BROADCAST

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a table card game, a table card game tournament and a broadcast program based on a table card game.

Background of the Invention

One class of table card games, such as many forms of poker, involves a number of players around a table in a contest against each other over a number of games to determine a winner among the players. In the case of poker, the winner is typically the single player taking the whole pot collected from all eliminated players. Such "player against player" games have an appeal that "player against dealer" cannot offer, since the play of the game involves the skill and luck of all players against all players over an extended period of play during which many events and challenges take place and players are eliminated. This appeal makes such games more interesting as a spectator event, and televised table card tournaments are known in the art.

Many such table card games are played in casinos and gaming halls in which a dealer, who does not participate in playing the game, manages dealing of cards, handling of bets and payouts or transfer of winnings among players. When five to ten players at a table participate in such a game, considerable time is spent playing the game with some players eliminated from the table. During this time, the ratio of tables and dealers to players is much less efficient in terms of overhead.

Texas Holdem is one type of poker that can be played at a table and is presently very popular. In each game, each player is dealt two cards face down and then five community cards are turned up on the board. Each player makes the best five card hand using any combination of the seven cards. There are four betting rounds. Each player must bet or raise at each round. To start a new hand, two "blind" bets are put up or "posted". The player

immediately to the left of the dealer puts up or "posts" the small blind. The player to the left of the small blind posts the big blind that is a larger bet amount. The rest of the players do not put any money to start the hand. Because the dealer rotates around the table, each player will eventually act as the big hand and, small blind hand dealer. Each player is then dealt two cards face down with the player on the small blind receiving the first card and the player with the dealer button getting the last card. The first betting round begins with the player to the left of the big blind either putting in an amount to call the blind bet, or putting in a larger amount to raise the big blind, or folding his hand. The betting goes around the table in the usual sequence until the player who posted the small blind who can call the bet by putting in a bet since a small bet was already posted. The last person to act is the big blind. If no one has raised, the dealer will ask if they would like the option, this means the big blind has the option to raise or just "check". By checking, the player does not put in any more money.

After the first betting round is completed, three cards are dealt and turned face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the "flop". These are community cards used by all the players. Another betting round begins with the first active player to the left of the dealer button. The bet for this round is again set to a predetermined amount. When the betting round after the flop is completed, the dealer turns a fourth card face up in the middle of the table. This is called the "turn". The bet after the turn is now a predetermined amount and begins again with the first active player to the left of the dealer. Following the betting round for the turn, the dealer will turn a fifth and final card face up. This card is called the "river", and the final betting round begins with a predetermined amount being the minimum bet.

To determine the winner, the players may use any combination of their two hole cards and the five cards on the board or "table" to form the highest five- card hand. In the case that the best hand of all players is the five cards on the board, the active players will split the pot. A sixth card is never used to break a tie. Texas Holdem is an easy game to learn, and yet is difficult

enough to master to be interesting. Many betting opportunities are provided per game. The use of the flop makes the game particularly interesting since the two player held hole cards determine in most cases a differential or variation to a common core provided by the flop. In poker games without community cards, the player hands are of diverse composition and scoring, while in Texas Holdem, the players vie to make the best completion of the flop. For spectators and players alike, the attention becomes more focused, namely on expectations for the best completion of, or for complementary cards, to the flop for each active player.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a table card game in which the players at the table play essentially a common card game with the dealer handling the deal essentially as if all players are playing a common game, while handling bets and resolution of winners within two or more groups of players among the players at the table.

When the groups contain two players, the invention allows for "Heads-Up" games to be played in which it is each player against a single opponent. Preferably, such embodiments involve players to be seated opposite their opponents, with players being seated on the opposite lengthwise sides of an elongated table.

The invention can also allow for a table card game to be played with teams. Such teams are made up of players in different groups, preferably playing at a same table, but also possibly at different tables. The scoring for a team can then be as a function of the number of teammate players having won as individual players.

In the case of a tournament, the basic condition that players of a single group will be at the same stage within the tournament is respected, however, the invention allows for the groups at a same table to be at different stages within the tournament. This may be done to complete an elimination round at a

tournament more quickly using a predetermined number of tables and dealers by substituting a group that has completed its elimination round by a group that has yet to begin its elimination round. The substitution group can be a group of players starting the same level as the group having just finished, or a group of players starting the next round. In some cases, it may be preferred to have a round completed before allowing any players begin playing in the next. Preferably, players will be allowed to finish a round at a same table without needing to move, although new neighbors at the table will join in as different groups. The invention can be used either to allow an elimination round to be operated with fewer tables than is required to accommodate all players in the round and/or to allow the next round to begin using spaces at tables vacated by eliminated groups in the current round.

