US3550944A

US3550944A - One table duplicate bridge

Info

Publication number: US3550944A
Application number: US742433A
Authority: US
Inventors: Francis W Chamberlin
Original assignee: Varigraph Inc
Current assignee: Varigraph Inc
Priority date: 1968-07-03
Filing date: 1968-07-03
Publication date: 1970-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-12-29

Description

o v United States atent [72] Inventors Francis W. Chamberlin Madison, Wis.; The First National Bank of Madison, Executor, Madison, Wis. [2]] Appl. No. 742,433 [22} Filed July 3, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee Varigraph, Inc.

Madison, Wis. a corporation of Wisconsin [54] ONE TABLE DUPLICATE BRIDGE 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 273/149, 273/148 [51] Int. Cl A63i1/14 [50] Field of Search [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,418,020 5/1922 Reach 273/l52.2 1,684,813 9/1928 Ward ..(273/152.2UX)

3,428,323 2/1969 Fried 273/l52.2 FOREIGN PATENTS 535,269 4/1941 Great Britain 273/152.44

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall ABSTRACT: An apparatus for facilitating a new game, which simulates for only four players, the play of duplicate bridge. Four special hand indicia sheets have correlated sets of indicia thereon by which is governed each players selection of his particular set of playing cards so as to constitute a bridge hand among four players. A fifth indicia sheet has match point data thereon which may be selectively viewed by the players after play of each hand for comparison with previous expert play of the hand. Each player has a card case or blind, within which he places his hand indicia sheet, the card case or blind being constructed so that the indicia on the sheet is hidden from the other players. Each card case or blind includes masking pieces which are selectively arranged to reveal only one set of indicia at a time to the respective player so that he can make up his hand therefrom, and which are constructed so as to reveal consecutive sets of correlated indicia by repetitive manual selection operations.

PATENT EB M029 19m 355 4 SHEET 1 OF 3 PATENTED DEC29 I976 TURN OVER TURN OVER 63/10 Nlfli man (NERZ TURN OVER HHAO Nani L v TURN OVER BEIAO N801 TURN L OVER I SHEET 3 OF 3 TURN OVER TURN OVER CEMO Nam aft (07172455 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to games and more particularly to bridge games.

It has become popular to play what is termed duplicate bridge." Normally, this is done in tournaments or duplicate clubs where all North-South pairs compete against each other score-wise although playing opposite the East-West pairs, and, likewise, the East-West pairs compete against each other generally upright position and the folding lid serves as a sup port stand. The case has a playing card cavity to which the score-wise although playing opposite the North-South pairs.

Upon completion of all play, the game director will match point the respective scores of the players to determine a winner North-South and a winner East-West. Because duplicate bridge is truly competitive, and is not dependent on the luck of holding good cards, more serious bridge players have found the game to their liking.

Therefore, it was desired to develop a means of simulating duplicate bridge play forone table of four persons. The initial problem encountered was to make the game similar, to tournament duplicate bridge in bidding and play and at the same time to keep the means simple enough for the ordinary bridge player to enjoy.

Successful development of the game also required the invention of game devices and means of play which were inexpensive to produce, compact, and reuseable by the consumer. Yet, all of these requirements had to be satisfied without impairing the capability of full simulation of tournament duplicate bridge bidding and play.

SUMMARY OFINVENTION To answer these needs, the invention is directed to simulating the best aspects of tournament duplicate bridge play in which four separate decks of regular playing cards are utilized.

For compactness, eachdeck is contained in a card case or blind which is also utilized in the play of the game.

For purposes of making up bridge hands, a sealed envelope enclosing four secrethand makeup sheets isincluded. Each hand makeup sheet has indicia thereon which serves to designate what cards each player should hold. By correlation with the indicia on the other three hand makeup sheets, several complete bridge hands are indicated; The hand indications are arranged similarly on all four hand makeup sheets, and correspond to each other was to enable construction of the hand by the players. The envelope, with seal broken in the presence of all four players, contains the hand makeup sheets and is passed from right to left as the play begins, and each player draws his hand makeup sheet from the top in accordance with the prearrangement of the contents of the envelope. t

A fifth sheet, termed a score sheet," is arranged to bein the bottom of the envelope and contains thereon information relative to the results of previous play of the hands indicated by the hand makeup sheets. The score sheet is partially drawn out of the envelope at the end of play of ahand for purposes of the score sheet is drawn out of the envelope, it will automatically reveal the data corresponding to the particular hand played. The match point data has been compiled from the results of play of the identical hand as played by experts.

