diff --git a/src/game.jl b/src/game.jl
index 04a6fd88..9fcddfe8 100644
--- a/src/game.jl
+++ b/src/game.jl
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ function _deal_and_play!(game::Game, sf::StartFrom)
     end
 
     if sf.game_point isa StartOfGame
-        for (pidx, player) in enumerate(players)
+        @inbounds for (pidx, player) in enumerate(players)
             initial_brs[pidx] = bank_roll_chips(player)
         end
         @cinfo logger "------ Playing game!"
@@ -317,8 +317,8 @@ function _deal_and_play!(game::Game, sf::StartFrom)
 
     if sf.game_point isa StartOfGame
         reset!(table.transactions, players)
-        @assert all(p->cards(p) == (nothing,nothing), players)
-        @assert cards(table) == nothing
+        @assert all(p->!has_cards(p), players)
+        @assert all(c->c==joker, cards(table))
         reset_round_bank_rolls!(table) # round bank-rolls must account for blinds
         deal!(table, blinds(table))
         @assert cards(table) ≠ nothing
@@ -351,12 +351,11 @@ function _deal_and_play!(game::Game, sf::StartFrom)
     for (player, initial_br) in zip(players, initial_brs)
         mpp = max_possible_profit(player, players, initial_brs)
         prof = bank_roll_chips(player) - initial_br
-        br = map(x->bank_roll_chips(x), players)
         # TODO: this is broken due to https://github.com/charleskawczynski/TexasHoldem.jl/issues/200
         @assert prof ≤ mpp string("Over-winning occurred:\n",
               "    Player $(name(player))\n",
               "    Initial BRs $(initial_brs)\n",
-              "    BRs $br\n",
+              "    BRs $(map(x->bank_roll_chips(x), players))\n",
               "    profit $prof\n",
               "    profit.n $(prof.n)\n",
               "    cond $(prof.n ≤ mpp.n)\n",
@@ -403,7 +402,9 @@ function reset_game!(game::Game)
     table = game.table
     players = players_at_table(table)
     for player in players
-        player.cards = (nothing,nothing)
+        @inbounds for j in 1:2
+            player.cards[j] = joker
+        end
         player.pot_investment = 0
         player.game_profit = Chips(0)
         player.all_in = false
diff --git a/src/player_type.jl b/src/player_type.jl
index 783c154d..e06cc66d 100644
--- a/src/player_type.jl
+++ b/src/player_type.jl
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ for flow control logic.
 mutable struct Player{S #=<: AbstractStrategy=#}
     strategy::S
     seat_number::Int
-    cards::NTuple{2,Union{Card,Nothing}}
+    cards::Vector{Card}
     bank_roll::Chips
     game_profit::Chips
     action_required::Bool
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ function Base.show(io::IO, player::Player)
     print(io, "$(name(player)): $(player.cards)")
 end
 
-function Player(strategy, seat_number = -1, cards = (nothing,nothing); bank_roll = 200)
+function Player(strategy, seat_number = -1, cards = Card[joker, joker]; bank_roll = 200)
     action_required = true
     all_in = false
     round_bank_roll = bank_roll
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function Player(strategy, seat_number = -1, cards = (nothing,nothing); bank_roll
     args = (
         strategy,
         seat_number,
-        cards,
+        Card[cards[1], cards[2]],
         Chips(bank_roll),
         Chips(game_profit),
         action_required,
@@ -154,5 +154,9 @@ round_contribution(player::Player) = player.round_contribution
 strategy(player::Player) = player.strategy
 pot_eligible(player::Player) = !folded(player) && still_playing(player) && active(player)
 pot_eligible(player::Nothing) = false
+function has_cards(player::Player)
+    @assert length(cards(player)) == 2
+    return all(c->c == joker, cards(player)) ? false : true
+end
 
