[abby99]

Yes, yes, and yes.

One local group plays with a simplified scoring system that is fast and easy to understand. Dealer chooses the stakes for each of the three hands (e.g., $1 on top, $1 on middle, and $2 on bottom) within a pre-established betting range. After hands are set, all the top hands are exposed and evaluated, winner takes all top-hand bets. Same procedure for middle and bottom hands. Mis-set hand is an automatic loser. A scoop/sweep earns a pre-determined bonus from the other players ($1 in our game). No royalties or automatic winning hands. The advantages of this system are that you don't have to evaluate each hand individually against all the others, it only takes a minute or so to explain, and nobody has to look up what various royalty hands are worth.