U.S. patent application number 11/160505 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for process for conducting backgammon tournaments.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERLOGIC LTD.. Invention is credited to Darren Berkovitz, Jonathan A. Gonen, Shlomo Gonen, Danny Rosen, Stacy Stubblefield.
Application Number | 20070021169 11/160505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37595835 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070021169 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gonen; Shlomo ; et
al. |
January 25, 2007 |
PROCESS FOR CONDUCTING BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENTS
Abstract
A process for conducting a backgammon tournament using
tournament chips comprising the steps of registering two or more
tournament players, assigning one or more tournament chips to each
of the players, setting a chip value for each point scored in a
game of backgammon, pairing tournament players in groups of two,
playing a round of the tournament consisting of games of backgammon
involving each group of tournament players, determining whether a
tournament player is eliminated from the tournament based upon each
player's tournament chip total, and repeating the steps of setting,
pairing, playing and determining until only one tournament player
remains. The process may be performed online or in person.
Inventors: |
Gonen; Shlomo; (Calabasas,
CA) ; Gonen; Jonathan A.; (Calabasas, CA) ;
Rosen; Danny; (Valley Village, CA) ; Berkovitz;
Darren; (Bell Canyon, CA) ; Stubblefield; Stacy;
(Los Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KELLY LOWRY & KELLEY, LLP
6320 CANOGA AVENUE
SUITE 1650
WOODLAND HILLS
CA
91367
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERLOGIC LTD.
9454 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 525
Beverly Hills
CA
|
Family ID: |
37595835 |
Appl. No.: |
11/160505 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/10 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3276 20130101;
A63F 3/00151 20130101; G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/010 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A process for conducting a backgammon tournament, comprising the
steps of: registering two or more tournament players; assigning one
or more tournament chips to each of the tournament players; setting
a chip value for each point scored in a game of backgammon; pairing
tournament players in groups of two; playing a round of the
tournament consisting of games of backgammon involving each group
of tournament players; determining whether a tournament player is
eliminated from the tournament based on each player's tournament
chips; and repeating the steps of setting, pairing, playing, and
determining until only one tournament player remains.
2. The process of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises
the step of adding to the tournament chips of a winning player in
each game the lesser of a chip point total score of the game or the
tournament chips of a losing player in the game.
3. The process of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises
the step of subtracting from the tournament chips of a losing
player in each game a chip point total score of the game.
4. The process of claim 1, wherein the pairing step follows a
Round-Robin method.
5. The process of claim 1, wherein the pairing step follows a
multi-elimination bracket method.
6. The process of claim 1, wherein the backgammon tournament may be
operated on-line or in-person.
7. The process of claim 1, wherein the assigning step results in
each tournament player being assigned an equal number of tournament
chips.
8. The process of claim 1, wherein the assigning step results in
each tournament player being assigned an unequal number of
tournament chips depending upon the tournament player's performance
in a previous tournament or an amount of money the tournament
player pays to register in the tournament.
9. The process of claim 1, wherein the pairing step results in
tournament players being paired randomly.
10. The process of claim 9, further comprising the step of
randomizing player pairings such that a tournament player will not
play another tournament player a second time until he or she has
played every other remaining tournament player at least once.
11. The process of claim 1, wherein the pairing step is based upon
the tournament players' performances in a previous tournament or an
amount of money the tournament players pay to register in the
tournament.
12. The process of claims 2, wherein the chip point total score of
each game varies based upon duration of time, number of games
played, number of tournament players remaining, number of rounds
played or a doubling cube value.
13. The process of claims 3, wherein the chip point total score of
each game varies based upon duration of time, number of games
played, number of tournament players remaining, number of rounds
played or a doubling cube value.
14. The process of claim 1, wherein a tournament player is
eliminated based upon his or her tournament chips falling to a
predetermined number of tournament chips.
15. The process of claim 14, wherein the predetermined number of
tournament chips is zero.
16. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of
collecting money from tournament players to register in the
tournament and placing the money into a prize pool.
17. The process of claim 16, further comprising the step of paying
a tournament player a portion of the prize pool depending upon
whether a tournament player is eliminated and in which round the
tournament player is eliminated.
