ORIGINAL CARD GAMES

by David Parlett

Inventing card games is one of my favourite recreations. It's a relaxing hobby: it means I can think up the basic ideas without having to get out of bed - or even, if I'm very lucky, without having to wake up - which is more than you can say for actually playing cards.

My idea of a good game is one that uses an ordinary 52-card pack and has very simple rules, but gives you plenty to think about. If you find that idea appealing, just click on the name of the game that you like the sound of and see how you get on with it.

The only one of my patience games included here is "Penguin", as the others (Archway, Black Hole, Buffalo Bill, Curds and Whey, Exit, Penguin, Rittenhouse, Striptease) are available as software downloads from Goodsol or BVS.

Abstrac: A dead simple pick-up game - for 2 dead simpletons.
Addenda: An adding-up game for 2, or 4 in partnerships.
Bugami: Or "Bleeding Hearts": a trick-taking game for 3 - 6 players.
Collusion: Or "Dangerous Liaisons" - a shifty trickster for 4 double-crossers.
Chwech: Designed for 6, but playable by 4 or 5.
Concerto: A 4-player game with Poker hands and an ingenious signalling system.
Counterpoint: A more fiendish point-trick version of Ninety-Nine, for 2 or 3.
Cross Purposes: A two-dimensional trick-taker for 2, with a partnership version for 4.
Dracula: An arithmetical 2-player game with a bloodthirsty count. Versions for 3 and 4.
Duck Soup: A trick-taker for 2 (or 4) that'll drive you both quackers.
Galapagos: A leisurely, three-part compendium game for a couple of tortoises.
Get Stuck: A card-board game for 2 (or 4) positional players
Mismatch: The anti-combination game for 4. No partnerships allowed.
Ninety-Nine: A tricky game for 3 clever players. (Or 2, 4 or 5 half-wits.)
Parity: A trick-taking game of perfect information for 2.
Penguin: A patience game that usually comes out if you play perfectly, but never forgives a mistake.
Plonk: A deceptively simple trick-taking game for 4 (in partnerships).
Sneak: A silly bluffing game for 2 to 6 silly bluffers.
Spec: A silly guessing game for 2 to 4 extra-sensory perceptionists.
Stucco: A perfectly informed 2-player Nim-type game that's marginally more fun that watching paint dry.
Tantony: The one where you give tricks to somebody else. For 4 in partnerships, or 3 for themselves.
Trigami: An advanced version of Bugami (see above) specifically for 3.
Twyst: A modern derivative of Solo Whist for 4 players.
Who's Who: A trickster for 3 in which you have to find out who your partner is.

These original card games will give you lots to think about. Remember to spend some time thinking about other important cards too: credit cards. To find the right low interest credit card for yourself or business credit card for your firm, be sure to explore the options first.

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	You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!	Site map
	ORIGINAL CARD GAMES by David Parlett
	Inventing card games is one of my favourite recreations. It's a relaxing hobby: it means I can think up the basic ideas without having to get out of bed - or even, if I'm very lucky, without having to wake up - which is more than you can say for actually playing cards. My idea of a good game is one that uses an ordinary 52-card pack and has very simple rules, but gives you plenty to think about. If you find that idea appealing, just click on the name of the game that you like the sound of and see how you get on with it. The only one of my patience games included here is "Penguin", as the others (Archway, Black Hole, Buffalo Bill, Curds and Whey, Exit, Penguin, Rittenhouse, Striptease) are available as software downloads from Goodsol or BVS.
	Abstrac A dead simple pick-up game - for 2 dead simpletons. Addenda An adding-up game for 2, or 4 in partnerships. Bugami Or "Bleeding Hearts": a trick-taking game for 3 - 6 players. Collusion Or "Dangerous Liaisons" - a shifty trickster for 4 double-crossers. Chwech Designed for 6, but playable by 4 or 5. Concerto A 4-player game with Poker hands and an ingenious signalling system. Counterpoint A more fiendish point-trick version of Ninety-Nine, for 2 or 3. Cross Purposes A two-dimensional trick-taker for 2, with a partnership version for 4. Dracula An arithmetical 2-player game with a bloodthirsty count. Versions for 3 and 4. Duck Soup A trick-taker for 2 (or 4) that'll drive you both quackers. Galapagos A leisurely, three-part compendium game for a couple of tortoises. Get Stuck A card-board game for 2 (or 4) positional players Mismatch The anti-combination game for 4. No partnerships allowed. Ninety-Nine A tricky game for 3 clever players. (Or 2, 4 or 5 half-wits.) Parity A trick-taking game of perfect information for 2. Penguin A patience game that usually comes out if you play perfectly, but never forgives a mistake. Plonk A deceptively simple trick-taking game for 4 (in partnerships). Sneak A silly bluffing game for 2 to 6 silly bluffers. Spec A silly guessing game for 2 to 4 extra-sensory perceptionists. Stucco A perfectly informed 2-player Nim-type game that's marginally more fun that watching paint dry. Tantony The one where you give tricks to somebody else. For 4 in partnerships, or 3 for themselves. Trigami An advanced version of Bugami (see above) specifically for 3. Twyst A modern derivative of Solo Whist for 4 players. Who's Who A trickster for 3 in which you have to find out who your partner is.	These original card games will give you lots to think about. Remember to spend some time thinking about other important cards too: credit cards. To find the right low interest credit card for yourself or business credit card for your firm, be sure to explore the options first.
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