Modified playing cards and method of use

A method of conducting a video poker game comprising:

• accepting a player wager;
• displaying five random cards from a group consisting of fifty-two cards formed by replacing one or more cards from a deck of conventional playing cards having fifty-two cards depicting heart suits, diamond suits, spade suits and club suits with each suit including thirteen cards comprising ranks from two through ace, wherein the conventional playing cards depict a card rank and a number of pips matching the depicted card rank or a graphical representation corresponding to a face card rank, with alternative cards each alternative card consisting of a suit, and logo or non-ranking letter, each of said alternative cards having no depicted card rank or graphical representation of a face card rank, wherein the alternative cards may take on multiple ranks selected from the ranks of the conventional cards the alternative cards replaced;
• providing means for the player to hold or fold each of the five cards;
• replacing any folded cards with new cards from cards remaining in the group of fifty-two cards, including the alternative cards;
• and
• providing a player a payout or award based on a strength of a final poker hand in combination with any alternative cards used to form said final poker hand.

A method of conducting a video poker game comprising:

• accepting a player wager;
• displaying five random cards from a group consisting of fifty-two cards formed by forty-seven unique, conventional playing cards, wherein the conventional playing cards depicting heart suits, diamond suits, spade suits and club suits, with each suit including thirteen cards comprising ranks from two through ace, and a card rank and a number of pips matching the depicted card rank or a graphical representation corresponding to a face card rank, and five alternative cards each alternative card consisting of a suit, and logo or non-ranking letter, each of said alternative cards having no depicted card rank or graphical representation of a face card rank, wherein the alternative cards may take on multiple ranks selected from the ranks of the conventional cards the alternative cards replaced;
• providing means for the player to hold or fold each of the five cards;
• replacing any folded cards with new cards from cards remaining in the group of fifty-two cards;
• and
• providing a player a payout or award based on a strength of a final poker hand in combination with any alternative cards used to form said final poker hand.