A computer implemented method for playing a hold ‘em card game with two hands over the Internet, the method comprising:
- receiving a first input, wherein the first input is indicative of an initial wager from a player for each of a first hand and a second hand of the two hand hold ‘em card game,
- transmitting a first set of data communications, wherein the first set of data communications is associated with a first set of actions of the two hand hold ‘em game, wherein the first set of actions includes:
- dealing three community cards face up, the three community cards comprising a flop,
- dealing three dealer cards to a dealer of the two hand hold ‘em card game, the three dealer cards disposed face down, and
- dealing four hole cards to the player,
- receiving a second input, wherein the second input is indicative of an option to swap one card from each of the first hand and second hand,
- receiving a third input, wherein the third input is indicative of a first post-initial wager for the first hand and the second hand, the first post-initial wager including at least one multiple of the initial wager on none of, one of, or both of the first set and second set of two hole cards,
- transmitting a second set of data communications, wherein the second set of data communications is associated with a second set of actions of the two hand hold ‘em game, wherein the second set of actions includes:
- dealing a fourth community card face up, the fourth community card comprising a turn, and
- dealing a fifth community card face up, the fifth community card comprising a river, and
- revealing the dealer's three dealer cards to the player,
- determining a best of five-card hand for the player for each of the first hand and the second hand, wherein the best of five-card hand for the first hand comprises a best five-card hand according to a poker hand ranking from among the first set of two hole cards and the flop, the turn, and the river, wherein the best of five-card hand for the second hand comprises a best five-card hand according to the poker hand ranking from among the second set of two hole cards and the flop, the turn, and the river,
- determining a best of five-card hand for the dealer, wherein the best of five-card hand for the dealer comprises a best five-card hand according to the poker hand ranking from among the three dealer cards and the flop, the turn, and the river,
- determining a set of winning hands comprising none of, one of, or both of the player's best of five-card hand for the first hand and the second hand, wherein the determining the set of winning hands comprises comparing the player's best of five-card hand for each of the first hand and the second hand against the dealer's best of five-card hand to determine a highest poker hand ranking,
- transmitting a third set of data communications, and wherein the third set of data communications is indicative of the set of winning hands,
- presenting to the player strategic options and wagering opportunities using the initial wager and at least one post-initial wager to maximize an expected value of a return of wagering units, and
- wherein presenting to the player of the strategic options and wagering opportunities comprises receiving the player actions, which are representative of a joint optimization of the post-initial wager maximizing, before the fourth and fifth community cards are dealt, (a) the expected return over the first hand, or (b) the expected return over the second hand, or (c) the joint expected return over both the first and second hands.