18. A process for conducting a backgammon tournament, comprising
the steps of: registering two or more tournament players; assigning
one or more tournament chips to each of the tournament players;
setting a chip value for each point scored in a game of backgammon;
pairing tournament players in groups of two; playing a round of the
tournament consisting of games of backgammon involving each group
of tournament players; calculating a chip point total score for
each game based upon duration of time, number of games played,
number of tournament players remaining, number of rounds played, or
doubling cube value; adding to the tournament chips of a winning
player in each game the lesser of the chip point total score of the
game or the tournament chips of a losing player in the game;
subtracting from the tournament chips of the losing player in each
game the chip point total score of the game; eliminating a
tournament player if his or her chip total falls to a predetermined
number of tournament chips; and repeating the steps of setting,
pairing, playing, calculating, adding, subtracting, and eliminating
until only one tournament player remains.
19. The process of claim 18, wherein the pairing step follows a
Round-Robin method.
20. The process of claim 18, wherein the pairing step follows a
multi-elimination bracket method.
21. The process of claim 18, wherein the backgammon tournament may
be operated on-line or in-person.
22. The process of claim 18, wherein the assigning step results in
each tournament player being assigned an equal number of tournament
chips.
23. The process of claim 18, wherein the assigning step results in
each tournament player being assigned an unequal number of
tournament chips depending upon the tournament player's performance
in a previous tournament or an amount of money the tournament
player pays to register in the tournament.
24. The process of claim 18, wherein the pairing step results in
tournament players being paired randomly.
25. The process of claim 24, further comprising the step of
randomizing player pairings such that a tournament player will not
play another tournament player a second time until he or she has
played every other remaining tournament player at least once.
26. The process of claim 18, wherein the pairing step is based upon
the tournament players' performances in a previous tournament or an
amount of money the tournament players pay to register in the
tournament.
27. The process of claim 18, wherein the predetermined number of
tournament chips is zero.
28. The process of claim 18, further comprising the steps of
collecting money from tournament players to register in the
tournament and placing the money into a prize pool.
29. The process of claim 28, further comprising the step of paying
a tournament player a portion of the prize pool depending upon
whether a tournament player is eliminated and in which round the
tournament player is eliminated.
30. A process for conducting a backgammon tournament, comprising
the steps of: registering two or more tournament players;
collecting money from tournament players to register in the
tournament; placing the money into a prize pool; assigning one or
more tournament chips to each of the tournament players; setting a
chip value for each point scored in a game of backgammon; pairing
tournament players in groups of two; playing a round of the
tournament consisting of games of backgammon involving each group
of tournament players; calculating a chip point total score for
each game based upon duration of time, number of games played,
number of tournament players remaining, number of rounds played, or
doubling cube value; adding to the tournament chips of a winning
player in each game the lesser of the chip point total score of the
game or the tournament chips of a losing player in the game;
subtracting from the tournament chips of the losing player in each
game the chip point total score of the game; eliminating a
tournament player if his or her chip total falls to zero; repeating
the steps of setting, pairing, playing, calculating, adding,
subtracting, and eliminating until only one tournament player
remains; and paying a tournament player a portion of the prize pool
depending on whether a tournament player is eliminated and in which
round the tournament player is eliminated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In prior art backgammon tournaments the overall winner is
determined by match play. Competitors are paired off and each pair
plays a series of games ("match") to decide which player advances
to the next round of the tournament. Matches are played to a
specified number of points. The first player to accumulate the
required number of points wins the match.
[0002] Points are awarded in the following manner: one point for a
normal win; two points for a gammon; and three points for a
backgammon. The amount of points awarded can be affected by the
doubling cube. If the doubling cube is used, the winner receives
the value of a game multiplied by the final value of the doubling
cube. Thus, if a player wins a gammon with the cube on four, the
winner receives eight points. If the players are playing a seven
point match, the match would be over in one game.
[0003] At the end of the game, the first player to remove all of
his or her checkers from the board wins the total amount of the
stake indicated by the doubling cube. A gammon wins double the
stake of the cube and a backgammon wins triple the stake of the
cube.
