Card game

Abstract

A game for one or more players utilizing a unique deck of cards or set of tiles and method of play is disclosed. The game consists of 81 numbered cards or tiles, nine each of numbers one through nine and may include additional cards or tiles without a number, to be used as wild cards. Each card or tile may have a color associated with it, in conjunction with or instead of a number. This game also utilizes a playing surface or game board having a grid of nine rows intersecting nine columns creating 81 smaller sections. The grid is marked into nine equal sections; each section therefore consisting of nine smaller sections. Players place one card or tile at a time on one of the smaller sections of the grid without duplicating any number already in that row, column or larger section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of this invention is a card game utilizing a unique deck of cards, a game board or playing surface and a method of play. The present invention, different from the standard deck of 52, is a deck of 81 numbered and/or colored cards consisting of nine each of numbers one through nine. Each number may have a color associated with it. Unlike in a common deck of cards where each suit has one card of each number, in this invention the color would be the same for all cards of the same number. All ones would be the same color. Each two would be the same color as every other two and different from the ones, etc. The deck may also include cards without a number or specific color to be used as wild cards. The game of this invention may be played with tiles similar to those used in the game of Scrabble rather than cards. Unlike Scrabble, these tiles have numbers and/or colors rather than letters. This invention includes the option of a deck of 81 colored cards or set of 81 colored tiles without numbers wherein there are nine cards or tiles in each of nine different colors. This version may also have additional cards that may be used as wild cards.

The game of this present invention may be played on any flat surface such as a table or on the floor, but this invention also consists of a game board as do countless other games. This game board is unique in that it is marked into a grid of 81 sections formed by nine rows intersecting nine columns. Scrabble utilizes a game board with a grid, but it has 15 rows intersecting 15 columns. A Scrabble game board also has notations in some of the sections of the grid intended to modify the score earned by placing a tile on that specific section. The present invention has no notations on any of the sections. The grid may be further marked into nine larger sections similar to a tic, tac, toe game or like a sudoku puzzle. Each larger section thus consists of nine smaller sections. Unlike a sudoku puzzle, though, there are no numbers marked on the grid.

This invention consists of more than one method of play. Cards or tiles are dealt to the players who take turns placing one card at a time on the playing surface or game board so as to not duplicate a number or color already in that row, column or larger square. As a player completes a row, column or larger section, that player is awarded points. If a player notices that another player places a card or tile in a section and, by doing so, duplicates that number or color in that row, column or section, that player identifies the error. The player who placed the card/tile must take it back and the play is passed to the next player. The player who identifies the error is awarded points.

Most games are intended for either children or adults; few are entertaining and/or challenging for both. The present invention is both entertaining and challenging for many ages from young children to adults. This invention is educational and may be used as a learning tool to teach about colors, numbers, basic logic and strategy. Most card games are played either by a single person or interactively by more than one player. This present invention may be played either way. This game is also well suited to computer or electronic format. It is more complex than tic, tac, toe and more versatile than a sudoku puzzle.

The level of challenge is not determined by the prearranged numbers of a puzzle as in a sudoku puzzle, but by the maturity or intellect of those playing at any given time. The strategy and method of play are significantly different from completing a sudoku puzzle. With the present invention, a player attempts to complete a row, column or larger section before another player in order to earn more points than the opponent(s). While trying to earn points, each player also attempts to block the other player(s) from earning points. A player may also earn points by removing or repositioning a card or tile that has been placed in an unacceptable smaller section by any player. Unlike a sudoku puzzle, the goal is not to discover a predetermined configuration of numbers by filling in the missing numbers. The goal in the present invention is to provide an inexhaustible number of playing experiences for any aged player either alone or interactively with one or more other person. The available games based on sudoku all utilize the same puzzle format with numbers or other figures predetermined and printed on a grid or on a card intended to be placed in a grid. These games may suggest players collaborate to complete the puzzle or that players compete to determine which player or team of players will complete the puzzle quicker. The present invention does not complete a predetermined puzzle and is not limited to a predetermined configuration. The method of play of the present invention may also be played by teams. A player would use strategy to assist a partner in completing a row, column or larger section in order to maximize the team points. Partners would also use strategy to prevent the other team(s) from scoring. The present invention also presents an element of chance. This also differentiates the present invention from a soduko puzzle. Each player is limited by the card or cards he/she has available at any given time. As each card or tile is selected by a player and played on the grid, it affects the options for future plays; each play may improve or limit a player's chances of earning points. Each person or team is striving to earn as many points as possible while, at the same time, minimizing the opponent(s) points.

Like many other card games, this game is well suited to being played as a computer game or on an electronic device.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a challenging and educational game for one or more players consisting of a unique deck of real or virtual (as in computer or electronic format) cards or tiles. The deck consists of 81 numbered and/or colored cards or tiles and may include additional cards or tiles to be used as wild cards. This invention also consists of a surface on which the cards or tiles are played. The surface may be a table, the floor, a game board, or in computer or electronic format. The playing surface is divided into a grid of nine rows intersecting nine columns creating 81 smaller sections. The surface is further marked between rows three and four, between rows six and seven, between columns three and four, and columns six and seven. This creates nine larger sections, each containing nine of the smaller sections. The cards or tiles are played on the playing surface one at a time so as to not duplicate a previously played card or tile in any row, column or larger section. Points are earned by a player who completes a row, column, larger section or who notices where another player duplicated a number or color in any row, column or larger section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention consists of a deck of cards or set of tiles, a playing surface or game board and a method of play. The cards or tiles as well as the playing surface of this invention may be real or may be virtual as in a computer or electronic game.

