
	Bank hand	Bank hand
Bank hand two	DRAWS when the	STANDS when the
card point total:	Player's hand third card is:	Player's hand third card is:

0, 1, or 2	Bank always draws
3	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9	8
4	2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7	0, 1, 8 or 9
5	4, 5, 6 or 7	0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9
6	6 or 7	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9
7		Bank always stands

At the end of each hand, winning wagers are paid and losing wagers are collected by the house. Any commission due to the house is marked in commission boxes in the center of the table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card game is conducted for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards. In an optional embodiment, the dealer may be a player-banker. Each player places a game wager. In an optional embodiment, the player may also place a hand wager.

Each player is dealt an initial player hand of playing cards. Optionally, each initial player hand consists of two playing cards. An initial dealer hand of playing cards is dealt. Optionally, the initial dealer hand consists of two playing cards. In one such optional embodiment, the initial dealer hand is dealt with one of the playing cards exposed.

Each player forms a final player hand by standing on the initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional cards. In one such optional embodiment, the player forms a final player hand by either standing on the initial player hand or receiving exactly one additional card. In one optional embodiment, one or more automatic winning hands may be defined. In such an optional embodiment, a player having an automatic winning hand would avoid any losing outcome in that the player may, at worst, tie if the initial dealer hand also forms an automatic winning hand, and may win if the initial dealer hand has anything other than an automatic winning hand.

A final dealer hand is formed by either standing on the initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional cards. In one such optional embodiment, the predetermined quantity is exactly one card. Optionally, the final dealer hand is formed according to predetermined house rules identifying when the dealer hand must stand and when the dealer hand must receive the predetermined quantity of additional cards. For example, in an optional embodiment, the cards of the initial dealer hand are summed, and a determination whether to stand or receive a predetermined quantity of additional cards is based on that sum.

A hand value is determined for the final dealer hand and each final player hand. In an optional embodiment, the hand value is the sum, modulo ten, of the values of the playing cards in the final hand. In one such optional embodiment, the value of the playing cards two through nine is its face value, the value of Aces is one, and the value of the ten and face cards is zero.

Each player's game wager is resolved by comparing the hand value of that player's final player hand to the hand value of the final dealer hand. If a player's hand value is closer to a target sum than the dealer's hand value, the player is rewarded based on his or her game wager. If the dealer's hand value is closer to a target sum than a player's hand value, the player's game wager is collected, i.e. the player loses his or her game wager. If the dealer's hand value and player's hand value tie, a tie resolution may take place, with ties being resolved as a push (e.g. the player's game wager is returned), as a player win, or as a dealer win, depending on the particular embodiment.

As noted above, in an optional embodiment, a hand wager may be offered. In one such optional embodiment, the hand wager is resolved by comparing the initial player hand to a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs. For example, in one optional embodiment, the pay table includes hand combinations forming an automatic winning hand, with different pay outs for the combination of playing cards forming the automatic winning hand.

In a further optional embodiment, the pay table may include hand combinations based on hand combinations based on the receipt of a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards. For example in one such optional embodiment, a player with an automatic winning hand that is rewarded based on his or her hand wager may be dealt a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards strictly for the purpose of determining whether the automatic winning hand plus the predetermined quantity of additional playing cards forms a hand combination listed on the pay table. Optionally, each player placing a hand wager of a predetermined size qualifies for an envy payout if any player obtains certain hand combinations listed on the pay table.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. Referring generally toFIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention includes a method for conducting a card game. This method could be conducted in many formats, including at a table using gaming chips and physical playing cards or electronic representations of playing cards displayed on a display, or at a gaming device (not shown) using gaming credits and computer generated playing cards. A gaming device embodiment could be conducted at any type of platform, including on a cellular telephone, video gaming machine, electronic gaming table, personal computer, kiosk, handheld device, such as a PDA or networked wireless gaming device, or any other type of standalone or networked platform.