[0004] Prior art matches are normally played using the Crawford
rule. The Crawford rule states that if one player reaches a score
one point short of the match, neither player may offer a double in
the immediately following game. This one game without doubling is
called the Crawford game. After the Crawford game, if the match has
not yet been decided, the doubling cube is available again.
[0005] There is no bonus for winning more than the required number
of points. When playing a match to a certain number of points, the
winner is the first player who wins that number of points. It does
not matter if the player wins more than that number or how many
points the opponent has scored. The sole goal is to win the match,
the final score is immaterial.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is a process for conducting a
backgammon tournament, specifically a backgammon tournament using
tournament chips.
[0007] The process comprises the steps of registering two or more
tournament players, assigning one or more tournament chips to each
of the players, setting a chip value for each point scored in a
game of backgammon, pairing tournament players in groups of two,
playing a round of the tournament consisting of games of backgammon
involving each group of tournament players, determining whether a
tournament player is eliminated from the tournament based upon each
player's tournament chip total, and repeating the steps of setting,
pairing, playing and determining until only one tournament player
remains. At the completion of each game of backgammon a chip point
total score is calculated. The determining step may comprise step
of subtracting from the tournament chips of the losing player in
each game, the chip point total score of that game. In addition,
the determining step may comprise adding to the tournament chips of
a winning player in each game, the lesser of the chip point total
score for that game or the tournament chips of the losing player in
the game. A losing player is eliminated from the tournament when
his or her tournament chips fall to a predetermined number of
tournament chips.
[0008] The backgammon tournament may be operated online (over the
Internet) or in person. The pairing of tournament players may
follow a round robin method, wherein each player plays every other
player in the tournament. The pairing step may also follow a
multi-elimination bracket method, wherein a losing player is placed
in a conciliation bracket with other losing players. In the
preferred embodiment, player pairings are determined randomly with
the only limitation that a tournament player does not play another
tournament player a second time until he or she has played every
other remaining tournament player at least once. The random nature
of the pairing step may also be influenced by the tournament
player's performances in previous tournaments or the amount of
money the tournament players pay to register in the tournament.
[0009] Each tournament player may be assigned an equal number of
tournament chips. Alternatively, each tournament player may be
assigned an unequal number of tournament chips depending upon the
tournament player's performance in a previous tournament or the
amount of money the tournament player paid to register for the
tournament. As part of the registering step, tournament players may
pay money, which money is placed into a prize pool.
[0010] The last remaining tournament player after all others have
been eliminated is the winner of the tournament. A tournament
player may receive a portion of the prize pool depending on whether
a tournament player is eliminated and in which round the tournament
player is eliminated. The longer a player remains in the
tournament, the greater that player's portion of the prize
pool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art single-elimination match
play backgammon tournament bracket.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the process for conducting a
backgammon tournament pursuant to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] The present invention relates to a process for conducting a
backgammon tournament. More specifically, the present invention
relates to a process for conducting a backgammon tournament using
tournament chips.
[0015] As discussed above, prior art backgammon tournaments consist
of match play where tournament players play head-to-head matches (a
series of games) until one player scores enough points to win the
match. In such matches, points are calculated by using the doubling
cube and other rules discussed above.
[0016] In these prior art tournaments, a player that loses a match
against another player is eliminated from the tournament. The
winning player moves on to the next round to play another winning
player from another match. As depicted in FIG. 1, such match play
proceeds until one player remains. As is also shown in FIG. 1, once
a player loses a match he or she is eliminated from the
tournament.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart of the inventive process for
conducting a backgammon tournament. The process begins with
registering two or more tournament players. (200) The backgammon
tournament may be operated online or in person. Accordingly, the
step of registering two or more tournament players may be done
online or in person. During the registration step, a tournament
player may be required to pay money to enter the tournament. Money
paid by tournament players to enter the tournament may be placed
into a prize pool. The prize pool may be used to award prizes to
tournament players based upon where they finish in the
tournament.
