IP Library Granted Patent US 7,510,190
Granted Patent B2
US 7,510,190 · App. 10/910,799 · Granted Mar 31, 2009

High-low poker wagering games

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,510,190
App. No.
10/910,799
Granted
Mar 31, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game comprises the steps of a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game and dealing at least a partial hand of cards to each player participating in the wagering game. The method includes providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds against a pay table, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand. Additional card are dealt, if necessary to complete each player hand. The method further includes the step of paying a player a payout on the first wager for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand.

Claims (70)

1. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game;

providing a physical deck of playing cards;

dealing at least a partial hand of cards from the physical deck of playing cards to each player participating in the wagering game;

providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds in a paytable, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;

dealing additional cards that are common cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and

paying a player a payout on the first wager from the paytable for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein all the cards in the complete player's hand are dealt in the initial dealing step.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least a partial hand is fewer than all of the cards forming the hand, and further comprising the step of the player electing to make a second wager prior to receiving the additional cards to complete a hand.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank selected from the group consisting of Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5.

5. method of claim 3 wherein the second wager does not require the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand.

6. method of claim 3 , wherein when the player elects not to make the second wager, the player folds and loses the ante wager.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a number of cards in each completed hand is 3, and the predetermined set of game rules for the high-ranking comprises three-card poker rankings, where a straight is a higher rank than a flush.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the maximum low ranking hand is a 9 high.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined set of game rules comprises assigning a numerical value to each card and summing the numerical values in each hand to arrive at a hand count.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein Aces count as 1 or 11 in a low hand according to rules of the wagering game, 1 or 11 in a high hand according to rules of the wagering game, face cards count as 10, and numbered cards count as the respective number printed on the card.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a rank selected from the group consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank selected from the group consisting of Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein play of the wagering game includes underlying play of pai gow poker with a specific wager on a) a front hand, b) a back hand or c) both front hand and back hand to play the wagering game.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein different rules of ranking are used in determining a minimum high-ranking hand and a maximum low ranking hand.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the wagering game comprises a stud poker game.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the wagering game comprises a draw poker game with standard hand rankings used to determine low hands.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the wagering game requires the use of community cards for players.

19. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game;

providing a physical deck of playing cards;

dealing at least a partial hand of cards from the physical deck of playing cards to each player participating in the wagering game;

providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds in a paytable, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;

dealing additional cards that are common cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and

paying a player a payout on the first wager from the paytable for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions;

there are at least two different odds available for a high hand, one different odds being for a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank, and a second different odds being for three-of-a-kind; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.

20. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game;

providing a physical deck of playing cards;

dealing at least a partial hand of cards from the physical playing deck of cards to each player participating in the wagering game;

providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds in a paytable, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;

dealing additional cards that are common cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and

paying a player a payout on the first wager from the paytable for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and

there are at least two different odds available for a low hand, one different odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a first specific rank, and a second odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card in the hand equal to or less than a second specific rank, the second specific rank being lower than the first specific rank.

21. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game;

providing a physical deck of playing cards;

dealing at least a partial hand of playing cards from the physical deck of cards to each player participating in the wagering game;

providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds in a paytable, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;

dealing additional cards that are common cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and

paying a player a payout on the first wager from the paytable for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

there are at least two different odds available for a high hand, one different odds being for a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank, and a second different odds being for three-of-a-kind; and

there are at least two different odds available for a low hand, one different odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a first specific rank, and a second odds being for a hand without a pair with a highest card in the hand equal to or less than a second specific rank, the second specific rank being lower than the first specific rank.

22. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a first wager to participate in the wagering game without competing against a dealer hand;

providing a physical deck of playing cards;

dealing at least a partial hand of cards from the physical deck of playing cards to each player participating in the wagering game;

providing a set of winning outcomes and corresponding payout odds in a paytable, wherein the set of winning outcomes includes at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand;

dealing additional cards without replacing or exchanging cards, if necessary to complete each player hand; and

paying a player a payout on the first wager for obtaining a winning outcome without requiring the player to make an election as between having at least one predetermined minimum high ranking hand against a paytable and at least one predetermined maximum low ranking hand against a paytable.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein all the cards in the complete player's hand are dealt in the initial dealing step without exchanging or replacing any cards.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein a pay table is associated with rules of the wagering game that requires payment to a player according to the following conditions:

a pair equal to or greater than a specific rank; and

a hand without a pair with a highest card rank in the hand equal to or less than a specific rank.

Assignments (16)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 9076307 AND THE OTHER 19 PROPERTIES LISTED ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE ATTACHMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051643 FRAME: 0044. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063122/0655 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; DON BEST SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059756/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 19, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051643/0044 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES REEL/FRAME 034530/0318) Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 047924/0701 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES RF 031744/0825) Recorded Jul 25, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.,FORMERLY KNOWN AS SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 043326/0668 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC; SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC; WMS GAMING INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034530/0318 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034535/0094 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
MERGER Recorded Sep 18, 2014
From: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 033766/0248 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 20, 2014
From: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 032092/0407 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031744/0825 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 25314/0772 Recorded Nov 25, 2013
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 031721/0715 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2011
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 025941/0313 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NA, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 025314/0772 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 19, 2006
From: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018645/0715 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2005
From: SNOW, ROGER M.; SCOTT, ROBERT
To: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 016232/0042 →