The number of players in a group can be two (for a Heads-Up style of game), three (preferably three groups of three players can be placed at a table of nine players), or four (preferably two groups at a table). A table may also accommodate groups of different sizes, such as for example, a group of four and two groups of two, or two groups of three and a group of two. The group sizes can also be determined to meet the wishes of players, namely a table normally arranged for Heads-Up groups of two could welcome a group of three or four when space becomes available. Likewise a table having two groups of four players may welcome a group of two as soon as the first two players at the table are eliminated, and in this case, there is a good probability that the new group of players completes its competition roughly at the same time as the other larger groups. One can alternatively start with one group of eight players and bring in new groups of two, three or four as the spaces become available as a result of players leaving the table. Each group size has its own appeal, and even if groups of two ensure that no player space at a table needs to be unused, groups of three or more can be economically interesting as well.

The invention can also be used to improve the interest of viewers of a broadcast program based on a table card game. Such a broadcast contains

the information about the play of the game within each group, as well as the progress of the game at the table as a whole. In the case of teams, the broadcast can contain the relevant team information about each team's performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood by way of the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a heads-up style card game table in accordance with the prior art played at the end of a tournament round when only two players are left;

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of a conventional table card game seating arrangement with eight-player positions and the dealer in accordance with the prior art;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of a table card game table arrangement having eight-player positions arranged in four groups of two players facing each other on opposite longitudinal side on an elongated table;

Figure 4 is an illustration similar to Figure 3 with the exception that the players on each side of the table belong to teams, namely Team A on one side and Team B on the other side;

Figure 5 is a block diagram of the broadcast program content generation system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates a screen view of a broadcast program divided essentially into four quadrants, namely a first quadrant showing the cards held by a player A, a second quadrant showing the cards held by player B, a third quadrant showing a view of all players sitting at the table of the table card

game, and a fourth quadrant providing a display of the flop and the scores for the individual groups playing at the table card game in accordance with one embodiment in which the table game is Texas Holdem Poker.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate table card game table player place arrangements in accordance with the prior art. In the case of Figure 1 , a heads-up game is being played and there are only two players, namely Player 1 and Player 2 at the table with one dealer position. A dealer button is used to determine the starting point for the deal between the two players, as is known in the art of Texas Holdem. In the case of Figure 2, the table has eight player places, and the dealer is located centrally for the purposes of handling the dealing of cards and management of bets for the players. The players play against all others at the table, and there is a single pot to be won at the table each hand. As a number of hands is played in a tournament, players who lose all of their chips are eliminated from the table until there is a last pair of players at the table, and finally one of these two players is the winner taking all of the chips from all players at the table. In a cash game, players who lose all their money have the option of leaving the table or putting up more money.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, four independent groups of two players are arranged at a rectangular table with each group of players being arranged on opposite sides of the table. In the preferred embodiment, the game being played is Texas Holdem. In addition to having four dealer buttons, one for each group of players, a match button is added for determining which group will act first on every round of betting. While the dealer deals cards to the players initially as if all players were involved in the very same game of Texas Holdem, and the dealer adds cards to the flop which is common to all players at the table, betting and the resolution of the bets is performed on a group by group basis in an orderly manner beginning with the group identified by the match button. The determination for the initial position of the dealer button for each group and also the determination for the initial position for the match button is performed in accordance with the known methods for determining

the initial player such as drawing a card to determine a winner of a starting position.

Preferably, to prevent confusion, all the players with the dealer button will post the small blind, while the opposing player will post the big blind. The dealer starts the hand dealing two cards face down to each player, starting with the player sitting to his left. The action is now on the group that has the match button. On that round of betting, the player with the dealer button has to act first. His options are to concede his small blind or match the size of the big blind or, if the game played is limited, raise to a predetermined amount, and in the case of a no limit game, he or she can raise with all the chips or money that he as on the table. In a no limit game, a subsequent player who cannot match the no limit raise typically has the option of matching with all of his or her chips, and the dealer returns the difference to those players previously having matched the higher no limit bet. If he concedes his small blind, the action is over with for that group for the remaining of that hand. The action is now on the next group sitting to the right of the match button. Like on the previous group, the player with the dealer button acts first with the same options as the previous group.