[0018] After registration each tournament player is assigned a
certain number of tournament chips. (202) In the preferred
embodiment, each tournament player is assigned an equal number of
tournament chips at the beginning of the tournament. Alternatively,
the number of tournament chips assigned to a player may vary
depending on that player's performance in a previous tournament,
the amount of money the tournament player paid to register for the
tournament, or other criteria chosen by the tournament
operator.
[0019] After all tournament players have been registered and
assigned their tournament chips, the tournament players are paired
into groups of two for a round of the tournament. (206) The pairing
of tournament players may follow a round robin method, wherein each
player plays every other player in the tournament and no player is
eliminated. Alternatively, the pairing of tournament players may
follow a multi-elimination bracket method, wherein a losing player
in a round is placed in a conciliation bracket with other losing
players, such round robin and multi-elimination bracket methods are
well known in the art.
[0020] In the preferred embodiment, player pairings are determined
randomly with the only limitation that a tournament player does not
play another tournament player a second time until he or she has
played every other remaining tournament player at least once. The
random pairing of tournament players may also be influenced by a
tournament player's performances in previous tournaments or the
amount of money the tournament players paid to register in the
tournament. For example, if the registration fee for a tournament
is either $20 or $40, players that paid $20 would only be paired
with other players that paid $20. Similarly, players that paid $40
would only be paired with other players that paid $40. Conversely,
the players that paid $40 may join the tournament later and compete
against those players that paid $20 still remaining.
[0021] At the beginning of a round, a chip value for each point
scored in a game of backgammon is determined. (204) As will be
discussed more fully below, this chip value is used to calculate a
chip point total score for each game of backgammon played in each
tournament round. The chip value may change from one round to
another throughout the tournament. The chip value may be raised or
lowered consistently throughout the tournament based upon any of
the following criteria: the duration of the tournament; the number
of games played; the number of players eliminated or remaining; or
the number of rounds played. It is possible to run the tournament
without changing the chip value.
[0022] After tournament players are paired into groups and a chip
value is set, a round of the tournament is played. (208) Each round
of the tournament consists of games of backgammon involving each
group of tournament players. Each group of tournament players will
play a single game of backgammon in one round. After each game of
backgammon is completed, a chip point total score is calculated for
each game. (210)
[0023] In standard backgammon rules, a player wins one point for a
normal win, two points for a gammon, and three points for a
backgammon. The number of points scored in a game may be affected
by the doubling cube. There are a number of rules pertaining to
doubling that are commonly used in backgammon. The most commonly
used rule is the Automatic Doubling Rule. Under the automatic
doubling rule, if identical numbers are thrown on the first roll,
the stakes are doubled. The doubling cube is turned to 2 and
remains in the middle of the board. Players usually agree to limit
the number of automatic doubles to one per game. Each game starts
at a stake of one point. During the course of the game, a player,
usually with a sufficient advantage, may propose doubling the
stakes. The player does so by indicating the appropriate doubled
figure with the doubling cube. Each face of the doubling cube bears
a number to record progressive doubles and redoubles, starting with
2 and going onto 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. A player can double anytime
it is their turn and they have not yet rolled dice. Player who is
offered a double may refuse, in which case the game is conceded and
the player offering the double receives the number of points at
stake prior to the offer of doubling. A player who accepts a double
becomes the owner of the cube and only that player may offer the
next double. There is no limit to the number of times a double may
be offered in one game.
[0024] By way of example, in a first round game a chip value of ten
chips per point is set. Player A defeats Player B for a normal win
with the doubling cube at 4. The chip point total score for that
game would be 40 chips. This is calculated as follows:
1.times.4.times.10 chips=40 chips
[0025] In another example, in a second round match a chip value of
20 chips is set. Player A defeats Player C by gammon with the
doubling cube at 8. Therefore, the chip point total score for the
second round game would be 320 chips. This is calculated as
follows: 2.times.8.times.20 chips=320 chips
[0026] Once each game in a round is played and a chip point total
score for each game is calculated, each player's tournament chips
are adjusted accordingly. The tournament chips of each winning
player are increased by the lesser of the chip point total score
for the game that player won or the tournament chip total of the
losing player of that game. (216) Conversely, the tournament chips
of the losing player in each game are reduced by the chip point
total score for that game lost. (214) Each winning player
automatically advances to the next round. (222) A losing player may
also advance to the next round if his or her tournament chip total
at the end of a round is above a predetermined number of tournament
chips. (218) Conversely, a losing player may be eliminated from the
tournament if his or her tournament chip total at the end of a
given tournament round is equal to or less than a predetermined
number of tournament chips (220) In the preferred embodiment, this
predetermined number of tournament chips is zero.
