Method and apparatus for playing a poker game with a unique betting format

A method of playing a poker card game using a standard 52 card playing deck, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first betting category having a plurality of options;
• providing a second betting category having a plurality of options;
• providing a third betting category having a plurality of options;
• dealing a predetermined like number of initial cards to 8 separate hands, at least one of the initial cards for each of the 8 separate hands being dealt face-up;
• dealing 5 communal cards to a board area, wherein two of the 5 cards are dealt face up;
• at least one player selecting and wagering on at least one option from at least one betting category;
• turning all cards initially dealt face down face up;
• and
• comparing each of the separate hands, in conjunction with the communal cards, to each option in each betting category to determine at least one winning option.

A method of playing a poker card game using a standard 52 card playing deck, the method comprising the steps of:

• dealing two face-up initial cards to eight separate hands;
• providing a first betting category having eight options, each option corresponding to one of the eight separate hands;
• providing a second betting category having nine options, each option corresponding to a poker rank;
• providing a third betting category having six options, each option corresponding to a set of three hands from the eight hands, with no two options including the same three hands;
• providing a fourth betting category having four options, the four options corresponding to poker hands containing, respectively, Three Fours or Lower, Three Jacks or Higher, Ace-Queen High or Lower, and Pair Fours or Lower;
• providing predetermined odds for each option in each betting category;
• dealing five face-down communal cards to a board area;
• at least one player placing at least one wager on at least one option from at least one betting category;
• turning all cards initially dealt face down face up;
• comparing each of the separate hands, in conjunction with the communal cards, to each option in each betting category to determine at least one winning option;
• comparing the at least one player's wager against the at least one winning option to declare the at least one player a winner if the at least one player's selection is the winning option;
• and
• paying the at least one player a predetermined amount, based on the odds for the winning option, if the at least one player has been declared a winner.

An apparatus for playing a card game in which at least one player plays the card game, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one standard deck of poker playing cards;
• a playing surface with a first and second betting category;
• a plurality of wagering options being represented by plurality of separate locations within each of the first and second betting categories;
• a predetermined number of positions for the display of a plurality of cards grouped into a plurality of hands;
• wherein the plurality of wagering options in the first betting category correspond to one of each of the positions for the display of a plurality of cards grouped into a plurality of hands;
• wherein the plurality of wagering options in the second betting category each correspond to a hand containing the appropriate combination of cards to create various poker ranks, no two wagering options corresponding to the same poker rank;
• a predetermined position for the display of a plurality of communal cards;
• and at least one marker for indicating a selection of at least one option from at least one betting category.

An electronic apparatus for playing a card game in which at least one player plays the card game against a computer, the apparatus comprising:

• a mechanism for simulating at least one deck of playing cards;
• a mechanism for dealing and displaying an initial number of cards to each of a plurality of hands;
• a mechanism for indicating at least a first and a second betting category, wherein the first and second betting categories each contain at least one wagering option;
• wherein the plurality of wagering options in the first betting category correspond to one of the plurality of hands;
• wherein the plurality of wagering options in the second betting category each correspond to a hand containing the appropriate combination of cards to create various poker ranks, no two wagering options corresponding to the same poker rank;
• a mechanism for indicating the at least one player's selection and wager placed on at least one option from the first or second betting categories;
• a mechanism for simulating the dealing and displaying an additional number of communal cards;
• and
• a mechanism for determining whether the at least one player wins or loses.