A method according to the present invention uses playing cards, or electronic representations thereof. While the examples given below use conventional playing cards, i.e. cards having a rank denoted by the numbers two through ten, Jack, Queen, King, or Ace, and a suit denoted by hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades, it is contemplated that the present invention could also be conducted using cards other than conventional playing cards.

A method according to the present invention could be conducted with a set of playing cards having any constitution. For example, the present method could be conducted using a conventional poker deck of fifty-two playing cards or multiple poker decks. In alternate optional embodiments, the deck could have a different constitution from a conventional poker deck by either supplementing or truncating the deck. For example, the present method could be conducted with a deck of playing cards supplemented with one or more Joker playing cards, or with a deck of playing cards truncated to form a Spanish deck. Thus, while the examples given below discuss the use of six conventional poker decks in conducting a method according to the present invention, these examples should be considered illustrative and rather than limiting.

A method according to the present invention is conducted between one or more players and a dealer. By “dealer,” it is contemplated that in a house-banked embodiment, a house-dealer deals the playing cards and acts on behalf of the house to conduct a dealer hand (discussed in greater detail below). However, it is contemplated that the task of dealing playing cards could be separated from the task of conducting the dealer hand. Similarly, it is contemplated that in a cardroom embodiment of the present invention, a player-banker may be tasked with paying winning wagers, collecting losing wagers, and conducting the dealer hand. In an optional embodiment utilizing such a player-banker, it is contemplated that the player-banker may be responsible for dealing playing cards or a dealer may perform that task. In an optional embodiment using a player-banker, the player-banker may be selected in any manner, including on a fixed basis, on a rotating basis, or any other basis.

Referring toFIG. 1, each player places100 a game wager and is dealt102 an initial player hand. While the initial player hand could consist of any quantity of playing cards dealt in any manner, in an optional embodiment, each initial player hand consists of two playing cards dealt exposed.

In an optional embodiment, if the player holds106 a predetermined automatic winning hand in the initial player hand, the player's game wager may be immediately resolved by rewarding124 the player on his or her game wager, unless, in an optional embodiment, the initial dealer hand also has108 what would be an automatic winning hand. In such an optional embodiment, if both the initial player hand and the initial dealer hand hold an automatic winning hand, the game wager may be returned120, i.e. neither rewarded nor collected. It should be noted that with respect to players not holding an automatic winning hand, an initial dealer hand comprising108 an automatic winning hand could outrank all other player hands with all players losing118 their game wagers. Alternatively, an initial dealer hand comprising what would be an automatic winning hand could be treated as an ordinary hand with a hand value computed as described below and compared to the player hands that were not automatic winning hands for resolution of those players' game wagers.

The automatic winning hand could take any form. That is, an automatic winning hand could be defined by a combination of playing cards, an initial hand with a predetermined hand value (as described in greater detail below), or in any other fashion. For example, in a game in which the hand value is determined by summing the values of the playing cards in a hand, the automatic winning hand may be defined by the combination of cards in the hand rather than the hand value of the hand. Thus, in one such example, the automatic winning hand could be a pair of nines, even where the target value is nine and the pair of nines would, in fact, have a hand value (calculated by the sum modulo ten of the values of the playing cards) of eight. Play by a player with an automatic winning hand could end at this point or, as discussed in greater detail below, where a player places a hand wager in addition to a game wager, play may continue for resolution of the hand wager.

A final dealer hand is formed112 by either standing on the initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards. As with the player hand, in one optional embodiment, the predetermined quantity of additional playing cards received into the dealer hand is exactly one playing card. Thus, in such an optional embodiment, the dealer would either stand on the initial dealer hand to form a final dealer hand of two playing cards, or receive exactly one additional playing card into the initial dealer hand to form a final dealer hand of three playing cards.

In an optional embodiment, the formation of the final dealer hand is guided by house rules that direct when to stand and when to receive the additional playing card or cards. For example, in one optional embodiment, the house rules may depend on the sum modulo ten of the playing cards of the initial dealer hand. That is, in an optional embodiment, the playing cards of the initial dealer hand are summed modulo ten, i.e. only the ones digit is used if the sum of the values of the playing cards exceeds ten, and the conduct of the initial dealer hand is based on that calculation.