When all groups have acted, the dealer, after burning a card, turns three community cards face up in the middle of the table, which is called the flop. The action is now on the group with the match button or in the case that they have dropped out of that hand, the action is on the group sitting on the right of the match button. For that and all the remaining rounds of betting, the players that started with the big blind will be acting first. His options are to check or bet when the action is completed it goes to the next group. When all remaining groups have acted, the dealer burns one card and adds one more card to the flop, called the turn. The action is back to the group with the match button or the next group. All the players of the remaining groups have the same options than the previous round of betting. When all remaining groups have acted, the dealer burns one more card and add the fifth and last

card, which is called the river. This is followed by the last round of betting with the players having the same options than the previous round of betting.

When all remaining groups have acted, all remaining players turn their hole cards face up and the winners of all remaining groups take the pot in front of him. The dealer now moves the match button to the next group and, after shuffling the cards, starts dealing the next hand. In a cash game, when a player loses all his chips or money, that player has the option of leaving the table or putting more chips or money on the table to keep playing. Any player can leave a game anytime, at his own discretion. In a tournament, when a player loses all his chips, he is eliminated from the event. The winner moves to the next level of that tournament.

The players at the table shown Figure 3, while all playing with a common flop and common dealing of cards, may be in groups that are not at the same stage of a tournament. For example, players 3 and 4 may complete the first elimination round before players 1,2,5,6,7,8. Two new players who have not yet started to play in the tournament can replace players 3 and 4 and begin the first round. When all players in the tournament have played the first round, and then places become free at tables in the tournament, second round players can occupy places at tables where other players are still involved in their first round. Since betting is handled independently within the groups, the dealer can apply different betting amounts to groups playing within different rounds in the tournament at the same table.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, four of the players belong to one team, namely Team A while the other four players belong to Team B. Each member of the team plays against a single player of the opponent team until a winner is determined between the two players in each group. With four pairs of players at the table, and four members per team, it is possible for such teams to tie. Alternatively, by providing an odd number of players per team, it is possible for tie games or matches to be eliminated. In the case of teams, the four dealer buttons are assigned to all players of the same team. In this example,

the teams have four players. The match button is set on match number 1 as shown in Figure 4. A chosen player of each team draws a card. The highest card determines which team will start with the dealer button. As shown in Figure 4, Team B has won the dealer button. The dealer starts the hand by dealing two cards face down to each players starting with the player sitting to his left. The same rules and execution applies as described in Figure 3. Except when a player loses all his chips, he is eliminated and the winning player scores one point for his team. Various options can be done with the chips of the winning player: 1) They can be removed from the table;

2) Split equally between the remaining teammates;

3) Pass on to the teammate with the lowest amount of chips.

The same applies when the other players lose their chips. With four players per team, the final score could be 4-0, 3-1 , 2-2. To prevent a tie score, an odd number of players per team are required.

As illustrated in Figure 5, when the game according to the invention is made the subject of a broadcast program, various sources of information such as the cards dealt, the cards played or in the flop and the player bet data must be collected and provided to the spectator of the event in order to follow with interest. In the embodiment of Figure 5, individual player card cameras 10 are provided at each player position around the table in order to record the information concerning the cards, namely the image of the cards, held by the individual players. A flop card camera, mounted from the ceiling or from a stand mounted on the table, is used to collect an image of the cards in the flop. A video camera 14 is used to collect an image of the players sitting at the table, and it will be appreciated that the table video camera 14 may comprise a set of cameras providing different views, namely views of individual players in addition to views of the table from different angles. A player bet data input module 16 is also provided. Such input module 16 may comprise sensors associated with the table 4 for collecting data automatically about bets placed, or a data input terminal for inputting a data concerning the bets. In the latter case, the dealer or another observer may input the

information concerning the bets made. A player group identification input 15 is also provided to be able to identify which group is currently in the process of playing or betting so that a suitable organization of the information may be performed by the game information organization module 20. A commentator may also provide spectators of the broadcast program with commentary of the game. Such audio is provided from a source defined in Figure 5 as block 18. The data is suitably combined by the organizer 20 to provide a broadcast program to a broadcast module 22 for broadcast.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of how a combined information display may be provided within such broadcast. The screen 30 comprises a first quadrant 32 which provides a visual representation of the cards held by Player A, a second quadrant showing the visual representation of the cards held by Player B at 34, and another quadrant includes the video feed from camera 14. The video feed in quadrant 36 preferably contains a highlight or other indication of the players 37 that are part of a group currently playing and whose cards are highlighted in the quadrant 32 and 34. In another quadrant, there is a portion 38 for showing the flop of the Texas Holdem game, and another portion 40 for illustrating the scores of the players. The score illustrated may be limited to the group highlighted and illustrated in quadrant 36, and alternatively it may illustrate the scores of all groups of players at the table.

