PARTNERING GAME AND METHOD OF PLAYING SAME

Abstract

A new partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking and verify whether or not the selected player likes them in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple knows of the selection.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/940,389, filed Sep. 13, 2004, which is a divisional application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/881,653, entitled “Partnering Game and Method of Playing Same”, filed on Jun. 14, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,789,802.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to games and more particularly pertains to an improved partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking and determining whether or not the selected player likes them in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple knows of the selection. The present invention provides for improvements upon the inventor's partnering game disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,760.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of games is known in the prior art. The inventor knows of only his U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,700, which discloses a partnering game in which players anonymously select a player of their liking and a mutual selection is confirmed or denied anonymously. To play the game as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,700, each of a plurality of male game players is given a single game token from a first set of game tokens having a distinct indicia thereon and each of a plurality of female game players is given a single game token having a distinct indicia thereon and each of a plurality of female game players is given a single game token having a distinct indicia thereon from a set of game tokens.

Each of the male game players and each of the female game players are also given a numbered card key. Each male game player and each female game player then deposit their game token into a numbered token box corresponding to the numbered card key held by a game player of the opposite sex of their liking. Each male game player and each female game player then retrieves the game tokens from their numbered token boxes by means of their numbered card key. Each male game player and each female game player then place each game token retrieved from the numbered token boxes into the token pocket having an indicia corresponding to the indicia on each retrieved game token and the indicia of the game token originally given to each male game player and each female game player. Any token pocket having two game tokens therein indicates a potential partnership.

In an improved version of the partnering game in accordance with the present invention, a first set of cards bearing indicia from a first set of indicia, a second set of cards bearing indicia from a second set of indicia, and a third set of cards bearing indicia from a third set of indicia are employed as hereinafter described to achieve the objects of selecting a game player of the opposite sex of a game player's liking and confirming or denying a mutual selection or the existence of an admirer.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention a fourth set of cards bearing indicia from a fourth set of indicia, and a fifth set of cards bearing indicia from a fifth set of indicia are employed to achieve the objects of the partnering game. In these respects, the partnering game and method of playing same according to the present invention substantially departs from the partnering game of the prior art and in so doing fulfills the purposes of the present invention as defined by the following objectives, disclosure, and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the inventor's patented invention mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new partnering game and method of playing same which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art games, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same, which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same, which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same which is susceptible to a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is thus susceptible to low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such partnering game and method of playing same economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking and determining whether or not the selected player likes them in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple knows of the selection.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to determine the existence and number of admirers he or she has.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new partnering game and method of playing same for enabling male and female players to determine the overall attractiveness he or she has as seen by the opposite sex.

In summary, the various aspects of the game, which will be described in greater detail below, are as follows:

In one embodiment, the partnering game of the present invention comprises: a first set of playing cards having first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia; a second set of playing cards having second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia; a third set of playing cards having third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia; and wherein each of the cards from the first set of playing cards, the second set of playing cards, and the third set of playing cards further comprises a back side having a design disposed thereon.

The game further may comprise a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia; a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side.

In an alternative embodiment, the partnering game provides the front side of each of the playing cards of the first and fourth sets of playing cards further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion, the first indicia being disposed in the top portion, and wherein the bottom portion further comprises a highlighting portion.

The partnering game may have the front side of each of the playing cards of the second and fifth sets of playing cards further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion, the second indicia being disposed in the bottom portion, and wherein the top portion further comprises a highlighting portion.

In another embodiment, the present invention is a method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia; providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, and third sets of playing cards;

distributing to each male player a card from the first set of playing cards and to each female player a card from the second set of playing cards; having each male and female player memorize the indicia disposed upon his card;

distributing to each male player a plurality of cards from the third set of playing cards equal in number to the number of female players playing the game;

distributing to each female player a plurality of cards from the third set of playing cards equal in number to the number of male players playing the game;

having each player hold the distributed cards in such manner that the other players cannot see the front sides of the distributed cards;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

having each male player form a first card hand in such manner that when the cards in the first card hand are dealt to the female players, the card from the first set of playing cards is dealt to the selected female player or a card from the third set of playing cards if no female is selected;

