Head to head electronic poker game assembly and method of operation

Abstract

An electronic poker game assembly preferably provides a head-to-head poker game for two players. The assembly has a housing that is preferably a table and contains at least a portion of a computer system that generates and shuffles a virtual poker card deck, deals the cards and performs other tasks typically associated with a dealer. The housing supports an electronic player interaction area (EPIA) for each player and a common display area. Dealt virtual hole cards are displayed on screens of each EPIA and virtual common cards are preferably displayed on a screen of the common display area. Mechanical actuators for each EPIA are operated by the players when playing poker, sending electric signals to the computer system for play of the game.

1 . An electronic poker game assembly for providing a head-to-head poker game to first and second players, the assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    a payment mechanism for initiating the poker game, and supported by the housing;    first and second electronic player interaction areas supported by the housing, and each interaction area having an electronic screen for the virtual display of playing cards and at least one mechanical actuator for play of the poker game by the respective first and second players;    a computer system coupled to the first and second electronic player interaction areas for dealing a hand of the electronic poker game composed of virtual cards, displaying computer dealt virtual cards on the screens and administering the electronic poker game using electronic chips and a virtual deck of poker playing cards, and for determining a winner from among the first player and the second player and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of the hand; and    wherein the electronic screen of the first electronic player interaction area is concealed from view by the housing from the second player when the second player is located at the second electronic player interaction area, and the electronic screen of the second electronic player interaction area is concealed from view by the housing and from first player when the first player is located at the first electronic player interaction area.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein a monetary deposit received by the payment mechanism provides a predetermined number of hands of play.  
   
   
       3 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein a monetary deposit received by the payment mechanism provides a predetermined number of virtual chips.  
   
   
       4 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein a monetary deposit received by the payment mechanism provides a predetermined amount of time toward play.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a central display area supported by the housing and communicating with the computer system, and having an electronic screen for at least in-part the display of common virtual poker cards dealt by the computer system.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a trackball for the selection of a bet amount.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a trackball for the selection of a bet amount displayed on the central display area.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a keyboard/PIN pad displayed on the screens of the first and second interaction areas for processing player accounts by the computer system.  
   
   
       9 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 8  further comprising: 
 a modem of the computer system in the housing; and    a server of the computer system communicating with the computer modem for verification of licensing and uploading of game data to the server.    
   
   
       10 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 9  wherein the modem is a cellular modem.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 6  further comprising a keyboard/PIN pad displayed on the screens of the first and second interaction areas for input and processing of respective player accounts by the respective first and second players via actuation of the respective trackballs.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a fold button for folding a dealt hand.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a show-cards button for revealing dealt hole cards viewed on the screens of the respective first and second electronic player interaction areas to the respective first and second players.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a commit button for committing an amount of a bet.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 7  wherein the at least one mechanical actuator has a commit button for committing an amount of a bet after selection by the trackball.  
   
   
       16 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a trackball of the at least one mechanical actuator for the selection of a bet amount;    a fold button of the at least one mechanical actuator for folding a dealt hand;    a show-cards button of the at least one mechanical actuator for revealing dealt hole cards viewed on the screens of the respective first and second electronic player interaction areas to the respective first and second players; and    a commit button of the at least one mechanical actuator for committing an amount of a bet after selection by the trackball.    
   
   
       17 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 16  wherein the screens are not touch activated screens.  
   
   
       18 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the screens are LCD screens.  
   
   
       19 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  wherein the assembly is self contained.  
   
   
       20 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 19  wherein the housing is a table having a translucent top surface with the screens disposed below the glass top.  
   
   
       21 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 20  wherein the screens are located at the bottom of respective wells defined in-part by the table and covered by the translucent top surface.  
   
   
       22 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 20  wherein the table is a sit-down cocktail table type.  
   
   
       23 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 20  wherein the table is a player stand-up type.  
   
   
       24 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a bluff detector supported by the housing.  
   
   
       25 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 24  wherein the bluff detector is a two-contact heart rate monitor.  
   
   
       26 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 5  wherein each of the first and second electronic player interaction areas has a bluff detector that measures heart rate of the respective first and second players, and wherein measured results of the bluff detectors are displayed on the central display area.  
   
   
       27 . An electronic poker game assembly for providing a head-to-head electronic poker game to first and second players, comprising: 
 a table having a table top with a playing surface having first and second ends;    a first electronic player interaction area located at the first end of the table top;    a second electronic player interaction area located at the second end of the table top, the first and second electronic player interaction areas providing a player interface for interaction with the first and second players, respectively; and    a game computer coupled to the first and second electronic player interaction areas for administering at least one hand of the head-to-head electronic poker game using virtual cards, determining a winner for the at least one hand, and awarding a pot to the winner, each hand being composed of alternating turns between the first and second players.    
   
   
       28 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  further comprising at least one betting round with the game computer providing the first and second players an opportunity to make a wager or fold during the betting round.  
   
   
       29 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the game computer administers the electronic poker game using the virtual cards and virtual chips.  
   
   
       30 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the electronic poker game is a version of Hold'em Poker.  
   
   
       31 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the electronic poker game is a version of Omaha Poker.  
   
   
       32 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the game computer deals at least one hole card to each of the first and second players, and wherein each hand of the first and second players has at least one hole card and at least one common card.  
   
   
       33 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 32  further comprising a central display area orientated centrally upon the table top for displaying information to the first and second players, and wherein the game computer displays the common cards in the central display area.  
   
   
       34 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the game computer is integrated into the table.  
   
   
       35 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  wherein the game computer is located remotely from the table.  
   
   
       36 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 27  further comprising: 
 a dealer selectively chosen between the first and second players by the computer and for at least one hand of the poker game;    a big blind as designated by the computer and being the other of the first and second players not selected by the computer as the dealer.    
   
