US Patent 6994624 Poker-type game and method

A poker-style game and method in which a player who is one card away from achieving a royal flush, following receipt of a first set of replacement cards, is provided the option to receive an additional card for no additional wager. In one embodiment, a player receives a payout even if the additional card does not yield a royal flush. In another embodiment, a player receives a payout if the additional card does not yield a royal flush, but one of the player's prior hands was a winning hand. In still another embodiment, a player receives a payout if the player's final hand is a winning, non-royal flush hand.