Method of Playing Correspondence Poker

Abstract

A method of playing correspondence poker over a communications network, having a user interface displaying multiple poker hands simultaneously, so that a player can continue playing some hands while waiting for his/her turn in others. The user interface displays a hand history for each displayed hand, so that the player does not need to memorize the earlier actions in the game but instead can see from the interface what had previously happened in the hand. Players are not required to be connected to a game server when it is not their turn, and when it is their turn they are given a reasonable amount of time to connect to the server and decide on their next moves.

1 . A method of playing correspondence poker, comprising:
 (a) means for hosting a plurality of multiplayer correspondence poker games by performing the following functions:
 (i) enabling players to start new games and to join existing games 
 (ii) generating and storing status information regarding current state of said games 
 (iii) communicating said status information to players in said games 
 (iv) receiving moves from players whose turn it is and processing said moves 
 (v) evaluating results of said games and awarding winning players; 
   (b) means for a player to participate in a plurality of correspondence poker games by performing the following functions:
 (i) starting new games and joining existing games 
 (ii) receiving status information regarding current states of said games 
 (iii) electronically displaying said status information to said player 
 (iv) transmitting said player's moves in said games; and 
   (c) means for displaying status information simultaneously for plurality of correspondence poker games, consisting:
 (i) status information regarding current states of said games 
 (ii) status information regarding all states said games have been in since the beginning of said games. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method of playing correspondence poker, comprising:
 (a) a game server, for hosting a plurality of multiplayer correspondence poker games by performing the following functions:
 (i) enabling players to start new games and to join existing games 
 (ii) generating and storing status information regarding current state of said games 
 (iii) communicating said status information to players in said games 
 (iv) receiving moves from players whose turn it is and processing said moves 
 (v) evaluating results of said games and awarding winning players; 
   (b) a game client, for a player to participate in a plurality of correspondence poker games by performing the following functions:
 (i) starting new games and joining existing games 
 (ii) receiving status information regarding current states of said games 
 (iii) electronically displaying said status information to said player 
 (iv) transmitting said player's moves in said games; and 
   (c) a user interface, for displaying status information simultaneously for plurality of correspondence poker games, consisting:
 (i) status information regarding current states of said games 
 (ii) status information regarding all states said games have been in since the beginning of said games, visually constructed to said game client. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of playing correspondence poker as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said game client has characteristics selected from the following group: personal computer, and cell phone; and said user interface has characteristics selected from the following group: software program, and web application.