A multi-stage card game includes stages at which each player selects which unrevealed cards are to be played. In one implementation, bets are received for at least some stages of a multi-stage poker-like game. Cards are dealt into an unrevealed dealer hand and an unrevealed player hand for each player. For at least one of the stages, each player selects one of the cards from the player's unrevealed hand to reveal in order to access a progression of payout schedules. Each player's hand accumulates player-selected cards across the stages of the game and across associated payout schedules, until all cards are revealed. A player's poker hand is then compared to the dealer's poker hand for potential payout. Opportunities for bonus bets are also interjected into implementations of the game.
1. An electronic game table, comprising:
multiple video displays;
a game processor to execute game instructions and create images of virtual game pieces to present on the multiple video displays;
wherein the game instructions include instructions for:
receiving player bets for at least some stages of a multi-stage poker game;
wherein each player places an ante bet, a first-card-reveal bet, and a second-card-reveal bet;
offering to receive a final-hand bonus bet from at least one player, wherein the final-hand bonus bet is equal to or less than the ante bet;
dealing a hand of five cards face down to a dealer hand and to each player hand;
revealing two-cards from the dealer hand;
doubling the ante bet of at least one player selecting to double the ante bet based on the revealed cards from the dealer hand;
for each non-dealer player, receiving a selection of a first card to reveal from the unrevealed cards of the player hand;
settling the first-card-reveal bet based on the selected first card and on a first payout scheme that pays the player 1 to 1 on the first-card-reveal bet when the selected first card has a denomination of nine or higher;
for each non-dealer player, receiving a selection from the player of a second card to reveal from the unrevealed cards of the player hand;
settling the second-card-reveal bet based on the selected second card and on a second payout scheme that pays the player one of 1 to 1 for a two-card flush, 1 to 1 for a two-card straight, 3 to 1 for a pair, or 4 to 1 for a two-card straight flush;
revealing remaining unrevealed cards in the dealer hand and in each player hand;
settling the ante bet or the double ante bet of a player by comparing a first poker hand created by the revealed cards of the player hand with a second poker hand created by the revealed cards of the dealer hand, wherein when the dealer hand is at least king-high and the first poker hand beats the second poker hand then the player is paid 1 to 1 on the ante bet or the doubled ante bet, and wherein if the dealer hand is not at least king-high, then the ante bet or the doubled ante bet is pushed;
for each player placing a final-hand-bonus bet, settling the final-hand-bonus bet based on the revealed cards of the player hand and on a final-hand-bonus bet payout scheme that pays the player one of:
1 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a three-card flush;
1 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a three-card straight;
2 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a three-of-a-kind poker hand;
3 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a four card flush;
3 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a four card straight;
4 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a four-of-a-kind poker hand;
5 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a five card flush;
8 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a five card straight;
80 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a five card straight flush; and
200 to 1 on the final-reveal bonus bet when the revealed playing cards in the player hand create a five card royal flush.