US20120086168A1

US20120086168A1 - Method of playing a card game

Info

Publication number: US20120086168A1
Application number: US12/898,889
Authority: US
Inventors: MARK Edward BUFF
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-06
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2012-04-12

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a method of playing a card game, comprising; providing at least one playing card to each of at least two participants to begin a hand; performing at least one round of betting, wherein each of the at least one round of betting comprises each of the at least two participants successively choosing between placing a bet, not placing a bet or surrendering the at least one playing card; and determining at least one winning participant, wherein if a participant choosing to surrender the at least one playing card causes action in the hand to end, then a value of a remaining amount of a predetermined number of at least one community playing card is revealed to the at least two participants.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field
The present invention generally relates to a method for playing a card game and, more particularly, to a method of playing a variation of poker.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, casino card games have seen an increased popularity. In particular, poker has received considerable attention. A wide range of variations exist with regard to the game play of poker, with each variation having its own set of rules and betting structure. The vast majority of variations fall within two distinct categories, known as stud and community card games.
Community card games involve multiple rounds of distributing playing cards to the game participants (“players”), each followed by a round of betting. For example, each player may receive a predetermined number of cards for personal use and a second predetermined number of cards for all players to use (“community cards”). The cards for personal use may be given to the player either face up, face down, or a combination thereof. The community cards may be distributed one at a time or in groups of varying amounts prior to each round of betting.
In each round of betting each participant chooses whether to place a bet, refrain from betting, increase a previous wager, or surrender his cards (“fold”). In the event that a player chooses to fold, he forfeits the opportunity to participate in the remainder of the hand, thereby forfeiting any bets already placed up until that point. Typically, a betting structure is established before the game begins. In each round of betting, any player who wishes to remain in the hand must continuously match (“call”) or increase (“raise”) the highest amount previously wagered. A round may continue up until a predetermined number of turns for each player. As a result, at the end of any given round, all players who remain in the hand must have placed an equal amount of bets.
In each round of betting, any player who chooses to fold his cards must surrender all cards received in that round to the dealer. In the event that all the players except for one player surrender their cards, the hand ends and the remaining player is the winner. In such an event the remaining community cards that have not been dealt are not revealed to the players. However, by not allowing the players to view the value of the unrevealed community cards, the players are forced to base their playing strategy on limited information.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved method of playing variations of poker.