 notify_reward(player) = nothing
diff --git a/src/recreate.jl b/src/recreate.jl
index ed8e34b8..08256a1d 100644
--- a/src/recreate.jl
+++ b/src/recreate.jl
@@ -3,35 +3,33 @@ function resample_unobserved_table_cards!(table::Table, round::PreFlop)
     for c in table.cards
         PlayingCards.restore!(table.deck, c)
     end
-    table.cards = ntuple(i->SB.sample!(table.deck), 5)
+    @inbounds for j in 1:5
+        table.cards[j] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
+    end
     return nothing
 end
 function resample_unobserved_table_cards!(table::Table, round::Flop)
     @inbounds PlayingCards.restore!(table.deck, table.cards[4])
     @inbounds PlayingCards.restore!(table.deck, table.cards[5])
-    @inbounds table.cards = (
-        table.cards[1:3]...,
-        SB.sample!(table.deck),
-        SB.sample!(table.deck),
-    )
+    @inbounds table.cards[4] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
+    @inbounds table.cards[5] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
     return nothing
 end
 function resample_unobserved_table_cards!(table::Table, round::Turn)
     @inbounds PlayingCards.restore!(table.deck, table.cards[5])
-    @inbounds table.cards = (
-        table.cards[1:4]...,
-        SB.sample!(table.deck),
-    )
+    @inbounds table.cards[5] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
     return nothing
 end
 resample_unobserved_table_cards!(table::Table, round::River) = nothing
 
 function resample_player_cards!(table::Table, player::Player)
-    @assert player.cards ≠ (nothing, nothing)
+    @assert has_cards(player)
     for c in player.cards
         PlayingCards.restore!(table.deck, c)
     end
-    player.cards = (SB.sample!(table.deck), SB.sample!(table.deck))
+    @inbounds for j in 1:2
+        player.cards[j] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
+    end
     return nothing
 end
 function resample_cards!(game::Game, player::Player)
diff --git a/src/table.jl b/src/table.jl
index c84b6ec3..aca021bd 100644
--- a/src/table.jl
+++ b/src/table.jl
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ buttons(b::Buttons) = (
 mutable struct Table{P<:Players, L, TM, B <: Blinds, D <: PlayingCards.AbstractDeck, G}
     deck::D
     players::P
-    cards::Union{Nothing,Tuple{<:Card,<:Card,<:Card,<:Card,<:Card}}
+    cards::Vector{Card}
     blinds::B
     pot::Int
     round::AbstractRound
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ n_raises(i, n_players) = Int(floor(i/n_players))
 Table(players; kwargs...) = Table(Players(players); kwargs...)
 function Table(players::Players;
     deck = PlayingCards.MaskedDeck(),
-    cards = nothing,
+    cards = Card[joker, joker, joker, joker, joker],
     gui = PlainLogger(), # good for test/debugging, but not very fun
     # gui = Terminal(), # fun, but not good for tests/debugging
     blinds = Blinds(),
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ function Table(players::Players;
     B = typeof(blinds)
     return Table{P, L, TM, B, typeof(deck), typeof(gui)}(deck,
         players,
-        cards,
+        Card[cards[1],cards[2],cards[3],cards[4],cards[5]],
         blinds,
         pot,
         round,
@@ -175,27 +175,26 @@ function Base.show(io::IO, table::Table, include_type = true)
     println(io, "Observed cards   = $(observed_cards(table))")
 end
 
-get_table_cards!(deck::PlayingCards.MaskedDeck) = ntuple(_->SB.sample!(deck), Val(5))::Tuple{Card, Card, Card, Card, Card}
 cards(table::Table) = table.cards
 
 observed_cards(table::Table) = observed_cards(table, round(table))
-observed_cards(table::Table, ::PreFlop) = ()
+observed_cards(table::Table, ::PreFlop) = Card[]
 observed_cards(table::Table, ::Flop) = table.cards[1:3]
 observed_cards(table::Table, ::Turn) = table.cards[1:4]
 observed_cards(table::Table, ::River) = table.cards
 
 observed_cards_all(table::Table) = observed_cards_all(table, round(table))
-observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::PreFlop) = ntuple(_->nothing, 5)
-observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::Flop) = (table.cards[1:3]..., nothing, nothing)
-observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::Turn) = (table.cards[1:4]..., nothing)
+observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::PreFlop) = Card[joker,joker,joker,joker,joker]
+observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::Flop) = Card[table.cards[1:3]..., joker, joker]
+observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::Turn) = Card[table.cards[1:4]..., joker]
 observed_cards_all(table::Table, ::River) = table.cards
 
