Game of skill and system and method for playing it

Abstract

A system for playing a game of skill with rules fashioned on those of poker and uses one suit of a standard deck of playing cards. The system comprises programming allowing a plurality of players to compete against one another, each player provided a screen with the same hand of face-up cards simultaneously. The cards in each hand are of the same suit. Each card is arranged within a circular configuration in sequential numerical and/or value order. The system deals each player a previously unknown and not predetermined initial set of cards as each other player and allows each player to change any one or more of his cards in sequential numeric/value order, up or down. Each single step up or down to change a card is considered a step and a predetermined total number of steps is allowed to attempt to achieve the best poker hand.

1 . A system for playing a game of skill whose rules for winning are fashioned on the rules of poker and uses one suit of a standard deck of playing cards and comprises programming adapted to facilitate a plurality of players to compete against one another and each player is provided a screen with the same hand of face-up cards at the same time, the cards in each hand all being of the same suit and each card of each hand is arranged within a circular configuration in sequential numerical and/or value order and the system is adapted to deal each player a previously unknown and not predetermined initial set of cards as each other player and the system further comprises a means to allow each player to change any one or more of his cards in sequential numeric/value order, up or down, where each up or down step toward changing cards is considered a step and the system allows a predetermined total number of steps in order to attempt to achieve the best poker hand. 
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein it is adapted so that the game can be played in a mode comprising one of: via the Internet; using a screen or machine for each player disposed at a gaming establishment; and a combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means to allow each player to change cards comprises one of a touch-screen means and a keyboard means. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the players place a predetermined wager for each hand played. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein it is adapted to deduct a predetermined percentage or sum from a total of the wagers and to direct that percentage or sum to a manager or facilitator of the system. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the best “n” hands are winning hands whereby play can commence when there are at least “n+1” players. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein “n” is at least two. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein it is adapted to allow ten players to play. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the total number of predetermined steps is at least four. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the poker hand of a straight is considered according to one of the following: the cards are in sequential ascending order from right to left; the cards are in sequential ascending order from left to right; the cards are in sequential ascending order from either right to left or left to right; the cards could be arranged to be in sequential order although they are not in order as they appear on the screen; and suitable combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein it imposes, or allows the players to choose, a playing time constraint for each hand. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the game is played with a hand comprising five cards. 
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the initial cards dealt comprises at best the poker hand of two of a kind. 
   
   
       14 . A game of skill whose rules for winning are fashioned on the rules of poker and uses one suit of a standard deck of playing cards; allows either one or a plurality of players to compete against one another; each player is provided a screen with the same hand of face-up cards at the same time; the cards in each hand are all of the same suit; each card of each hand is arranged within a circular configuration in sequential numerical and/or value order; each player receives a previously unknown and not predetermined initial set of cards; each player may change any one or more of his cards in sequential numeric/value order, up or down, where each up or down step toward changing cards is considered a step; and a predetermined total number of steps is allowed in order to attempt to achieve the best poker hand. 
   
   
       15 . A method of playing a game of skill comprising the following steps: (a) accessing a system providing a game of skill on a screen, the game fashioned on the rules of poker and using one suit of a standard deck of playing cards arranged face-up and each card of each hand is arranged within a closed circle of cards configured in a circular sequential numerical/and value order and the system is adapted to deal each player a previously unknown and not predetermined initial set of cards as each other player, if any, and is further adapted to allow each player to exchange any one or more of his cards in sequential numeric/value order, up or down, utilizing a predetermined total number of exchanges; (b) receiving an initial poker hand; and (c) exchanging cards of the hand with the goal of achieving the optimal poker hand utilizing said predetermined total number of exchanges. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (a) comprises involves one of: accessing an Internet site and accessing a gaming establishment. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein prior to step (b), each player makes a predetermined wager. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (c) comprises utilizing at least four exchanges.