having each female player form a second card hand in such manner that when the cards in the second card hand are dealt to the male players, the card from the second set of playing cards is dealt to the selected male player or a card from the third set of playing cards if no male is selected;

having each male player deal his first card hand to the female players;

having each female player deal her second card hand to the male players;

having each male player retrieve from his dealt hand any cards from the second set of playing cards;

having each female player retrieve from her dealt hand any cards from the first set of playing cards;

having each male player having at least one card from the second set of playing cards highlight in a front side highlighting portion of each card from the second set of playing cards his memorized indicia;

having each female player having at least one card from the first set of playing cards highlight in a front side highlighting portion of each card from the first set of playing cards her memorized indicia;

having each male or female player having no cards from either the second or first sets of playing cards respectively bluff the highlighting of his or her memorized indicia upon a card from the third set of playing cards;

combining and shuffling all of the playing cards front side down;

removing the cards from the third set of playing cards from the shuffled cards;

sorting the shuffled cards to reveal any two cards having identical indicia; and sorting the shuffled cards to reveal any card having dissimilar indicia.

In another embodiment, the method of playing a partnering game comprises the steps of: providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia; providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side; the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth set of playing cards;

selecting a play area;

positioning a plurality of players around the play area;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth and fifth set of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of a plurality of male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of a plurality of female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each player a plurality of cards from the third deck equal to the product of the number of male players and female players;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each player hold the distributed cards in such manner that the other players cannot see the front sides of the distributed cards;

having each male player form a first card hand comprising one card from the first deck and a plurality of cards from the third deck, the number of cards in the first card hand being equal to the number of female players plus one;

having each female player form a second card hand comprising one card from the second deck and a plurality of cards from the third deck, the number of cards in the second card hand being equal to the number of male players plus one;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

having each male player position his card from the first deck in his first card hand in such manner that when the cards in the first card hand are dealt to the female players, the card from the first deck is dealt to the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

having each female player position her card from the second deck in her second card hand in such manner that when the cards in the second card hand are dealt to the male players, the card from the second deck is dealt to the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

having each male player deal his first card hand to the female players;

having each female player deal her second card hand to the male players;

each male player giving his card from the fourth set from the first deck to the host and each female player giving her card from the fifth set from the second deck to the host to form a heading deck;

the host shuffling and arranging the heading deck in such manner that the cards from the first deck correspond to the headings of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the cards from the second deck correspond to the headings of a plurality of rows of the matrix, the plurality of columns corresponding to the number of male players and the plurality of rows corresponding to the number of female players;

each male player arranging his remaining cards first side down in the matrix in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and any cards from the second deck are positioned in the matrix in the column corresponding to his memorized indicia and row corresponding to the indicia of the card from the second deck;

each female player arranging her remaining cards first side down in the matrix in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and any cards from the first deck are positioned in the matrix in the row corresponding to her memorized indicia and the column corresponding to the indicia of the card from the first deck;

the host shuffling the cards front side down in each matrix cell;

the host sorting the cards front side up in each matrix cell to reveal any cards from the first deck and the second deck; and wherein any matrix cell having a pair of cards reveals a mutual attraction between corresponding male and female players and any matrix cell having only one card reveals an admirer of the player in whose row or column the card appears.

In another embodiment, the method of playing a partnering game comprises the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards;

positioning a plurality of players around a play area in such manner that the male players comprises the heads of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the female players comprise the heads of a plurality of rows of the matrix;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of the male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of the female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of female players;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of male players;

each male player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the first deck;

each female player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the second deck;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

each male player arranging his cards first side down in his matrix column in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that his card from the first deck is positioned in the matrix in the row of the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

each female player arranging her cards first side down in her matrix row in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that her card from the second deck is positioned in the matrix in the column of the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

the host randomly picking up each set of cards from each matrix cell;

the host randomly replacing each set of cards in the matrix cells;

the host removing all the cards from the third deck from the matrix cells to reveal any cell containing two cards; and

wherein any cell containing two cards reveals a mutual attraction between a male player and a female player having corresponding indicia.

