Method of Playing a Whirlwind Family Card Game
A method for playing a card game using a card game apparatus is provided. The card game apparatus has eight sets of numbered cards and a plurality of power cards. Each of the numbered cards and power cards has a unique identifier and a suit indicator. The unique identifier is either a number, letter(s), or symbol, while the suit indicator is either one of four suits being hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs or all-suits. Wild cards have the suit indicator being all-suits. A hand of cards is dealt to each of a plurality of players. Players take turns discarding a play card that at least partially matches the top card of a discard pile. The object of the card game is to be the first player to discard all of the cards from their hand of cards.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/680,750 filed on Aug. 8, 2013.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for playing a card game. More specifically, the present invention is a family card game intended for 2 to 10 players, with the object of the card game being for one player to get rid of all of his or her cards before all of the other players.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCard games and board games are popular forms of entertainment, typically for small groups of individuals. Cards games in particular have been around for centuries, the complexity varying from game to game. As many people enjoy traditional card games, it is necessary to introduce new card games to catch the interest of both young and old players in an effort to provide family bonding opportunities. While most card games are designed for multiple players, many of the current card games on the market are not always suitable for large families. Most of the card games played are meant for 4 players and become less enjoyable with the inclusion of additional players. This proves to be a problem for families that are larger or have a large extended family.
Therefore it is the object of the present invention to provide a method for playing a card game that is intended for 2 to 10 players. An accompanying card game apparatus comprises eight sets of numbered cards and a plurality of power cards. Each of the numbered cards and power cards has a unique identifier and a suit indicator. Each of a plurality of players are dealt a hand of cards and take turns discarding a play card that has either the unique identifier or suit indicator that matches the unique identifier or suit indicator of a top card of a discard pile. Cards designated as wild cards can be played as cards having any suit indicator. Players continue to discard cards from their hand of cards until a last card of an active player's hand of cards is discarded.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention provides a method for playing a card game and an accompanying card game apparatus. The object of the card game is to be the first player to discard all of the cards in their hand. In reference to
Each of the numbered cards, each of the whirlwind cards, each of the back cards, each of the pass-one cards, each of the pass-two cards, each of the plus-one cards, each of the plus-three cards, and the plus-five card have a unique identifier 11 and a suit indicator 21. The unique identifier 11 represents the specific type of card. For example, the unique identifier 11 of each of the numbered cards is the number assigned to each of the numbered cards (i.e. 1-9), while the unique identifier 11 for each of the back cards is a back symbol (i.e. a word and/or symbol). The suit indicator 21 determines the suit of each card being either hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades, or all-suits. A card denoted as all-suits can be played as hearts, diamonds, spades, or clubs.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distribution of hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs, and all-suits is described as follows. Of the numbered cards, there are fourteen hearts (two sets of cards numbered 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8 and one of each card numbered 1, 3, 5, and 9), eighteen diamonds (two sets of cards numbered 1 through 9), eighteen spades (two sets of cards numbered 1 through 9), and eighteen clubs (two sets of cards numbered 1 through 9). Of the whirlwind cards, there is one heart, one diamond, one spade, and one club. Of the back cards, there are two hearts, two diamonds, two spades, and two clubs. Of the pass-one cards, there are two hearts, two diamonds, one spade, and one club. Of the plus-one cards, there are one heart, one diamond, two spades, and two clubs. Of the plus-three cards, there are two hearts, two diamonds, one spade, and one club. Seven wild cards have the suit indicator 21 that is all-suits, the wild cards being the two pass-two cards, the plus-five card, a one card, a three card, a five card, and nine card. The one card, the three card, the five card, and the nine card are from the seventy-two numbered cards.
In reference to
From the deck of cards, the dealer deals each of the players a hand of cards. Each hand of cards is dealt face down such that the hand of cards of each of the players is hidden. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each hand of cards contains seven cards; however, for more or less cards to be dealt to each of the players. As the object of the game is to be the first player to discard all of the cards from his or her hand of cards, the duration of the game can be influenced by the initial number of cards dealt to each of the players. For example, dealing out a higher number of cards to each of the players will likely result in a longer game as the players have more cards that they need to discard. Conversely, dealing out a lower number of cards to each of the players will likely result in a shorter game, as the players have less cards of which they need to discard.