Although there are anumber of embodiments of the invention possible, the card case and the blind are described in detail herein. More specifically, we refer to the card case embodiment. p 1

To facilitate the hand makeup of the game, the hand makeup sheet fits inside a corresponding card case. Each player's card case is identi al, and has a folding lid which serves to cover the enclosed deck of playing cards when in storage. However, in playl the card,fcase is placed in a tion.

corresponding hand makeup sheet is fitted so as to face the indicia thereon toward the player-and'hide' the same from the others.

Hand makeup is facilitated further by the inclusion of a twopiece set of hand makeup masks for'each player, which are each constructed to also fit within the playing card cavity. The masks are each L-shaped, generally flat pieces, which serve to cover all but the proper hand indicia for each player. After one hand is played, each player utilizes the masks to window the next consecutive hand to be playedby simple removing, flipping and replacing operations.

The FIGS. show two embodiments of the invention and represent the best embodiments presently contemplated by the inventor.

FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken from the line 3-3of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the several indicia sheets of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the envelope of the invention and an indicia sheet of the invention is shown being partially drawn out of the envelope; 7

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another game piece for showing the dealer-vulnerability relationship;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus employed in the invention, shown in the operative position;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view'of the embodiment of FIG. 7, showing the inoperative position of the apparatus; and

FIG. 9 is a series of figurative representations'of part of the apparatus of the invention, showing the sequence of opera- DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5,

indicia sheets

10, 11, 12 and 13 are shown stacked on top of one another. These sheets 10-13, constructed of paper or thin plastic, have imprinted thereon sets of

hand indicia

14, 15, 16 and 17, which indicates in shorthand, playing cards of particular suits such as clubs, spades and the like. Each indicia sheet 10-13 also has a letter 18 imprinted thereon, indicating the player to whom it belongs, shown in FIG 4 as N for North, E for East, S for South and W for West, as in the usual designa. tion for bridge players. j I

A fifth sheet, termed a match point sheet'l9, is shown, in partial extension from the inside of an envelope 20. Match point sheet 19 has setsof indicia, termed scoring indicia 21, printed thereon. Scoring indicia2l arecorrelated to hand indicia sets l4-'-l7 in a manner allowing match point sheet 19 to be used for scoring the play of the hands designated by indicia sets 14-17. More complete explanation of the correlated sets of indicia follows introduction of the other apparatus of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one-of four blinds or player stands 22 is shown in operational position for a bridge player, North. Four decks of playing cards 23, only one deck being shown, are included in theapparatus of the game,

Player stand 22 has a back 24 constructed of any suitable rigid material, such as cardboard or plastic. Folding leaves 25 of similar material are hinged in any suitable manner to the back 24. In FIG. 1, the manner of connecting leaves 25 is shown to be by accordion hinges 26. l-Iinge's 26 allow leaves 25 to be folded over, parallel to back 24, serving as a cover or lid for player stand 22. 'I-Iinges 26 serve also to limit the swingof leaves 25, and when stand 22 is in the upright or operative position leaves may be extended to the limit of their swing for purposes of supporting stand 22 upright in a relatively stable manner. 1

Included in player stand 22 is a series of four card pockets 27, each adapted to hold one suit of 13 cards of one of the playing card decks 23. Card pockets 27 can be constructed of material similar to the rest of player stand 22 and can be attached thereto in any suitable manner;' or if preferred, pockets 27 may be an integral part of stand 22 and manufactured into the stand by means of the same mold used to construct back 24.

Also, an integral feature of each player stand 22 is a sheet holder 28. This feature can be constructed in numerous ways, and is shown as being defined by two sidewalls 29 and bottom wall 30 to form a rectangular inset, open at the top, and having the inside surface of back 24 as its backwall 31. In a constructhickness, sheet holder 28 could simply be formed within back 24 as an inset.

Sheet holder 28 is adapted to receive one of the indicia sheets 10-13, shown in the figures as being sheet 10.

For purposes to be explained later, metal sheet 32 is provided on back wall 31 and as shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, is most advantageously set into back 24 of stand 22 and is thus part of backwall 31. Wall 31 with sheet 32 provides a planar backup surface for a sheet 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the indicia on sheets 10- -13 will be explained. Viewing sheet 10, dotted

lines

33, 34, and 36 have been added to the sheet for purposes of explanation.

