Patent ID: 7094154

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of allowing a plurality of players to play a game over a computer network, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a subscription-based membership for each player of the plurality of players by charging each player a fee for a pre-determined membership time period; hosting at least one game tournament for subscription-based players for a game that has elements of both chance and skill during the membership time period, the tournament consisting of at least one game round, each game round potentially eliminating one or more participant players until a winning player and one or more runner-up players are determined, wherein each player is required to make playing choices throughout the game; establishing a prize pool for the tournament; providing a means for allowing a non-subscription player to participate in the tournament without payment of the fee by submitting information relating to the non-subscription player prior to the hosting of the tournament, wherein the non-subscription player is limited to one entry per tournament; and disbursing the prize pool to the winning player and any eligible runner-up players in the form of prizes that have immediate value, subsequent to completion of the tournament.