SUMMARY

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention, briefly summarized above and discussed in greater detail below, can be understood by reference to the illustrative embodiments of the invention depicted in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended figures illustrate only exemplary embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a method for playing a card game in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method for playing a card game. The inventive method includes a method for playing a variation of poker, for example community card poker games such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hold'em, or the like. The inventive method may advantageously allow game participants to view the value of otherwise unseen community playing cards, thereby allowing players to adjust their respective playing strategies for future hands accordingly.
FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a method for playing a card game in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. To best understand the invention, the reader should refer simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The method 100 comprises a single hand, which may be repeated any number of times to constitute a full game. For example, a full game may comprise of continually playing hands until all but one player resigns, a predetermined number of hands, a predetermined time frame in which any number of hands may occur, or the like. It is to be understood that the method 100 may be performed using various betting structures in accordance with different forms of community card-based poker games, such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hold'em, or the like. For example, in some embodiments, prior to beginning the method 100 at 102, all participants in the game may be required to place an initial minimum bet (“ante”) to participate in the hand. In some embodiments, such as embodiments conforming to the standard betting structure of Texas Hold'em, the participant to the immediate left of the dealer is required to place an initial bet of a first predetermined amount (“small blind”) and the participant to the left of the participant placing the small blind is required to place an initial bet of a second predetermined amount (“big blind”).
The method 100 begins at 102, where at least one playing card is provided to the game participants. In some embodiments, the at least one playing card may be a “community card”, that is, the at least one card is provided for use by all the players simultaneously. In some embodiments, at least one playing card may be a “hole card”, that is, the at least one playing card may be provided to each participant for use only by the respective participant receiving the at least one playing card. In such embodiments, all participants receive the same amount of playing cards, however, any amount of playing cards may be provided. For example, each participant may receive between 1 and 4 playing cards. In some embodiments, such as in community card games following standard Texas Hold'em rules, each participant may receive 2 hole cards. In some embodiments, such as in community card games following standard Omaha Hold'em rules, each participant may receive 4 hole cards.
The playing cards provided to each participant may be positioned so that the value of the playing card is visible to every participant (“face up”) or may be provided so that the value of the playing card may be visible to only the respective participant receiving the playing card (“face down”). In some embodiments, for example where each participant receives more than one playing card, the playing cards may be provided such that a first amount of playing cards are provided face up and a second amount of cards are provided face down. For example, a participant may receive 1 card face up and 1 card face down, 2 cards face down and 1 card face up, 4 cards face down, or any other combination of face up and face down cards. In some embodiments, for example in embodiments conforming to standard Texas Hold'em rules, a participant may receive 2 hole cards positioned face down.
The playing cards may be provided to each participant in any order, for example each participant may be provided one card at a time starting with a designated participant and proceeding in a clockwise or counter clockwise manner until all participants are provided the same amount of playing cards.
Next at 104, a round of betting is performed. FIG. 2, described below, illustrates the betting procedure that may lead to a number of participants folding. After the round of betting 104 is complete, the method proceeds to 120, where it is determined whether a predetermined number of cards have been provided. The predetermined number of cards may be any number of cards established prior to the beginning of the hand. For example, in some embodiments, the predetermined number of cards may be between 5 and 9 cards. If the predetermined number of cards has been provided at 120, the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined, as described below. If the predetermined number of cards have not been provided, the method returns to 102 where at least one playing card is provided and the method repeats, as described above.
Next, at 122, a winner is determined. In some embodiments, the winner is the participant who possesses a combination of playing cards (“a hand”) closest to a predetermined value of a combination of playing cards.
In some embodiments, the winning hand may be highest valued hand possessed by a participant in that round or the winning hand may be the lowest valued hand possessed by a participant in that round. In some embodiments, there may be two or more winning hands. For example, the two winning hands may comprise a first winning hand comprising the highest value hand and a second winning hand comprising the lowest valued hand.
A hand may comprise any predetermined number of playing cards, such as 5, 7, 9, or the like. In some embodiments, such as embodiments where community cards are provided to participants, a winning hand may comprise the highest valued combination of 5 playing cards selected from a group of at least one of the community cards or hole cards. In some embodiments, the winning hand may comprise the lowest valued combination of 5 playing cards selected from a combination of hole and community cards. In some embodiments there may be two winning hands, wherein one winner possesses the highest valued combination of 5 playing cards and one winner possesses the lowest valued combination of 5 playing cards.
In some embodiments, the predetermined value of a group of cards is established according to the value of poker hands. For example, in embodiments where a standard 52 playing card deck is used, the value of individual hands may be determined as follows, in decreasing value: royal flush (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of the same suit), straight flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit), four of a kind (four cards having the same value), full house (three cards having one value and two cards having a second value), flush (five cards of the same suit), straight (five consecutive cards), three of a kind (three cards having the same value), two pair (two cards having the same first value and two cards having the same second value), one pair (two cards having the same value), and the highest single value card.
In some embodiments, for example in embodiments of community card games, it may be predetermined how many cards of each group of community cards or hole cards must be used to form a hand. For example, in some embodiments, each participant may only use 2 hole cards and 3 community cards to form a 5 card hand, 1 hole card and 4 community cards to form a 5 card hand, or the like. In some embodiments, each participant may use any combination of hole and community cards desired. For example, in some embodiments, each participant may use no hole cards and 5 community cards to form a 5 card hand.