In another embodiment, the method of playing a partnering game comprises the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards;

positioning a plurality of players around a play area in such manner that the male players comprise the heads of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the female players comprise the heads of a plurality of rows of the matrix;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of the male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of the female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of female players;

dealing to each of the female players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of male players;

each male player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the first deck;

each female player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the second deck;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

each male player arranging his cards first side down in his matrix column in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that his card from the first deck is positioned in the matrix in the row of the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

each female player arranging her cards first side down in her matrix row in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that her card from the second deck is positioned in the matrix in the column of the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

each male player picking up each two card stack in each matrix cell in his column first side down in such manner that their order is preserved and forming a first stack of cards;

each male player placing his hidden card on top of the first stack of cards to form a second stack;

each male player binding his second stack;

the host shuffling the second stacks and redistributing the stacks to the male players;

each male player removing the top card from the second stack and placing it first side up to form a column heading;

each male player placing each two card stack front side down in each matrix cell corresponding to each female player;

each female player picking up each two card stack in each matrix cell in her row first side down in such manner that their order is preserved and forming a third stack of cards;

each female player placing her hidden card on top of the third stack of cards to form a fourth stack;

each female player binding her fourth stack;

the host shuffling the fourth stacks and redistributing the fourth stacks to the female players;

each female player removing the top card from the fourth stack and placing it first side up to form a row heading;

each female player placing each two card stack front side down in each matrix cell corresponding to each male player;

the host removing from each two card stack the cards from the third deck; and wherein any two cards remaining in a matrix cell reveals a mutual attraction and any matrix cell having one card reveals an admirer of the person corresponding to the indicia of the column or row the card remains in.

In another embodiment, the method of playing a partnering game comprises the steps of: providing a means for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking; and providing a means for verifying whether or not the selected player likes the selecting player in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple knows of the selection.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be added to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set fourth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a representative card of a first set of cards.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a representative card of a second set of cards.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a representative card of a third set of cards.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 through 3 thereof, a new partnering game and method of playing same embodying the principles and the concepts of the present invention will be described.

With reference to FIG. 1-3 a preferred embodiment of the partnering game is shown including a representative card 12 of a first set of cards, hereinafter referred to as male private cards, a representative card 20 of a second set of cards, hereinafter referred to as female private cards and a representative card 30 of a third set of cards, hereinafter referred to as bluff cards. The male private card 12 includes a front side 13 upon which are shown disposed an indicia 14 from a first set of indicia which in the preferred embodiment include the names of males, such as Romeo and Adam, and highlighting portion 15 including a vertical list of female names from the second set of indicia. The indicia 14 is shown disposed upon the front side 13 in a male private card top portion 16 and the highlighting portion 15 is shown disposed upon the front side 13 in a male private card bottom portion 17. The cards of a fourth set of cards are identical to the male private card in every respect, except that in addition they have indicia at the bottom right portion 18 from the fourth set of indicia. The indicia of the fourth set of indicia is preferably the words “Matrix card”.

The female card 20 is shown including a front side 21 upon which is disposed an indicia 22 from a second set of indicia, which in the preferred embodiment include the names of the female counterparts of the male indicia such as Juliet and Eve. A highlighting portion 23 includes a vertical list of male names from the first set of indicia. The indicia 22 is disposed upon the front side 21 in a female private card bottom portion 25 and the selection portion 23 is disposed upon the front side 21 in a female private card top portion 24. The cards of a fifth set of cards are identical to the female private cards in every respect, except that in addition they have indicia at the bottom right portion 26 from the fourth set of indicia.

A back side of the male private card 12, a back side of the female private card 20 and a back side of the bluff card 30 are identical one to the other and include a decorative design (not shown). The male private card 12, the female card 20 and the bluff card 30 are dimensionally identical and made from a material having smooth and firm surface. The bluff card 30 is shown having a blank first face 31, but preferably, it contains regular playing card indicia.

To play the partnering game with the five sets of cards a play area is selected such as a tabletop and the players position themselves around the play area. A host for the game, who may also be a player, is selected. The game is preferably played by an equal number of male and female players, there being preferably at least three male players and three female players to ensure anonymity.

The host of the game forms three decks of cards from the five sets of cards by shuffling the male private cards and inserting behind each male private card, the corresponding card from the fourth set of cards thereby forming a first deck of cards. A second set of cards is formed by shuffling the female private cards and inserting behind each female private card, the corresponding card from the fifth set of cards. The third deck of cards includes the bluff cards.

