Abstract:
The present disclosure describes a card game called “Tunsh” and a game board designed for the Tunsh game. The Tunsh game shares some features of the Solitaire type of games but also includes new elements that make Tunsh more exciting and challenging. The game board includes multiple positions specifically designed to place playing cards during the Tunsh game. The players take turns to release the cards in his/her possession and build up ascending or descending card sequences in the playing field on the game board. At the same time, each player may also burden his/her opponent with extra cards and call out the opponent&#39;s error. The Tunsh game and the game board are ideal for both casual entertainment and serious competition.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Application Ser. No. 61/781,767 filed on Mar. 14, 2013 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The current invention relates to game and gaming devices and specifically to a card game and a playing board designed for the card game. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Card games using either conventional card decks or newly designed cards with unconventional suits have been widely popular, with participants from every corner of society. Among the existing card games, a sub-set is regarded as “Solitaire” type of games, with the general features such as: (1) each player is distributed a stack of cards; (2) there is a “remaining” or “shared” stack of cards placed facing down in the playing area, with only one card face up; (3) each player tries to “link” cards from his/her own stack to the face-up card in the remaining stack in consecutively descending (or ascending) sequence, at the same time turn another card in the remaining stack over; in some cases there is the additional requirement of alternative suit color for building up the sequence; (4) when an “Ace” shows up, the players try to build a “finishing” stack by taking cards from the linked card sequences and place them in an ascending order; and (5) the goal for a single-player game is to build a complete set of finishing stacks; and the goal for a multiple player game is to see which player finishes his/her own stack first. 
         [0004]    A “Solitaire” type game is a loose concept while these games share one or more of the features stated above. New games and devices designed for the new games are being introduced constantly. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,684 (&#39;684 patent). 
         [0005]    The &#39;684 patent discloses a game board used in combination with two or more conventional decks of cards to play a form of solitaire, the object of which is to be the first player to distribute all of the cards in his/her possession. Use of the game board offers the players a greater number of possible plays on each turn than in previously known forms of solitaire, yet allows penalties to be assessed, for not recognizing or exercising all opportunities to play during a player&#39;s turn. Furthermore, the board contains a plurality of various card placement positions organized to aid the participants in recognizing possible playing opportunities. 
         [0006]    The &#39;684 patent, as well as a number of other disclosures, teaches new card games and devices. However, due to the popularity of card games and people&#39;s interest to explore new games, it is always desirable to introduce new games and new apparatus for existing or new games. The current invention fills that need by disclosing a more exciting and intellectually challenging card game that shares some similarities with the “Solitaire” type games but also includes key new features of its own. More importantly, the current invention teaches a game board specifically designed for the game herein disclosed, allowing more smooth and exciting game play. 
         [0007]    In summary, various games and devices are known in the art, but they are distinctively different from the current invention. A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be described in more detail herein below. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The current invention discloses a card game that may be called “Tunsh.” The Tunsh game is to be played by preferably two players—designated as a first player and a second player—against each other with preferably two card decks—designated as a first deck and a second deck, each deck having four distinct card suits. 
         [0009]    The Tunsh game may be played with conventional card decks—with 13 cards for each suit and the four suits being spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs, wherein the spades and clubs are black and hearts and diamonds are red. However, the Tunsh game may also be played with other types of card decks wherein each of such decks has four distinct suits, each suit has the same number of cards, two of the four suits have a same color, e.g. green, and the other two of the four suits have another same color, e.g. red. 
         [0010]    As indicated above, the Tunsh game shares some similarities with the “Solitaire” games but has its own features that make Tunsh more exciting and challenging. In general, in a Tunsh game, (1) the first player and the second player each starts with a stack of cards; (2) the players contribute cards to and place such cards face up on a playing field; (3) the players take turns to find cards that are +1 higher and have alternating colors from the playing field cards in their own stacks; (4) when Aces (or any starting card for a specially designed deck) show up a sequence is built from each Ace to form an ascending sequence; (5) cards can be moved on the playing field by the players according to specific rules; (6) a player wins when he/she finishes his/her own stack first; and (7) a player&#39;s failure to move a card that should be moved is considered a “Tunsh” and his/her opponent may call the Tunsh out to terminate the player&#39;s round. The detailed rules of the Tunsh game are described in full with associated figures below. 