FIG. 2 illustrates the betting procedure performed during a round of betting 104 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The round of betting 104 begins at 202, where a participant acts. The first participant to act in any given round may be predetermined prior to the beginning of the round. For example, in some embodiments, the first participant to act may be the participant located to the immediate left of a dealer, or may be the second participant to the left, the third to the left, or the like. In some embodiments, the first participant to act may be a different participant in each round. For example, in embodiments wherein the method conforms to a betting structure similar to Texas Hold'em or Omaha Hold'em a dealer position may be rotated around the playing table after each successive hand. In such embodiments, as the position of the dealer changes, the first participant to act changes.
The participant has the option of choosing whether to place a bet, not place a bet (“check”), or surrender his cards (“fold”). A participant choosing to place a bet is required to place a bet in an amount equal to (“call”) or greater than (“raise”) any previous bet placed in that round of betting. In some embodiments, a predetermined minimum amount of which a participant may bet may be established. However, if no other participants have placed a bet in that round of betting the acting participant may choose to not place a bet.
The method proceeds to 204, where it is determined whether a participant chooses to fold. A participant who chooses to fold surrenders any cards provided to that participant and forfeits the opportunity to participate in the remainder of that particular hand, in addition to forfeiting any bets previously made in the same hand. If the participant does not fold, the method proceeds to 216, described below.
At 206, a determination is made as to whether the participant who folded causes the round of betting to end. If the fold causes the round of betting to end 206, a determination is made as to whether the participant who folded causes the action of the hand to end at 208. For example, if the participant who chooses to fold is the last player in the round to act, the round has ended. However, if by folding, the possibility of any other participant acting (i.e., raising, betting, checking) for the rest of the hand is eliminated, the fold has further caused the action of the hand to end. If the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, the method proceeds to 222 where a winner is determined. The winner may be determined in the same manner described above with respect to FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the winner may be the only remaining participant who has not folded.
After the winner is determined at 222, the method proceeds to 224 where a value of a remaining amount of community playing cards not already dealt to the participants is revealed to all of the participants. The remaining amount of community playing cards may be any amount of playing cards that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended. For example, in embodiments where the method conforms to a betting structure similar to Texas Hold'em, a total of five community playing cards may be distributed within a single hand. In such embodiments, if the action of the hand ends prior to the distribution of any of the five community playing cards, then a value of all five community playing cards that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended are revealed to all of the participants. Accordingly, in embodiments where action of the hand ends following the initial distribution of three community playing cards (the “flop”) but prior to the distribution of the fourth community playing card (the “turn”), then a value of the fourth and fifth community playing card that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended is shown to all of the participants.
Optionally, in some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, the folding participant must turn his face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards, at 219.
Optionally, in some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, all remaining participants, including the participant who has folded and caused the action in the hand to end, must turn their face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards 220. In some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, all remaining participants, except for the participant who has folded and caused the action in the hand to end, must turn their face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards 220.
However, if the fold does not cause the round of betting to stop 206, or if the fold causes the round of betting to stop, but has not ended the action in the hand 208, then the method proceeds to 216.
Next, at 216, it is determined whether all the participants did act. If all of the participants have not acted, the method returns to 202 and the next remaining participant acts, and the method, as discussed above, repeats. If all participants have acted, the method proceeds to 218, where it is determined whether all of the participants who are remaining (i.e., all the participants who have not chosen to fold) have bet the same amount. In some embodiments, the total bet made by each participant must be equal to that of the highest bet made in that round. If the answer is no, the method returns to 202 where the next participant who has not made a wager equal to that of the highest bet made that round must again act. Each participant is required to place a bet at least equal to that of the highest bet made in that round or they must fold. The method then continues to 204 as described above. If all remaining participants have bet the same amount at 218, the method proceeds to 120 as described above.
Within each round of betting 104, the method may repeat a number of times, causing each participant to act more than once. For example, the number of times may be a predetermined number, wherein once the predetermined number is reached the participants are only allowed to place a bet equal to that of the highest bet previously made. Alternatively, the number of times may not be predetermined and continue until all players bet the same amount or all but one player folds.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. For example, the following illustrates embodiments of the present invention as it may relate to a card game following the standard rules and betting structure of Texas Hold'em.
The game is played with a standard 52 card deck. A minimum of two participants (“players”) are required to play. Typically, a designated non-participating person (“dealer”) distributes (“deals”) the cards to the players and facilitates game play. However, players may also deal the cards. A dealer designator (“button”) is rotated amongst the players to virtually represent the dealer position, allowing the order of the players to change without having to require players to change places around the gaming table during game play.
The two players to the immediate left of the dealer are required to place an initial bet. The first player to immediate left of the dealer places a “small blind”, that is, a bet of a lower amount than the predetermined minimum. The second player to the immediate left of the dealer places a “big blind”, that is, a bet equal to that of the predetermined minimum. In some embodiments, some or all players are required to place an initial bet that is equal to one another (“ante”).
Referring to FIG. 1, play begins at 102 with the dealer distributing (“dealing”) two cards to each player (“hole cards”), face down. Cards are dealt one at a time in a clockwise fashion, starting with the player who places the initial small blind and ending with the player who sits in the position where the button is placed.
Next at 104, a round of betting is performed, as described below in reference to FIG. 2. After the round of betting 104 is complete, the method proceeds to 120. If a predetermined number of cards have been provided, the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined. In this particular example, the predetermined number of cards provided is five community cards. Accordingly, since the predetermined number of cards has not been provided (no community cards have been dealt), the method 100 returns to 102 where the dealer deals three community cards face up (“flop”). In some embodiments, the dealer may discard (“burn”) the first card from the top of the deck of cards prior to dealing the flop.
