US008500126B1 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 8,500,126 B1 Lo (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 6,2013 (54) METHODS OF PLAYINGA MULTI-VARIANT Baduci: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ POKER GAME Baduci, Jun. 12,2013. Omaha hold ’em: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia. (76) Inventor: Kendrick Lo, Toronto (CA) org/wiki/Omahaipoker, Jun. 12, 2013. Razz (poker): downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia.org/ ( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this wiki/RaZZi(poker), Jun. 12, 2013. patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Draw poker: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia.org/ U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. wiki/Tripleidraw, Jun. 12, 2013. Community card poker: downloaded from the Internet, http://en. (21) Appl.No.: 13/440,417 wikipedia.org/wiki/Communityicardipoker, Jun. 12, 2013. Lowball (poker): downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia. (22) Filed: Apr. 5, 2012 org/wiki/Kansasicityilowball, Jun. 12, 2013. Stud poker: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia.org/ (51) Int. Cl. wiki/Studipoker, Jun. 12, 2013. A63F 1/00 (2006.01) Seven-card stud: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia. (52) US. Cl. org/wiki/SeveniCardiStud, Jun. 12, 2013. USPC ........................................................ .. 273/292 How to Play Badacey: downloaded from the Internet, http://www. onlinebadugi.com/badugi-rules/badacey/, Jun. 12, 2013. (58) Field of Classi?cation Search RaZZdugi: downloaded from the Internet, http://www.raketracker. USPC ........................................................ .. 273/292 com/poker-rules/razzdugi.htrnl. See application ?le for complete search history. * cited by examiner (56) References Cited Primary Examiner * Michael Dennis U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,762,340 A * 6/1998 Feola .......................... .. 273/292 (57) ABSTRACT 7,727,060 B2* 6/2010 Mills ............................. .. 463/13 Methods of playing a multi-Variant poker game using a stan OTHER PUBLICATIONS dard 52-card deck of playing cards are described herein. In Wikipedia, “List of poker variants”. Downloaded from the Internet at one embodiment, the poker game comprises hands associated with a speci?c combination of poker game Variants that http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listiofipokerivariants on Apr. 5, 2012. include Badugi, Badeucy, Pot Limit Omaha, RaZZ, Deuce-to 2013 World Series of Poker Of?cial Dealer Guide, pp. 23-31: down Seven Triple Draw, RaZZdugi, CraZy Pineapple Hi-Lo, Fixed loaded from the Internet, wsop.com/2013/2013iWSOPiDealeri Limit Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Kansas City Lowball, Stud Guide.pdf, Jun. 12,2013. Hi-Lo, and Seven Card Stud. Badugi: downloaded from the Internet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Badugi, Jun. 12,2013. 20 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet 1 Ba Badugi Z By Badeucy 3 A Pot Limit Omaha 4 R Razz w 5 T Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw 6 l Razzdugi 7 C Crazy Pineapple Hi-Lo 8 H Fixed Limit Hold’em 9 0 Omaha Hi-Lo 10 K Kansas City Lowball 11 E Stud Hi-Lo (aka. Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Eight~or~Better) 12 S Seven Card Stud US. Patent Aug. 6,2013 US 8,500,126 B1 1 Ba Badugi Z By Bacleucy 3 A Pot Limit Omaha 4 R Razz 5 T Deuce-to-Seven Tripie Draw 6 I Razzdugi 7 C Crazy Pineapple Hi-Lo 8 H Fixed Limit Hold’em 9 0 Omaha Hi-Lo 10 K Kansas City Lowball 11 E Stud Hi-Lo [a.k.a. Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Eight-or~Better] 12 S Seven Card Stud US 8,500,126 B1 1 2 METHODS OF PLAYING A MULTI-VARIANT ting during the play of the hand, and the amount of each POKER GAME bet or raise is ?xed for a given round. Omaha Hi-Lo: FIELD In the play of each hand, each player is dealt four private cards (“hole cards”). Five community cards are dealt. A Embodiments described herein relate generally to poker ?ve-card poker hand consists of exactly tWo of a player’ s games, and more speci?cally, to methods of playing and hole cards and exactly three of the ?ve community cards. offering for play a poker game using a standard 52-card deck The player(s) With the highest ?ve-card poker hand Wins of playing cards. one half of the pot, and the player(s) With the loWest ?ve-card poker hand consisting of differently-ranked BACKGROUND cards ranked eight or loWer (ignoring straights and ?ushes) Wins the other half of the pot. There are four Numerous poker game variants have been developed to rounds of betting during