System and method for league gaming

Abstract

A system and method for playing a card game, e.g. Poker, using a team format includes associating participants with two or more teams, and conducting two or more sets of card games wherein a participant on one team competes with participants of one or more other teams. Scores are computed for each participant based on that participant's performance. The scores for the participants of each team are combined, and the team with the best combined score wins. The card games are conducted with the aid of one or more computers, either within a gambling casino or over the Internet.

1 . A method for playing Poker using a team format, said method including the steps of: 
 a. forming a group of at least four participants;    b. associating at least a first and a second participant with a first team, and associating at least a third and a fourth participant with a second team;    c. conducting a first set of Poker games wherein said first participant on said first team competes against at least said third participant on said second team;    d. computing a score for said first participant based upon said first participant's performance in said first set of Poker games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of Poker games;    e. computing a score for said third participant based upon said third participant's performance in said first set of Poker games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of Poker games;    f. conducting a second set of Poker games wherein said second participant on said first team competes against at least said fourth participant on said second team;    g. computing a score for said second participant based upon said second participant's performance in said second set of Poker games relative to the performance of other participants to said second set of Poker games;    h. computing a score for said fourth participant based upon said fourth participant's performance in said second set of Poker games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of Poker games;    i. combining the scores for said first and second participants on said first team to compute a first team score;    j. combining the scores for said third and fourth participants on said second team to compute a second team score; and    k. awarding a prize to the team with the best combined score.    
   
   
       2 . The method for playing Poker recited by  claim 1  wherein said method is performed at a gambling casino, and wherein said first, second, third, and fourth participants are all physically present at said gambling casino.  
   
   
       3 . The method for playing Poker recited by  claim 2  wherein said first set of Poker games are conducted at a first gambling table at which said first and third participants are present, and wherein said second set of Poker games are conducted at a second gambling table at which said second and fourth participants are present.  
   
   
       4 . The method for playing Poker recited by  claim 1  wherein said method is performed over a computer network.  
   
   
       5 . The method for playing Poker recited by  claim 4  wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth participants uses a computer to participate in a Poker game, and wherein at least one of said first, second, and third participants is located remotely from said fourth participant.  
   
   
       6 . The method recited by  claim 1 , wherein said steps of computing scores for participants, and combining scores for participants associated with the same team, are performed by a computer.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are amateur Poker players.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are professional Poker players.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are celebrities.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are sports stars.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said first and second sets of Poker games are of the version known as Texas Holdem.  
   
   
       12 . A method for playing a card game using a team format, said method including the steps of: 
 a. forming a group of at least four participants;    b. associating at least a first and a second participant with a first team, and associating at least a third and a fourth participant with a second team;    c. conducting a first set of card games wherein said first participant on said first team competes against at least said third participant on said second team;    d. computing a score for said first participant based upon said first participant's performance in said first set of card games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of card games;    e. computing a score for said third participant based upon said third participant's performance in said first set of card games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of card games;    f. conducting a second set of card games wherein said second participant on said first team competes against at least said fourth participant on said second team;    g. computing a score for said second participant based upon said second participant's performance in said second set of card games relative to the performance of other participants to said second set of card games;    h. computing a score for said fourth participant based upon said fourth participant's performance in said second set of card games relative to the performance of other participants to said first set of card games;    i. combining the scores for said first and second participants on said first team to compute a first team score;    j. combining the scores for said third and fourth participants on said second team to compute a second team score; and    k. awarding a prize to the team with the best combined score.    
   
   
       13 . The method for playing a card game recited by  claim 12  wherein said method is performed at a gambling casino, and wherein said first, second, third, and fourth participants are all physically present at said gambling casino.  
   
   
       14 . The method for playing a card game recited by  claim 13  wherein said first set of card games are conducted at a first gambling table at which said first and third participants are present, and wherein said second set of card games are conducted at a second gambling table at which said second and fourth participants are present.  
   
   
       15 . The method for playing a card game recited by  claim 12  wherein said method is performed over a computer network.  
   
   
       16 . The method for playing a card game recited by  claim 15  wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth participants uses a computer to participate in a card game, and wherein at least one of said first, second, and third participants is located remotely from said fourth participant.  
   
   
       17 . The method recited by  claim 12  wherein said steps of computing scores for participants, and combining scores for participants associated with the same team, are performed by a computer.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are celebrities.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said first, second, third and fourth participants are sports stars.  
   
   
       20 . A computerized system to facilitate team play of card gaming, the computerized system comprising in combination: 
 a. a first computer for use by a first participant associated with a first team;    b. a second computer for use by a second participant associated with a second team;    c. a third computer for use by a third participant associated with said first team;    d. a fourth computer for use by a fourth participant associated with said second team;    e. a computer network linking the first and second computers to each other for allowing the first and second participants to compete against each other for team points in a first set of card gaming, the computer network also linking the third and fourth computers to each other for allowing the third and fourth participants to compete against each other for team points in a second set of card gaming;    f. a central server computer coupled to said computer network, the central server computer tallying together team points earned by participants of each team to compute an overall team score for each team.    
   
   
       21 . The computerized system of  claim 20  wherein the central server computer computes the team points earned by each of the first, second, third, and fourth participants.  
   
   
       22 . The computerized system of  claim 20  wherein the computer network comprises a local area network.  
   
   
       23 . The computerized system of  claim 20  wherein the computer network comprises the internet.