An additional round of betting 104 is then performed. Following the second round of betting 104, the method proceeds to 120. If a predetermined number of cards have been provided, the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined. In this particular example, the predetermined number of cards provided is five community cards. Accordingly, since the predetermined number of cards has not been provided (only three community cards have been dealt), the game returns to 102 where the dealer deals a fourth community card face up (“turn”). In some embodiments, the dealer may discard (“burn”) the first card from the top of the deck of cards prior to dealing the turn.
An additional round of betting 104 is then performed. Following the third round of betting 104, the method proceeds to 120. If a predetermined number of cards have been provided, the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined. In this particular example, the predetermined number of cards provided is five community cards. Accordingly, since the predetermined number of cards has not been provided (only four of the community cards have been dealt), the method returns to 102 where the dealer deals a fifth community card face up (“river”). In some embodiments, the dealer may discard (“burn”) the first card from the top of the deck of cards prior to dealing the turn.
An additional round of betting 104 is then performed. Following the fourth round of betting 104, the method proceeds to 120. If a predetermined number of cards have been provided, the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined. In this particular example, the predetermined number of cards provided is five community cards. Accordingly, since the predetermined number of cards have been provided the method proceeds to 122 where a winner is determined.
The winner is the player who possesses the highest valued combination of 5 cards, comprising any number of cards from the hole cards and the community cards (flop, turn and river cards). For example, the combination may be made from 1 of the player's hole cards and 4 of the community cards, 2 of the player's hole cards and 3 of the community cards, or none of the hole cards and 5 of the community cards.
The value of the combinations of cards is determined according to the standard value structure of poker hands. For example, the value of individual hands may be determined as follows, in decreasing value: royal flush (Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10 of the same suit), straight flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit), four of a kind (four cards having the same value), full house (three cards having one value and two cards having a second value), flush (five cards of the same suit), straight (five consecutive cards), three of a kind (three cards having the same value), two pair (two cards having the same first value and two cards having the same second value), one pair (two cards having the same value), and the highest single value card.
Referring to FIG. 2, the round of betting 104 begins at 202 where a first player acts. In the first round of betting the first player to act is the player to the immediate left of the player who placed the initial big blind bet. In subsequent rounds (second, third and fourth), the first player to act is the player to the immediate left of the dealer.
The acting player has the option of choosing whether to place a bet, not place a bet (“check”), or surrender his cards (“fold”). The first acting player choosing to place a bet is required to place a bet of a minimum predetermined amount. Any subsequent acting player must then place a bet equal to (“call”) or greater than (“raise”) any previous bet placed in that round of betting. In some embodiments, a predetermined minimum amount of which a player may bet may be established. However, if no other players have placed a bet (e.g. all previous players have checked) in that round of betting the acting player may choose to not place a bet, or check.
Next, at 204, it is determined whether the player has chosen to fold. If the player does not fold, the method proceeds to 216, described below. A player who chooses to fold 204 surrenders any cards provided to that player and forfeits the opportunity to participate in the remainder of that particular hand, in addition to forfeiting any bets previously made in the same hand.
If the fold causes the round of betting to end at 206, a determination is made as to whether the player who folded causes the action of the hand to end 208. For example, if the player who chooses to fold is the last player in the round to act, the round has ended. However, if by folding, the possibility of any other player acting (i.e., raising, betting, checking) is eliminated for the remainder of the hand, the fold has further caused the action of the hand to end. If the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, the method proceeds to 222 where a winner is determined. The winner may be determined in the same manner described above with respect to FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the winner is the only remaining player who has not folded.
After the winner is determined at 222, the method proceeds to 224 where a value of a remaining amount of community playing cards not already dealt to the players is revealed to all of the players. The remaining amount of community playing cards may be any amount of playing cards that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended. For example, a total of five community playing cards may be distributed within a single hand. If the action of the hand ends prior to the distribution of any of the five community playing cards, then a value of all five community playing cards that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended are revealed to all of the players. Accordingly, if action of the hand ends following the initial distribution of three community playing cards (the “flop”) but prior to the distribution of the fourth community playing card (the “turn”), then a value of the fourth and fifth community playing card that would have been dealt if action of the hand had not ended is shown to all of the players.
Optionally, in some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, the folding player must turn his face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards, at 219.
Optionally, in some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, all remaining players, including the player who has folded and caused the action in the hand to end, must turn their face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards 220. In some embodiments, if the fold has caused the action of the hand to end 208, all remaining players, except for the player who has folded and caused the action in the hand to end, must turn their face down cards (hole cards) face up, thereby exposing the value of the cards 220.
However, if the fold does not cause the round of betting to stop 206, or if the fold causes the round of betting to stop, but has not ended the action in the hand 208, then the method proceeds to 216.
Next, at 216, it is determined whether all the players did act. If all of the players have not acted, the next remaining player acts 202, and the game, as discussed above, repeats. If all players have acted, it is determined whether all of the players who are remaining (i.e., all the players who have not chosen to fold) have bet the same amount 218. If all remaining players have not bet the same amount, the next player who has not made a wager equal to that of the highest bet made that round must again act 202. Each player is required to place a bet at least equal to that of the highest bet made in that round or they must fold. The method then continues as described above. If all remaining players have bet the same amount the game proceeds to 120 as described above.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game, comprising:

