PHAN Game

Abstract

A method for playing a game with a plurality of players of all ages, a plurality of chips, and a determination element comprising (a) distributing the chips evenly among the players; (b) determining a wager; (c) creating a pot based on the wager; (d) manipulating the determination element to identify an indicia; and (e) adjusting the player's chips based on the identified indicia. The player's chips are adjusted in one of four ways. Rounds of the game are completed until one player has all of the chips. The determination element of the game can be a six-sided die, or a board with recesses. Manipulation of the determination element can occur by rolling the die, or by using a cup, spring or vibration device.

1 . A method of playing a game among a plurality of players, comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of chips and a die wherein the die comprises only four different indicia;   (b) distributing the plurality of chips equally among the plurality of players such that each player has a respective set of chips;   (c) predetermining a wager of chips that is more than one for at least one round of the game;   (d) creating a pot, wherein the pot comprises a number of chips from each player that is equal to the wager;   (e) manipulating the die to produce a response from the die that identifies only one of the at least four indicia;   (f) adjusting the respective set of chips for a first of the plurality of players in response to the identified indicia, wherein the adjusting is conducted as a function of the identified indicia and includes only one of:
 (1) winning the pot, wherein the first player adds the chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips; 
 (2) winning half the pot, wherein the first player adds half of the chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips, and wherein, in the event that an odd number of chips are in the pot, the adjusting step further comprises leaving in the pot one chip more than the first player adds to the first player's set of chips; 
 (3) not winning the pot, wherein the first player does not add any chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips; and 
 (4) putting the wager into the pot, wherein the first player puts chips from the first player's set of chips into the pot in an amount equal to the wager for that round; 
   (g) repeating the manipulating and adjusting steps once for each player to complete the round; and   (h) repeating at least steps (d) through (g) in additional rounds of the game until one of the plurality of players has all of the chips.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the die comprises six sides. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the die has rounded corners. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the six sides of the die comprise a first side with a first indicia, a second side with a second indicia, a third and fourth side with a third indicia, and a fifth and sixth side with a fourth indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first indicia corresponds to winning the pot, the second indicia corresponds to winning half the pot, the third indicia corresponds to not winning the pot, and the fourth indicia corresponds to putting the wager into the pot. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each indicia is uniquely identified by at least a color, a letter, or both a color and a letter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of manipulating the die comprises rolling the die and permitting the die to land on one of the six sides. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determination element comprises a board with a plurality of recesses and a ball that is sized to rest in a static position in any one of the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein there are at least four recesses in the board, wherein at least one of the recesses corresponds to a location on the board at each of a first indicia, a second indicia, a third indicia, and a fourth indicia. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first indicia corresponds to winning the pot, the second indicia corresponds to winning half the pot, the third indicia corresponds to not winning the pot, and the fourth indicia corresponds to putting the wager into the pot. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the recess size and the recess count at the location on the board corresponding to one of the indicia is different than at least one of the recess size and the recess count at the location on the board corresponding to others of the indicia. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the recess size for first indicia is the smallest, the recess size for the second indicia is larger than the first indicia but smaller than the third and fourth indicia, the recess size for the third indicia is larger than the first and second indicia but smaller than the fourth indicia, and the recess size for the fourth indicia is the largest. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein manipulating the determination element comprises receiving the ball onto the board and permitting the ball to come to rest in a static position within one of the recesses on the board. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein manipulating the determination element further comprises initiating a disturbance of a surface of the board to cause the ball to move until it seats within one of the plurality of recesses. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the disturbance to the board is caused by a vibration device. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The game apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the die comprises six sides. 
     
     
         18 . The game apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the six sides of the die comprise a first side with a first indicia, a second side with a second indicia, a third and fourth side with a third indicia, and a fifth and sixth side with a fourth indicia. 
     
     
         19 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each indicia is uniquely identified by at least a color, a letter, or both a color and a letter. 
     
     
         20 . The game apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the manipulation apparatus is the cup. 
     
     
         21 . A game, effective for stimulating enjoyment and interaction between two or more family and friends, said game comprising:
 a plurality of game playing components, said plurality of game playing components comprising:
 (i) a die comprising only four different indicia, each indicia comprising a color and a letter; 
 (ii) a first plurality of chips arrangeable by a plurality of players into a pot comprising a second plurality of chips which is equal to a wager of an equal number of chips from each of the plurality of players; 
 (iii) a manipulation apparatus, wherein the manipulation apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a cup, a spring, or a vibration device; 
 (iv) a box comprising a bottom panel and a plurality of side panels, configured to store at least the die and the chips, and further configured to receive the die to produce a response from the die; 
   wherein the game is played as follows:
 (a) distributing the first plurality of chips equally among the plurality of players such that each player has a respective set of chips; 
 (b) predetermining the wager of chips that is more than one for at least one round of the game; 
 (c) creating the pot equal to the wager from each player; 
 (d) using the manipulation apparatus and the box to produce a response from the die that identifies only one of the at least four indicia; 
 (e) adjusting the respective set of chips for a first of the plurality of players in response to the indicia, wherein the adjusting is conducted as a function of the identified indicia and includes only one of:
 (1) winning the pot, wherein the first player adds the chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips, 
 (2) winning half the pot, wherein the first player adds half the chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips and wherein, in the event that an odd number of chips are in the pot, the adjusting step further comprises leaving in the pot one chip more than the first player adds to the first player's set of chips, 
 (3) not winning the pot, wherein the first player does not add any chips from the pot to the first player's set of chips, and 
 (4) putting the wager into the pot, wherein the first player puts chips from the first player's set of chips into the pot in an amount equal to the wager for that round; 
 
 (f) repeating the manipulating and adjusting steps once for each player to complete the round; and 
 (g) repeating at least steps (c) through (f) in additional rounds of the game until one of the plurality of players has all of the chips. 
   
     
     
         22 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first indicia corresponds to winning the pot, the second indicia corresponds to winning half the pot, the third indicia corresponds to not winning the pot, and the fourth indicia corresponds to putting the wager into the pot.