We all love the game of poker, but for some of us it is becoming increasingly difficult to play the game legally. There has been much controversy over whether skill or chance predominates the game, but most court rulings in the U.S. have labeled it a game of chance. As a way around this skill vs. chance issue, Pinhas Romik developed a method to eliminate the chance-factor, thus bringing the game back to legal status.

This game incorporates both poker and the game of bridge. The rules of the game are just as before, but the scoring methods are that of bridge. (A mix between duplicate poker and duplicate bridge.)

Players at multiple tables are dealt the same hole cards. The flop, turn and river are the same at each table as well. To begin the game, everyone starts with the same amount of chips. The chips, however, do not represent money, but are for scoring purposes only. At the completion of each hand, the chip counts are compared between the players with identical hands. The player with more chips than their counterpart wins that round. In this way, it is not about who wins the hand at the table or who had better cards. It’s about who did best with what they had, thus taking the chance out of poker.

This is becoming a progressively popular game, but the idea is not sold to everyone just yet. To some people, poker is poker, and the thought of changing some of the rules is a betrayal to this classic game. But others have opened their mind to the modifications. “Let’s face it, we live in a world of change,” a converted player said. “You either change with the times or get left behind.” Jennifer accepts this new concept of poker “as a way to get around these stupid rules” and to exercise her right to play poker.

How do you feel about this new breed of poker?

While writing this article, I vacillated between positive and negative feelings about this poker-bridge hybrid. I think it’s a good idea, especially for those under the dominant factor rule of skill vs. chance. At least we can still play a version of poker. It’s good to know there are people out there who are coming up with ideas and plans to help those of less fortunate freedoms, such as those of us living in a “free country” like the United States. It’s a pretty good loophole in the system of these silly laws.

But this is exactly where my negative thoughts come in…these silly laws! It is pathetic that the government tells us what to do with our own money. We work for our money and then pay the government its taxes. Now they want to tell us how to spend the remaining amount. This poker hybrid idea is interesting, but it’s sad that we need to change the rules of classic poker games to permit citizens of a “free country” to enjoy a game that is simply a form of entertainment to millions or people.

By Victoria Maro