Chip Earning for Prolonged Player Interest

Abstract

Poker players lose interest when a game is finished. Methods and devices are described that continue interest over longer series of games. Token rewards are given for long multiple hand playing that can be exchanged for drawing one or more cards in a later hand. Another reward for long term playing is to receive a free ante, free spin or free game. These methods are particularly useful for Texas Hold'em and other games that can be played electronically.

1 . An improvement to a poker game played by a player, having one or more card playing steps, the improvement comprising:
 awarding a token to the player after a set minimum number of hands have been played; wherein after award of the token, the token credit may be exchanged for at least one card draw during a subsequent hand within a maximum number of subsequent hands.   
     
     
         2 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the game is Texas Holdem and the credit may be exchanged for a new draw of one or more community cards. 
     
     
         3 . The improved game of  claim 2 , wherein the card is a community flop card. 
     
     
         4 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the token is either a high value token that can be exchanged more freely or a low value token that can be exchanged less freely. 
     
     
         5 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the game is Texas Holdem and the at least one card draw is an optional replacement for at least one community card. 
     
     
         6 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the game is a poker game and the at least one card draw is an optional replacement for one or more drawn cards. 
     
     
         7 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the game is Texas Hold'em Foldup. 
     
     
         8 . The improved game of  claim 1 , wherein the game is draw poker. 
     
     
         9 . An improvement to a poker game played by a player, having one or more card playing steps, the improvement comprising:
 awarding a free ante to the player after a predetermined number of hands have been played.   
     
     
         10 . The improved game of  claim 9 , wherein at least two free antes are provided.