Multiple site poker tournament

Abstract

A tournament for a poker-type card game is played at multiple sites to determine players in a final tournament. Each multiple site location plays at least a first round of a qualifying event, and an at least second round of advancing players may be used top further narrow the number of players. After playing a predetermined number of hands of the poker-type card game in the first round, at least some players that will advance to an at least second round are determined by the total nominal value or number of chips or tokens accumulated by each player after play of the round. At least one round at a site will determine which players are invited to attend a separate continuing tournament. At least some players are randomly selected for invitation to the separate continuing tournament to complete a field of players, competing in a series of rounds of play to narrow the field to an eventual winner, and awarding a prize to at least the winner.

1 . A method of playing a multiple-phase, poker style, card game tournament, comprising: 
 A plurality of players at a plurality of tables competing in a series of rounds of poker style card games of chance, the selected game of chance having an inherent house advantage;    Playing a first phase by playing a predetermined number of X rounds of a poker style game using non-negotiable chips, wherein at least one player holding greater nominal values of chips at the conclusion X rounds qualifying the at least one player as an advancing player to participate in a second phase of the tournament, without direct regard as to how the at least one player performed relative to other players at the at least one player's table;    Each advancing player participating in the second phase of the tournament, the second phase comprising Y rounds of play using non-negotiable chips;    Identifying at least one winner of the tournament based on a number of chips held by each player at a conclusion of Y rounds of play; and    Paying the at least one winner a prize.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least some players pay an entry fee to compete in a first phase of the tournament.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each player pays an entry fee to compete in the first phase of the tournament.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the poker style game comprises dealing of a complete hand of cards to each player and a complete hand of cards to the dealer, and the player electing a wager play from the group consisting of placing a wager on a hand-to-hand competition against the dealer, placing a wager against a pay table, and placing a first wager on a hand-to-hand competition against the dealer and a second wager against a pay table.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the player makes a third wager in support of a wager made on the hand-to-hand competition against the dealer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the game of chance is Three Card Poker® game.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein X and Y are equal.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the poker style game of chance is played against at least one of a dealer and a pay table.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a portion of the entry fee paid in the first phase is used to fund prizes awarded in the second phase.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising an additional phase of play prior to the second phase so that players can qualify for the second phase.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least 18 winners, based on an absolute nominal value or number of chips won during each first phase are allowed to advance to a next advanced phase of the tournament.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least two winners from at least one qualifying phase prior to the second phase are selected randomly from a pool of eliminated players to advance to another round of play.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  where all of the non-negotiable chips have equal value in determining a final chip count.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the non-negotiable chips are non-denominational chips supplied by a casino host, and the non-denominational chips cannot be cashed in for currency at the end of play.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected game of chance is selected from the group consisting of: Three Card Poker® game, Two Card Poker, Four Card Poker® game, High Five Poker® game, Caribbean Stud® Poker game, Pai Gow Poker, Fortune Pai GOW™ Poker game, Casino War™ game and Royal Match 21™ game.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one phase is televised.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one phase is sponsored by a business entity.  
     
     
         18 . A method of providing a tournament for a poker-type card game at multiple sites to determine players in a final tournament event for the same poker-type card game at a single site comprising: 
 providing multiple site locations for playing at least a first round of a qualifying event;    providing multiple gaming tables for multiple players in the first round of the qualifying event;    providing an equal number or equal nominal value of chips or tokens to each player in the first round;    playing a predetermined number of hands of the poker-type card game in the first round;    determining at least a majority of players that will advance to an at least second round from the first round by the total nominal value or number of chips or tokens accumulated by each player after play of the predetermined number of hands in the first round;    advancing players to the at least second round and positioning players at at least one table to be used in the second round of play;    providing an equal number or equal nominal value of chips or tokens to each player in the second round;    playing a predetermined number of hands of the poker-type card game in the second round;    determining at least a majority of players that will advance to an at least third round from the second round by the total nominal value or number of chips or tokens accumulated by each player after play of the predetermined number of hands in the second round;    players advancing from the second round to the at least third round playing a predetermined number of hands of the poker-type card game in the third round; and    determining at least a majority of players that will advance to an at least fourth round from the third round or determining at least one winner by determining the total nominal value or number of chips or tokens accumulated by each player after play of the predetermined number of hands in the third round.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein at least some players advancing to a fourth round attend the fourth round at a later date at a different location than a one of the multiple sites at which the at least some players' first and second rounds were played.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the winners are invited to attend a separate continuing tournament for play of the poker-type card game, and at least some players that were not winners are randomly selected for invitation to the separate continuing tournament to complete a field of players, and at least some invited players begin a tournament having a series of rounds of play to narrow the field to an eventual winner, and awarding a prize to at least the winner.