Card game

Abstract

A card game can be played by persons of all ages, with minimal training. The game uses cards that bear numbers and other indicia such as colors. The object of the game is to assemble “successions”, which are sequences of cards, all having the same indicia, and arranged in a numerical sequence which includes all the numbers available on the cards. The first player to assemble such a succession is the winner. A plurality of wild cards can be substituted for cards that are being used to assemble successions, and the use of wild cards therefore greatly enhances the entertainment value of the game. The game allows players to develop intricate strategies for acquiring and placing cards to assemble successions. Also, the game may be played with teams of players, or teams may agree to become allies, enabling the game strategy to become as complex as desired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a card game, comprising: 
 a) distributing cards to a plurality of players, wherein the cards bear numbers and other indicia,    b) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein said instruction governs acquisition and placement of cards, and    c) determining a winner based on which player is first to assemble a succession of cards, said succession including cards having all available numbers and all of the cards in the succession having identical indicia.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are five possible instructions obtainable in step (b), 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from a main deck or from a discard pile;    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to discard a card from the player's hand;    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from another player;    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to give a card to another player; and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indicia are selected to comprise colors.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the indicia are selected to comprise patterns.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cards include a plurality of wild cards, and wherein the method includes substituting a wild card for a card used in assembling a succession.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cards include a plurality of wild cards, and wherein the method includes substituting a card used in assembling a succession for a wild card.  
     
     
         7 . A method of playing a card game comprising distributing a plurality of cards to a plurality of players, wherein the cards bear numbers and indicia separate from said numbers, directing the players to acquire and lose cards according to randomly determined instructions, and determining a winner to be a first player to assemble a succession of cards, all of the cards in the succession having identical indicia, wherein the cards in the succession include all available numbers.  
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a card game, comprising: 
 a) providing a plurality of cards, the cards having numbers and indicia separate from the numbers, and wherein there are at least two distinct indicia, and wherein the cards also include a plurality of wild cards, and distributing at least some of the cards to a plurality of players,    b) randomly assigning an instruction to each player, wherein said instruction governs at least one of the acquisition or disposition of at least one card, and    c) determining a winner based on which player is first to assemble a succession of cards, the cards in the succession having identical indicia and defining an unbroken integral sequence using all available numbers.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein step (b) comprises assigning an instruction from among five possible instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from a main deck or from a discard pile;    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to discard a card from the player's hand;    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from another player;    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to give a card to another player; and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method includes substituting one of said wild cards for a card used in assembling a succession.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method includes substituting a card used in assembling a succession for one of said wild cards.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for playing a card game, comprising: 
 a) a plurality of cards, at least some of the cards bearing numbers, wherein the number bearing cards also include indicia separate from the numbers, at least some of the cards being wild cards, the wild cards being unnumbered,    b) a device for determining at least five distinct random outcomes, and    c) at least one card bearing instructions, the instructions corresponding to the random outcomes determined by said device.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the numbered cards include cards bearing the integers from one through ten.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein there is a complete set of numbered cards corresponding to each of said indicia.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein there are four distinct indicia.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the determining device comprises a six-sided die bearing at least five distinct symbols.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein there are five instructions, 
 i) wherein a first instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from a main deck or from a discard pile,    ii) wherein a second instruction comprises requiring a player to discard a card from that player's hand,    iii) wherein a third instruction comprises requiring a player to take a card from another player,    iv) wherein a fourth instruction comprises requiring a player to give a card to another player, and    v) wherein a fifth instruction comprises requiring a player to choose from among the instructions listed above, and to follow such instruction.