Computer-aided online card games having parallel payouts

Abstract

A method, computer system, and computer program product to award a benchmark prize to a game participant in an online card game. The method commences by receiving an opt-in wager from a game participant to participate in one or more forms of parallel competition, then receiving a plurality of cards corresponding to a hand for a player-entry. The method continues by identifying a benchmark related to the online card game and awarding the benchmark prize to the game participant based on the benchmark. Benchmarks comprise a hand rank or an event during a game. Some techniques include automatic fold-out whereby a profitability threshold of a current hand or player preferences on hand strength are used in making the decision to perform a fold-out command based on a comparison of the current hand to a calculated current hand profitability threshold. If the player folds-out, then the system can automatically assign the player-entry of the player to a new table.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method of awarding a benchmark prize to a game participant in an online game or hand, the method comprising:
 offering participation in the online game or hand to one or more game participants, the one or more game participants selected from one or more game players or one or more game observers;   identifying a benchmark event related to a plurality of cards in the online game or hand;   receiving, by a computer, an opt-in wager or opt-in fee from the game participant to register the game participant as eligible to win the benchmark prize, wherein not all the game participants in the online game or hand are required to opt in;   receiving a plurality of cards corresponding to the online game or hand; and   awarding the benchmark prize to the game participant based at least in part on an occurrence of the benchmark event.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark event comprises a hand rank. 
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark event comprises an event during a hand, playing session, or game. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark event comprises a combination of a hand rank, a hand outcome, and an event during a hand, playing session, or game. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game participant is eligible for at least one benchmark event different from a second benchmark event that a second game participant is eligible for, and the game participant and the second game participant are seated at the same table. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark event is a best player hand achieved within a set time interval or number of hands. 
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark event is a player hand or a certain rank or better is beaten by another hand of higher rank. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game operator charges the game participant a fee based at least in part on opting in. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the game operator charges the game participant a fee based at least in part on the amount of the game participant's wager. 
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein there benchmark prize comprises a jackpot in addition to the benchmark prize. 
     
     
         11 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark prize progressively increases. 
     
     
         12 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the benchmark prize is based at least in part on a pari-mutuel payout. 
     
     
         13 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the wager is made by an observer not participating in a hand. 
     
     
         14 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein awarding the benchmark prize to the game participant is communicated solely to the game participant. 
     
     
         15 . A computer system for awarding a benchmark prize to a game participant in an online game or hand, the computer system comprising:
 a computer processor to execute a set of program code instructions; and   a memory to hold the program code instructions, in which the program code instructions comprises program code to perform,   offering participation in the online game or hand to one or more game participants, the one or more game participants selected from one or more game players or one or more game observers;   identifying a benchmark event related to a plurality of cards in the online game or hand;   receiving an opt-in wager or opt-in fee from the game participant to register the game participant as eligible to win the benchmark prize, wherein not all the game participants in the online game or hand are required to opt in;   receiving a plurality of cards corresponding to the online game or hand; and   awarding the benchmark prize to the game participant based at least in part on an occurrence of the benchmark event.   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the benchmark event comprises a hand rank. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the benchmark event comprises an event during a hand, playing session, or game. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor causes the processor to execute a process for awarding a benchmark prize to a game participant in an online game or hand, the process comprising:
 offering participation in the online game or hand to one or more game participants, the one or more game participants selected from one or more game players or one or more game observers;   identifying a benchmark event related to a plurality of cards in the online game or hand;   receiving an opt-in wager or opt-in fee from the game participant to register the game participant as eligible to win the benchmark prize, wherein not all the game participants in the online game or hand are required to opt in;   receiving a plurality of cards corresponding to the online game or hand; and   awarding the benchmark prize to the game participant based at least in part on an occurrence of the benchmark event.   
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the benchmark event comprises a hand rank. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 18 , wherein the benchmark event comprises an event during a hand, playing session, or game.