Lines

33 and 34 define a quadrant section of sheet 10 and

lines

35 and 36 divide this quadrant itself into four quadrants, or sixteenth sections of sheet 10. It can be seen that :each sixteenth section so defined contains one set of indicia 14, and similarly for the

sheets

11, 12 and 13 and their

corresponding setsof indicia

15, 16 and 17. Each set, 14-17, has a hand-identifying number indicated in the drawing by numeral 37, starting with the numeral 1 and consecutively running to numeral 16.

Identifying numbers 37 serve to designate the bridge hand being played and 16 hands are seen to be designated on the face side of sheet 10. Sheets 11-13 similarly have 16 hands, and each is, for purposes of simulating duplicate bridge, provided with additional hands, not shown, on their reverse sides.

Each set, 14-17 includes player card identifying indicia 38, which in usual bridge shorthand, designate 13 playing cards which make up one players bridge hand, such as that for N. The other three players, E, S, and W, have their particular 13- card hands designated under the corresponding hand-identifying numerals 37 imprinted on their indicia sheets l1, l2 and 13.

By prearrangement of the sets of indicia 14-17, a l3-sheet hand designated by a number 37 on sheet 10 is correlated to the hands identified by the identical number 37 on the other sheets 11-13, so as to designate a 52-card bridge hand among all four players. The hands so designated may be prearranged to correspond with hands which have been played by experts and recorded, such as would result from duplicate bridge tournaments.

For the purposes of scoring the play of each designated hand, match point sheet 19 has its scoring indicia 21 prearranged to correlate to the hands designated by numerals 37 on sheets 10-13. Included therefore are numerals 39 which designate the hand to which each set of scoring indicia 21 1 refers, and are consecutively ordered, running from 1 to any desired number. Several match point sheets 19 may be employed for this large a number of indicia sets 21.

A variety of information could be included in sets 21, written in bridge shorthand. Considered particularly advantageous by the inventor, is the shorthand shown in FIG. 5. Referring to the, first set 21, the left hand column 40 includes a number of scores 41 which are possible scores for playing the first hand as designated by the indicia sets 14-17 on sheets 111-13. Scores 41 are furnished by the game manufacturer by recording scores for the identical hand played by experts at duplicate bridge tournaments.

Scores 41 are imprinted in a particular order, highest score 42 appearing at the'top of column 40, and the remaining scores becoming generally progressively loweruntil line 43 is reached. These scores 41 represent plus scores for the North- South Pair. Beneath line 43 scores 41 become generally progressively larger as the bottom of column 40 is approached. These scores 41 represent minus scores for the North-South Pair. A minus North-South score is the same as a plus East-West score on the hand. a L

In the right-hand column 44 of indicia sets 21, match points 45 are provided for each score 41. Highest score 42 will correspond to highest match point 46 and the match points 45 diminish to correspond to the diminishing scores 41. The points 45 printed on the card represent the points awarded to the North-South pair for play of the hand. If play results highest score 42, North-South is awarded highest match point 46, shown as 12, and similarly the point awards are made for the other scores 41 and match points 45. The points for East- West can be determined by subtracting the match point 45 awarded to North-South from the top match points 47 for the entire set of hands as shown separately on each match point sheet 19. Twelve match points, or a l 2 top," is applicable on the illustrated hand. It can be seen that match points ranging from 0 to 12, or some other designated range, can be awarded for both pairs of bridge players for any particular hand. Match points 45 are also figured by the manufacture on the basis of the hands as played by tournament players. If by chance a score is obtained which is not represented by indicia 21, a simple guess or interpolation from the printed scores sufficiently provides for the proper match point award.

To maintain the indicia 21 secret until after the hand or several hands have been played, the apparatus of the invention includes scalable envelope 20, shown in FlG.'5, with match point sheet 19 extending partially therefrom. Flap 48 may be sealed to envelope 20 in a variety of ways each of which upon opening the flap 48 preferrably involves destruction of the sealing means. This function is provided by tearable seal 49 secured to the envelope body 50. Attached to flap 48 toward its leading edge 51 is the other torn half of seal 49, not shown.

Match point sheet 19 may be partially drawn from envelope 20 to selectively view the number of sets of match point indicia 21 corresponding to the hands played.

Also included in sealed envelope 20 at the beginning of play are the indicia sheets 10-13. These are arranged in the envelope 20 so as to allow North to draw sheet 10 from the top, then passing envelope 20 to East who draws sheet 11 from the top and so continuing until all four players have drawn their respective indicia sheets 10-13. These sheets are immediately placed in their respective sheet holders 28.

