Gotit dice game

Abstract

A method of playing a dice game which includes a plurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set up rules (method) is applied by the players in determining the manner in which the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each having six (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writing utensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwing of the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used. The game includes rounds of each player taking turns rolling the dice up to three times to determine a best score for that turn and placing that turn's score into a scoring box for either sets, combinations, or sequences. Optionally, a player may elect to use up to three available strikes to extend a turn by taking up to three additional rolls for each strike used in an attempt to achieve a combination of six of a kind, referred to here as a “GOTIT.”

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of entertainment, more specifically to playing a game having dice and multiple score cards for keeping track of the performance of the various players.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Dice games are well-known forms of entertainment and are well known in the art. Various games are well known and have been around for a very long time. However, sometimes it is desirable to have a game that is different from what has been commonly available. This invention solves that problem by providing a unique game that allows a player to attempt to accumulate a high score by using judgment and skill in the selection of results of dice throws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior arts by providing a means of entertainment that includes a plurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set up rules (method) is applied by the users in determining the manner in which the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each having six (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writing utensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwing of the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description, as well as this Summary of the Invention, disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced and are not limiting on the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The FIGURE is an illustration of a score card that may be used to maintain one or more players' score in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior arts by providing a means of entertainment that includes a plurality of multi-sided dice and a means for keeping score. A set up rules (method) is applied by the users in determining the manner in which the dice are used and how the means for keeping score is utilized. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, six (6) dice each having six (6) sides are thrown by a player onto a playing surface. A writing utensil is used by to keep score on a score card. To aid in the throwing of the dice, a dice-throwing cup may be used.

The FIGURE is an illustration of a score card 100 that may be used to maintain one or more players' score in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Using this score card 100, a player keeps track of his score by placing the result of individual throws into a first scoring column 102. A plethora of scoring boxes are provided corresponding to a similar plurality of rows that intersect with the first scoring column 102. While the exemplary score card 102 has an abundance of scoring boxes, not all of those illustrated are required in order for a player to keep score. However, the additional scoring boxes are helpful in providing sub-totals that are, in turn, used to calculate a grand total. Alternatively, however, the grand total may be derived by omitting the sub-totals and simply adding the individual scoring boxes in a particular column.

The preferred embodiment of the game utilizes six (6) traditional dice, as noted above, and the scoring card illustrated in the FIGURE. Additionally, the player may use a pen or pencil to write on the score card, the indicated throw cup to aid in the throwing process, and, optionally, the playing surface is level, though this is surely not a requirement of the invention. The players themselves may select the playing surface and may, optionally, prefer throwing dice onto an enclosed surface such as the interior of a game box so that the dice do not role off the surface.

As with all games, the present invention includes an object of the game. This invention is a method of playing a strategy game where each player attempts to accumulate a high score by using multiple throws of the indicated dice to the player's best advantage. The player must make a selection of which parts, if any, of a dice throw the player wishes to keep and which part, if any, the player wishes to re-throw. In order to make that selection, the player must review the results of a throw and judge what combination of dice the player should attempt to achieve based on the previous throw. Once the player has made a decision as to the player's immediate goal (attempted combination of dice), the player then leaves the dice that would be helpful to creating the desired combination, picks up the remainder of the dice, and re-throws the picked up dice. It is not necessary for the player to declare his immediate goal and, in fact, the player may change his goal after a subsequent roll of the dice.

The player may stop throwing dice after the first, second, or third attempts, at the discretion of the player. Once the player has stopped throwing the dice for a turn, points are awarded based on the combination of dice actually achieved by the player. The score is placed on the score card 102 and the next turn begins. If more than one player is playing, the turn passes to the next player and the process repeats itself until each player has filled in all scoring boxes with either the result of a throw or a zero.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each player (if more than one player) throws all six dice to determine the first player. The total of the six dice are added and the player with the lowest score will go first. Play will proceed with each subsequent turn passing to the current player's left which allows play to rotate clockwise around the group of players.