Each player is giving two corresponding cards from the first deck if the player is male and two corresponding cards from the second deck if the player is female. Additionally, each player is given a plurality of cards from the third deck, the number being equaled to the product of male and female players playing. Thus, by way of example, if five male players and five female players are playing the partnering game, each player is given twenty-five cards from the third deck. All of the cards are given to the players such that the backsides of the cards having the decorative design are showing.

Each player then holds in their hand, in such a manner that the other player cannot see the front side of the cards, a plurality of cards. The cards held by each player include a card from the male private cards if the player is male, or a card from the female private card, if the player is female, complemented by a plurality of cards from the set of bluff cards equaled to the number of opposite sex players playing the game.

Each male player memorizes the indicia appearing on his male private card. In like manner, each female player memorizes the indicia appearing on her female private card.

Each male player then selects a female player of his liking and positions his male private card in such manner that when the cards held in his hand are dealt to the female players, the male private card is dealt to the selected female player. In similar fashion, each female player selects a male player of her liking and positions her female private card in such manner that when the cards held in her hand are dealt to the male players, the female private card is dealt to the selected male player. If the male or female player is not attracted to any player then only bluff cards are dealt.

Each male player deals out the cards held in his hand to the female players as described above and in similar fashion, each female deals out the cards held in her hand to the male player. Each player then has a new set of cards.

The male players then give the host of the game their card from the fourth set of cards and the female players give the host their card from the fifth set of cards in such manner that the players do not see the front side of the cards. The host shuffles and arranges the cards from the fourth set of cards into a matrix column heading row and the cards from the fifth set of cards into the matrix row heading column. Each male player arranges his new set of cards with his remaining bluff cards in such manner that upon placing one card in each matrix cell front side down any female private cards received from a female player are positionable in the matrix in the column corresponding to his card from the fourth set of cards and the row corresponding to the indicia of the female private card. In similar fashion, each female player arranges her new set of cards with her remaining bluff cards in such manner that upon placing one card in each matrix cell front side down any male private cards received from a male player are positionable in the matrix in the row corresponding to her card from the fifth set of cards and the column corresponding to the indicia of the male private card.

The host of the game then shuffles the cards front side down in each matrix cell, sorts the cards front side up to reveal any male or female private cards, and places any such cards back in the matrix cell. Any matrix cell having a pair of cards reveals a mutual attraction and any matrix cell having only one-card reveals an admirer of the player in whose row or column the card appears.

In another preferred embodiment of the partnering game, the male players arrange themselves about the play area in a line so that each male player represents a matrix column heading. In similar fashion, the female players arrange themselves about the play area in a line so that each female player represents a matrix row heading. The host of the game forms three decks of cards from the five sets of cards by shuffling the male private cards and inserting behind each male private card, the corresponding card from the fourth set of cards, thereby forming a first desk of cards. A second deck of cards is formed by shuffling the female private cards and inserting behind each female private card, the corresponding card from the fifth set of cards. A third deck of cards includes the bluff cards.

Each player is given two corresponding cards from the first deck if the player is male and two corresponding cards from the second deck if the player is female. Additionally, each player is given a plurality of cards from the third deck, equaling the number of opposite sex players playing the game. Thus, by way of example, if five male players and four female players are playing the partnering game, each male player is given four cards from the third deck and each female player is given five cards from the third deck. All of the cards are given to the players such that the backsides of the cards having the decorative design are showing.

Each player then hides his or her card from the fourth or fifth set of cards for subsequent use in the game.

Each male player memorizes the indicia appearing on his male private card. In like manner, each female player memorizes the indicia appearing on her female private card.

Each male player then selects a female player of his liking and positions his male private card in such manner that when the cards held in his hand are positioned in the matrix cells corresponding to his column, the male private card is positioned in the row corresponding to the female player of his liking. In similar fashion, each female player selects a male player of her liking and positions her female private card in such manner that when the cards held in her hand are positioned in the matrix cells corresponding to her row, the female private card is positioned in the column corresponding to the male player of her liking. If the male or female player is not attracted to any player then only bluff cards are positioned in the matrix cells.