Another feature of the invention requires prearrangement or ordering numbered sets of hand indicia 14-17 on indicia sheets 10-13. Particularly advantageous is the arrangement shown on sheet 10 of FIG. 4. There, hand designations 37 start with numeral 1 in the uppermost left-hand sixteenth section of sheet 10. The next highest three designations 37 are contained also in the upper left quadrant of sheet 10, as defined by

lines

33 and 34.

In any one quadrant of sheet 10, the consecutive hand the upper right quadrant of sheet 10, thence four more higher numbered hands are designated by similarly arranged hand indicia sets 14 in the lower right quadrant; and the last four sets 14 on the face of sheet 11) occupy the lower left quadrant. The remaining sets 14 are similarly arranged on subsequent sheets or on the reverse side of sheet 10. For assuring ease of correlating the hand indicia 14-17, sheets -13 have identical arrangements for the hands, as designated by numbers 37.

The aforesaid ordered arrangement makes possible the use of L-shaped

masks

52 and 53, of which a set of two is provided for each player. Masks52 and 53 are preferably constructed of a relatively rigid material, such as plastic, so that the thickness may be relatively small. I

The lateral and longitudinal dimensions .of masks 52 correspond to those of sheet holders 28 and indicia sheets 10-13 in order to allow a mask 52 to fit, for example, over sheet 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and relatively-snugly within the walls of sheet holder 28. Mask 52 has a cutout portion 54, amountingto a quadrant of its otherwise rectangular shape, thus providing an L-shape. Small mask 53 is similarly L-shaped,

' having lateral and longitudinal dimensions allowing the mask to be fitted relatively snugly within the confines of cutout portion 54 of mask 52 and the walls of sheet holder 28.

Magnets 55 may be embedded within

masks

52 and 53 so that smooth external surfaces of the masks remain. Instead of this construction, masks 52 and 53' may be manufactured otherwise to give them magnetic characteristics. Magnets 55 interact with metal sheet 32 on the back 24 of stand 22 to assist in holding

masks

52 and 53 to sheet holder 28.

Mask 52 is constructed to correspond to the arrangement of indicia sets 14 on sheet 10. When placed over sheet 10 in sheet holder'28, mask 52 will cover all but one quadrant, and the four indicia sets 14 therein of sheet 10. Mask 53, also constructed to correspond to the arrangement of indicia sets 14, will, when placed into cutout portion 54 of 'mask 52, which is in position in sheet holder 28, serve to cover all the remaining part of sheet 10 except one-sixteenth section, and thereby the one set 14 of hand indicia.

Arrows

56 and 57 are severally on opposite faces of mask 52 as convenient directions forsequential operation of the mask. Similarly, arrows 58and 59 provide this convenience for mask 53.

Referring to FIG. 9, a sequential flipping operation, as directed by arrows 56-59 is shown. The sequence is governed by the arrangement of hand indicia sets 14-17 on corresponding sheets 10-13. In correlation with said arrangement, as described herein, position 1 is shown in FIG. 9a and the masks cover all but the indicia designated for hand number 1, as contained in the uppermost left-hand sixteenth section of any sheet 10-13. i

To uncover the second bridge hand, designated by a number 37, small mask 53 is revolved about the edge to which arrow 58 points, a nd slipped back into position within cutout portion 54 of large mask 52, as shown by FIG. 9b.

Arrow 59 now appears on the face, and directs the player to similarly flip mask 53 about the designated edge to. uncover the third hand. At this point, shown in FIG. 90, the first arrow 523 reappears and directs the edge about which mask 53 is flipped for purposes of uncovering the fourth hand, as shown in FIG. 9d.

The next four hands are made available to this sequential ummasking by flipping large mask 52 as directed by arrow 56, which, similar to arrow 58, points to the edge about which the mask should be revolved. As shown by FIG. 9e, mask 52 when flipped to its second position and replaced, allows for the identical sequential operation on mask 53 which uncovered consecutively numbered hand indicia sets 14 in the previous quadrant of card 10.

Arrow 57 now appears on the face of mask 52, and directs the operation of the next sequence. Similarly, arrow 56 directs the flipping required for uncovering the last quadrant on the face of sheet 10. In this manner, each consecutive hand is revealed and all others are hidden, thus facilitating the construction various hands by each player.

