A radio frequency identification, RFID, reader comprising: - an RFID interrogator; - a detection surface for a game piece, the detection surface comprising a plurality of reader antennas in a geometric arrangement; and antenna switching circuitry coupled between the RFID interrogator and the plurality of reader antennas (A1-AN) and comprising a plurality of switches, wherein a respective switch is coupled to each reader antenna (A1-AN), wherein the respective switch is configured to either activate or deactivate its respective reader antenna (A1-AN); the RFID reader further including an RFID controller coupled to the RFID interrogator and to the antenna switching circuitry, the RFID controller being configured to: control the plurality of switches to consecutively activate each one of reader antennas (A1-AN) for at least a detection time window, subsequent to activation of each reader antenna (A1-AN), control the RFID interrogator to transmit an interrogation signal on the one reader antenna (A1-AN), and subsequent to transmission of the interrogation signal, control the plurality of switches to deactivate the one reader antenna (A1-AN) after the detection time window has expired, in response to receipt of a response signal on the reader antennas (A1-AN) during the detection time window, store an asserted receipt indicator in a receipt indicator buffer associated with the reader antennas (A1-AN), after all reader antennas (A1-AN) have been consecutively activated for the detection time window, compare all asserted receipt indicators of the subset of reader antennas (A1-AN) that received the response signal with predetermined patterns of asserted receipt indicators, wherein each predetermined pattern indicates a different geometric orientation of the game piece to determine a geometric orientation of the game piece, the geometric orientation being one of a plurality of geometric orientations detectable by the RFID reader, and each geometric orientation is associated with a different subset of reader antennas (A1-AN) that received the response signal. - an RFID interrogator; - a detection surface for a game piece, the detection surface comprising a plurality of reader antennas in a geometric arrangement; and control the plurality of switches to consecutively activate each one of reader antennas (A1-AN) for at least a detection time window, subsequent to activation of each reader antenna (A1-AN), control the RFID interrogator to transmit an interrogation signal on the one reader antenna (A1-AN), and subsequent to transmission of the interrogation signal, control the plurality of switches to deactivate the one reader antenna (A1-AN) after the detection time window has expired, in response to receipt of a response signal on the reader antennas (A1-AN) during the detection time window, store an asserted receipt indicator in a receipt indicator buffer associated with the reader antennas (A1-AN), after all reader antennas (A1-AN) have been consecutively activated for the detection time window, compare all asserted receipt indicators of the subset of reader antennas (A1-AN) that received the response signal with predetermined patterns of asserted receipt indicators, wherein each predetermined pattern indicates a different geometric orientation of the game piece to determine a geometric orientation of the game piece, the geometric orientation being one of a plurality of geometric orientations detectable by the RFID reader, and each geometric orientation is associated with a different subset of reader antennas (A1-AN) that received the response signal.