The cards or tiles may be made in any shape, including but not limited to rectangular or square, and made of any material or in computer or electronic format. There are 81 numbered cards or tiles, nine each of numbers one through nine. There may be a color associated with each number; all like numbers with the same color. Therefore, all cards or tiles numbered one will have the same color. Each card or tile numbered two will have the same color as every other card or tile numbered two, but different from the color of any other number, etc. There may be additional cards or tiles to be used as wild cards. The cards or tiles may be colored but without any numbers, in which case there are nine cards or tiles in each of nine different colors.

Whether using cards or tiles, the playing surface or game board has a grid formed by nine rows intersecting nine columns. The grid has a more definite line or marking between rows three and four and between rows six and seven. The grid is similarly marked between columns three and four and between columns six and seven. This forms nine equal larger sections, each consisting of nine smaller sections, three across and three down. This game board may be made of any material including but not limited to plastic, vinyl, wood, paper, cardboard or in computer or electronic format.

The present invention is for one player as a game of solitaire or for more than one person to play interactively. One method of play is that the cards or tiles are all dealt to the players. Each player's cards remain face down in front of him/her. Players take turns turning up the top card (or randomly selecting a tile) from his/her pile and placing that card or tile on one of the smaller sections of the playing surface or game board. The card/tile when played should not duplicate a number or color already in that row, column or larger section. A player is awarded points when a card/tile is played that completes a row, column or larger section. A player may also receive points for noticing when another player places a card/tile in a position that duplicates a number or color in that row, column or larger section. The game may consist of one round and the player with the most points wins. The game may consist of a predetermined number of rounds or as many rounds as needed for a player to reach a predetermined score.

Instead of dealing all of the cards/tiles at the beginning of the game, a variation to the method of play is to deal nine (or another predetermined number of) cards or tiles to each person. Players look at the cards/tiles that they have. Each player in turn plays a card or tile onto the game board or playing surface in the manner described above. That player's turn concludes by the player drawing another card or tile, thus maintaining nine cards or tiles. As in the other variation, the play continues until no player is able to play another card or tile. In this variation, as above, the game may consist of one such round of play or more. The game may continue with additional rounds of play until a player reaches a predetermined score.

Scoring may include each player subtracting a number equal to the number of cards or tiles he/she has left from any points earned during play. A player may receive points when pointing out an opponent has placed a card/tile that duplicates a number or color in any row, column or larger square.

The strategy changes if a person plays this present invention as a game of solitaire. Instead of trying to prevent the opponent(s) from receiving points, a person playing alone would try to strategize in order to complete as many rows, columns and larger sections as possible before being unable to continue. The ultimate goal would be to play the entire deck of cards or tiles without any unallowable duplication of a card or tile in any row, column or larger square.

The present invention may also be played with partners or teams competing against one another. Partners would sit across from one another. The play would proceed as in one of the manners described above, but could have some additional options. A player could pass his turn to his partner. In doing so, the opponent(s) between the player and his partner are also passed. This strategy may improve the team's chance of earning points on that turn. It is a risk though, as a player must skip his/her turn and the partner may not be able to make any points on that turn. When a wild card is drawn, a player could be allowed to play that card and draw the next, providing additional benefit to a wild card. It would also contribute to the strategy if a player knows there is a chance he/she will be able to play two cards on that turn.

Another variation on the method of play would have everyone collaborating to earn as many points as possible. This would be especially useful for a family playing the game together or with a group of students in a classroom setting. The goal would be to earn as many points as possible in a designated period of time and/or to earn more points than other groups. This provides a tool to teach numbers, colors, basic logic, strategy, and cooperation.

Claims

1. A game for one or more players comprising a unique deck of 81 numbered cards or tiles, nine each of numbers one through nine.

2. The game of claim 1 wherein, in addition to the numbered cards or tiles, there are additional cards or tiles without a number that may be used as wild cards.

3. The game of claim 1 wherein each numbered card or tile has a color associated with its number, each like number having the same color.

4. A game for one or more players comprising a unique deck of 81 colored cards or tiles, nine each of nine different colors.

5. The game of claim 4 wherein, in addition to the colored cards or tiles, there are additional cards or tiles that may be used as wild cards.

6. The game of claim 1 wherein the cards or tiles are made of any material and are any shape, including but not limited to rectangular or square, or are in computer or electronic format.

7. The game of claim 4 wherein the cards or tiles are made of any material and are any shape, including but not limited to rectangular or square, or are in computer or electronic format.

8. The game of claim 1 or claim 4 utilizing a game board, made of any material or in computer or electronic format, which is marked with a grid of 81 sections formed by nine rows intersecting 9 columns and further marked between rows three and four, between rows six and seven, between columns three and four and between columns six and seven to form nine larger sections, each of which has nine smaller sections.

9. The game of claim 1 or claim 4 wherein the player(s) take turns placing a card or tile on a section of the grid without duplicating a number or color already in that row, column or larger section, receiving points when the card he/she plays completes a row, column or larger section; one round is completed when no player can play another card or when a player has played all of his/her cards.

10. The game of claim 9 wherein all cards or tiles are dealt to the player(s) at the beginning of play.

11. The game of claim 9 wherein a designated number of cards or tiles are dealt to the player(s) at the beginning of play and after a player takes a turn playing a card or tile, he/she draws another card or tile, keeping the same number of cards or tiles in his/her hand.

12. The game of claim 9 wherein points are awarded to a player who notices that a card or tile played by another player has duplicated a number or color in that row, column or larger section.

13. The game of claim 9 wherein the game ends when a player reaches a predetermined score.

14. The game of claim 9 wherein the game ends when a predetermined number of rounds have been played with the winner being the player with the highest score.