It will be appreciated that the broadcast program be displayed using a large screen having its display surface divided into quadrants. However, for regular television or web broadcasting, it will be appreciated that the screen will typically contain one single view with the occasional small overlay or picture- in-picture of a player's cards or of the flop cards or of bets and scoring. Thus, the organization of the information is more sequential arranging of content to show player views, table views, statistics, bets and scores, and cards held and played, with preferably an audio track of a commentator explaining the play and strategies involved.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may be performed with different table games and with different arrangements of groups of players than as described with reference to the drawings.

In the following, a comparison is made between a tournament performed in accordance with the prior art and in accordance with the invention. The tournament would be for Texas Holdem Poker with eight players per table. In the example, the tournament would begin with 200 players.

Resources required for a tournament with 200 players according to prior art rules:

1) 25 dealers and tables are needed for 8 hours;

2) only 50 players per round, 4 two hours round is needed; 3) after 8 hours of playing, 100 players remain.

4) The second round starts with 100 players;

5) 25 dealers and tables are needed for 4 hours;

6) after 4 hours of playing, 50 players remain.

7) The third round starts with 50 players;

8) 25 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours;

9) 25 players remained in the game. There will be a draw to find the player that will get a free pass to the next round. If the chosen player makes it to the final two players, he will have to win 2 matches, except if it is a player that also had a free pass.

10) The fourth round starts with 24 players;

11) 12 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours; 12) 12 players and the player with the free pass. Out of the 12 players there will be a draw to choose the player that will get a free pass.

13) The fifth round starts with 12 players;

14) 6 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours;

15) 6 players and the player with the free pass. Out of the 6 players there will be a draw. A player can only have one free pass.

16) The sixth round starts with 6 players;

17) 3 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours;

18) 3 players plus the player with the free pass.

19) The seventh round is the semi final; 20) 2 dealers and two tables are needed for 2 hours.

21) The final match needs one dealer for 4 hours max.

Total time for completion of the tournament is 26 hours.

Total of dealer hours is 400, calculated as follows:

1) 25 dealers and tables are needed for 14 hours; total hours 25x14=350 hours;

2) 12 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours; total hours 12x2=24 hours;

3) 6 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours; total hours 6x2=12 hours;

4) 3 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours; total hours 3x2=6 hours;

5) 2 dealers and tables are needed for 2 hours; total hours 2x2=4 hours;

6) 1 dealer and table for a maximum of 4 hours; total hours 4 hours.

Resources required for a tournament with 200 players in accordance with preferred embodiment:

1) 25 dealers and 25 tables of 8 players; 2) every time 8 players are eliminated, you reduce the number of table and dealer; 3) after 2 hours of playing, the first round is over.

4) The second round starts with 100 players;

5) 13 dealers for 13 tables, 12 tables with 8 players, and 1 table with 4 players;

6) every time 8 players are eliminated, you reduce the number of tables;

7) after 2 hours of playing, the second round is over.

8) The third round starts with 50 players;

9) 7 dealers for 7 tables, 6 tables with 8 players, and 1 table with 2 players;

10) every time 8 players are eliminated, you reduce the number of tables;

11) after 2 hours of playing, the third round is over.

12) The fourth round starts with 24 players, one player will get a free pass;

13) 3 dealers and 3 tables are needed;

14) after 2 hours of playing, the fourth round is over.

15) 6 players remains and the player with the free pass. 16) Out of the 12 players, one will get a free pass for the next round.

17) The fifth round starts with 12 players;

18) 2 dealers and 2 tables are needed;

19) after 2 hours of playing, the fifth round is over. 20) 6 players remains and the player with the free pass.

21) Out of the 6 players, one will get a free pass. A player cannot get more than one free pass.

22) The sixth round starts with 6 players; 23) 1 dealer and 1 table is needed;

24) after 2 hours of playing, the sixth round is over.

25) 3 players remains and the player with the free pass.

26) The seventh round is the semi final with 4 players;

27) after 2 hours of playing, the seventh round is over.

28) The final round, if the remaining 2 players have not won a free pass or if both players have won a free pass, there will only be 1 match. If only one player has won a free pass, this player will need to win 2 matches to be declared the winner. The other player will need to win only one match, the final could last up to 4 hours.

Total time for completion of tournament is 12 hours. Total of dealer hours is 106.