   
       37 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 36  further comprising a virtual pot illustrated in the central display area for virtual receipt of a big blind bet from the big blind and as controlled by the computer.  
   
   
       38 . The electronic poker game assembly set forth in  claim 37  further comprising a little blind being the selected dealer and a little blind bet received from the little blind and deposited in the virtual pot as controlled by the computer.  
   
   
       39 . A method of operation of an electronic head-to-head poker game assembly comprising the steps of: 
 a) positioning first and second players in front of respective first and second electronic player interaction areas of the assembly;    b) dealing of a virtual hand of virtual playing cards by a computer system of the assembly;    c) displaying at least one hole card face-down on respective electronic screens of the first and second electronic player interaction areas; and    d) displaying discretely the at least one hole card face-up by the computer system and in response to manual movement of a mechanical actuator of either the first or second electronic player interaction area by the respective first or second player.    
   
   
       40 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  wherein the mechanical actuator is a push button.  
   
   
       41 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further step of establishing a wager amount by one of the first and second players through rotation of a trackball of the respective first and second electronic player interaction areas.  
   
   
       42 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 41  comprising the further step of displaying the wager amount on a central display area by the computer system.  
   
   
       43 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 42  comprising the further step of committing the wager amount through depression of a commit button by the respective first and second players.  
   
   
       44 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further step of activating the poker game via insertion of credit into a payment mechanism of the assembly prior to step (a).  
   
   
       45 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further steps of: 
 designating one of the first and second players as a dealer for a specific hand of the poker game by the computer system between steps (a) and (b); and    assigning the other of the first and second players by the computer system as the small blind.    
   
   
       46 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 45  wherein the small blind places the initial wager.  
   
   
       47 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further step of selectively measuring the heart rate of at least one of the first and second players by a bluff detector.  
   
   
       48 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 47  comprising the further step of displaying the measured heart rate on a common display area.  
   
   
       49 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  wherein dealing of a virtual hand of poker includes the display of at least one virtual common card in a central display area.  
   
   
       50 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 49  comprising the further steps of: 
 alternating turns between the first and second players; and,    determining a winner for the hand and awarding the winner a pot by the computer system.    
   
   
       51 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 50  comprising the further step of conducting at least one betting round per hand and prior to the dealing of the at least one common card.  
   
   
       52 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 51  comprising the further step of providing the first and second players an opportunity to make a wager or fold during the betting round.  
   
   
       53 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 52  wherein the first or second player folds by depressing a push button.  
   
   
       54 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 52  comprising the further step of determining a remaining one of the first and second players as the winner by the computer system.  
   
   
       55 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 54  comprising the further step of uploading the game play history from a computer to a server of the computer system.  
   
   
       56 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 55  comprising the further step of reviewing game history by any one of the first and second players over an internet connection with the server.  
   
   
       57 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  wherein virtual chips are administered by the computer system.  
   
   
       58 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  wherein the assembly controls an electronic poker game version of Omaha Poker.  
   
   
       59 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further step of administering one or more betting rounds.  
   
   
       60 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 59  wherein the step of administering one or more betting rounds includes the step of managing a pot of virtual chips.  
   
   
       61 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 39  comprising the further step of purchasing of virtual chips by the players.  
   
   
       62 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 44  comprising the further step of crediting a number of hands to the players by the computer system upon receipt of credit from the payment mechanism.  
   
   
       63 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 44  comprising the further step of crediting a time duration of play to the players by the computer system upon receipt of credit from the payment mechanism.  
   
   
       64 . An electronic poker game assembly for providing a head-to-head poker game for only a first and a second player, the assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    only a first and a second electronic player interaction area supported by the housing, and each interaction area having an electronic screen for the virtual display of playing cards and at least one mechanical actuator for play of the poker game by the respective first and second players;    a computer system coupled to the first and second electronic player interaction areas for dealing a hand of the electronic poker game composed of virtual cards, displaying computer dealt virtual cards on the screens and administering the electronic poker game using electronic chips and a virtual deck of poker playing cards, and for determining a winner from the first and second players and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of the hand; and    wherein the electronic screen of the first electronic player interaction areas is concealed by the housing and from the view of the second player when orientated at the second electronic player interaction areas, and the electronic screen of the second electronic player interaction area is concealed by the housing and from the view of the first player when orientated at the first electronic player interaction area.    
   
   
       65 . An electronic poker game assembly for providing a head-to-head poker game for a plurality of players, the assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    a plurality of electronic player interaction areas supported by the housing, and each interaction area having an electronic screen for the virtual display of playing cards and a trackball for at least partial play of the poker game by the plurality of players;    a computer system coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for dealing a hand of the electronic poker game composed of virtual cards, displaying computer dealt virtual cards on the screens and administering the electronic poker game using electronic chips and a virtual deck of poker playing cards, and for determining a winner from the plurality of players and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of the hand; and    wherein the electronic screen of any one of the plurality of electronic player interaction areas is concealed by the housing and from the view of the players when orientated at the other ones of the plurality of electronic player interaction areas.    
   
   
       66 . An electronic poker game assembly for providing a head-to-head poker game for a plurality of players, the assembly comprising: 
 a table having a table top;    a plurality of electronic player interaction areas supported by the table, and each interaction area having an electronic screen recessed beneath the table top and for the virtual display of playing cards, and at least one mechanical actuator for play of the poker game by the plurality of players; and    a computer system coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for dealing a hand of the electronic poker game composed of virtual cards, displaying computer dealt virtual cards on the recessed electronic screens and administering the electronic poker game using electronic chips and a virtual deck of poker playing cards, and for determining a winner from the plurality of players and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of the hand.