Match up

Abstract

A matching game apparatus and method of play comprising a gaming board in the form of a grid with a starting space located thereon. Indicia bearing tiles are pulled at random by the players, who commence play by amassing an initial set of tiles and a first player setting a tile in the starting space. Subsequent players must find a match within their sets of tiles, and place a matching tile atop the previous player's tile and another tile adjacent to the matching tiles. If a player doesn't have a matching tile, that player must draw tiles at random in an attempt to draw a matching tile. After three attempts, the player forfeits the turn and the next player's turn commences. The first player to get rid of all tiles in that player's possession is declared the winner.

1 . An improved matching game method comprising the steps of;
 a. four players establishing an order of play and designate a first player using a predetermined selection criteria;   b. each player randomly selecting 20 indicia bearing tiles from a tile container, including a bag, and placing the tiles on a rack such that the indicia are out of view of the other players, and wherein the indicia on the tiles bear symbols;   c. the first player commencing game play by placing a tile on a predetermined starting point on the game board;   d. a subsequent player attempting to find a tile with a matching symbol among that subsequent player's tiles, wherein if a tile with a matching symbol is available, that tile is placed atop the first player's tile and a second tile is selected and placed at a position adjoining the matching tile; and wherein if no matching tile is available, the subsequent player pulls a tile at random from the tile container, attempting to obtain a matching tile, and pulls no more than three tiles during the attempt;   e. subsequent players engaging in the same method of play; and   f. determining a winner by identifying the first player who successfully moves all of their tiles from their rack to the game board.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein play order is established by a random selection means. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein random selection is established by pulling number bearing means from a container, including a bag. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein four blue number bearing means indicia are pulled at random from the bag and the lowest number goes first. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the starting point is located at the upper left corner of the board. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the game is played in a clockwise rotation from the predetermined starting point. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tile container contains 160 tiles, and 20 indicia, so that eight tiles bear the same indicia. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein tiles with non-matching indicia are retained in a player's rack following their turn. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia on the tiles comprise indicia chosen from the list of; numerical characters, alphabetical characters, human anatomical parts, animal names, fruit names, or biblical names. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the numerical characters comprise the numbers one through twenty. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the alphabetical characters comprise characters from the Roman alphabet; letters “A” through “T” 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the anatomical parts comprise words or symbols for; chest, heart, ankle, foot, knee, finger, stomach, nose, ear, eye, neck, elbow, toe, hand, leg, throat, spine, rib, head, and arm. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the animals comprise words or symbols for; horse, goat, rabbit, donkey, dog, cat, mule, pig, lion, elephant, tiger, cow, giraffe, camel, ox, bear, hippopotamus, zebra, sheep, and leopard. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fruits comprise words or symbols for; orange, banana, apple, mango, plum, cherry, tangerine, golden apple, peach, watermelon, grape, nectarine, guava, papaya, strawberry, kiwi, cantaloupe, pear, grapefruit, and raspberry. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the biblical names comprise; Moses, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Noah, Amos, Samson, Isaiah, Ezra, Adam, Joseph, Joshua, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, David, Gideon, Solomon, Ezekiel, and Abraham. 
   
   
       16 . An improved matching game apparatus comprising;
 a. a game board comprising a playing grid, indicia for a predetermined starting point, and an indicia indicating the title of the game;   b. a series of racks for holding indicia bearing tiles, wherein any single player of the game will possess a rack while play is carried out;   c. a tile containing means which holds 160 indicia bearing tiles in a manner that permits a player to pull a tile from the container without prior knowledge of the indicia on the tile; and   d. a means of establishing a first player and order of play, wherein the players each select 20 tiles, placing the tiles on their racks so that the indicia are out of view of the other players, and wherein the first player sets a tile at a predetermined starting point, and subsequent players must either place a matching tile atop the previous player's tile and another tile adjacent to the matching tile, or if no matching tiles are available, pull tiles one at a time from the containing means in an attempt to obtain a matching tile, wherein a player's turn stops after placing a matching and second tile, or after three unsuccessful attempts to find a matching tile.   
   
   
       17 . The game apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the racks comprise “V” shaped channels that hold the tiles at an angle viewable to only one player. 
   
   
       18 . The game apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the game board comprises a square grid of 144 boxes.