A player is allowed to place a score into one of three categories, i.e., Sets, Combinations, and Sequences. A set is simply one or more dice thrown by the player that matches a desired number. For example, if after throwing the dice, the player decides it is advantages to take a set of the number “1,” then all “1's” visible on the top of the dice laying on the playing surface are added together to achieve a score which is then placed in the 1's scoring box 104. If the player completes his throw with four “1's” present, then the four “1's” are added together and a score of “4” is placed in the 1's scoring box 104. On different turns, the player may elect to compile scores for all sets including “1's,” “2's,” “3's,” “4's,” “5's,” and “6's.” The compiled scores are placed in the corresponding scoring boxes: 1's scoring box 104, 2's scoring box 106, 3's scoring box 108, 4's scoring box 110, 5's scoring box 112, and 6's scoring box 114. Once all the players have had the desired number of turns, the set scoring boxes 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, and 114 may be totaled and the set's subtotal may be placed in the option sets subtotal scoring box 144. In this embodiment of the invention, if the score in the sets subtotal scoring box 144 equals 75 or more points, then 40 points are awarded and recorded in the sets bonus scoring box 146. The sets subtotal scoring box 144 and the sets bonus scoring box 146 are added together and the result is placed into the sets total scoring box 148 as well as the optional sets subtotal summary scoring box 154.

Alternatively, the player may evaluate the throw of the player's dice throw(s) during a turn and elect to place a score in a scoring box in the Combinations category. In this preferred embodiment, scoring boxes are provided for the following scoring Combinations: one (1) pair; two (2) pair; three (3) pair; three (3) of a kind; three (3) of a kind and one (1) pair; three (3) of a kind plus another three (3) of a kind; four (4) of a kind; four (4) of a kind plus one (1) pair; five (5) of a kind; six (6) of a kind; and “trash.” Trash is simply the score achieved by the player during a failed attempt to achieve a usable combination.

Each of these combinations is scored as the sum of all six dice remaining at the end of the player's turn, except for five (5) of a kind which receives a score of fifty and six (6) of a kind. A combination of six (6) of a kind is considered a “GOTIT” and provides the player a score of 100. Score's for combinations of one pair are placed into the one pair scoring box 116, two pair into the two pair scoring box 118, three pair into the three pair scoring box 120, three of a kind into the three of a kind scoring box 122, three of a kind plus one pair into the three of a kind plus one pair scoring box 124, three of a kind plus another three of a kind into the three of a kind plus three of a kind scoring box 126, four of a kind into the four of a kind scoring box 128, four of a kind plus one pair into the four of a kind plus one pair scoring box 130, five of a kind into the five of a kind scoring box 132, six of a kind into the GOTIT scoring box 134 and trash placed into the trash scoring box 136. The individual scores within the Combinations category are added together and the result is placed into the Combination subtotal scoring box 150 as well as the Combinations subtotal summary scoring box 156.

The last category the player may elect to place a score into is the Sequences category. A sequence is simply four, five, or six dice resulting from a player's throw which forms a consecutive sequence of numbers. For example, a four dice sequence may be dice forming the following consecutive sequences: 1234, 2345, 3456. A five dice sequence may be dice forming the sequence 12345 or 23456. And, the six dice sequence is a dice throw that results in the sequence 123456. If a player achieves a four dice sequence, a score of thirty points is placed into the four dice sequence scoring box 138. A five dice sequence results in a score of forty points being placed into the five dice sequence scoring box 140. And, a six dice sequence allows the player to place fifty points into the six dice scoring box 142. These three scoring boxes 138, 140, 142 may be added and the resulting score placed into the sequence subtotal scoring box 152 and the sequence subtotal summary scoring box 158.

If a player fails to throw a desirable combination of dice during a turn, the player may elect to place a zero into any of the scoring boxes. Alternatively, a player may elect to not place a score into one of the three indicated categories and, instead, take a “strike.” Rather than putting an undesirable score into one of the scoring boxes, the player may elect to place a check or other indication into one of the three strike boxes 162. Should the player use up all three strikes and fail to achieve a set, combination, or sequence not already scored during the game, the player will have no choice but to place a zero into one of the unused scoring boxes. Any unused strikes will allow the player to have three additional throws of the dice for each unused strike during the player's last turn, if the player is attempting to achieve a GOTIT (six of a kind). In an optional embodiment of the invention, a player may utilize the unused strikes in an attempt to achieve a GOTIT during any turn by declaring that the player is attempting to do so and by placing check marks in one of the unused strike boxes for each extra three rolls, or part thereof, the player uses in the player's GOTIT attempt. For example, if the player uses one, two, or three extra rolls, then that player is considered to have used one of the available strikes. If the player uses four, five, or six extra rolls, then the player is considered to have used two of the available strikes. If the player use seven, eight, or nine extra rolls, the player is considered to have used three of the available strikes.

