US20130029754A1

US20130029754A1 - Method and apparatus for playing a card game

Info

Publication number: US20130029754A1
Application number: US13/557,566
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert C. Sotile
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-28
Filing date: 2012-07-25
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Also published as: CA2783899A1

Abstract

Each player receives a play deck of cards from 1 to a first number and a guess deck of cards from 1 to the first number times the number of players. Each player selects a guess card representing each player's guess of the hand total. Play proceeds with each player revealing a play card and adding numerical values of revealed play cards to obtain a hand total when all have revealed a play card. The player whose guess card equals the hand total wins the hand. Alternatively, a player whose guess card is closest to without exceeding the hand total can win.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to games, and, more particularly, to games played with cards and software and/or computer program products that emulate such play and/or facilitate such play in a virtual form.

BACKGROUND ART

Card games based on chance are well known, as are card games based on mathematics and pattern recognition. To enhance playability and enjoyment, it can be advantageous to offer a card game using a combination of these play elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method of playing a card game with at least two players in which a first plurality of play cards can be provided, each play card bearing play deck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of the respective play card. The first plurality of play cards can include at least two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play card set having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least a first predetermined number and no more than a second predetermined number. A second plurality of guess cards can also be provided, each guess card bearing guess deck indicia including a representation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card. The second plurality of guess cards can include at least two sets of guess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical value within the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number. Each player can be provided a set of play cards and a set of guess cards, each set of guess cards, a number of guess cards in each set of guess cards depending on at least a number of players. A hand of play can be started by each player selecting a card from the respective set of guess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess card representing the respective player's guess as to what a hand total will be. Each player can reveal a play numerical value of one respective play card, and a hand total can be determined as a sum of the play numerical values of the revealed play cards. The respective selected guess cards of the players can be revealed, and a hand winner can be determined based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.
A computer program product can enable play of a card game on a computing device using representations of at least objects used to play the card game. The computer program product can include instructions in the form of computer executable program code that configures the computing device to provide a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing play deck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of the respective play card. The first plurality of play cards can include at least two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play card set having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least a first predetermined number and no more than a second predetermined number. A second plurality of guess cards can also be provided, and each guess card can bear guess deck indicia, which can include a representation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card. The second plurality of guess cards can include at least two sets of guess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical value within the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number. A set of play cards and a set of guess cards can be provided for each player. Each set of guess cards can include a number of guess cards in each set of guess cards depending on at least a number of players. A user interface can be provided and configured to start a hand of play by enabling each player to select a guess card from the respective set of guess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess card representing the respective player's guess as to what a hand total will be. Each player can select one play card from the respective set of play cards, and a play numerical value of a respective selected played card can be revealed. The user interface can further be configured to determine the hand total as a sum of the play numerical values of the revealed play cards, after all players have revealed a respective play card. Responsive to all players having revealed a respective play card, the guess numerical values of the respective selected guess cards of the players can be revealed, and a hand winner can be determined based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.
Other aspects of the invention provide methods, systems, program products, and methods of using and generating each, which include and/or implement some or all of the actions described herein. The illustrative aspects of the invention are designed to solve one or more of the problems herein described and/or one or more other problems not discussed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of playing cards according to an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of playing cards according to an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a face of a playing card according to an embodiment of the invention disclosed herein.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a schematic illustration of play of a game according to embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method of playing a game according to embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of an implementation of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a computing device in which an implementation of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein can be practiced.

