Method and System for an On-Line Card Game

Abstract

A method and system comprise accessing a server unit configured for conducting an on-line card game comprising a plurality of players engaging in wagering on an outcome. A plurality of other players is joined in play of an on-line card game. At least two values for hole cards are received from the server unit for display with a representation of a gaming table. The values are hidden from the other players at least during rounds of the play. The sever unit is requested to exchange a selected one of the values for another randomly generated value during a round of the play. The requesting is hidden from the other players. The randomly generated value is received from the server unit in exchange for the selected value. The randomly generated value is hidden from the other players at least during rounds of the play.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising the steps of:
 accessing a server unit being configured to be operable for conducting an on-line card game comprising a plurality of players engaging in wagering on an outcome of said on-line card game, said accessing enabling joining to a plurality of other players in play of an on-line card game;   receiving at least two values for hole cards from said server unit for display with a representation of a gaming table, said values being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play;   selecting at least one of said values for exchange;   in response, at least partially based on said selecting, providing an indicator of said selected hole card, which indicator is configured to be sufficiently hidden from at least one of said other players such that the identity of said selected hole card is not completely discernable;   requesting said sever unit to exchange said selected one of said values for another randomly generated value during a round of said play, said requesting being hidden from said other players;   receiving from said server unit said randomly generated value in exchange for said selected value, said randomly generated value being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play; and   receiving results from said server unit of said outcome of said on-line card game.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , in which said requesting initiates a debiting of a fee by said server unit, said debiting being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , in which said fee is displayed on said gaming table prior to said requesting, said display of said fee being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , in which said fee is credited to a winning pot at completion of said play. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , in which said requesting is at least allowed once during said play. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of selecting a one of said values for exchange, said selecting resulting in a change in illumination of said display of said selected hole card, said change in illumination being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of confirming said selection by further selecting a displayed icon, on said gaming table, indicating discard, said display of said icon changing illumination prior to being selected, said display of said icon being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , in which said on-line card game further comprises a poker game. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , in which said poker game is a Texas Twist'em. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a server unit being configured to be operable for conducting an on-line card game comprising a plurality of players engaging in wagering on an outcome of said on-line card game; and   a client application being configured to be operable for accessing said server unit for enabling a player to join a plurality of other players in play of an on-line card game, said client application being further configured to be operable for receiving at least two values for hole cards from said server unit for display with a representation of a gaming table, said values being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play, said client application being further configured to be operable for selecting at least one of said values for exchange, and in response, at least partially based on said selecting, providing an indicator of said selected hole card, said client application being further configured to be operable for requesting said sever unit to exchange a selected one of said values for another randomly generated value during a round of said play, said requesting being hidden from said other players, said client application being further configured to be operable for receiving from said server unit said randomly generated value in exchange for said selected value, said randomly generated value being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play, said client application being further configured to be operable for receiving results from said server unit of said outcome of said on-line card game.   
     
     
         11 . The system as recited in  claim 10 , in which said on-line card game further comprises a Texas Twist'em version of a poker game, and said selected hole card indicator includes providing a change in illumination which is substantially hidden from said other players, said client application is further configured to be operable for confirming said selection by further selecting a displayed icon, on said gaming table, indicating discard, said display of said icon changing illumination prior to being selected, said display of said icon being hidden from said other players, said requesting is at least allowed once during said play, said requesting initiates a debiting of a fee by said server unit, said debiting being hidden from said other players, said fee is displayed on said gaming table prior to said requesting, said display of said fee being hidden from said other players, said fee is credited to a winning pot at completion of said play. 
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor to perform the following steps:
 accessing a server unit being configured to be operable for conducting an on-line card game comprising a plurality of players engaging in wagering on an outcome of said on-line card game, said accessing enabling joining to a plurality of other players in play of an on-line card game;   selecting at least one of said values for exchange;   in response, at least partially based on said selecting, providing an indicator of said selected hole card, which indicator is configured to be sufficiently hidden from at least one of said other players such that the identity of said selected hole card is not completely discernable;   receiving at least two values for hole cards from said server unit for display with a representation of a gaming table, said values being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play;   requesting said sever unit to exchange said selected one of said values for another randomly generated value during a round of said play, said requesting being hidden from said other players;   receiving from said server unit said randomly generated value in exchange for said selected value, said randomly generated value being hidden from said other players at least during rounds of said play; and   receiving results from said server unit of said outcome of said on-line card game.   
     
     
         13 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 12 , in which said requesting initiates a debiting of a fee by said server unit, said debiting being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         14 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 13 , in which said fee is displayed on said gaming table prior to said requesting, said display of said fee being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         15 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 13 , in which said fee is credited to a winning pot at completion of said play. 
     
     
         16 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 12 , in which said requesting is only allowed once during said play. 
     
     
         17 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of selecting a one of said values for exchange, said selecting resulting in a change in illumination of said display of said selected hole card, said change in illumination being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         18 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of confirming said selection by further selecting a displayed icon, on said gaming table, indicating discard, said display of said icon changing illumination prior to being selected, said display of said icon being hidden from said other players. 
     
     
         19 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 12 , in which said on-line card game further comprises a poker game. 
     
     
         20 . The program instructing the processor as recited in  claim 19 , in which said poker game is a Texas Twist'em.