# US 7,611,404 B1 · Poker game system having bad beat pot and method of conducting the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,404 B1 - Document ID: US7611404B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 12/406,862 - Filed: 2009-03-18 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-03-18 - Assignees: Pollux LLC - Inventors: Peter M. Hilf; Luis Esparza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611404B1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/3276: {wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament} - G07F 17/3293: {Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack} - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A card game method and system having multiple pots. A first conventional pot is created using wagers placed prior to a final common card or game card and the second pot is created using wagers placed after a final common card or game card is dealt or provided. A player holding a winning poker hand wherein all but the final card is available to form a poker hand wins the first pot. The second pot or at least a portion thereof is won by a player holding a winning hand wherein all common cards are available to form a poker hand. Alternatively, the first and second pots may be paid in the opposite manner or in other designated manners. A jackpot is also conceivable as set forth herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of conducting a poker game comprising: providing a deck of playing cards, card table and a dealer; providing multiple players with one or more concealed cards from said deck of cards; providing multiple common cards during said game in a manner allowing at least three betting rounds to occur during a hand of poker; placing bets into a first pot from each betting round occurring prior to a final common card being provided during said hand of poker; placing bets into a second pot from a betting round occurring after the final common card being provided during said hand of poker; paying said first pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all but the final common card are available to form a poker hand; and paying said second pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the poker game is Texas Hold'em or Omaha. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 facilitated by electronic means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising utilizing both pots only when the game ends heads-up. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising combining the first and second pot when the winning poker hand using all but the final common card fails to exceed a threshold rank and paying the combined pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all of the common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 6 A card game system comprising: a card table; a deck of conventional playing cards; and a dealer, said dealer instructed to deal multiple players positioned at said card table one or more concealed cards from said deck of conventional playing cards; deal multiple common cards from said deck of conventional playing cards in a manner allowing at least two betting rounds to occur during a hand of poker; place bets into a first pot from each betting round occurring prior to a final common card being dealt during said hand of poker; place bets into a second pot from a betting round occurring after the final common card being dealt during said hand of poker; pay said first pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all but the final common cards are available to form a poker hand; and pay said second pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all of the common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The card game system of claim 6 wherein said dealer is further instructed to deal Texas Hold'em or Omaha. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The card game system of claim 6 wherein the dealer is further instructed to utilize both pots only when the game ends heads-up. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The card game system of claim 6 further instructing the dealer to combine the first and second pot when the winning poker hand using all but the final common card fails to exceed a threshold rank and pay the combined pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all of the common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 10 An electronic card game system configured for play over a computer network accessible by player terminals, said terminals including at least a display and user interface, comprising: computer means programmed to: randomly select and cause to be displayed from a simulated deck of conventional playing cards one or more hole cards to multiple players accessing said computer network; cause to be displayed multiple common cards from said simulated deck of conventional playing cards in a manner allowing at least two betting rounds to occur during a hand of poker; place bets into a first pot from each betting round occurring prior to causing a final common card to be displayed from said simulated deck of cards during said hand of poker; place bets into a second pot from a betting round occurring after causing the final common card to be displayed during said hand of poker; pay said first pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all but the final common cards are available to form a poker hand; and pay said second pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all of the common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic card game system of claim 10 wherein said computer means is further programmed to deal Texas Hold'em or Omaha. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electronic game system of claim 10 wherein said via computer means is further programmed to utilize both pots only when the game ends heads-up. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The electronic game system of claim 10 wherein the player terminals are PCs, cellular telephones and PDAs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The card game system of claim 10 wherein said computer means to further programmed to combine the first and second pot when the winning poker hand using all but the final common card fails to exceed a threshold rank and pay the combined pot to a player holding a winning poker hand wherein all of the common cards are available to form a poker hand. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The card game system of claim 10 wherein said computer means is a processor.