It is noted that the drawings can not be to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, aspects of the invention provide a method and apparatus for playing a card game, which can include software and/or computer program products that emulate such play and/or facilitate such play in a virtual form. As used herein, unless otherwise noted, the term “set” means one or more (i.e., at least one) and the phrase “any solution” means any now known or later developed solution.
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include apparatus for and a method of playing a card game for at least two players. With reference to FIG. 1, game cards 100 can include a first plurality of cards 110, such as a first deck of cards, and a second plurality of cards 120, such as a second deck of cards. First plurality of cards 110 can be called a play deck, and second plurality of cards 120 can be called a guess deck. Each play card 111 of play deck 110 can bear first or play deck indicia 112, and each guess card 121 of guess deck 120 can bear second or guess deck indicia 122. Play deck indicia 112 and guess deck indicia 122 can appear on a back 113, 123 of a respective play or guess card 111, 121 and/or can appear on a face 115, 125 of a respective play or guess card. A respective mark 114, 124 identifying each card as a play card 111 and/or guess card 121 can be included as part of play deck indicia 112 and/or or guess deck indicia 122. Additional marks 116, 126 can also be included as desired and/or appropriate, such as a mark identifying each card as belonging to a set as will be explained below and can appear on one or both of backs 113, 123 and/or faces 115, 125 of play and/or guess cards 111, 121.
Play deck 110 and/or guess deck 120 can include a set of play cards 111 and/or a set of guess cards 121 for each player. For example, as seen in FIG. 2, four sets 210, 212, 214, 216 of play cards 111 can be provided, and four sets 220, 222, 224, 226 of guess cards 121 can be provided. Where multiple sets of play cards 111 and/or guess cards 121 are provided, additional marks 116, 126 can be provided to identify each card as belonging to a particular set. While additional marks 116, 126 have been shown on the backs 113, 123 of play cards 111 and guess cards 121, these marks 116, 126 can appear on either and/or both of backs 113, 123 and faces 115, 125 of either and/or both of play cards 111 and/or guess cards 121.
An example of a card face 300 usable as a play card face 115 (FIG. 2) and/or a guess card face 125 (FIG. 2) is shown in FIG. 3. Play deck indicia 112 (FIG. 2) and/or guess deck indicia 122 (FIG. 2) can include face indicia 310 including at least a representation 312 of a numerical value of the respective card. This representation 312 can include, in embodiments, a simple Arabic base ten number, a Roman numeral, a number of spots or marks or symbols equal to the numerical value of a given card, and/or another representation as may be desired and/or appropriate. Face indicia 310 can further include additional graphics 314, such as decorative graphics and/or a suit, as can be desired and/or appropriate. In embodiments, bonus indicator indicia 316 can be included, in addition to a number of players indicia 318, particularly on a guess card. Bonus indicator indicia 316 can indicate a number of points and/or a multiplier or the like to be applied to a respective card during scoring, if any, and can take the form of symbols and/or numerals. In the example shown, card face 300 includes a numerical value representation 312 of 10 and bonus indicator indicia 316 of three dots or circles, indicating a bonus of 3. Thus, for example, a “10” card can have a three point bonus, which can give the card a total scoring value of four, in embodiments, fourteen in alternative embodiments, or thirty in additional embodiments. While a series of dots or circles has been shown, any suitable symbol(s) can be used for bonus indicator indicia 316 so long as the bonus value is conveyed. In addition, number of players indicia 318 can indicate that the bonus applies only when the indicated number of players are playing, or that the bonus only applies when a number of players other than that shown in number of players indicia are playing. For example, in the case in which the number of players indicia 318 indicates a number of players at which the bonus applies, a “2” in parentheses, as shown, can be used to indicate that the bonus only applies when two players are playing; if three or four players were playing, the bonus shown in bonus indicator indicia 316 would not apply. Parentheses need not be included, and an indicator other than an Arabic numeral can be used.
In embodiments, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, each play card set 210-216 of play deck 110 includes play cards 111 with numerical values from a first predetermined number to a second predetermined number. For example, play deck 110 can include four sets 210-216 of play cards 111 from one to five, though the range can be from zero to five, or any other range as can be desired and/or appropriate. In embodiments, each guess card set 220-226 can include guess cards 121 with numerical values from a third predetermined number to a fourth predetermined number. In embodiments, the third predetermined number can be one, and, advantageously, the fourth predetermined number can advantageously be a number of sets of play cards 210-216, which is a maximum number of players, times the second predetermined number. Using the example above of four sets of play cards 210-216 from one to five, each set of guess cards 220-226 would include guess cards 121 with numerical values from one to twenty. While this example uses a continuous range, it is within the scope of embodiments to employ a discontinuous range in guess and/or play cards. Additionally, in embodiments employing a continuous range in guess and/or play cards as shown in the example, the range of cards employed in each set of guess cards 220-226 can depend on the number of players playing the game. Thus, if there are four sets of play cards, but only two players are playing, then only guess cards up to ten would be used for each player, while if there were three players, guess cards up to fifteen would be used. In embodiments, each play card set 210-216 can include a “pass” card that has no numerical value or a numerical value of zero.