         [0011]    More importantly, the current invention discloses a playing board designed for the Tunsh game. The playing board is substantially rectangular and has four sides designated as a first player side, a second player side, a first player right side, and a second player right side, wherein the first player side and the second player side are opposite to each other, the first player side is designated to the first player and the second player side is designated to the second player, the first player right side is on the right of the first player when the first player faces the playing board from the first player side, and the second player right side is on the right of the second player when the second player faces the playing board from the second player side. In addition, there are eight collecting positions located within a central area of the playing board; there are two initial card positions, one initial card position located close to the first player side and the other initial card position located close to the second player side; there are two dumping card positions, one dumping card position located close to the first player side and the other dumping card position located close to the second player side, there are two remaining card positions, one remaining card position located close to the first player side and the other remaining card position located close to the second player side; and there are four first player playing field positions linearly aligned, and four second player playing field positions linearly aligned on the playing board. 
         [0012]    In general, the present invention succeeds in conferring the following, and others not mentioned, desirable and useful benefits and objectives. 
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a card game that is exciting and challenging. 
         [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game board that may be used by the Tunsh game. 
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game board that may make the Tunsh game easier to play. 
         [0016]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a game board that may make the Tunsh game more organized. 
         [0017]    It is another object of the current invention to provide a game board that includes card positions on which cards can be placed and stacked. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the current invention to provide a game board that is a physical board or a virtual board that may be displayed on a display device. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the current invention to provide a game board that may be rolled up or folded. 
         [0020]    It is still another object of the current invention to provide a game board that is portable and easy to carry around. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the current invention to provide a game board that is inexpensive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an illustration of four suits of a newly designed card deck. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the Tunsh game board. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the initial card position, the dumping card position, and the remaining card position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  shows a top view a card position that is representative of the red collecting positions and the black collecting positions. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a top view a card position that is representative of the first player playing field position and the second player playing field position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified, as far as possible, with the same reference numerals. Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto without deviating from the innovative concepts of the invention. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  shows an illustration of four suits of a newly designed card deck. Shown in  FIG. 1  are square  210 , triangle  220 , star  230 , and trapezoid  240 , representing four suits of the newly designed card deck. As indicated above, the Tunsh game may be played with conventional card decks having four suits: spade, club, heart, and diamond, or any newly designed card decks. Preferably, a newly designed card deck may have four distinct suits, wherein two suits have a same color and the other two suits have another same color. For example, while the square  210  and the triangle  220  may both be green, the star  230  and the trapezoid  240  may both be red. Other colors may also be used. Preferably, each deck has the same number of cards, marked consecutively. There is no specific requirement that the marking ascend from 1 to 13 (or more specifically Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, and King). For the newly designed deck, for example, may have suits with cards marked from zero to 12. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the Tunsh game board. Shown in  FIG. 2  is a substantially rectangular game board  10  having a first player side  20 , a second player side  25 , a first player right side  35 , and a second player right side  40 , wherein the first player side  20  and the second player side  25  are opposite to each other and preferably using the two shorter sides of the rectangular board  10 , the first player right side  35  is on the right side of the first player when the first play faces the game board  10  from the first player side  20 , the second player right side  40  is on the right side of the second player when the second player faces the game board  10  from the second player side  25 . 
         [0030]    On the game board  10  there are multiple “positions.” The term “position” may refer to marked site on the physical or virtual game board  10  onto which physical or virtual cards may be placed. There are four first player playing field positions  75  aligned linearly close to the first player right side  35 ; and there are four second player playing field positions  80  aligned linearly close to the second player right side  40 . Moreover, there are two initial card positions  55 , one initial card position  55  located close to the first player side  20  and the other initial card position  55  located close to the second player side  25 ; there are two dumping card positions  60 , one dumping card position  60  located close to the first player side  20  and the other dumping card position  60  located close to the second player side  25 ; there are two remaining card positions  70 , one remaining card position  70  located close to the first player side  20  and the other remaining card position  70  located close to the second player side  25 . More particularly, close to the first player side  20 , an initial card position  55 , a dumping card position  60 , and a remaining card position  70  align side by side. Similarly, close to the second player side  25 , an initial card position  55 , a dumping card position  60 , and a remaining card position  70  align side by side. In addition, in a center area  30  of the game board  10 , there are 8 collecting positions, wherein four are red collecting positions  45  and four are black collecting positions  50 . The collecting positions are aligned in a 4×2 matrix, wherein the red collecting positions  45  and the black collecting positions  50  are in an alternating order. 