 # for testing
 unobserved_cards(table::Table) = unobserved_cards(table, round(table))
 unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::PreFlop) = table.cards
 unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::Flop) = table.cards[4:5]
-unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::Turn) = (table.cards[5],)
-unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::River) = ()
+unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::Turn) = Card[table.cards[5]]
+unobserved_cards(table::Table, ::River) = Card[]
 
 current_raise_amt(table::Table) = table.current_raise_amt
 initial_round_raise_amt(table::Table) = table.initial_round_raise_amt
@@ -480,7 +479,9 @@ function deal!(table::Table, blinds::Blinds)
 
         not_playing(player) && continue
 
-        player.cards = ntuple(_->SB.sample!(table.deck), 2)::Tuple{Card, Card}
+        for j in 1:2
+            player.cards[j] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
+        end
 
         if is_small_blind(table, player) && bank_roll(player) ≤ blinds.small
             contribute!(table, player, bank_roll(player), call_blinds)
@@ -501,7 +502,9 @@ function deal!(table::Table, blinds::Blinds)
         end
     end
 
-    table.cards = get_table_cards!(table.deck)::Tuple{Card,Card,Card,Card,Card}
+    @inbounds for j in 1:5
+        table.cards[j] = SB.sample!(table.deck)
+    end
     @cinfo logger "Table cards dealt (face-down)."
     @cdebug logger "Post-blinds bank roll summary: $(bank_roll.(players))"
 end
diff --git a/src/terminal/ascii_card.jl b/src/terminal/ascii_card.jl
index 29f731de..ce09a6e6 100644
--- a/src/terminal/ascii_card.jl
+++ b/src/terminal/ascii_card.jl
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ using PlayingCards
 ASCII cards.
 """
 # ascii_card(cards...; kwargs...) = ascii_card(cards; kwargs...)
-function ascii_card(cards::NTuple;to_string=true, rbuffer="  ")
+function ascii_card(cards; to_string=true, rbuffer="  ")
     lines = map(enumerate(cards)) do (i, c)
         _rbuffer = iseven(i) ? rbuffer : ""
         if c isa Card
@@ -50,8 +50,13 @@ cards of type `card::Nothing`.
 """
 function ascii_card_dealer(cards; to_string=true)
     all_lines = map(_->"", 1:9)
+    kwargs = (;to_string=false, rbuffer="")
     for card in cards
-        card_lines = ascii_card((card,); to_string=false, rbuffer="")
+        if card == joker
+            card_lines = ascii_card((nothing,); kwargs...)
+        else
+            card_lines = ascii_card((card,); kwargs...)
+        end
         all_lines = [x * y for (x, y) in zip(all_lines, card_lines)]
     end
     card_str = to_string ? join(all_lines, "\n") : all_lines
diff --git a/src/terminal/ui.jl b/src/terminal/ui.jl
index 1a3a6a18..c825b7ae 100644
--- a/src/terminal/ui.jl
+++ b/src/terminal/ui.jl
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ function update_gui(io::IO, table::Table, ::Terminal, pov_player)
 
     visible_player_cards = map(players) do player
         if hide_card(table.winners, pov_player, player)
-            (nothing, nothing)
+            [nothing, nothing]
         else
             cards(player)
         end
diff --git a/src/transactions.jl b/src/transactions.jl
index e236f2a1..99962297 100644
--- a/src/transactions.jl
+++ b/src/transactions.jl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ const joker = Card(0, 1)
 Base.@kwdef mutable struct HandEval
     hand_rank::Int = 1
     hand_type::Symbol = :empty
-    best_cards::NTuple{5,Card} = ntuple(_->joker, 5)
+    best_cards::Vector{Card} = Card[joker,joker,joker,joker,joker]
 end
 
