Ace. 17. The method of claim 16 in which the pay table 7. The method of playing a card game that uses only a includes increased payouts when the winning hand includes player's hand to determine winning or losing outcomes and the fifty-third card as a kicker. a modified deck of playing cards comprising: 18. The method of playing a card game that uses only a a) providing the modified deck of playing cards which players hand to determine winning or losing outcomes and consists essentially of a Standard deck of fifty-two cards a modified deck of playing cards comprising: and a fifty-third card consisting of a duplicate of one of a) providing the modified deck of playing cards which the cards of the standard deck of fifty-two cards; consists essentially of a Standard deck of fifty-two cards and a fifty-third card consisting of a card having a rank b) displaying an initial player's hand of five cards; Selected from the group consisting essentially of c) Selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from Deuce, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, the initial player's hand as cards to be held; Jack, Queen, King and Ace and having a Suit of all of d) discarding from the initial player's hand the face up the conventional Suits, cards that were not Selected to be held and replacing b) displaying an initial player's hand of five cards; each of those cards with a face up card resulting in a c) Selecting none, one or more of the face up cards from final five card player's hand; the initial player's hand as cards to be held; e) determining the poker hand ranking of the final player's d) discarding from the initial player's hand the face up hand; and cards that were not Selected to be held and replacing f) providing the player an award if the poker hand ranking each of those cards with a face up card resulting in a of the final players hand is a winning hand. final five card player's hand; 8. The method of claim 7 in which the fifty-third card is an Ace. e) determining the poker hand ranking of the final player's 9. The method of claim 7 in which the player makes a hand; and wager to participate in the game and the award is a monetary f) providing the player an award if the poker hand ranking award based on the amount of the wager. of the final players hand is a winning hand. 10. The method of claim 9 in which the monetary award 19. The method of claim 18 in which the fifty-third card is based on a pay table. is an Ace. US 2004/0075216 A1 Apr. 22, 2004

20. The method of claim 18 in which the player makes a 21. The method of claim 20 in which the monetary award wager to participate in the game and the award is a monetary is based on a pay table. award based on the amount of the wager. k . . . .