         [0031]    It should be noted that the positions herein listed are optimized for smooth and effective game play. However, it is possible to change the type, location, and/or number of each type of positions according to the player&#39;s requests, alternations in rule details, and the card deck being used. 
         [0032]    Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a first indication  85  located on a first corner  86  of the game board  10 , a second indication  90  located on a second corner  91  of the game board  10 . In addition, there is a first timer  100  affixed to the game board  10  close to the first player side  20 , and a second timer  105  affixed to the game board  10  close to the second player side  25 . 
         [0033]    The following descriptions are provided to illustrate the detailed rules of the Tunsh game and how the game board  10  is used for game play. Preferably the game is played by a first player against a second player using two decks of cards without jokers. For clarification purposes, the following outline uses conventional card decks as examples. However, as indicated above, non-conventional card decks, such as the card deck having four suits shown in  FIG. 1 , may also be used for the Tunsh game. 
         [0034]    Set Up:
       1. Shuffle the cards thoroughly; each player takes one deck; and have both players cut the other plays deck once.   2. Each player takes 13 cards from his/her deck and place them face down in a stack on the initial card position  55 .   3. Each player place the remaining cards face down in a stack on the remaining card position  70 .   4. The first player takes 4 cards from his/her face down stack on the remaining card position  70  and place them on the first player playing field positions  75 ; the second player takes 4 cards from his/her face down stack on the remaining card position  70  and place them on the second player playing field positions  80 .       
 
         [0039]    Basic Play
       5. Each player turns around the first card on his/her 13-card stack on the initial card position  55 . The player with the highest card starts the game. If the players have cards with the same number, the players compare their cards on the playing field positions  75  and  80 . First, the players compare the two cards on the two farthest playing field positions  75  and  80 , i.e. the first player&#39;s card on the farthest first player playing field position  75  from the first player is compared with the second player&#39;s card on the farthest second player playing field position  80  from the second player. The player having the higher card starts the game. If these two cards are the same, the two players compare the next farthest cards on the playing field positions  75  and  80 , and so on, until it can be decided which player is to start.   6. The player uses the first card in his/her 13-card stack and see if there are any cards in the first player playing field positions  75  and second player playing field positions  80  that are +1 higher than the first card in his/her 13-card stack and opposite color. Here “+1 higher and opposite color” is generally defined as the “criteria.”
           i. If there are, the player can place this card face up on top of the card on the playing field position  75  or  80 ; preferably the top card is shifted slightly so that the top card does not cover the bottom card entirely; such shifting may be used when the stacks are being built on the playing field positions  75  and  80 , so that the players may see the cards on the bottom make strategic decisions accordingly; then the player may turn the next first card on his/her card stack on the initial card position  55  to repeat step 6(i).   ii. If there is no card that meets the criteria, the player must leave the card stack on the initial card position  55  face up and draw a card from the face down stack on remaining card position  70 . If this card fits the criteria, then the player can place it face up on top of the card on the playing field position  75  or  80 .   iii. If the card drawn from the face down deck does not fit the criteria, the player will place it face up on the dumping card position  60 .   iv. The player can go back to the top card on the card stack on the initial card position  55  to repeat step 6(i) if possible.   v. Once the player has no more plays, it is now the opponent player&#39;s turn.   vi. In this way, stacks with descending sequences from bottom to top are being built on the first player playing field positions  75  and second player playing field positions  80 .   vii. Step 7 below may be incorporated into the basic play.   