For successful operation of the

masks

52 and 53 above, the dimensions of the sixteenth ctions, designated by number 37, which contain theprinted and indicia 14, can be important. To assure that the repetit ve flipping-operation will continue to mask all but one gm, p of card indicia 14 without sections should be of uniform shape. The length of the sectionshould relate to the width in the proportion that the length of the sheets is to the width of the sheets. The masks should also be constructed in accordance with the size and shape of the sections designated by numbers 37.

Also included for use in the game is a vulnerability-dealer indicator 60 which has pointer arms 61, 62 and 63 for setting before each play as indicated by directions imprinted thereon. The arms are set before play of each hand begins. The pointer arms 61 and 62 will indicate whether North-South, East-West, both, or neither are vulnerable. Pointer arm 63 indicates who is dealer. Indicator 60 is operated in accordance with instructions which correspond to the usual rules of contract bridge.

SECOND EMBODIMENT In place of the playing stand 22, a second embodiment is End member 68 is attached, as by glueor integrally by" means of the manufacturers molding, 't'o lid .67, between side wall extensions 69; Pins 70 extend between .wall extensions 69 and end member 68 to provide a hinged connection for'lid .67 to case 64. Such pins might also be a molded part of 68 and/or 69. a I

The case 64 has lid 67 hinged thereto in a manner allowing its use as a support base, as shown in FIG. 7. The swing of lid 67 is permitted to be more than 270, starting from a closed position, and revolving about pin 70 to the back of case 64. Positioning case 64 in a generally upright stance, with lid 67 to the back and at the bottom, a convenient, supported hand .makeup sheet holder stand has been provided.

This embodiment, therefore, provides the advantages of sheet holder 28 in player stand 22 in an inexpensive construction.

OPERATION OFINVENTION' Four playerstands 22, each with a set of

masks

52 and 53,

sheet holders 28 and a deck of playing cards 23 distributed by suit within pockets 27, is provided for one table of bridge players. Each player takes a stand 22, unfolds it and stands it in operative position, asshown in FIG..1, making certain that the inside of the stand is facing himself.

North player. then takes sealed envelope 20, which contains hand indicia sheets 10- 13 and match point sheet 19. He breaks seal 49, opens flap 48 and draws'sheet 10 from the top of envelope 20; thence he passes the envelope to East who draws sheet 11, and so forth for South and West. Each player places his sheet 10-13 in sheet holder 28, with the indicia set I 14-17 designated by a number 37 as the first hand occupying the upper left corner, facing out. Having done this, masks 52 and 53 are placed into position so as to expose only hand number 1. i

Then, drawing playing cards from the deck divided into the four suits in their respective pockets 27 in accordance with folded and the bridge handbid and played by. the normal rules of duplicate bridge.

As each trick is decided, the cards are kept separate from those of the other players, and scores for each hand are noted on individual tally sheets as is usually done in duplicate bridge. For another hand, the process is repeated, after having replaced the masks 52 as described.

Upon completion of a hand, or preferably a number of hands, as governed by the number of hands represented on the face of match point sheet 19, match point sheet 19 is drawn from envelop 20 and match point scoring is done in accordance with the explanation of the match indicia 21 described previously, Whenever play is completed, the pair with the largest number of match points is the winner.

Thus, the invention provides an interesting game for one table of duplicate bridge players, as well as apparatus for facilitating convenient play. Although the invention primarily relates to one table duplicate bridge, it by no means is confined to only one table. This invention can be used to great advantage for two, three, four, five, six or more tables of duplicate bridge wherein the match point sheets 19 are used to determine pair or individual match point scores from hands previously played in tournaments.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

1 claim:

1. in a bridge game, for simulating the play of duplicate bridge by two pairs of players with regular playing cards:

first, second, third and fourth printed sheets of generally uniform shape, having thereon consecutively ordered card indicia sets designating playing cards, the indicia of each corresponding set in sum designating 52 different playing cards;

a fifth p'ri'n ted sheet, having consecutively ordered sets of scoring indicia thereon corresponding to each of said card indicia sets and having for each set of scoring indicia a set of comparing indicia designating alternative scores for playing cards designated by the corresponding card indicia set, said scoring indicia designating a preselected score for each alternative comparing indicia, thereby enabling the players to compare the score from their play of the hand with the alternative scores of the corresponding scoring set for selecting a score to award each pair of players; and

a stand for use by each player and comprising:

a generally flat back member;

a folding member hinged to said back member and adapted to fold over said back member, and alternately to fold away from said back member to provide support for the stand when it is placed in a generally upright position;

a pocket member on the back member, and beneath the folding member when the latter is folded over, said pocket member being adapted to hold a deck of playing cards in a manner maintaining separate each suit of 13 cards thereof; and

an inset member attached to the back member and being of dimensions to receive and support on the stand one of the printed sheets in a manner facing the indicia thereon toward the player.

