Poker games

Abstract

Processing means is arranged to provide a single bet poker game to at least one player playing over a network. The processing means is arranged to cause the card dealer to deal at least one card to each player to form a starting hand. The bet manager requests a single bet from the or each player, and, once a single bet has been received from each player, stores the total of the amounts of the bets in the prize fund storage means. The card dealer then deals further cards to provide a poker hand to each player and the hand assessment means assesses the hands of all of the players determine the winning hand. At least one prize is awarded to the winning hand from the prize fund.

1 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A system for providing a poker game to at least one player playing over a network, the system comprising:
 a card dealer module programmed to associate at least one card with each player of the game;   a bet manager module programmed to present a plurality of betting options to each player, and to request from each player an indication of a bet; and   a prize fund storage module programmed to store in a prize fund a total of the bet received from each player;   wherein one of the betting options provided by the bet manager module includes electing to cease contributions to the prize fund, such that if one player elects to cease contributions to the prize fund, the one player (i) does not participate in any subsequent betting rounds, and (ii) limits a maximum amount which can be won from the prize fund to a multiple, equal to a number of players in the game, of an amount contributed to the prize fund by the one player who elects to cease contributions to the prize fund.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the bet manager module is programmed to provide each player with the betting options including call, re-raise, all in, and freeze. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the bet manager module is programmed to allow the one player to cease contributions to the prize fund when the one player selects the freeze betting option. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the bet manager module is programmed to allow the one player to cease contributions to the prize fund when the one player selects a freeze betting option from the betting options. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the card dealer module is further programmed to deal Texas ‘Hold'em’ poker, Stud poker, or Omaha poker. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the bet manager module is further programmed to provide an indication of a strength of the one player's hand. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the bet manager module is further programmed to place a bet automatically based on a strength of the one player's hand. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising a memory module programmed to store the card dealer module, the bet manager module, and the prize fund storage module. 
     
     
         40 . A system for providing a poker game to at least one player playing over a network, the system comprising:
 a card dealer module programmed to associate at least one card with each player of the game;   a bet manager module programmed to present a plurality of betting options, including call, re-raise, all in, and freeze, to each player, and to request from each player an indication of a bet; and   a prize fund storage module programmed to store in a prize fund a total of the bet received from each player;   wherein, when one player selects the freeze betting option, the one player (i) does not participate in any subsequent betting rounds, and (ii) limits a maximum amount which can be won from the prize fund to a multiple, equal to a number of players in the game, of an amount contributed to the prize fund by the one player.   
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the card dealer module is further programmed to deal Texas ‘Hold'em’ poker, Stud poker, or Omaha poker. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the bet manager module is further programmed to place a bet automatically based on a strength of the one player's hand. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising a memory module programmed to store the card dealer module, the bet manager module, and the prize fund storage module. 
     
     
         44 . A method for playing a game of poker, the method comprising:
 associating at least one playing card with each player;   allowing each player to select one of a plurality of betting options to place a bet, wherein the betting options include a freeze option;   if the freeze option is selected:
 excluding a player selecting the freeze option from participation in any subsequent betting rounds; and 
 limiting a maximum amount the player can win to a multiple, equal to a number of players in the game, of an amount contributed by the player; and 
   calculating a prize for each player.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein allowing each player to select one of the plurality of betting options further comprises presenting the betting options as call, re-raise, all in, and freeze. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising allowing the player to cease betting when the player selects the freeze betting option from the betting options. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein associating at least one playing card with each player further includes dealing Texas ‘Hold'em’ poker, Stud poker, or Omaha poker. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising providing an indication of a strength of the player's hand. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising automatically betting based on a strength of the player's hand. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising allowing a plurality of players to log into a system through a network to play the game. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising using a computer system to associate at least one playing card with each player, allow each player to select one of the plurality of betting options, and calculate the prize for each player.