Abstract: A system for determining the skill of a player eliminates the element of chance by comparing players who have the same initial position. In the case of cards, the initial position is the hand dealt to the player and in tile games, it is the initial distribution and arrangement of tiles. A player with a less than advantageous initial position may win a game over an opponent having a better initial position. It cannot conclusively be said whether this win is due to the good play of the winner or the bad play of the loser. However, it can clearly be said that the winning player has a higher skill level than the losing player.

Abstract: A system for determining the skill of a player eliminates the element of chance by comparing players who have the same initial position. In the case of cards, the initial position is the hand dealt to the player and in tile games, it is the initial distribution and arrangement of tiles. A player with a less than advantageous initial position may win a game over an opponent having a better initial position. It cannot conclusively be said whether this win is due to the good play of the winner or the bad play of the loser. However, it can clearly be said that the winning player has a higher skill level than the losing player.

Abstract: The system provides for conducting a backgammon tournament for multiple pairs. The scoring of individual matches is tallied and, based on the score for each individual player during the tournament, players are ranked and Gammon points are awarded. Gammon points are accumulated over time and different levels of expertise are achieved. In addition, winning averages are developed over time allowing for stratified games in tournaments. An alternative to stratified games will be games using the players handicap. With the use of Gammon points won, the winning average, as well as the handicap system, players of every level and ability can play and have a reasonable expectation of winning some number of points.

Abstract: A plurality of pairs of players play hands of Gin Rummy with identically arranged decks of cards. Each round of play usually consists of one to three hands. At the conclusion of a round, players are rotated until every first player of a pair has played every second player of a pair. For each hand, a winner is determined and points are awarded. At the conclusion of all rounds, players are ranked by their score to determine a winner. The top 40% of winners receive Gin Points which are accumulated over time to achieve levels. Games can be conducted by differentiating players by the winning average achieved or by providing each player with a handicap. The handicap is the difference between a player's average score and a percentage of the maximum points possible for the game.