2. In a bridge game, for simulating the play of duplicate bridge by two pairs of players with regular playing cards:

a fifth printed sheet, having consecutively ordered sets of scoring indicia thereon corresponding to each of said card indicia sets and having for each set of scoring indicia a set of comparing indicia designating alternative scores for playing cards designated by the corresponding card indicia set, said scoring indicia designating a preselected score for each alternative comparing indicia, thereby enabling the players to compare the score from their play of the hand with the alternative scores of the corresponding scoring set for selecting a score to award each pair of players; and

wherein: the first, second, third and fourth sheets are constructed of rectangular areas; A I

the card indicia sets on said printed sheets, are consecutively ordered and identified in order. b.y the indicia thereon, and the indicia sets are arranged, thereon such that each set has one of said groups of its card indicia occupying generally one-sixteenth section of each printed sheet, said sections being identified by designation of the indicia set to which the indicia group therein belongs and the corresponding sixteenth sections on all four printed sheets being identified as belonging to the same indicia set;

each quadrant of each printed sheet contains four consecutively ordered and identified sixteenth sections, each section having a group of indicia of a different set therein, and the first four sets being in a first quadrant, the second four sets in a second quadrant, and the next higher ordered sets each contained by successive fours in the remaining quadrants;

A stand for each player, each said stand being constructed with a fiat back up surface corresponding in size and shape to a printed sheet, and having sheet support means with bottom and sidewalls extending about its periphery and toward the player from said flat portion when the stand is in the upright position; and

each stand includes a first removable large L-shaped mask corresponding in size and shape to 3 quadrants of said printed sheets; and a second removable small L-shaped mask corresponding in size and shape to three sixteenth sections in any quadrant of said printed sheets; said L- shaped masks being constructed so as to be received and held by the sheet support means; said L-shaped masks ble for the operating of the small L-shaped mask by a similar flipping operation being first performed on the.

large L-shaped mask.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein:

the ordering of the identified sixteenth sections on the respective sheets is such that the first set of indicia occupies the upper left-hand corner sections of the respective sheets, the second set occupies the upper right sections of the same quadrants, the third set occupies the lower right sections of the same quadrants, the fourth set the remaining sections of the same quadrants, this order being followed for the next four sets and in the upper right quadrants of the respective sheets, and for the next eight sets successively in the lower right quadrants and lower left quadrants of the respective sheets;

the L-shaped masks include designations thereon for the repetitive operations on the masks, said designations directing the manual removal and replacing operations performed on said masks to follow the ordering of the identified sixteenth sections; and

the sixteenth sections of each printed sheet being of identical rectangular shape, the sections being generally,

restricted to the printed area of the sheets, and the section lengths being related to the widths in the same proportion as the length of the total printed area of the sheet is to the width of the total printed area of the sheet. 4. in a bridge game, for simulating the play of duplicate bridge by two pairs of players with regular playing cards:

first, second, third and fourth printed sheets, having thereon consecutively ordered card indicia sets designating playing cards, the indicia of each corresponding set in sum designating 52 different playing cards;

a fifth printed sheet, having consecutively ordered sets of scoring indicia thereon corresponding to each of said card indicia sets and having for each set of scoring indicia a set of comparing indicia designating alternative scores for playing cards designated by thecorresponding card indica set, said scoring indicia designating a preselected score for each alternative comparing indicia, thereby enabling the players to compare the score from their play of the hand with the alternative scores of the corresponding scoring set for selecting a score to award each pair of players; and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth printed sheets have smooth surfaces; and

the game includes an envelope having a scalable open end and shaped to hold said printed sheets in a successive order with the first printed sheet being on top; and each said first four printed sheets having a player identifying indicia on an edge which is disposed at said open end to facilitate blind selection by the four players of their respective printed sheets. i 5. In a bridge game, for simulating the play of duplicate bridge by two pairs of players wi th regular playing cards:

a stand for each player, each said stand comprising a modified card case having a configuration corresponding to the shape of a printed sheet, the card case having a hinged lid which is swingable to the back of said case to support the case in :an upright position, the back of said case comprising a sheet back up surface, and the sides of said case comprising a sheet support means.