Smart Poker Table

Project Overview

This project combines precision engineering with modern web technologies to create an intelligent poker table capable of automatically detecting and tracking every card in play. A Pepper C1 MUX RS232 multiplexed RFID reader, paired with up to eight RFID NFC MUX ANT1356 antennas embedded beneath a professional-grade playing surface, enables reliable real-time card detection across all player positions.

A Raspberry Pi 5 acts as the central processing unit, orchestrating RFID readers, managing game state, and serving data to the system. Game logic and persistence are handled by a NestJS backend with PostgreSQL, while real-time updates are streamed via WebSockets to a React + TypeScript frontend built with Vite. This architecture delivers live game visualization, player statistics, and complete hand histories, transforming poker sessions into data-rich, interactive experiences.

Technology Stack

Building a smart poker table requires a diverse technology stack spanning hardware, embedded systems, full-stack web development, and database management. Each component was carefully selected to ensure reliability, performance, and seamless integration.

Build Process

The journey from concept to completion involved months of design iteration, prototyping, and refinement. Here's a detailed walkthrough of each major phase, from initial CAD designs to final testing and deployment.

1

System Architecture & Component Layout

Designed the complete hardware and software architecture, defining how RFID antennas, multiplexers, and the Raspberry Pi 5 work together to capture and process live poker data.

• Defined antenna layout: 8 player positions and 3 community card positions
• Planned dual RFID MUX board configuration to handle 11 antennas
• Positioned Raspberry Pi 5 beneath the table as the central processing unit
• Mapped USB communication between MUX boards and Raspberry Pi
• Designed data flow from RFID reads to backend, WebSockets, and database

2

RFID System Integration

Integrated Pepper C1 MUX RS232 reader with 8 RFID NFC MUX ANT1356 antennas beneath the felt surface.

• Installed 8 RFID NFC MUX ANT1356 antennas at player and community positions
• Connected antennas to Pepper C1 MUX RS232 multiplexed reader
• Tested read range and antenna isolation through felt material
• Configured wireless OTA updates and MQTT communication

3

Raspberry Pi 5 Setup

Configured Raspberry Pi 5 as the central processing hub, connecting to the Pepper C1 reader via RS232.

• Set up Raspberry Pi 5 with Raspberry Pi OS
• Configured RS232 serial communication with Pepper C1 reader
• Established MQTT broker for real-time tag detection
• Implemented Docker containers for isolated service deployment

4

Backend Development

Built robust NestJS backend handling RFID events, game logic, and real-time WebSocket communication.

• Developed NestJS REST API with WebSocket gateway
• Integrated MQTT client for Pepper C1 tag events
• Implemented poker game logic and hand evaluation algorithms
• Set up PostgreSQL database schema with TypeORM
• Added comprehensive Jest test suite for business logic

5

Frontend Development

Created React + TypeScript frontend with Vite for lightning-fast development and real-time game visualization.

• Built React components with TypeScript for type safety
• Configured Vite for optimal build performance and HMR
• Implemented WebSocket client for real-time game updates
• Designed responsive UI for player stats and hand tracking

6

Testing & Deployment

Comprehensive testing and containerized deployment with Docker for production-ready operation.

• Ran 1000+ hand simulations for accuracy validation
• Created Docker Compose setup for all services
• Optimized WebSocket latency to sub-50ms
• Implemented CI/CD pipeline for automated testing

Final Result

After extensive development and testing, the smart poker table delivers on its promise: a seamless blend of traditional poker gameplay with modern technology. The final product provides real-time card tracking, comprehensive game analytics, and an intuitive interface that enhances rather than distracts from the poker experience.

Key Achievements

Future Enhancements

While the current system is fully functional and exceeds initial expectations, there are several exciting improvements planned for future iterations of the smart poker table.