Once all players have gone the desired number of turns, any scoring boxes which have not been filled in by a player are given a “zero” and the subtotal scoring boxes and the summary scoring boxes are filled in. The sets subtotal summary box 154, the combinations subtotal summary box 156, and the sequences subtotal summary scoring box 158 are added together and the resulting score is placed into the grand total scoring box 160. If more than one player exists, then each players' grand total is compared against the grand totals of the other players and the player having the highest score is declared the winner.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, utilizing the score card 100 illustrated in the FIGURE, multiple scoring columns 102, 103 may be provided to allow a player to play multiple games using the same score card 100. In alternate embodiments of the invention, a score card 100 may be used to keep score for multiple players in the same game. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a player may elect to play the GOTIT game alone and to keep score cards for games where the player has achieved what, in the judgment of the player, is an exceptionally high score. These individual scores may be compared against other players from different games to achieve what may be considered “bragging rights.”

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A method of playing a dice game comprising:

providing a dice game system including a plurality of dice, a playing surface suitable for receiving the plurality of dice when thrown or dropped by one of a group of players, and a means of keeping score;

having each of the group of players roll the plurality of dice and totaling the number visible on the top of the plurality of dice to determine each of the group of players' score to determine which player has the lowest score and allowing the player with the lowest score to become the first player;

having the group of players play rounds by having each of the group of players take turns wherein each turn is comprised of having one of the group of players roll the plurality of dice on the playing surface to perform a first roll and evaluate the numbers visible on the top of the plurality of dice and determine whether to accept the results of the first roll or to leave some of the plurality of dice on the playing surface and to re-roll the first remainder of the plurality of dice to perform a second roll or to re-roll all of the plurality of dice to perform a second roll and further wherein the one of the group of players evaluates the numbers visible on the top of the plurality of dice after the second roll, if any, and determines whether to accept the results of the first roll if no second roll or the second roll or to leave some of the plurality of dice on the playing surface and to re-roll the second remainder of the plurality of dice to perform a third roll or to re-roll all of the plurality of dice to perform a third roll and further wherein the one of the group of players evaluates the numbers visible on the top of the plurality of dice after the third roll, if any, and determines a score for the numbers visible on the top of the plurality of dice resulting from the third roll, if any, or the second roll if no third roll, or the first roll if no third roll and no second roll and further assigns a score to the result of the turn based on deciding to use the score for either one of a plurality of set scores, one of a plurality of combination score, one of a combination of sequence scores, or deciding to use one of a plurality of available strikes to take additional rolls and making one strike unavailable for each additional three rolls or part thereof used by the one of the group of players, or deciding to use a score of zero if unsuccessful in achieving one of the plurality of set score, combination scores, or sequence score and the one of the group of players then makes the chosen set score, combination score, or sequence score, or strike unavailable for subsequent turns of the one of the group of players;

completing the game when each of the group of players has completed all of the desired rounds by either entering scores or zeros for each of the set scores, combination scores, or sequence scores; and

totaling the scores for each of the group of players to determine a winner.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the winner is the one of the group of players having the highest total of scores.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the turn further comprises the step of the one of the group of players attempting to obtain six of a kind, referred to here as a “GOTIT.”

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the group of players is comprised of a single player.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the scores are placed on a score card.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the score card is adapted to be used for multiple games.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the score card is adapted to be used to keep score for all of the group of players for a game.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the score card is adapted to used by a single player over multiple games.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of set scores includes scores for 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, and 6's.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of combination scores include scores for one pair, two pair, three pair, three of a king, three of a kind and one pair, three of a kind and another three of a kind, four of a kind, five of a kind, six of a kind, and trash.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sequence scores include scores for the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4; the sequence 2, 3, 4, 5; the sequence 3, 4, 5, 6; the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; the sequence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6; and the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.