a) providing at least one playing card to each of at least two participants to begin a hand;

b) performing at least one round of betting, wherein each of the at least one round of betting comprises each of the at least two participants successively choosing between placing a bet, not placing a bet or surrendering the at least one playing card; and

c) determining at least one winning participant, wherein if a participant choosing to surrender the at least one playing card causes action in the hand to end, then a value of a remaining amount of a predetermined number of at least one community playing card is revealed to the at least two participants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing at least one playing card to each of the at least two participants comprises:

positioning the at least one playing card so that the value of the at least one playing card is visible only to a respective one of the at least two participants.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a participant surrendering the at least one playing card surrenders the at least one playing card without revealing a value of the at least one playing card, unless the participant surrendering the at least one playing card causes action in the hand to end, then each remaining participant of the at least two participants must reveal the value of the at least one playing card to the at least two participants.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) providing at least one of the at least one community playing cards to the at least two participants;

e) performing at least one round of betting, wherein the round of betting comprises each of the at least two participants successively choosing between placing a bet, not placing a bet or surrendering the at least one playing card;

wherein d)-e) occurs between b) and c).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein d)-e) is repeated at least one time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a participant surrendering the at least one playing card surrenders the at least one playing card without revealing a value of the at least one playing card, unless the participant surrendering the at least one playing card causes action in the hand to end, then each remaining participant of the at least two participants must reveal the value of the at least one playing card to the at least two participants.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one community playing card comprises five community playing cards.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winning participant is an only one of the at least two participants who did not surrender the at least one playing card.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winning participant possesses a highest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the highest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards comprises at least five playing cards selected from a group of at least one of the at least one playing card and the at least one community playing card.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein selected from a group of at least one of the at least one playing card and the at least one community playing card does not comprise selecting one of the remaining amount of the at least one community playing card revealed to the at least two participants

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winning participant possesses a lowest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the lowest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards comprises at least five playing cards selected from a group of at least one of the at least one playing card and the at least one community playing card.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one winning participant comprises two winning participants wherein a first winning participant possesses a highest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards and a second winning participant possesses a lowest predetermined value of a combination of playing cards.

