Poker based puzzle and method of creation

Abstract

A method of establishing one or more puzzles from candidate deals of a card game such as poker, for supporting an exercise in guessing an opponent's concealed card holdings. The method may use random dealing, archived actual deals, and other manufactured or sourced material to source an inventory of candidate deals. To qualify a deal from the inventory of candidate deals, the method may quantify one or more parameters of a candidate card deal. Quantified parameters may be weighted or otherwise mathematically treated, then evaluated to arrive at a determination of suitability for establishing a puzzle based on the candidate deal. The puzzles may be used as the basis of an exercise or game wherein the participant must guess the nature of concealed card holdings. Where the invention is regarded as the resultant game, guesses may be mathematically quantified to arrive at a score.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of creating a puzzle game that displays situations of known preestablished card games, in which the goal of a player of the puzzle game is to guess concealed card holdings of players of the original preestablished card game at a predetermined point of the preestablished card game, comprising the steps of:
 qualifying a preestablished card game so that the player of the puzzle game has sufficient information by which to draw repeatable conclusions as to the nature of the concealed card holdings;   reproducing all or a portion of the preestablished card game, wherein a plurality of game positions are held by an equal number of game players;   concealing from the player of the puzzle game known cards of a player of the preestablished card game;   displaying information pertaining to the preestablished card game; and   displaying information pertaining to the puzzle game;   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the preestablished card game is poker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the preestablished card game is a form of poker wherein players have concealed individual card holdings. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the preestablished card game is a form of poker wherein players share a community card holding. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the form of poker has rules permitting players to go all-in, to bet up to the amount of the current pot size, or to bet a predetermined limit amount. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method of creating a puzzle game further comprises the steps of:
 computing values of puzzle parameters, wherein each puzzle parameter comprises one or more aspects of the preestablished card game;   establishing minimum threshold, maximum threshold, or required values for each of the computed values of puzzle parameters; and   qualifying the preestablished card game as a candidate puzzle game by comparing the computed values of puzzle parameters to the minimum threshold, maximum threshold, or required values for each puzzle parameter.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of computing values of puzzle parameters includes one or more of the parameters of quantity of actions taken by players of the preestablished card game, quality of actions taken by players of the preestablished card game, quantity of statistical information relating to the preestablished card game, quality of statistical information relating to the preestablished card game, quantity of non-statistical information relating to the preestablished card game, quality of non-statistical information relating to the preestablished card game, the quantity of hand rank and hand possibilities for a player of the preestablished card game, the quantity of potential hand rank and hand possibilities for a player of the preestablished card game, the quantity and type of exposed cards, the current sum of monies wagered in the preestablished card game, and the consistency of puzzle parameters with player actions of the preestablished card game. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of computing values of puzzle parameters includes one or more aspects of the preestablished card game at any predetermined point of the preestablished card game including player call amount, player raise amount, player total bet amount, pot size amount, number of players remaining, number of players in position to the player with concealed card holdings to be guessed, position to the raiser, board texture, or player attributes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the preestablished card game is poker of a form allowing players to be all-in, and wherein the step of computing values of puzzle parameters includes the parameter of how many players are considered all-in. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of computing values for puzzle parameters includes establishing predetermined static minimum threshold, maximum threshold, or required values. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the step of computing values for puzzle parameters includes establishing predetermined minimum threshold, maximum threshold, or required values that dynamically vary based on the value of any, or a group of any, computed puzzle parameters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the step of mathematically normalizing computed values. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for playing a puzzle game, comprising:
 a computing device configured to have a memory function for storing information relating to attributes of a preestablished card game, wherein the goal of the puzzle game is to have a player of the puzzle game guess the nature of at least one concealed card holding from the preestablished card game;   a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays all or a portion of the preestablished card game to the player of the puzzle game, wherein a plurality of card game positions are held by number of card game players;   a computing device configured to conceal cards held by players of the preestablished card game;   a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays a question to be answered by the player playing the puzzle game;   a computing device configured to compute values for aspects of the preestablished card game and utilize the computed values to generate and control the puzzle game;   a computing device configured to receive help requests from the player of the puzzle game;   a computing device configured to generate output to the display device for the player of the puzzle game by revealing additional information per instructive game rules or as requested by the player of the puzzle game;   a computing device configured to receive inputs from the player of the puzzle game, wherein the input is a guess as to the nature of at least one concealed card holding of at least one player of the preestablished card game;   a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays a solution of the puzzle game;   a computing device configured to calculate a score for the player of the puzzle game based on attributes related to how close the guess is to the actual concealed card holding from the preestablished card game; and,   a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays the calculated score to the player of the puzzle game.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays background information pertaining to the preestablished card game along with all or a portion of the preestablished card game or further attributes of the preestablished card game that are required so that the player of the puzzle game has sufficient information by which to draw repeatable conclusions as to the nature of the concealed card holdings. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a computing device configured to compute values of aspects of the preestablished card game; and
 a computing device configured to have a display device where said display device displays information to the player of the puzzle game based on said computed values.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the game is a form of poker. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the background information comprises attributes or personal characteristics of players of the preestablished card game. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a computing device configured to generate additional information pertinent to the puzzle game and available to the player on an optional basis, wherein said additional information is displayed on said computing device configured display device. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a computing device configured to compute adjustments to the awarded score based on whether the player of the puzzle game accepted or declined the option to obtain the additional information pertinent to the puzzle game. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said values for aspects of the preestablished card game further comprise: a computing device configured to compute levels of difficulty for guessing the nature of at least one concealed card holding; and
 a computing device configured to adjust the awarded score to reflect said level of difficulty for guessing the nature of at least once concealed card holding associated with the preestablished card game.