the play of the hand, and the enhance player interest. Known poker game variants such as amount of each bet or raise is typically ?xed for a given Seven Card Stud and, more recently, No Limit Hold’ em have round in H.O.R.S.E. experienced considerable popularity. RaZZ: The play of a hand of some poker game variants involves In the play of each hand, each player is dealt tWo private discarding and/ or draWing of cards, While in other poker cards (“hole cards”), folloWed by four cards dealt face game variants, discarding and/or draWing individual cards are up Which are not shared With other players, and a ?nal, not permitted. The play of a hand of some poker game variants 20 third private card for a total of seven cards. The object is involves the use of community cards that are shared betWeen to make the loWest ?ve-card poker hand using any com all players and may be used by any player, Whereas in other bination of a player’s seven cards. Straights and ?ushes poker game variants, no cards are typically shared betWeen are ignored. There are ?ve rounds of betting during the players. In some poker game variants, accumulated Wagers play of the hand, and the amount of each bet or raise is made during a hand (i.e. the “pot”) are generally aWarded to 25 ?xed for a given round. the player(s) With the highest ranking poker hand, Whereas in Seven Card Stud: other poker game variants, the accumulated Wagers may be In the play of each hand, each player is dealt tWo private split amongst multiple players (eg between the player(s) cards (“hole cards”), folloWed by four cards dealt face With the highest ranking poker hand and the player(s) With the up Which are not shared With other players, and a ?nal, loWest ranking poker hand). 30 third private card for a total of seven cards. The object is to make the highest ?ve-card poker hand using any com BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING bination of a player’ s seven cards. There are ?ve rounds of betting during the play of the hand, and the amount of FIG. 1 is a chart illustrating an example combination of each bet or raise is ?xed for a given round. different poker game variants playable in a method of playing 35 Stud Hi-Lo (also knoWn as Seven Card Stud Eight-or and/ or dealing a poker game in accordance With at least one Better): embodiment. In the play of each hand, each player is dealt tWo private cards (“hole cards”), folloWed by four cards dealt face DESCRIPTION up Which are not shared With other players, and a ?nal, 40 third private card for a total of seven cards. The player(s) Many poker games played in a casino setting (e.g. land With the highest ?ve-card poker hand, made using any based or online), Whether in a tournament format in Which combination of a player’s seven cards, Wins one half of tournament chips are used for Wagering, or in a ring game the pot; the player(s) With the loWest ?ve-card poker format in Which chips having a cash value are typically used hand consisting of differently-ranked cards ranked eight for Wagering, involve the dealing and playing of a single, 45 or loWer (ignoring straights and ?ushes) Wins the other speci?c poker game variant. As examples, a player may enter half of the pot. There are ?ve rounds of betting during the a No Limit Hold’em poker tournament, in Which No Limit play of the hand, and the amount of each bet or raise is Hold’em is played exclusively, or a Pot Limit Omaha ring ?xed for a given round. game, in Which the poker game variant Pot Limit Omaha is As a further example, a poker game in Which eight different played exclusively. 50 poker game variants are played is knoWn as “Eight-Game HoWever, some poker games in Which multiple poker game Mix”. The poker game variants played include those played in variants are played, are knoWn. Poker games in Which some H.O.R.S.E. as noted above, With the folloWing additions: combination of different poker game variants are played are No Limit Hold’em: steadily increasing in popularity. These multi-variant poker In the play of each hand, each player is dealt tWo private games (also referred to as “mixed games”) may be seen by 55 cards (“hole cards”). Five community cards are dealt. certain players as being less monotonous than single-variant The object is to make the highest ?ve-card poker hand games, and/or as a more challenging game Where success using any combination of a player’s tWo hole cards and demands a greater level of mastery of poker skills. the ?ve community cards. There are four rounds of bet For example, a poker game in Which ?ve different poker ting during the play of the hand, and the maximum game variants are played is knoWn as H.O.R.S.E.