15. A method of playing a card game, comprising:

a) playing a standard poker game comprising at least one community card until one of at least two participants causes hand to end; and

b) upon one of the at least two participants causing the hand to end, a value of a remaining amount of the at least one community card not previously revealed is revealed to the at least two participants.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein b) further comprises:

requiring each remaining participant of the at least two participants to reveal a value of at least one playing card provided to each remaining participant of the at least two participants.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the standard poker game comprises at least one of Texas Hold'em or Omaha Hold'em.

18. A method of playing a poker card game with fifty-two conventional playing cards, comprising:

designating a dealer, a first player adjacent to the dealer for placing a first bet, and a second player adjacent to the first player for placing a second bet for a hand to be played;

the dealer dealing two hole cards, face-down, to each of a plurality of players;

requiring each of the plurality of players, beginning with a third player adjacent to the second player and continuing clockwise among all of the plurality of players, after viewing only their respective hole cards, to participate in a first round of betting;

wherein the first round of betting comprises requiring each of the plurality of players to select from a plurality of decisions including, placing a minimum bet, raising by betting an amount greater than a highest preceding amount bet by another of the plurality of players during the first round of betting, or folding by surrendering the respective hole cards, and wherein if a player choosing to surrender the respective hole cards causes action in the hand to stop, then a winner is determined and a value of five community playing cards is revealed to the plurality of players, wherein the winner is an only one of the plurality of players who did not surrender the respective hole cards;

if at least two of the plurality of players remain in the hand, the dealer dealing three of the five community cards face-up, wherein each community card is usable by any of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to form a five card poker hand;

requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand, beginning with a first remaining player to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise among the plurality of players remaining in the hand to participate in a second round of betting;

wherein the second round of betting comprises requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to select from a plurality of decisions including, checking by indicating no bet is to be placed, placing a minimum bet, raising by betting an amount greater than a highest preceding amount bet by another one of the plurality of players during the second round of betting, or folding by surrendering the respective hole cards, and wherein if a player choosing to surrender the respective hole cards causes action in the hand to stop, then a winner is determined and a value of a remaining two of the five community playing cards is revealed to the plurality of players, wherein the winner is an only one of the plurality of players who did not surrender the respective hole cards;

if at least two of the plurality of players remain in the hand, the dealer dealing a fourth community card of the five community cards face-up, wherein each community card is usable by any of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to form a five card poker hand;

requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand, beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise among all of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to participate in a third round of betting;

wherein the third round of betting comprises requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to select from a plurality of decisions including, checking by indicating no bet is to be placed, placing a minimum bet, raising by betting an amount greater than a highest preceding amount bet by another one of the plurality of players during the third round of betting, or folding by surrendering the respective hole cards, and wherein if a player choosing to surrender the respective hole cards causes action in the hand to stop, then a winner is determined and a value of a remaining one of the five community playing cards is revealed to the plurality of players, wherein the winner is an only one of the plurality of players who did not surrender the respective hole cards;

if at least two of the plurality of players remain in the hand, the dealer dealing a fifth community card face-up, wherein each community card is usable by any of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to form a five card poker hand;

requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand, beginning with the first remaining player to the left of the dealer and continuing clockwise among all of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to participate in a fourth round of betting; and

wherein the fourth round of betting comprises requiring each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to select from a plurality of decisions including, checking by indicating no bet is to be placed, placing a minimum bet, raising by betting an amount greater than a highest preceding amount bet by another one of the plurality of players during the fourth round of betting, or folding by surrendering the respective hole cards and wherein if a player choosing to surrender the respective hole cards causes action in the hand to stop, then a winner is determined and a value of a remaining one of the five community playing cards is revealed to the plurality of players, wherein the winner is an only one of the plurality of players who did not surrender the respective hole cards; and

if at least two of the plurality of players remain in the hand, determining a winner of the hand by comparing a respective poker hand of each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand to one another according to a predetermined poker ranking system, wherein the respective poker hand of each of the plurality of players remaining in the hand comprises five cards selected from at least one of the respective hole cards or the five community cards.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second, third and fourth round of betting further comprises:

requiring a player choosing to check to place a bet equal to that of a subsequent bet made in the round of betting.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the player surrendering the respective hole cards surrenders the respective hole cards without revealing a value of the at least one playing card, unless the player surrendering the at least one playing card causes action in the hand to end, then each remaining player of the plurality of players must reveal the value of the at least one playing card to the plurality of players.