Method of playing games of chance

Abstract

The preferred games are based on poker, with the cards presented electronically on a screen and the stakes being electronically processed. Several hands are dealt, in one from one hand face up and the others face down. The player may choose to play the face up hand, by holding certain cards and drawing to replace the others. The held cards are replicated in the other hands, and the draw results in random changes to all the hands. But the player has the option to transfer to a second hand, which is then turned face up while the first goes face down, and hold and draw on that hand. And so on through the hands, incurring penalties as transfers are made. In another form, the hands are all face up. This can be played in a similar way, going from one hand to the next, or the player can select which hand to play at the start, held cards being replicated in other hands, and the draw producing different results in each hand. Variations include a facility for combing cards from different hands to make up a winning hand by eliminating the draw, but keeping the replication. In another version a changeable primary hand is replicated in a set of secondary hands and the player re-deals the primary hand, up to a limit, and holds and draws on that.

1 . A method of playing a game in which: 
 i) a plurality of sets of randomly selected symbols are made available for play,    ii) bets are placed on these sets,    iii) the player is presented with a first set with symbols visible,    iv) the player chooses whether (a) to play the game using the first set or (b) to reject that set and play with a second set, which may in turn be rejected and so on through a sequence of sets,    v) the player determines which of the symbols of the selected set is or are to be retained,    vi) each retained symbol is replicated in other sets of said plurality,    vii) the symbols of the selected set not retained are changed on a random basis, as are the symbols not replicated in said other sets, and    viii) the resultant combinations of symbols determine whether or not a win related to the bet is achieved by each set.    
     
     
         2 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sets of said plurality other than the first set have their symbols initially concealed, the replication of step vi) over-riding whatever symbol may have been concealed at the corresponding position.  
     
     
         3 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein all the symbols of said plurality of sets are initially visible, the replication of step vi) supplanting whatever symbol may have appeared at the corresponding position.  
     
     
         4 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first set is chosen by the player, so that the alternative of step iv) (b) is redundant.  
     
     
         5 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sequence of sets is the same as the plurality of sets.  
     
     
         6 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a rejected set in step iv) (b) is retained but is subject to random re-selection of its symbols.  
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the player can return to the original first set or any other rejected set in step iv) by scrolling through the sets before settling on which set to select, the random re-selection occurring only when that selection has been made.  
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a rejected set in step iv) (b) is taken out of the game.  
     
     
         9 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rejection of a set in step iv) (b) involves actual or potential financial penalty for the player.  
     
     
         10 . A method of Playing a game as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the penalty includes the forfeiture of at least part of the stakes bet.  
     
     
         11 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein complete forfeiture requires a further bet to be placed.  
     
     
         12 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 9 ,  10  or  11 , wherein the penalty includes a reduction of the prizes available for winning combinations.  
     
     
         13 . A method playing a game as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of sets comprises a primary set and secondary sets and each of the sequence of sets, which are not the same as the secondary sets, becomes said primary set when the player has rejected the immediately preceding set of said sequence, as in step iv) (b).  
     
     
         14 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said secondary sets have their symbols initially concealed, the replication of step vi) over-riding whatever symbol may have been concealed at the corresponding position.  
     
     
         15 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the rejection of a primary set in step iv) (b) involves actual or potential financial penalty for the player.  
     
     
         16 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the penalty includes forfeiture of at least part of the stakes bet.  
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein complete forfeiture requires a further bet to be placed.  
     
     
         18 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 15 ,  16  or  17 , wherein the penalty includes the removal from the game of at least one secondary set.  
     
     
         19 . A method of playing a game in which: 
 i) a plurality of sets of randomly selected symbols are made available,    ii) bets are placed on those sets,    iii) the sets are made visible to the player,    iv) the player makes a selection of symbols from the sets, no two symbols being selected in corresponding positions in different sets,    v) each selected symbol is replicated in the corresponding positions in the other sets, supplanting whatever symbols were at those positions, all other symbols remaining unchanged,    vi) the resultant combinations of symbols determine whether or not a win related to the bet is achieved by each set.    
     
     
         20 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the selection of symbols from more than one set involves actual or potential financial penalty for the player, this penalty being greater the larger the number of sets from which selections are made.  
     
     
         21 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the penalty includes forfeiture of at least part of the stakes bet.  
     
     
         22 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein complete forfeiture requires a further bet to be placed.  
     
     
         23 . A method of playing a game as claimed in  claim 20 ,  21  or  22 , wherein the penalty includes a reduction in the prizes available for winning combinations.