Once the players have been dealt their hand of cards, the dealer then splits the deck of cards into a first draw pile and a second draw pile, and places both the first draw pile and the second draw pile face down between the players. Play then begins to the left of the dealer, traveling in a clockwise direction, with each of the players taking turns as an active player in order to make a play. In reference to
Each play made by the active player consists of the following: discarding a play card and/or taking a draw card. If a top card of the discard pile that was discarded prior to the turn of the active player is a power card, then the active player must follow the rule that is associated with the particular power card first before any further action is made. Each of the lucky-whirlwind cards, each of the whirlwind cards, each of the back cards, each of the pass-one cards, each of the pass-two cards, each of the plus-one cards, each of the plus-three cards, and the plus-five card is considered to be a power card.
After the active player has followed the rule of the power card, or if the top card is not a power card, the active player may continue his or her turn. In reference to
If the active player does not have a card in his or her hand of cards that partially matches the top card, or if the active player chooses not to discard a partially matching card, then the active player may take his or her draw card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile, as illustrated in
In reference to
In reference to
As an optional rule, when the hand of cards of a random player is a single card, then the random player must be the first of each of the players to shout a phrase, the phrase being “whirlwind”. The tie is awarded to the random player with the single card. The random player may obtain the single card by discarding a second to last card during the turn of the random player or the random player may be given the single card when the hand of cards of each of the players is passed. In reference to
A unique rule is attached to each type of power card. The following describes the rule associated with each type of power card:
For a lucky-whirlwind card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the lucky-whirlwind card, then the active player has the opportunity to shout a phrase before a subsequent play card is discarded into the discard pile. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the phrase is “lucky whirlwind”. Upon successfully shouting the phrase before the subsequent play card is discarded, each of the players must reveal the number of cards in his or her hand of cards. After viewing the number of cards in the hand of cards of each of the players, the active player chooses a desired player. The hand of cards of the active player is then traded for the hand of cards of the desired player. Typically the desired player has the least amount of cards. The active player may also choose not to trade his or her hand of cards or choose not to say the phrase at all.
For a whirlwind card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the whirlwind card, then the hand of cards of each of the players is passed in the direction of play. Each of the players then receives the hand of cards passed from an adjacent player.
For example, if play is moving in a clockwise direction, then the hand of cards of each of the players is passed to the left, and each of the players receives the hand of cards passed from the adjacent player to the right.
For a back card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the back card, then the direction of play is reversed. For example, if play is moving in a clockwise direction and a back card is discarded, play then switches and proceeds in a counter-clockwise direction. If only two players are playing, then the active player who discarded the back card takes a second turn.
For a pass-one card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the pass-one card, then the turn of an adjacent player, in the direction of play, is skipped. For example, if play is moving in the clockwise direction, then the player to the left of the active player is skipped. This prevents the adjacent player from discarding a play card or taking a draw card. If only two players are playing the card game, then the active player who discarded the pass-one card takes a second turn.
For a pass-two card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the pass-two card, then the turn of a pair of adjacent players, in the direction of play, is skipped. For example, if play is moving in the clockwise direction, then the next two players to the left of the active player is skipped. This prevents the pair of adjacent players from discarding a play card or taking a draw card. If two or three players are playing, then the active player who discarded the pass-two card takes a second turn.
For a plus-one card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the plus-one card, then an adjacent player in the direction of play is forced to draw one card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile. The one card is then added to the hand of cards of the adjacent player. If play is moving in the clockwise direction, then the adjacent player being the first player to the left of the active player draws the one card. Once the adjacent player starts drawing the one card, play is opened to the subsequent player in the direction of play. The adjacent player may discard the one card or another play card, however, the one card or play card must be discarded before the subsequent player discards a card or touches either the first draw pile or second draw pile to draw a card. If the plus-one card is discarded on top of a preceding plus-one card, then the adjacent player must draw two cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile. The two cards are then added to the hand of cards of the adjacent player. Discarding the plus-one card on top of the preceding plus-one card prevents the player who discarded the plus-one card from having to take a draw card.