For example, in one optional embodiment, the values of the playing cards are the face values of the playing cards two through nine; one for the Ace playing card; and zero for the playing cards ten, Jack, Queen, and King. In one such optional embodiment, the final dealer hand may be formed by standing on the initial dealer hand when the sum modulo ten of the playing cards in the initial dealer hand is within a first predetermined range, such as five through nine, six through nine, or any other range. Continuing with the example, the final dealer hand may be formed by receiving the additional playing card or cards when the sum modulo ten of the playing cards of the initial dealer hand is within a second predetermined range, such as zero through four, zero through five, or any other range.

A hand value is calculated114 for the final dealer hand and each final player hand. In an optional embodiment, the hand value is the sum modulo ten of the values of the playing cards in the final hand. In an optional embodiment, the values of the playing cards are the face values of the playing cards two through nine; one for the Ace playing card; and zero for the playing cards ten, Jack, Queen, and King. As discussed above, modulo ten arithmetic applied to a sum means that if the sum exceeds ten, the tens digit is disregarded and only the ones digit is used. For example, using the values discussed previously, the sum modulo ten of 4
and 8
would be two. Similarly, the sum modulo ten of 6
, A⋄, and K
would be seven.
The hand value of the final dealer hand is compared to the hand value for each final player hand and the hand with a hand value closer to a target value is the winning hand. That is, the object of the game for the player is to obtain a hand value in the final player hand that is closer to a target value than the hand value of the final dealer hand is. The target value could be any number. In an optional embodiment using modular ten arithmetic, the possible hand values range from zero to nine. In one such optional embodiment, the target value is nine.
If the player has a winning hand, i.e. if the hand value of the final player hand is closer to the target value than the hand value of the final dealer hand is, the player is rewarded124 on his or her game wager. The nature of the reward may be fixed, e.g. even money, or may vary depending on one or more factors involving, for example, the margin between the player hand value and the target value, the margin between the player hand value and the dealer hand value, or the like. In the example discussed in greater detail below, the reward is fixed at even money.
In an optional embodiment, a commission may be charged on rewards. The size of the commission may vary depending on the embodiment. In the example discussed in greater detail below, the house retains a commission of 5% on winning game wagers. For example, a winning player with a game wager of 100 credits may be rewarded at even money, e.g. 100 credits, with a deduction of 5 credits (5% of 100 credits) for a commission. In another optional embodiment, the commission may be prepaid at predetermined wager levels, in that the game wager amount may take into account the commission if the player wins. For example, a player wagering 105 credits may be rewarded with 100 credits, which results in a commission of approximately 4.76%. In an optional embodiment, a commission may be waived under certain predetermined circumstances, such as play during certain times of the day or days of the week, placement of a certain size game wager or, as discussed in greater detail below, hand wager, or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the commission may be waived randomly or on the occurrence of certain game events.
If the dealer has a winning hand, i.e. if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer116 to the target value than the hand value of the final player hand is, the player's game wager is collected118. If the hand value of the final player hand equals the hand value of the final dealer hand, a tie occurs122. A tie could be handled in many different ways. In one optional embodiment, a tie is resolved as a push in which the player's game wager is returned120 without being rewarded. In other optional embodiments, a tie may be resolved in favor of the dealer, i.e. the player may lose the game wager, or resolved in favor of the player, i.e. the player may be rewarded on the game wager.
Describing an example hand, a player could be dealt an initial player hand of A
4⋄ and the dealer is dealt an initial dealer hand with an exposed 5
. This gives an initial player hand value of five, so the player may elect to stand on the initial two playing cards, or may elect to receive one additional playing card. For this example, the player chooses to receive one additional playing card and receives a Q
. Since Queens have a value of zero, the player has a final player hand value of five. The dealer exposes or deals the second card of the initial dealer hand and reveals an initial dealer hand of 5
7
. This gives an initial dealer hand value of two. In an optional embodiment, the dealer's conduct of the dealer hand is dictated by house rules. As noted above, these house rules could include a rule where the dealer must take an additional playing card if the hand value of the initial dealer hand is less than five or six, depending on the particular embodiment. In this example, a hand value of two would require the dealer to take an additional playing card under a game played according either set of house rules, so the dealer in this example takes another playing card. If the dealer receives, for example, a 6
, the hand value of the final dealer hand is eight. The dealer hand in such an example would be the winning hand since a dealer hand value of eight is closer to the target value of nine than the player hand value of five is. The player's game wager is collected when the dealer hand is the winning hand. Conversely, if the dealer receives, for example, a 10⋄, the hand value of the final dealer hand is two and the player hand is the winning hand. The player of such an example is rewarded, optionally at even money less a commission.
In an optional embodiment, a method according to the present invention may further include a hand wager. In one such optional embodiment, illustrated inFIG. 2, the player may optionally place200 a hand wager. Optionally, the hand wager is separate and in addition to a game wager. The limits of the hand wager may be separate from the game wager amount or may depend on the game wager amount. The initial player hand is dealt202 and the hand wager is resolved by comparing204 the player hand to a pay table of player hands and associated pay outs. In an optional embodiment, the pay table may include both initial player hands and final player hands, so that an initial hand may appear on the pay table or may merely form a part of a hand on the pay table208. In an optional embodiment, the pay table may specify the value and suit of the playing cards even where suit is otherwise not used in determining a hand value. For example, in one optional embodiment, a pay table could include the player hands and associated pay outs shown in Table 1.