A schematic representation of a game set-up 400 according to embodiments appears in FIGS. 4 and 5. Four players 410, 420, 430, 440 are used in this example, each having selected a guess card 412, 422, 432, 442, based at least on its respective numerical value, representing the respective player's guess as to what a round or hand total will be. Remaining guess cards 414, 424, 434, 444 can be set aside, and play cards 416, 426, 436, 446 can be available, such as in a hand each player can view and/or hold, a randomized pile whose faces are concealed, or other ways as can be agreed upon by the players. In a game in which each player can view and/or hold his or her play cards 416, 426, 436, 446, each player can select a play card based at least on its numerical value, and can further account for impressions of other players. A first player 410 can select a play card 418 and can reveal its value, such as by placing it face up on table 402. A second player 420 can select a respective play card 428 and can reveal its value, and a running total can be found by adding the values of revealed cards 418, 428. Play can continue with third player 430 and fourth player 440 selecting and revealing the values of respective play cards 438, 448, the values of each card being added to the running total. When fourth player 440 has played, the running total after fourth player's play card 448 has been added becomes the hand or round total. Thus, in the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, first player 410 plays a 5, and second player 420 plays a 3, making a running total of 8. Third player 430 plays a 2 for a running total of 10, and fourth player 440 plays a 1 for a running total of 11, which becomes the hand or round total. In embodiments, all players can keep their selected play cards concealed until all are ready, then reveal the selected play cards simultaneously. The hand total in such a case is still the sum of the numerical values of the revealed selected play cards, but a running total is optional.
As shown in FIG. 5, once all players have revealed a play card, each player can reveal his/her guess card 412, 422, 432, 442, simultaneously or sequentially as may be desired. A winner can be determined to be the player whose guess card value equals the hand or round total. Thus, in the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, third player 430 is the winner since guess card 432 has a value of 11. If no player's guess card equals the round total, then the round can simply be disregarded in embodiments, but alternate ways of handling this situation fall with the scope of embodiments. For example, a winner can be determined as the player whose guess card is closest in value to the hand or round total or closest to without being greater than the hand or round total. If more than one player can be declared a winner of a hand, then in embodiments each player can receive appropriate credit or scoring, though the round can simply be disregarded in other embodiments. While the example shown and described above employs a single guess and/or play card for each player in a hand or round, embodiments can allow players to use multiple guess and/or play cards.
A game can be just one round or hand or can include multiple rounds or hands. In embodiments, the round or hand winner can remove the winning guess card from his or her guess card deck for the remainder of play of the game. Additional embodiments can allow the round or hand winner's winning guess card to be placed in a pile or stack for the respective player, the round or hand winner can receive all guess cards used in the hand, or all guess cards can be replaced, depending on the desires of the players. A score can be kept for each player based on how many rounds each player has won, such as with a tally, or a point system based on the numerical values of the cards can be employed. For example, in embodiments in which the winning guess cards are removed from play, each player's score can be the number of the respective player's winning guess cards, if any, the sum of the numerical values of the respective player's winning guess cards, if any, or other score based on the respective player's winning guess cards, if any. A score can be modified where bonus indicator indicia (FIG. 3, 316) are employed, as can be affected by number of player indicia (FIG. 3, 318) where employed. An example of a bonus system that might be employed in embodiments includes a bonus of three for a zero card, a bonus of two for a one card, and a bonus of one for a two card regardless of the number of players, but for two, three, and four players, the bonus of three would apply to a ten card, a fifteen card, and a twenty card, respectively, the bonus of two would apply to a nine card, a fourteen card, and a nineteen card, respectively, and the bonus of one would apply to an eight card, a thirteen card, and an eighteen card, respectively. Embodiments can simply add the bonus to one, add the bonus to a numerical value of a respective card, multiply a numerical value of the card by the bonus, and/or otherwise apply the bonus to achieve a scoring value for a respective card. In embodiments, play can continue indefinitely or until a goal has been reached, such as a number of rounds, until a player has run out of guess or play cards, until a player has a predetermined number of winning guess cards, which can be adjusted where bonus is used, and/or a predetermined threshold score. For example, a game can continue until ten rounds are played, until a player has the equivalent of ten winning guess cards (including bonus where used), until a player reaches one hundred points, or until some other goal is achieved.
In embodiments in which a game spans more than one hand, then when more than one player can be declared a hand winner, each player can receive scoring as appropriate, and/or play and/or guess card sets or decks can be modified. For example, in embodiments in which the winning guess card of a hand is removed from the winner's guess deck, embodiments can provide that all winning guess cards of a hand can be removed from the respective players' guess decks, that all guess cards used in a hand be removed from the players' respective decks, and/or that all guess cards used in a hand be given to the round or hand winner. In addition, embodiments can include removing play cards used in a hand from respective players' play card sets or decks and placing them in a “used” pile, the cards therein not being usable again until at least one player exhausts his or her play card set or deck. At that point, the game can be declared over and a game winner declared, or play can continue by picking up the “used” pile and using the play cards therein to continue play until another goal is reached. As another example, in embodiments where a tally is kept of hands won, then all players who can be declared a winner in a hand can receive credit in his or her tally as winning the hand. Alternative solutions also fall within the scope of embodiments.