For a plus-three card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the plus-three card, then an adjacent player in the direction of play is forced to draw three cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile. The three cards is then added to the hand of cards of the adjacent player. If play is moving in the clockwise direction, then the adjacent player being the first player to the left of the active player draws the three cards. Once the adjacent player touches either the first draw pile or second draw pile to take the three cards, play is opened to the subsequent player in the direction of play. The adjacent player may discard one of the three cards or another play card, however, one of the three cards or play card must be discarded before the subsequent player discards a card or touches either the first draw pile or the second draw pile to draw a card. If the plus-three card is discarded on top of a preceding plus-three card, then the adjacent player must draw six cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile. The six cards are then added to the hand of cards of the adjacent player. Discarding the plus-three card on top of the preceding plus-three card prevents the player who discarded the plus-three card from having to take a draw card.
For a plus-five card, if the play card discarded by the active player is the plus-five card, then an adjacent player in the direction of play is forced to draw five cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile. The five cards is then added to the hand of cards of the adjacent player. If play is moving in the clockwise direction, then the adjacent player being the first player to the left of the active player draws the five cards. Once the adjacent player touches either the first draw pile or the second draw pile to take the five cards, play is opened to the subsequent player in the direction of play. The adjacent player may discard one of the five cards or another play card, however, one of the five cards or play card must be discarded before the subsequent player discards a card or touches either the first draw pile or the second draw pile to draw a card.
For wild cards, if the play card discarded by the active player is one of the seven wild cards, then the active player may choose a suit name being one of the four suits (i.e. hearts, diamonds, spades or clubs). The player can then determine the suit of the play card by shouting the suit name before a subsequent play card is discarded into the discard pile. A card having any suit indicator 21 may be discarded before the suit name is shouted out by the active player or if no suit name is called out.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, it is possible for the card game to be played on a computing device, such as a phone, tablet or computer. The computing device should have a memory device and processor such that game data may be stored, accessed and used throughout the game. The computing device assumes the role of the dealer and provides a virtual deck of cards for the card game. Each card from the virtual deck of cards may be displayed as a visible value (face up card) or a hidden value (face down card). Game data for each player may be stored in a player profile, wherein each player profile may be accessed and controlled by the computing device and/or human player (i.e. through input commands).
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A method for playing a card game comprises the steps of:
- a) providing a card game apparatus, wherein the card game apparatus comprises seventy-two numbered cards, four whirlwind cards, eight back cards, six pass-one cards, two pass-two cards, six plus-one cards, six plus-three cards, and one plus-five card;
- b) providing eight lucky-whirlwind cards from the seventy-two numbered cards;
- c) providing seven wild cards being the two pass-two cards, the one plus-five card, a one card, a three card, a five card, and a nine card, wherein the one card, the three card, the five card, and the nine card are from the seventy-two numbered cards;
- d) providing a unique identifier and a suit indicator for each of the numbered cards, each of the whirlwind cards, each of the back cards, each of the pass-one cards, each of the pass-two cards, each of the plus-one cards, each of the plus-three cards, and the plus-five card, wherein the suit indicator is one of four suits;
- e) providing a plurality of players;
- f) designating a dealer being selected from the plurality of players;
- g) shuffling, by the dealer, the card game apparatus in order to form a deck of cards;
- h) dealing, by the dealer, a hand of cards from the deck of cards to each of the players, wherein the hand of cards is face down;
- i) splitting, by the dealer, the deck of cards in order to create a first draw pile and a second draw pile;
- j) placing, by the dealer, the first draw pile and the second draw pile face down;
- k) creating a discard pile with an initial card drawn from either the first discard pile or the second discard pile;
- l) each of the players taking turns as an active player in order to make a play that consists of: (i) discarding a play card; (ii) taking a draw card; or (iii)a combination of (i) and (ii); and
- m) discarding, by the active player, a last card within the hand of cards of the active player in order to end the card game.
2. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by the active player, the initial card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile, wherein the active player is the first player to the left of the dealer; and
- placing, by the active player, the initial card face up in order to create the discard pile.
3. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- selecting, by the active player, the play card from the hand of cards of the active player,
- if the unique identifier of the play card matches the unique identifier of a top card of the discard pile or the suit indicator of the play card matches the suit indicator of the top card; and
- discarding, by the active player, the play card from the hand of cards of the active player, face up, into the discard pile.
4. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- selecting, by the active player, the draw card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile; and
- adding, by the active player, the draw card to the hand of cards of the active player.
5. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- discarding, by the active player, the play card from the hand of cards of the active player, face up, into the discard pile,
- if the unique identifier of the play card does not match the unique identifier of a top card of the discard pile and the suit indicator of the play card does not match the suit indicator of the top card;
- returning, by the active player, the play card to the hand of cards of the active player;
- selecting, by the active player, the draw card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile; and
- adding, by the active player, the draw card to the hand of cards of the active player.
6. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- selecting, by a random player, an identical card from the hand of cards of the random player in order to skip the active player,
- if the unique identifier of the identical card matches the unique identifier of a top card of the discard pile and the suit indicator of the identical card matches the suit indicator of the top card;
- discarding, by the random player, the identical card from the hand of cards of the random player, face up, into the discard pile before the active player discards his or her play card; and
- resuming the game in the direction of play proceeding from the random player.
7. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- selecting, by a random player, an identical card from the hand of cards of the random player in order to skip the active player,
- if the unique identifier of the identical card matches the unique identifier of a top card of the discard pile and the suit indicator of the identical card matches the suit indicator of the top card;
- discarding, by the random player, the identical card from the hand of cards of the random player, face up, into the discard pile before the active player discards his or her play card;
- drawing, by the active player, one card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile;
- adding, by the active player, the one card to the hand of cards of the active player; and
- resuming the game in the direction of play proceeding from the random player.
8. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- discarding, by a random player, a non-identical card from the hand of cards of the random player into the discard pile before the active player discards his or her card,
- if the unique identifier of the non-identical card does not match the unique identifier of a top card of the discard pile or the suit indicator of the non-identical card does not match the suit indicator of the top card;
- returning, by the random player, the non-identical card to the hand of cards of the random player;
- drawing, by the random player, one card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile;
- adding, by the random player, the one card to the hand of cards of the random player; and
- resuming the game in the direction of play proceeding with the active player.
9. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- shouting, by the active player, a phrase before a subsequent play card is discarded into the discard pile,
- if the play card is a lucky-whirlwind card;
- revealing the number of cards in the hand of cards of each of the players;
- choosing, by the active player, a desired player; and
- trading the hand of cards of the active player for the hand of cards of the desired player.
10. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- passing the hand of cards of each of the players in the direction of play,
- if the play card is a whirlwind card; and
- receiving, by each of the players, the hand of cards passed from the opposite direction of play.
11. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- reversing the direction of play,
- if the play card is a back card.
12. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- skipping the turn of an adjacent player, wherein the adjacent player is in the direction of play,
- if the play card is a pass-one card.
13. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- skipping the turn of a pair of adjacent players, wherein the pair of adjacent players is in the direction of play,
- if the play card if a pass-two card.
14. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by an adjacent player, one card from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile, wherein the adjacent player is in the direction of play,
- if the play card is a plus-one card; and
- adding, by the adjacent player, the one card to the hand of cards of the adjacent player.
15. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 14 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by the adjacent player, two cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile, if the plus-one card is discarded on top of a preceding plus-one card; and
- adding, by the adjacent player, the two cards to the hand of cards of the adjacent player.
16. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by an adjacent player, three cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile, wherein the adjacent player is in the direction of play,
- if the play card is a plus-three card; and
- adding, by the adjacent player, the three cards to the hand of cards of the adjacent player.
17. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 16 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by the adjacent player, six cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile,
- if the plus-three card is discarded on top of a preceding plus-three card; and
- adding, by the adjacent player, the six cards to the hand of cards of the adjacent player.
18. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- drawing, by the adjacent player, five cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile by an adjacent player, wherein the adjacent player is in the direction of play,
- if the play card is a plus-five card; and
- adding, by the adjacent player, the five cards to the hand of cards of the adjacent player.
19. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- choosing, by the active player, a suit name in order to determine the suit of the play card,
- if the play card is from the plurality of wild cards; and
- shouting, by the active player, the suit name before a subsequent play card is discarded into the discard pile.
20. The method of playing a card game as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the steps of:
- a random player failing to say a phrase when the hand of cards of the random player is a single card;
- drawing, by the random player, two cards from either the first draw pile or the second draw pile;
- adding, by the random player, the two cards to the hand of cards of the random player;
- passing the hand of cards of each of the players in the direction of play; and
- receiving, by each of the players, the hand of cards passed from the opposite direction of play.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2013
Publication Date: Feb 13, 2014
Inventor: Vanna Tand SEK (San Jose, CA)
Application Number: 13/962,320
International Classification: A63F 1/00 (20060101);