In a first mode of play designed to reveal only mutual attractions, each male and female player then positions, back side up, his or her cards in the matrix cells, each matrix cell containing two cards. The host of the game then randomly picks up each two-card stack, back side up, to form a deck in his hand. The host then randomly places, backside up, each two-card stack back in the matrix cells. With the removal by the host of all of the bluff cards from each two-card stack, any stack containing two cards reveals or confirms a mutual attraction between the male and female players whose indicia appear on the cards.

Alternatively, in a second mode of play designed to reveal both mutual attraction and admirers, each male player picks up all of the cards in the matrix cells corresponding to his column, back side up, in such manner that the order of two-card stacks is not destroyed, as by first picking up the two-card stack closest to himself and progressing in a direction away from himself. To the top of each resulting deck, each male player adds his card from the fourth set of cards backside up and binds the stack as with a rubber band. The host collects the stacks from the male players, shuffles the stacks and returns a stack to each male player.

Each male player removes the top card from his deck and places it front side up in front of him and then places each two-card stack front side down in the matrix cells corresponding to each female player in his column.

In similar fashion, each female player picks up all of the cards in the matrix cells corresponding to her row back side up in such manner that the order of two-card stacks is not destroyed, as by first picking up the two-card stack closest to herself and progressing in a direction away from herself. To the top of each resulting deck, each female player adds her card from the fifth set of cards backside up and binds the stack as with a rubber band. The host collects the stacks from the female players, shuffles the stacks and returns a stack to each female player.

Each female player removes the top card from her deck and places it front side up in front of her and then places each two-card stack front side down in the matrix cells corresponding to each male player in her row.

The host of the game then removes from each two card stack all of the cards from the third set of cards. Any two-card stack confirms or reveals a mutual attraction and any matrix cell having one card reveals an admirer to the person designated by the indicia of the column or row the card appears in.

In another preferred embodiment of the partnering game, the host of the game forms three decks of cards from the five sets of cards by shuffling the male private cards, thereby forming a first deck of cards. A second deck of cards is formed by shuffling the female private cards. A third deck of cards includes the bluff cards.

Each male player is given a male private card from the first deck of cards and each female player is given a female private card from the second deck of cards. Each male player memorizes the indicia appearing on his male private card. In like manner, each female player memorizes the indicia appearing on her female private card. Additionally, each player is given a plurality of cards from the third deck of cards, each male player receiving from the third deck cards equaling the number of female players playing the game and each female player receiving from the third deck cards equaling the number of male players playing the game. Each player holds his or her cards in such manner that the other players cannot see the front sides of the cards.

Each male player then selects a female player of his liking and positions his male private card in such manner that when the cards held in his hand are dealt to the female players, the male private card is dealt to the selected female player. In similar fashion, each female player selects a male player of her liking and positions her female private card in such manner that when the cards held in her hand are dealt to the male players, the female private card is dealt to the selected male player. If the male or female player is not attracted to any player then only bluff cards are dealt.

After the cards are dealt by the male and female players, each player has a new hand consisting of five cards which may or may not include a male or female private card. Each player then sorts through their hand and retrieves all female private cards if the player is male, and all male private cards, if the player is female. Each player then highlights their memorized indicia upon the highlighting portion of each retrieved card with an erasable marker in such manner that the other players cannot see the highlighted indicia. If a player does not retrieve a male or female private card from his or her hand, he or she must bluff that he or she is highlighting their indicia upon a card.

Each player then places their hand front side down in the center of the play area. The host of the game then shuffles the stack front side down then with the front sides showing, removes all the cards from the third set of cards. The host further sorts out any two cards sharing identical indicia thereon. Two such coupled cards confirm or reveal a mutual attraction between the male and female player corresponding to the indicia. Any non-coupled male or female private cards reveal admirers of the player whose indicia appears in the selection portion of the card.

For each of the above variations of the partnering game, the occurrence of a pairing of indicia corresponding to a famous couple, such as Romeo and Juliet, reveals a “magical” match. This type of match is “magical” because it is a rare occurrence.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A partnering game comprising: a first set of playing cards having first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia; a second set of playing cards having second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia; a third set of playing cards having third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia; and wherein each of the cards from the first set of playing cards, the second set of playing cards, and the third set of playing cards further comprises a back side having a design disposed thereon.

2. The partnering game of claim 1 further comprising a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia; a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side.