A method 600 of playing a card game according to embodiments is schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. Play and/or guess cards can be distributed (block 602) and players can select guess cards (block 604) representative of the respective player's guess as to a hand or round total. Each player selects a play card (block 606), and the players can then reveal their selected play cards (block 608). The hand or round total can be determined as the sum of the play numerical values of the revealed play cards (block 610), and each player can then reveal his/her respective selected guess card (block 612). A player whose guess card equals the hand or round total can qualify as a winner of the hand or round (block 614), though in embodiments, a player whose guess card is closest in value to without exceeding the hand or round total can qualify as a hand winner. Additionally, in embodiments, if no player qualifies as a hand winner, the hand can be disregarded. As explained above, when more than one player can be declared winner of a hand or round, embodiments provide that all such players can be declared a winner and/or receive credit under a scoring or tally scheme used by the players, while the hand can simply be disregarded in other embodiments.
At the end of a hand or round, a check can be made to see if the game is over (decision block 616), such as when the game is just one hand or round or if a particular number of hands or rounds has been played. If not, then any scoring that might be required can be performed (block 618), and another check can be made to see if the game is over (decision block 620), such as when a particular score has been reached or exceeded or when another goal has been met, such as a player running out of play or guess cards. If the game is not over, then any necessary modifications to the play and/or guess card sets or decks can be made (block 622), and a new hand or round can begin by players selecting guess cards (block 604), such as from cards already in their possession. In embodiments, play can instead return to distributing play and or guess cards (block 602), depending on how players have agreed to proceed.
Embodiments of the inventive game disclosed herein can further be implemented in the form of a computer program product. Such a computer program product can allow a player to manipulate representations of cards on a display of a computing device, such as a personal computer, a smart phone or other handheld device, a game kiosk, and/or other computing device as can be appropriate and/or desired. Thus, the computer program product can, for example, display images of play and guess cards, such as graphical representations of the examples shown in FIGS. 1-5, and can provide a user interface configured to allow a player to manipulate and/or play the card images. In embodiments, the computer program product can allow a player to customize the manner in which cards are displayed, including changing the first and second deck indicia, whether the cards are rendered in two or three dimensions, and other graphical options as can be desired and/or appropriate.
Further, embodiments of the invention can allow a player to interact with players using instances of the computer program product on other computing devices so that a game can be played with players from disparate locations. Such interaction can, in embodiments, be facilitated by a game server to which each player connects and with which a player can indicate a desire to play the game. As seen in the example of FIG. 7, a game arrangement 700 can include a communication system 710 that can be used to enable a host device 720, such as a game server, to interact with one or more client devices 730, 732, 734, 736, 738. Host device 720 can then “gather” players who are using client devices 730-738 into a game and relay actions of players to each other to effect game play. In embodiments, host device 720 can provide a graphical representation of a play environment, including, for example, a game table, an avatar for at least one player, a room in which the game can appear to be played, and other visual elements as can be desired and/or appropriate. Host device 720 can further allow customization of the environment by one or more players, as well as selection of rules to be applied, scoring, and end game goal. Further, embodiments can provide audio elements, such as music, game play sounds, speech, environmental noises, and the like, to enhance game play experience.
In embodiments, the computer program product can provide much of the same functionality provided by a game server, but locally on a player's computing device, so that a user's device can provide functionality of host device 720 as well as a client device 730-738. For example, much of the graphical rendering could be implemented by the player's computing device based on communicated actions of other players. The computer program product can even act as a game server to at least some degree, enabling peer-to-peer communication between computing devices to facilitate game play between respective players via infrared communication, a wireless communication protocol, such as Bluetooth, a computer network, a cellular communications network, or via other communication arrangements as can be available, suitable, appropriate, and/or desired.
Turning to the drawings, FIG. 8 shows an illustrative environment 800 for a computer program product implementing a game according to an embodiment. To this extent, environment 800 includes a computer system 810 that can perform a process described herein in order to enable game play. In particular, computer system 810 is shown including a game program 820, which makes computer system 810 operable to enable game play by performing a process described herein.
Computer system 810 is shown including a processing component or unit 812 (e.g., one or more processors), an input/output (I/O) component 814 (e.g., one or more I/O interfaces and/or devices), a storage component 816 (e.g., a storage hierarchy), and a communications pathway 817. In general, processing component 812 executes program code, such as game program 820, which is at least partially fixed in storage component 816. While executing program code, processing component 812 can process data, which can result in reading and/or writing transformed data from/to storage component 816 and/or I/O component 814 for further processing. Pathway 817 provides a communications link between each of the components in computer system 810. I/O component 814 can comprise one or more human I/O devices, which enable a human user 802 to interact with computer system 810 and/or one or more communications devices to enable a system user 802 to communicate with computer system 810 using any type of communications link. To this extent, game program 820 can manage a set of interfaces (e.g., graphical user interface(s), application program interface, and/or the like) that enable human and/or system users 802 to interact with game program 820. Further, game program 820 can manage (e.g., store, retrieve, create, manipulate, organize, present, etc.) the data, such as game data 818, using any solution.