 """
@@ -272,19 +272,22 @@ function distribute_winnings!(players, tm::TransactionManager, table_cards, logg
         if !pot_eligible(player)
             sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_rank = -1
             sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_type = :empty
-            sorted_hand_evals[ssn].best_cards = ntuple(j->joker, 5)
+            @inbounds for i in 1:5
+                sorted_hand_evals[ssn].best_cards[i] = joker
+            end
         else
-            pc = player.cards::Tuple{Card,Card}
-            tc = table_cards::Tuple{Card,Card,Card,Card,Card}
+            pc = player.cards
+            tc = table_cards
+            @inbounds all_cards = (pc[1], pc[2], tc[1], tc[2], tc[3], tc[4], tc[5])
             if logger isa ByPassLogger
-                he = PHE.CompactHandEval((pc..., tc...))
+                he = PHE.CompactHandEval(all_cards)
                 sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_rank = PHE.hand_rank(he)
                 sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_type = PHE.hand_type(he)
             else
-                he = PHE.FullHandEval((pc..., tc...))
+                he = PHE.FullHandEval(all_cards)
                 sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_rank = PHE.hand_rank(he)
                 sorted_hand_evals[ssn].hand_type = PHE.hand_type(he)
-                sorted_hand_evals[ssn].best_cards = PHE.best_cards(he)
+                sorted_hand_evals[ssn].best_cards .= Card[PHE.best_cards(he)...]
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/test/Project.toml b/test/Project.toml
index 2ce7b351..cb17a87e 100644
--- a/test/Project.toml
+++ b/test/Project.toml
@@ -9,5 +9,6 @@ Printf = "de0858da-6303-5e67-8744-51eddeeeb8d7"
 REPL = "3fa0cd96-eef1-5676-8a61-b3b8758bbffb"
 Random = "9a3f8284-a2c9-5f02-9a11-845980a1fd5c"
 SafeTestsets = "1bc83da4-3b8d-516f-aca4-4fe02f6d838f"
+StatsBase = "2913bbd2-ae8a-5f71-8c99-4fb6c76f3a91"
 TerminalRegressionTests = "98bfdc55-cc95-5876-a49a-74609291cbe0"
 Test = "8dfed614-e22c-5e08-85e1-65c5234f0b40"
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index ba13fe91..7384f2c0 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ end
 @safetestset "play" begin
     Δt = @elapsed include("play.jl"); @info "Completed tests for play in $Δt seconds"
 end
+@safetestset "tournament" begin
+    Δt = @elapsed include("tournament.jl"); @info "Completed tests for tournament in $Δt seconds"
+end
 @safetestset "fuzz_play" begin
     Δt = @elapsed include("fuzz_play.jl"); @info "Completed tests for fuzz_play in $Δt seconds"
 end
diff --git a/test/table.jl b/test/table.jl
index 66eba7c8..43282d22 100644
--- a/test/table.jl
+++ b/test/table.jl
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 using Test
 using PlayingCards
 import Logging
+import StatsBase
+const SB = StatsBase
 using TexasHoldem
 using TexasHoldem: seat_number
 const TH = TexasHoldem
@@ -11,22 +13,23 @@ const TH = TexasHoldem
     # we use StatsBase.sample! for efficiency, but shuffle! is convenient
     shuffle!(deck)
     blinds = TH.Blinds(1,2)
-    cards = TH.get_table_cards!(deck)
+    cards = map(x->SB.sample!(deck), 1:5)
+
     table = TH.Table(players;deck=deck, cards=cards, logger=TH.ByPassLogger())
     TH.deal!(table, blinds)
 
     table.round = PreFlop()
-    @test TH.observed_cards(table) == ()
+    @test isempty(TH.observed_cards(table))
     @test TH.unobserved_cards(table) == table.cards
     table.round = Flop()
     @test TH.observed_cards(table) == table.cards[1:3]
     @test TH.unobserved_cards(table) == table.cards[4:5]
     table.round = Turn()
     @test TH.observed_cards(table) == table.cards[1:4]
-    @test TH.unobserved_cards(table) == (table.cards[5],)
+    @test TH.unobserved_cards(table) == [table.cards[5]]
     table.round = River()
     @test TH.observed_cards(table) == table.cards
-    @test TH.unobserved_cards(table) == ()
+    @test isempty(TH.unobserved_cards(table))
 end
 
 @testset "Table: Move button" begin
diff --git a/test/tournament.jl b/test/tournament.jl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a2d267e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tournament.jl
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+using Test
+using PlayingCards
+using TexasHoldem
+import TexasHoldem
+import Random
+const TH = TexasHoldem
+import Random
+
+include("tester_bots.jl")
+QuietGame(args...; kwargs...) = Game(args...; kwargs..., logger=TH.ByPassLogger())
+
+@testset "Tournament (BotCheckCall)" begin
+    players = ntuple(i->Player(BotCheckCall();bank_roll=6), 2)
+    game = QuietGame(players)
+    tournament!(game)
+end