[0027] The next round of tournament play and each subsequent round
consists of repeating the steps of setting a chip value for each
point scored in a game, pairing tournament players in groups of
two, playing a round of the tournament, and determining whether a
tournament player is eliminated from the tournament. Successive
rounds are played until all tournament players are eliminated
except one. (222) The last remaining tournament player is the
winner of the tournament. (226) The winner of the tournament may
receive all or a portion of the prize pool. (228) Other tournament
players which have been eliminated may also receive a portion of
the prize pool depending upon in which round the tournament player
was eliminated. (224, 228) In the preferred embodiment, the longer
a player remains in the tournament, the greater the player's
portion of the prize pool.
[0028] The following is an example of a backgammon tournament
involving four players: Player A, Player B, Player, C and Player D.
To register in the tournament each player pays $200 which money
goes to the prize pool. The tournament operator may also require
tournament players to pay an additional fee, i.e., a commission.
Since there are four players, there is $800 in the prize pool. The
prize pool will be divided among the top two players in the
tournament, the winner receiving $600 and the runner up receiving
$200. Each player begins the tournament with 500 chips.
First Round: Each point=10 chips
Player A vs. Player B
Player A wins by gammon and with the doubling cube at 32.
Therefore, Player A wins: 2.times.32.times.10 chips=640 chips
Player A wins 640 chips from Player B, but because Player B only
has 500 chips Player A wins all 500 of Player B's chips and Player
B is eliminated. Player A now has 1000 chips. Player C vs. Player D
Player D wins by gammon and with the doubling cube at 4. Therefore,
Player D wins: 2.times.4.times.10=80 chips Player D wins 80 chips
from Player C. Player D has 580 chips. Player C has 420 chips.
[0029] Ranking After First Round: TABLE-US-00001 1. Player A 1000
chips 2. Player D 580 chips 3. Player C 420 chips 4. Player B
Finished in fourth place
Second Round: Each point=20 chips Player A vs. Player C Player C
wins by backgammon with the doubling cube at 2. Therefore, Player C
wins: 3.times.2.times.20=120 chips Player C wins 120 chips from
Player A. Player C has 540 chips. Player A has 880 chips.
[0030] Ranking After Second Round: TABLE-US-00002 1. Player A 880
chips 2. Player D 580 chips 3. Player C 540 chips 4. Player B
Finished in fourth place
Third Round: Each point=40 chips Player A vs. Player D Player A
wins by gammon with the doubling cube at 8. Therefore, Player A
wins: 2.times.8.times.40=640 chips Player A wins 640 chips from
Player D, but because Player D only has 580 chips, Player A wins
all 580 of Player D's chips and Player D is eliminated. Player A
now has 1460 chips.
[0031] Ranking After Third Round: TABLE-US-00003 1. Player A 1460
chips 2. Player C 540 chips 3. Player D Eliminated - Finished in
third place 4. Player B Eliminated - Finished in fourth place
Third Round: Each point=80 chips Player A vs. Player C Player A
wins by backgammon with the doubling cube at 8. Therefore, Player A
wins: 2.times.8.times.80=1280 chips Player A wins 1280 chips from
Player C, but because Player C only has 540 chips, Player A wins
all 540 of Player C's chips and Player C is eliminated. Player A
now has 2000 chips and is the winner of the tournament.
[0032] Final Ranking: TABLE-US-00004 1. Player A Winner ($600) 2.
Player C Eliminated - Runner Up ($200) 3. Player D Eliminated -
Finished in third place 4. Player B Eliminated - Finished in fourth
place
[0033] Although several embodiments have been described in detail
for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made
without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *