Poker Game System
A method of tracking player statistics for each player competing in live poker games at multiple physical locations includes calculating a player score for a poker game, entering the player score in a total score and comparing each player score.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/783,800 filed on Mar. 20, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to card games, and more particularly, to live poker games.
BACKGROUNDLive poker tournaments have become very popular. In a live tournament, players travel to a specific location to compete against each other. However, players may be unable to travel long distances and at specific times. Thus, a need exists for a system to track player statistics in live poker games in order to compete from multiple locations and to rank order player skills.
SUMMARYIn one general aspect, a method of tracking player statistics for each player competing in live poker games at multiple physical locations includes calculating a player score for a poker game, entering the player score in a total score and comparing each player score.
Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. For example, calculating the player score may include calculating a place finished value, calculating a winner value, calculating a bounty winner value and adding the place finished value, the winner value and the bounty value to compute the player score.
The player score may also include a start value defined according to the formula start value=1.65−(6*(11−(number of players in game)))/100. The place finished value may be computed by (11−place number of finish in the game)/100. The winner value may be computed as players in game*0.1 or players in game*0.08. The bounty value may be calculated as number of bounties won/3 or number of bounties won/7.
The player score may also include other factors, such as, for example, a player time value defined according to ((total time of player in game)/60)/total time of game, a chip value defined as (1−(10−number of players)*0.05)*((net chip count+15000)/50000) or an elimination value defined according to the number of players eliminated/15.
In another general aspect, a poker game system that tracks player statistical rankings includes more than one card game facility at different geographic locations, each of the locations having poker tables for live poker games, a wireless communications device at each game facility to verify player identities, to control the start and stop of a live poker game and to input player scores and a server at a remote location to receive the player scores from the wireless communications device and calculate player scores, wherein each player score is calculated according to points for a start value, a place finished value, an elimination value, a winner value and a bounty winner value and a storage device that stores the player scores. Embodiments may include one or more of the above features.
In a further general aspect, a computer readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for processing by a computer includes a first code segment to calculate a player score for a poker game, the player score including a place finished value, a winner value and a bounty winner value, a second code segment to add the player score to a total score and a third code segment to compare the total score of each player to every other player. Embodiments may include one or more of the above features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The national poker challenge organizes poker games that are played in physical facilities at locations anywhere in the country or abroad. Each poker game is played live at one of several tables at each poker facility.
League play is done without gambling any money. Instead, a statistical tracking system tracks each player to determine monthly and overall rankings of the players.
Players sign up to play according to one of several subscription packages, such as, for example, an individual league pass or a sit-n-go league pass. When a player signs up for the individual league pass, the player is tracked for 10 games: 8 games of No Limit Texas Hold 'Em and 2 games of Omaha.
A trained poker dealer runs the games at each facility. Referring to
Each PDA 110 has a wireless communication link to a local server 120 at the poker facility. The local server 120 utilizes a telecommunications link, such as, for example, the Internet 130, to communicate with a main server 140.
The main server 140 processes all game data and stores game statistics in a storage device 150. A user terminal 160 allows the game supervisor to access game information and program and control the main server 140.
Referring to
Referring to
Once the player's are checked in at each table, the dealer enters a command on the wireless device 110 to commence the game. The wireless device records the number of players in each game. At the conclusion of the game, the scores of each player are input to the wireless device 110. The game scores are then sent to storage device to be added to the player's statistics.
As shown in
The statistical tracking program ranks the players according to criteria according to the game being played and the package that is purchased. In the Sit-N-Go league, players scores are calculated based on a sum of a start value, place finished value, games won value, bounty value, eliminations value and time played value, according to the following formulas:
start value=1.65−(6*(11−(number of players in game)))/100;
place finished value=(11−place number of finish in the game)/100;
winner value=players in game*0.1;
bounty value=number of bounties won/3;
player time value=((total time of player in game)/60)/total time of game; and
elimination value=number of players eliminated/15.
In the Individual League Championship (ILC), ten games are played, include eight games of Texas Hold 'Em and two games of Omaha. The players scores in the ILC are calculated based on a start value, place finished value, winner value, bounties value and chip value according to the following formulas:
start value=1.65−(6*(11−(number of players in game)))/100;
place finished value=(11−place number of finish in the game)/100;
winner value=players in game*0.1;
bounty value=number of bounties won/7; and
chip value=(1−(10−number of players)*0.05)*((net chip count+15000)/50000).
While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it should be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A method of tracking player statistics for each player competing in live poker games at multiple physical locations, the method comprising:
- calculating a player score for a poker game;
- entering the player score in a total score; and
- comparing each player score.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the player score comprises:
- calculating a place finished value;
- calculating a winner value;
- calculating a bounty winner value; and
- adding the place finished value, the winner value and the bounty value to compute the player score.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
- calculating a start value; and
- wherein adding includes adding the start value to compute the player score.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the start value is defined according to the formula: start value=1.65−(6*(11−(number of players in game)))/100.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the place finished value is defined according to the formula: place finished value=(11−place number of finish in the game)/100.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the winner value is defined according to the formula: winner value=players in game*0.1.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the winner value is defined according to the formula: winner value=players in game*0.08.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the bounty value is defined according to the formula: bounty value=number of bounties won/3.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein the bounty value is defined according to the formula: bounty value=number of bounties won/7.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein the player score further comprises:
- adding a player time value defined according to the formula
- player time value=((total time of player in game)/60)/total time of game.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein the player score further comprises:
- adding a chip value defined according to the formula
- chip value=(1−(10−number of players)*0.05)*((net chip count+15000)/50000).
12. The method of claim 2, wherein the player score further comprises:
- adding an elimination value defined according to the formula
- elimination value=number of players eliminated/15.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- verifying the identity of each poker player.
14. A poker game system that tracks player statistical rankings, comprising:
- more than one card game facility at different geographic locations, each of the locations having poker tables for live poker games;
- a wireless communications device at each game facility to verify player identities, to control the start and stop of a live poker game and to input player scores; and
- a server at a remote location to receive the player scores from the wireless communications device and calculate player scores, wherein each player score is calculated according to points for a start value, a place finished value, an elimination value, a winner value and a bounty winner value; and
- a storage device that stores the player scores.
15. A computer readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for processing by a computer, the computer program comprising:
- a first code segment to calculate a player score for a poker game, the player score including a place finished value, a winner value and a bounty winner value;
- a second code segment to add the player score to a total score; and
- a third code segment to compare the total score of each player to every other player.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 20, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 27, 2007
Inventors: Phil Lewis (Collierville, TN), James Reeves (Issaquah, WA)
Application Number: 11/688,839
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);