	TABLE 1

	Pay Out

	Initial Player Hand
	2 Suited Nines	50 to 1
	2 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits)	20 to 1
	2 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits)	10 to 1
	Natural Nine	2 to 1
	Three-Card Final Player Hand
	3 Suited Nines	1000 to 1
	3 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits)	500 to 1
	3 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits)	100 to 1
	3 Card Nine	1 to 1

As may be appreciated, the player hands listed, the pay outs listed, or both, may differ in various embodiments of the present invention. For example, in another optional embodiment, a pay table could include the hand combinations and associated pay outs shown in Table 2.

	TABLE 2

	Hand Combination	Pay Out

	3 Suited Nines	2500 to 1
	3 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits)	500 to 1
	3 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits)	125 to 1
	2 Suited Nines	50 to 1
	2 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits)	40 to 1
	2 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits)	30 to 1
	3 Card Nine	10 to 1

If the player has a player hand that appears206 on the pay table and, thus, is eligible for a hand wager pay out, the player is rewarded214 on his or her hand wager. If the player does not hold a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward, the player's hand wager is collected218.
In an optional embodiment, a player having an initial player hand that forms205 a part of a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward may be dealt210 the additional playing card or cards, depending on the embodiment, for resolution of the hand wager. This additional card may be dealt at the player's option, i.e. the player may decline to receive an additional card to try to improve his or her holding for resolution of the hand wager if, for example, the player believes the additional card will not improve his or her holding for resolution of the game wager. Alternatively, the additional card may be dealt automatically for all initial player hands or certain predefined eligible initial player hands, as described in greater detail below. If the player does not receive an additional card or cards that improve the player's pay out according to the pay table of player hands, the player is rewarded214 on the hand wager based on the initial player hand. Conversely, if the new player hand, that is the initial player hand plus the additional playing card or cards, depending on the embodiment, appears212 on the pay table, the player is rewarded216 on the hand wager based on the initial player hand plus the additional playing card. In other words, if the player receives a card that improves the player's pay out according to the pay table of player hands, the player is rewarded on the hand wager based on the player hand including the additional card or cards.
As alluded to above, in an optional embodiment, a player obtaining a particular initial player hand, such as a predetermined automatic winning hand, may have his or her game wager immediately resolved either by rewarding the player or returning the player's game wager if the initial dealer hand also held an automatic winning hand. In one such optional embodiment, a player having an initial player hand that formed an automatic winning hand and formed208 a part of a player hand eligible for a hand wager reward, may be dealt the additional card or cards, depending on the embodiment, solely for resolution of the hand wager, even though the player's game wager has already been resolved. In such an optional embodiment, the additional playing card or cards would not alter the player hand value since the game wager would have already been resolved.
Thus, in an example based on Table 2 above and an embodiment where a pair of nines is an automatic winning hand, if a player is dealt 9
9
, the player's game wager is rewarded unless the dealer also has a pair of nines, in which case the player's game wager is returned. Although the player's game wager has been resolved, the player may, in this optional embodiment, be dealt a third card to determine the player's reward for any hand wager, as well as resolve any envy pay outs discussed in greater detail below. If the player receives, for example, a 9
as the third card, the player would be rewarded at 500:1 on any hand wager for obtaining three nine playing cards from a black suit. Additionally, an envy pay out may occur as described below. Conversely, if the player receives, for example, J