3. The partnering game of claim 2 wherein the front side of each of the playing cards of the first and fourth sets of playing cards further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion, the first indicia being disposed in the top portion, and wherein the bottom portion further comprises a highlighting portion.

4. The partnering game of claim 2 wherein the front side of each of the playing cards of the second and fifth sets of playing cards further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion, the second indicia being disposed in the bottom portion, and wherein the top portion further comprises a highlighting portion.

5. A method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia; providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, and third sets of playing cards;

distributing to each male player a card from the first set of playing cards and to each female player a card from the second set of playing cards; having each male and female player memorize the indicia disposed upon his card;

distributing to each male player a plurality of cards from the third set of playing cards equal in number to the number of female players playing the game;

distributing to each female player a plurality of cards from the third set of playing cards equal in number to the number of male players playing the game;

having each player hold the distributed cards in such manner that the other players cannot see the front sides of the distributed cards;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

having each male player form a first card hand in such manner that when the cards in the first card hand are dealt to the female players, the card from the first set of playing cards is dealt to the selected female player or a card from the third set of playing cards if no female is selected;

having each female player form a second card hand in such manner that when the cards in the second card hand are dealt to the male players, the card from the second set of playing cards is dealt to the selected male player or a card from the third set of playing cards if no male is selected;

having each male player deal his first card hand to the female players;

having each female player deal her second card hand to the male players;

having each male player retrieve from his dealt hand any cards from the second set of playing cards;

having each female player retrieve from her dealt hand any cards from the first set of playing cards;

having each male player having at least one card from the second set of playing cards highlight in a front side highlighting portion of each card from the second set of playing cards his memorized indicia;

having each female player having at least one card from the first set of playing cards highlight in a front side highlighting portion of each card from the first set of playing cards her memorized indicia;

having each male or female player having no cards from either the second or first sets of playing cards respectively bluff the highlighting of his or her memorized indicia upon a card from the third set of playing cards;

combining and shuffling all of the playing cards front side down;

removing the cards from the third set of playing cards from the shuffled cards;

sorting the shuffled cards to reveal any two cards having identical indicia; and sorting the shuffled cards to reveal any card having dissimilar indicia.

6. A method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of: providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia; providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side; the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth set of playing cards;

selecting a play area;

positioning a plurality of players around the play area;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth and fifth set of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of a plurality of male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of a plurality of female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each player a plurality of cards from the third deck equal to the product of the number of male players and female players;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each player hold the distributed cards in such manner that the other players cannot see the front sides of the distributed cards;

having each male player form a first card hand comprising one card from the first deck and a plurality of cards from the third deck, the number of cards in the first card hand being equal to the number of female players plus one;

having each female player form a second card hand comprising one card from the second deck and a plurality of cards from the third deck, the number of cards in the second card hand being equal to the number of male players plus one;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

having each male player position his card from the first deck in his first card hand in such manner that when the cards in the first card hand are dealt to the female players, the card from the first deck is dealt to the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

having each female player position her card from the second deck in her second card hand in such manner that when the cards in the second card hand are dealt to the male players, the card from the second deck is dealt to the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

having each male player deal his first card hand to the female players;

having each female player deal her second card hand to the male players;

each male player giving his card from the fourth set from the first deck to the host and each female player giving her card from the fifth set from the second deck to the host to form a heading deck;

the host shuffling and arranging the heading deck in such manner that the cards from the first deck correspond to the headings of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the cards from the second deck correspond to the headings of a plurality of rows of the matrix, the plurality of columns corresponding to the number of male players and the plurality of rows corresponding to the number of female players;

each male player arranging his remaining cards first side down in the matrix in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and any cards from the second deck are positioned in the matrix in the column corresponding to his memorized indicia and row corresponding to the indicia of the card from the second deck;

each female player arranging her remaining cards first side down in the matrix in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and any cards from the first deck are positioned in the matrix in the row corresponding to her memorized indicia and the column corresponding to the indicia of the card from the first deck;

the host shuffling the cards front side down in each matrix cell;

the host sorting the cards front side up in each matrix cell to reveal any cards from the first deck and the second deck; and

wherein any matrix cell having a pair of cards reveals a mutual attraction between corresponding male and female players and any matrix cell having only one card reveals an admirer of the player in whose row or column the card appears.

