Team play poker

Abstract

Tournament poker play proceeds on a team basis according to a modified set of rules. A tournament poker play table is configured for head-to-head competition between at least two teams. The poker play table includes a plurality of transparent windows enabling the video capture system to view hole cards held by the teams. A video capture system is used for the selection and arrangement of video images that are broadcast to a viewing audience.

1 . A system for the play of tournament poker comprising:
 a seating arrangement that provides for face-offs between individual players among respective teams;   a system of rules that permit discernment of a team victory on the basis of the individual face-offs; and   a video capture system that permits a viewing audience to ascertain hole cards at issue among the individual face-offs.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system of rules permit a team captain to make player substitutions. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system of rules permit teams to call for a limited number of time-outs. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the video capture system comprises electronics for selection and arrangement of captured images in combination with camera feed of the players at play in the tournament. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for compiling information that characterizes a history of play for individual players on a team and for presenting the information to a team captain who has power to substitute players as 20 facilitated by presentation of the information. 
   
   
       6 . A method for the play of tournament poker, the method comprising:
 seating a plurality of players with a team association for play against a corresponding plurality of other players with a different team association to provide for face-off play between individual players among respective teams;   proceeding with poker play according to the face-offs to ascertain a winner of each face-off;   capturing video images that permit a viewing audience to ascertain hole cards at issue among the individual face-offs as the poker play proceeds; and   discerning a team victory on the basis of the individual face-offs.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including a step of substituting players on the basis of selection by a team captain. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further including a step of halting the play of poker when a team member calls a time-out. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , where the method further includes a step of using electronics to select and arrange captured video images for broadcast to a viewing audience. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 compiling information that characterizes a history of play for individual players on a team, and   presenting the information to a team captain who has power to substitute players as facilitated by presentation of the information.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the team captain substituting a player after review of the information. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the players for each team are selected through a collegiate competition. 
   
   
       13 . A system for team poker play, the system comprising:
 a table having a surface and a plurality of seat locations, wherein the table is configured for head-to-head competition between at least two teams; and   a plurality of transparent windows located in a surface of the table, wherein each transparent window is located adjacent one of the seat locations.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a video capture device located below at least one of the transparent windows to enable a video to be taken of hole cards held by a player; and   a display located below at least one of the transparent windows to display information pertaining to game play.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising rim lights around an outer edge of the table that illuminate to indicate the occurrence of an event at the table. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of sets of tilt lights on the surface of the table, wherein each of the sets of tilt lights are associated with one of the seat locations, the sets of tilt lights configured to illuminate to indicate the number of times that a player at the associated seat location has tilted. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising means for dealing cards at the table. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a team captain seating location associated with the table. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a time-out button on the surface of the table and associated with the team captain seating location, to enable the team captain to declare a time-out. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a production booth at the table and associated with the team captain seating location.