Card Game

Abstract

A card game method of play and apparatus, comprising a deck of cards containing numerical values and suits, and a plurality of wild cards (FIGS. 1 A through 1 E). In playing the game, players take turns drawing cards from the draw pile ( 20 ) and playing cards to the shared play pile ( 21 ). Players seek to accumulate “sets” of cards by playing cards that cause the cards in the play pile to meet or exceed a designated threshold. Thresholds include cumulative value, suit redundancy, and number redundancy. When a designated threshold is met or exceeded, the set of cards in the play pile is awarded to the appropriate player. Play continues until the draw pile is exhausted and all cards in the deck have been played. When play has ended, the player with the most sets is declared the winner.

1 . A card game apparatus wherein the card deck includes four suits of sequentially numbered cards, and additional wild cards. 
   
   
       2 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 1 , wherein the game is played by a plurality of individual players or teams of players. 
   
   
       3 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 2 , wherein the object of the game is to create and collect the most sets. 
   
   
       4 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 3 , wherein sets are created by playing a card that causes one or more of the designated thresholds in the play pile to be met or exceeded. 
   
   
       5 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 4 , wherein set-forming thresholds include cumulative value, number redundancy, and suit redundancy, wherein:
 (a) cumulative value is the sum of the card numbers in the play pile;   (b) number redundancy is the number of identically numbered cards played sequentially to the play pile, and;   (c) suit redundancy is the number of identically suited cards played sequentially to the play pile.   
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 5 , wherein the card deck includes wild cards, which upon play to the play pile assume the number and suit of any other card in the deck, as determined and declared by the player playing the wild card. 
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 6 , wherein the process of play includes the following steps:
 (a) dealing a plurality of cards to the hand of each player;   (b) placing the remaining cards face-down to form the draw pile;   (c) taking turns drawing a card from the draw pile and discarding a card to the play pile; wherein the play pile is formed upon the first turn;   (d) awarding threshold-meeting sets to the player or team discarding the set-forming card to the play pile;   (e) awarding threshold-exceeding sets to the opponent of the player or team discarding the set-exceeding card to the play pile;   (f) continuing play when the draw pile is exhausted, until all players have played all cards in their hands, wherein any sets formed during final play are awarded as appropriate, and;   (g) declaring the player or team with the most sets upon completion of play to be the winner.   
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 7 , wherein the influence of luck may be adjusted by adding wild card to the deck or removing wild cards from the card deck. 
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 8 , wherein order of play, designation of thresholds, and use of wild cards may be adjusted to meet entertainment, educational, or other preferences. 
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a card game, as described in  claim 9 , wherein when played as a wagering game, order of play, designation of thresholds, and use of wild cards may be adjusted to meet statistical, entertainment, or other preferences.