7. A method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards;

positioning a plurality of players around a play area in such manner that the male players comprises the heads of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the female players comprise the heads of a plurality of rows of the matrix;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of the male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of the female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of female players;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of male players;

each male player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the first deck;

each female player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the second deck;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

each male player arranging his cards first side down in his matrix column in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that his card from the first deck is positioned in the matrix in the row of the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

each female player arranging her cards first side down in her matrix row in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that her card from the second deck is positioned in the matrix in the column of the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

the host randomly picking up each set of cards from each matrix cell;

the host randomly replacing each set of cards in the matrix cells;

the host removing all the cards from the third deck from the matrix cells to reveal any cell containing two cards; and

wherein any cell containing two cards reveals a mutual attraction between a male player and a female player having corresponding indicia.

8. A method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of:

providing a first set of playing cards having a first indicia disposed upon a front side, the first indicia being from a first set of indicia;

providing a second set of playing cards having a second indicia disposed upon a front side, the second indicia being from a second set of indicia;

providing a third set of playing cards having a third indicia disposed upon a front side, the third indicia being from a third set of indicia;

providing a fourth set of playing cards having a first indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing a fifth set of playing cards having a second indicia and a fourth indicia disposed upon a front side, the fourth indicia being from a fourth set of indicia;

providing an identical design upon the back sides of each of the playing cards of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards;

positioning a plurality of players around a play area in such manner that the male players comprise the heads of a plurality of columns of a matrix and the female players comprise the heads of a plurality of rows of the matrix;

selecting a game host;

the host forming three decks of cards from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth sets of playing cards, a first deck comprising the first set of playing cards and the fourth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that each card from the fourth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the first set of playing cards, a second deck comprising the second set of playing cards and the fifth set of playing cards arranged in such manner that that each card from the fifth set of playing cards is positioned adjacent to the corresponding card from the second set of playing cards, and a third deck comprising the third set of playing cards;

dealing to each of the male players two corresponding cards from the first deck first side down;

dealing to each of the female players two corresponding cards from the second deck first side down;

dealing to each of the male players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of female players;

dealing to each of the female players a plurality of cards from the third deck corresponding to the number of male players;

each male player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the first deck;

each female player hiding one of the corresponding cards from the second deck;

having each male player memorize the indicia of his card from the first deck;

having each female player memorize the indicia of her card from the second deck;

having each male player select a female player of his liking and each female player select a male player of her liking;

each male player arranging his cards first side down in his matrix column in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that his card from the first deck is positioned in the matrix in the row of the selected female player or a card from the third deck if no female is selected;

each female player arranging her cards first side down in her matrix row in such manner that each of the matrix cells includes only one card and such that her card from the second deck is positioned in the matrix in the column of the selected male player or a card from the third deck if no male is selected;

each male player picking up each two card stack in each matrix cell in his column first side down in such manner that their order is preserved and forming a first stack of cards;

each male player placing his hidden card on top of the first stack of cards to form a second stack;

each male player binding his second stack;

the host shuffling the second stacks and redistributing the stacks to the male players;

each male player removing the top card from the second stack and placing it first side up to form a column heading;

each male player placing each two card stack front side down in each matrix cell corresponding to each female player;

each female player picking up each two card stack in each matrix cell in her row first side down in such manner that their order is preserved and forming a third stack of cards;

each female player placing her hidden card on top of the third stack of cards to form a fourth stack;

each female player binding her fourth stack;

the host shuffling the fourth stacks and redistributing the fourth stacks to the female players;

each female player removing the top card from the fourth stack and placing it first side up to form a row heading;

each female player placing each two card stack front side down in each matrix cell corresponding to each male player;

the host removing from each two card stack the cards from the third deck; and wherein any two cards remaining in a matrix cell reveals a mutual attraction and any matrix cell having one card reveals an admirer of the person corresponding to the indicia of the column or row the card remains in.

9. A method of playing a partnering game comprising the steps of: providing a means for enabling male and female players to anonymously select a player of their liking; and

providing a means for verifying whether or not the selected player likes the selecting player in such manner that only a mutually self-selected male-female couple knows of the selection.