6 1/2 Card poker game
A casino wagering game is played in which hand rank or hand count is determined by the provision of symbols dealt to at least a player. A player places at least a first wager on an underlying card game in which a player hand competes with a dealer hand. X cards are dealt to a dealer to form a dealer hand. A random number of cards are dealt to a player that has placed the at least a first wager to form a player hand. The random number is selected from a defined set of numbers including at least one number less than X and X. The ranks of the dealer hand and the player hand are compared, and the at least first wager is resolved. Typically ranks of the dealer hand and the player hand are based upon poker ranks for a hand of Y cards, and Y is selected from the group consisting of 3, 4 and 5, while X is selected from 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, with X≧Y.
1 . A method of playing a casino wagering game in which hand rank or hand count is determined by the provision of symbols dealt to at least a player comprising:
a player placing at least a first wager on an underlying card game in which a player hand competes with a dealer hand;
dealing X cards to a dealer to form a dealer hand;
dealing a random number of cards to a player that has placed the at least a first wager to form a player hand, the random number being selected from a defined set of numbers including at least one number less than X and X;
comparing ranks of the dealer hand and the player hand; and
resolving the at least first wager.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein ranks of the dealer hand and the player hand are based upon poker ranks for a hand of Y cards.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein Y is selected from the group consisting of 3, 4 and 5.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein Y is 5.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 6 and 7.
6 . The method of claim 2 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 6 and 7.
7 . The method of claim 4 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 6 and 7.
8 . The method of claim 3 wherein Y is 5 and X is 7.
9 . The method of claim 8 wherein the defined set of numbers is selected from the group consisting of 6 and 7.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the player views the random number of cards dealt to the player and either folds or makes a second wager.
11 . The method of claim 5 wherein the player views the random number of cards dealt to the player and either folds or makes a second wager.
12 . The method of claim 7 wherein the player views the random number of cards dealt to the player and either folds or makes a second wager.
13 . The method of claim 9 wherein the player views the random number of cards dealt to the player and either folds or makes a second wager.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the player places a separate side bet against a pay table in addition to the Ante and the side bet is resolved after disclosure of both player and dealer hands.
15 . The method of claim 5 wherein the player places a separate side bet against a pay table in addition to the Ante and the side bet is resolved after disclosure of both player and dealer hands.
16 . The method of claim 12 wherein the player places a separate side bet against a pay table in addition to the Ante and the side bet is resolved after disclosure of both player and dealer hands.
17 . The method of claim 13 wherein the player places a separate side bet against a pay table in addition to the Ante and the side bet is resolved after disclosure of both player and dealer hands.
18 . The method of claim 12 wherein the second wager is between 1 times and 50 times the Ante.
19 . The method of claim 13 wherein the second wager is between 1 times and 50 times the Ante.
20 . The method of claim 17 wherein the second wager is between 1 times and 50 times the Ante.
21 . A wagering game in which a player card hand competes against a dealer hand according to the rules of rank of 5-Card Poker in which a player places an ante wager, the player and the dealer are provided with separate at least 5-Card hands, and after viewing the player card hand, a player must select an amount of a second wager to remain in the game, and the player has a choice of the amount of said second wager between 1× and 50× the ante wager.
22 . The wagering game of claim 21 wherein the player must also make a side bet against a pay table before the player and dealer hands are revealed.
23 . The wagering game of claim 21 wherein rules of comparing hand ranks exclude consideration of kickers along with hand ranks consisting of a pair, two pair, three-of-a-kind and four-of-a-kind and the player wins all ties in the hand ranks.
24 . A method of playing a card game with a required ante in which a player hand competes against a dealer hand consisting of a first number of cards, the card game based upon poker rank of hands, the player randomly receiving a second number of cards selected from a number of cards dealt to a dealer, one card fewer than the first number of cards and one card more than the first number of cards, and after receiving the second number of cards, the player may select between a) wagering an amount that is a whole number multiple of the ante between 1× and 50× or b) forfeiting the ante and folding.
25 . The method of claim 24 wherein determination of randomly receiving a second number of cards is determined by a shuffler having randomizing capability selected from the group consisting of hardware, software, and hardware and software.
26 . An automated wagering gaming event system comprising:
at least two distinct video displays, a first dealer display for showing a foreground image of a dealer in a card game, and at least a second display showing playing cards to multiple players;
at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;
multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;
wherein at least one of the processors can feed at least three different sets of video image data and merge the at least three multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, the processor feeding at least one set as a mask layer and at least one set as an auxiliary dynamic background image, the system implementing play of a game according to the rules:
playing a wagering game comprising the method of claim 1 .
27 . An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel comprising:
a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display for at least two different player positions; and
at least one main game processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table, the system enabling play of a casino table poker-type card game according to the rules:
playing a wagering game comprising the method of claim 1 .
28 . A method of playing a casino wagering game comprising:
a player placing at least one first wager to participate in at least one game selected from the group consisting of a game against a dealer hand and a game against a pay table;
dealing a random number of cards to at least one player, forming an initial hand;
discarding excess cards, if any, to form a hand of X cards; and
resolving the at least one wager.
29 . The method of claim 28 , and further comprising the player placing a second wager to participate in a game against a pay table.
30 . The method of claim 28 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 cards.
31 . The method of claim 28 , and further comprising dealing the dealer more than X cards.
32 . The method of claim 28 , and when the randomly determined number of cards is fewer than X, the player plays with that number of determined cards.