as the third card, the player would be rewarded at 40:1 on any hand wager for receiving two nines in a black suit in the initial player hand. In an optional embodiment in which the player hands eligible for a hand wager reward are not necessarily automatic winning hands, a player may receive a third card for resolution of the hand wager that does not otherwise contribute to the player's hand value for resolution of the game wager.
In another optional embodiment, an additional card is dealt to every initial player hand. For those players requesting an additional card or additional cards, depending on the particular embodiment, the additional card(s) contributes to the player's hand value for resolution of the player's game wager and for resolution of the player's hand wager, if any. For those players who did not request an additional card or additional cards, depending on the particular embodiment, the additional card(s) are not used to determine the player's hand vale, and are used solely for resolution of the player's hand wager. As may be appreciated, this step may be limited to certain predetermined hands in an alternate optional embodiment.
In a further optional embodiment, an envy pay out may be offered for certain game events. For example, in one optional embodiment, each player placing a hand wager of at least a predetermined minimum amount is eligible for an envy pay out. In one such optional embodiment, if any final player hand includes a predetermined combination, such as triple nines, e.g. three playing cards each of nine rank, each eligible player (optionally excluding the player who obtained the predetermined combination) is paid an envy pay out. Optionally, the player who obtained the predetermined combination is excluded from receiving the envy pay out. The envy pay outs could take any form, including fixed amount pay outs, multiples of certain wager amounts, or any other form. For example, one optional table of predetermined combinations and associated envy pay outs is given in Table 3 with fixed envy pay out amounts.
TABLE 3
Predetermined Hand Combination Envy Pay Out
3 Suited Nines $250
3 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits) $100
3 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits) $50

As above, these amounts and the predetermined combinations are merely illustrative. Thus, in other optional embodiments, the amounts and hand combinations may be altered. For example, in another optional embodiment, a table of envy events and associated envy pay outs could be as shown in Table 4.
TABLE 4
Predetermined Han Combination Envy Pay Out
3 Suited Nines $500
3 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits) $100
3 Nines (Mixed Colors and Suits) $50
2 Suited Nines $15
2 Nines (Same Color, Mixed Suits) $10
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that the present invention is subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention presented herein.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards including playing cards two through ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, comprising:

receiving a game wager from said player;

dealing an initial player hand of playing cards to each player;

dealing an initial dealer hand of playing cards;

each player forming a final player hand by standing on said player's initial player hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;

forming a final dealer hand by standing on said dealer's initial dealer hand or receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards;

determining a hand value said final dealer hand and each said final player hand by summing, modulo ten, the values of the playing cards in each said final hand, wherein the value of a playing card two through nine is its face value, the value of a playing card ten, jack, queen, and king is zero, and the value of an ace playing card is one;

comparing the hand value of each player's final player hand to the hand value of the final dealer hand and a predefined target sum;

if the hand value of a player's final player hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of the final dealer hand, rewarding that player based on the player's game wager; and

if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of a player's final player hand, collecting that player's game wager.