In any event, computer system 810 can comprise one or more general purpose computing articles of manufacture (e.g., computing devices) capable of executing program code, such as game program 820, installed thereon. As used herein, it is understood that “program code” means any collection of instructions, in any language, code or notation, that cause a computing device having an information processing capability to perform a particular action either directly or after any combination of the following: (a) conversion to another language, code or notation; (b) reproduction in a different material form; and/or (c) decompression. To this extent, game program 820 can be embodied as any combination of system software and/or application software.
Further, game program 820 can be implemented using a set of modules 822. In this case, a module 822 can enable computer system 810 to perform a set of tasks used by game program 820, and can be separately developed and/or implemented apart from other portions of game program 820. As used herein, the term “component” means any configuration of hardware, with or without software, which implements the functionality described in conjunction therewith using any solution, while the term “module” means program code that enables a computer system 810 to implement the actions described in conjunction therewith using any solution. When fixed in a storage component 816 of a computer system 810 that includes a processing component 812, a module is a substantial portion of a component that implements the actions. Regardless, it is understood that two or more components, modules, and/or systems can share some/all of their respective hardware and/or software. Further, it is understood that some of the functionality discussed herein can not be implemented or additional functionality can be included as part of computer system 810.
When computer system 810 comprises multiple computing devices, each computing device can have only a portion of game program 820 fixed thereon (e.g., one or more modules 822). However, it is understood that computer system 810 and game program 820 are only representative of various possible equivalent computer systems that can perform a process described herein. To this extent, in other embodiments, the functionality provided by computer system 810 and game program 820 can be at least partially implemented by one or more computing devices that include any combination of general and/or specific purpose hardware with or without program code. In each embodiment, the hardware and program code, if included, can be created using standard engineering and programming techniques, respectively.
Regardless, when computer system 810 includes multiple computing devices, the computing devices can communicate over any type of communications link. Further, while performing a process described herein, computer system 810 can communicate with one or more other computer systems using any type of communications link. In either case, the communications link can comprise any combination of various types of wired and/or wireless links; comprise any combination of one or more types of networks; and/or utilize any combination of various types of transmission techniques and protocols.
While shown and described herein as a method and system for playing a game, it is understood that aspects of the invention further provide various alternative embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a computer program fixed in at least one computer-readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to playing a game. To this extent, the computer-readable medium includes program code, such as game program 820 (FIG. 8), which implements some or all of a process described herein. It is understood that the term “computer-readable medium” comprises one or more of any type of tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which a copy of the program code can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated by a computing device. For example, the computer-readable medium can comprise: one or more portable storage articles of manufacture; one or more memory/storage components of a computing device; paper; and/or the like.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of providing a copy of program code, such as game program 820 (FIG. 8), which implements some or all of a process described herein. In this case, a computer system can process a copy of program code that implements some or all of a process described herein to generate and transmit, for reception at a second, distinct location, a set of data signals that has one or more of its characteristics set and/or changed in such a manner as to encode a copy of the program code in the set of data signals. Similarly, an embodiment of the invention provides a method of acquiring a copy of program code that implements some or all of a process described herein, which includes a computer system receiving the set of data signals described herein, and translating the set of data signals into a copy of the computer program fixed in at least one computer-readable medium. In either case, the set of data signals can be transmitted/received using any type of communications link.
In still another embodiment, the invention provides a method of generating a system for playing a game. In this case, a computer system, such as computer system 810 (FIG. 8), can be obtained (e.g., created, maintained, made available, etc.) and one or more components for performing a process described herein can be obtained (e.g., created, purchased, used, modified, etc.) and deployed to the computer system. To this extent, the deployment can comprise one or more of: (1) installing program code on a computing device; (2) adding one or more computing and/or I/O devices to the computer system; (3) incorporating and/or modifying the computer system to enable it to perform a process described herein; and/or the like.
It is understood that aspects of the invention can be implemented as part of a business method that performs a process described herein on a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis. That is, a service provider could offer to playing a game as described herein. In this case, the service provider can manage (e.g., create, maintain, support, etc.) a computer system, such as computer system 810 (FIG. 8), that performs a process described herein for one or more customers. In return, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s) under a subscription and/or fee agreement, receive payment from the sale of advertising to one or more third parties, and/or the like.
The foregoing description of various aspects of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations are possible. Such modifications and variations that can be apparent to an individual in the art are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game with at least two players comprising:

providing a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing play deck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of the respective play card, the first plurality of play cards including at least two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play card set having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least a first predetermined number and no more than a second predetermined number;

providing a second plurality of guess cards, each guess card bearing guess deck indicia including a representation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card, the second plurality of guess cards including at least two sets of guess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical value within the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number;

providing a set of play cards for each player;

providing a set of guess cards for each player, a number of guess cards in each set of guess cards depending on at least a number of players;

starting a hand of play by each player selecting a card from the respective set of guess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess card representing the respective player's guess as to what a hand total will be;

each player revealing a play numerical value of one respective play card;

determining a hand total as a sum of the play numerical values of the revealed play cards;

revealing the respective selected guess cards of the players; and

determining a hand winner based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of a hand winner includes declaring as a hand winner a player whose selected guess card is equal to the hand total.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of a hand winner includes, responsive to at least two players qualifying as hand winners, declaring all of the at least two qualifying players as hand winners.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising keeping a score for each player.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein keeping a score includes at least one of keeping a tally of respective hands won or keeping a running total of respective winning guess card values of each hand.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein keeping a score for each player includes modifying a score based at least in part on a number of players.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing at least one selected guess card or selected play card from a respective player's set of respective cards.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least the winning selected guess card is removed from play, and further comprising continuing play until all of a player's guess cards are removed from play.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one guess card includes bonus indicator indicia representing a respective bonus to be applied to a respective score of the respective card.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one guess card that bears bonus indicator indicia further includes number of players indicia that indicates that the respective bonus is applied when a particular number of players are playing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second predetermined number is five and the fourth predetermined number is twenty.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined number is one of zero or one.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the third predetermined number is one.

14. A computer program product for enabling play of a card game on a computing device using representations of at least objects used to play the card game, the computer program product comprising instructions in the form of computer executable program code that configures the computing device to:

provide a first plurality of play cards, each play card bearing play deck indicia including a representation of a play numerical value of the respective play card, the first plurality of play cards including at least two sets of play cards, each play card in a respective play card set having a unique play numerical value within the set of at least a first predetermined number and no more than a second predetermined number;

provide a second plurality of guess cards, each guess card bearing guess deck indicia including a representation of a guess numerical value of the respective guess card, the second plurality of guess cards including at least two sets of guess cards, each guess card in a respective guess card set having a unique guess numerical value within the set of at least a third predetermined number and no more than a fourth predetermined number;

provide a set of play cards for each player;

provide a set of guess cards from the second plurality of cards for each player, a number of guess cards in each set of guess cards depending on at least a number of players;

provide a user interface configured to start a hand of play by enabling each player to select a guess card from the respective set of guess cards, a guess numerical value of each selected guess card representing the respective player's guess as to what a hand total will be;

enable each player to select one play card from the respective set of play cards;

reveal a play numerical value of a respective play card;

determine a hand total as a sum of the play numerical values of the revealed play cards after all players have revealed a respective play card;

responsive to all players having revealed a respective play card, reveal the guess numerical values of the respective selected guess cards of the players; and

determine a hand winner based on a comparison of the selected guess cards to the hand total.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the determining of a hand winner includes declaring a winner as a player whose selected guess card has a value that is one of closest to the hand total without exceeding the hand total or equal to the hand total.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the code further configures the computer to allow multiple hands to be played and to keep a score for each player, wherein at least one guess card bears bonus indicator indicia representing a bonus to be applied to a scoring of the respective card.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first predetermined number is one of zero or one.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer program product is configured to simulate at least one player.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer program product is configured to enable play by at least one remote player by communicating with a respective computing device over a network.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the communicating is achieved via at least one host device configured to facilitate play with other players, and to relay communication between computing devices of players.