2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising, if the hand value of the final dealer hand is equal to the hand value of a player's final player hand, returning the player's game wager.

3. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising:

determining the hand sum of each player's initial player hand; and

restricting a player from receiving any additional playing cards to the player's initial player hand if the hand sum of said player's initial player hand is a predetermined maximum.

4. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising determining the hand sum of said initial dealer hand and wherein said step of forming said final dealer hand further comprises receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards in said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is less than a predetermined minimum and standing on said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is greater than, or equal to, a predetermined maximum.

5. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising:

defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs;

receiving a hand wager from at least one player;

for each player placing said hand wager, comparing the player's initial player hand and final player hand to said pay table; and

issuing the greater pay out associated with the hand combination, if any, formed by said player's initial player hand and final player hand according to said pay table.

6. The method ofclaim 5 wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination having a hand sum unequal to said target value.

7. The method ofclaim 5 wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination including a quantity of playing cards greater than the quantity of playing cards in a player initial hand.

8. The method ofclaim 5 further comprising, if a player hand includes a predetermined hand combination designated for an envy pay out, issuing an envy pay out to each player not holding said hand combination who placed a hand wager of a predetermined size.

9. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising:

defining at least one automatic winning hand; and

if a player's initial player hand forms an automatic winning hand, issuing a reward to said player based on said game wager.

10. The method ofclaim 9 further comprising:

defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs, wherein at least one of said hand combinations includes one of said automatic winning hands plus at least one predefined playing card;

receiving a hand wager from at least one player;

for each player placing said hand wager, comparing the player's initial player hand to said pay table;

issuing the pay out associated with the hand combination formed by said player's initial player hand, if any, according to said pay table;

if said player's initial player hand is an automatic winning hand, receiving at least one additional playing card to said player's initial player hand; and

if said player's initial player hand plus said at least one additional playing card forms a hand combination on said pay table of an automatic winning hand plus said at least one predefined playing card, issuing the pay out associated with the hand combination according to said pay table.

11. A method of conducting a game for at least one player and a dealer using playing cards including playing cards two through ten, jack, queen, king, and ace, comprising:

defining a pay table of one or more hand combinations and associated pay outs;

defining at least one automatic winning hand;

receiving a game wager from said player;

receiving a hand wager from at least one player;

dealing an initial player hand of playing cards to each player;

dealing an initial dealer hand of playing cards;

if a player's initial player hand forms an automatic winning hand, issuing a reward to said player based on said game wager and terminating participation by said player except for resolution of said player's hand wager, if any;

if the hand value of a player's final player hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of the final dealer hand, rewarding that player based on the player's game wager;

if the hand value of the final dealer hand is closer to said target sum than is the hand value of a player's final player hand, collecting that player's game wager; and

for each player placing said hand wager, resolving said player's hand wager comprising:

comparing the player's initial player hand and final player hand to said pay table; and

12. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising, if the hand value of the final dealer hand is equal to the hand value of a player's final player hand, returning the player's game wager.

13. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising:

determining the hand sum of each player's initial player hand; and

14. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising determining the hand sum of said initial dealer hand and wherein said step of forming said final dealer hand further comprises receiving a predetermined quantity of additional playing cards in said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is less than a predetermined minimum and standing on said initial dealer hand if said hand sum of said initial dealer hand is greater than, or equal to, a predetermined maximum.

15. The method ofclaim 11 wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination having a hand sum unequal to said target value.

16. The method ofclaim 11 wherein said pay table includes at least one hand combination including a quantity of playing cards greater than the quantity of playing cards in a player initial hand.

17. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising, if a player hand includes a predetermined hand combination designated for an envy pay out, issuing an envy pay out to each player not holding said hand combination who placed a hand wager of a predetermined size.