               
 
         [0049]    Moving Cards on the Playing Field
       7. A player can move face up cards on the playing field positions  75  and  80 , subject to the following restrictions:
           i. A player can only move cards during his/her turn.   ii. A player can move a card on the playing field positions  75  and  80  to another playing field positions  75  and  80  on top of another face up card that fits the criteria (opposite color and +1 higher).   iii. A player can move a card on the playing field positions  75  and  80 , (1) to the opposite player&#39;s dumping card position  60  over the cards on the opposite player&#39;s dumping card position  60 , or (2) to the opposite player&#39;s initial card position  55  over the stack on the initial card position  55 , if (3) the card facing up on the opposite player&#39;s dumping card position  60  or initial card position  55  has the same suit, and is +1 higher or −1 lower than the card being place on top of it.
               a. the player with a stack on the initial card position  55  or dumping card position  60  with cards placed on it by the opposite player, must use those cards before he/she can continue and finish his/her stack (this makes it will take longer for the player to finish his/her set of cards and win the game).   
               iv. Whenever there is an empty position in the playing field positions  75  and  80 , the player whose turn it is may put the face-up card from his initial card position  55  (see step 6), the top face-up card from the dumping card position  60  (see step 6(iii)), or the drawn card from the remaining card position  70  (see step 6(ii)) on the empty space.   v. Whenever there is an empty position in the playing field position  75  and  80 , the player whose turn it is may move a top card of the stack on another playing field position  75  and  80  to the empty space.   
           8. The opponent player conducts steps 6 and 7.   9. The players take turns to conduct steps 6 and 7.   10. Step 11 is to be incorporated into the play whenever Aces (or any starting cards for a specially designed deck) show up.       
 
         [0060]    Building the Collecting Stacks
       11. Whenever Aces are found, they are to be placed on the collecting positions  45  or  50 . This can be called “The Twist.”
           i. When this happens, the cards on the collecting positions become part of the playing field and a critical part of the game.   ii. The top face up card from the stack placed on the player&#39;s own initial card position  55 , the card drawn from the player&#39;s own remaining card position  70 , the top face up card on the player&#39;s own dumping card position  60 , or any cards facing up on top of the first player playing field positions  75  or second player playing field positions  80  can be placed on the now-present stacks built on the Aces on the collecting positions  45  or  50  if they are the same suit, and +1 higher. Example: A Red-Diamond-2 can be placed on top of a Red-Diamond-Ace, and a Red-Diamond-3 can be placed on top of the Red-Diamond-2 and so on.   
           12. The players build up the stacks on the collecting positions  45  and  50  by following step 11(ii). Step 11(i-ii) is incorporated in each player&#39;s turn.   13. Cards are placed on Aces in this order: A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Prince, Queen, King. When King is reached, the stack is taken and removed from the playing field or turned over. It should be noted that when a specially designed deck is used, the order may be different from the conventional deck.       
 
         [0066]    Tunsh
       14. If a player whose turn it is moves on to a new play and misses to conduct a play with a card following steps 11(i) or 11(ii), it is considered an error called Tunsh.
           i. 11(i) and 11(ii) have priority over all the other card moving steps 6 and 7.
               Whenever there is a direct chance of building the stacks on the collecting positions  45  and  50 , the player MUST do it. If he misses, he commits Tunsh.   
               ii. It is the responsibility of a player to call a Tunsh when his/her opponent makes one.   iii. When a player makes a Tunsh and his opponent makes the call, his/her turn is automatically over, and it is now the other players turn.   
               
 
         [0072]    Additional Notes
       15. When the stack on the initial card position  55  is finished, the player continues using the face down stack on the remaining card position  70  and the face up stack on the dumping card position  60 .   16. If the face down stack on the remaining card position  70  is finished but the stack on the dumping card position  60  is not, the player flips his/her cards on the dumping card position  60  over and moves the cards to the remaining card position  70  and continues.   17. A new face up stack can be made by follow step 6(iii).       
 
         [0076]    The above steps 1-17, with necessary repetitions, alternations and modifications, make up the basic rules for the Tunsh game. The overall goal of the competition is to finish the cards in a player&#39;s possession. The player that finishes first wins. 
         [0077]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the initial card position  55 , the dumping card position  60 , and the remaining card position  70 . As indicated above, it is preferred that the initial card position  55 , the dumping card position  60 , and remaining card position  70  are aligned side by side and close to the first player side  20  or the second player side  25 , with the initial card position  55  on the left, the dumping card position  60  in the middle, and the remaining card position  70  on the right. These positions are used to place the player&#39;s own cards, except when the opponent puts a card on top of the cards on the initial card position  55  and the dumping card position  60 . Naturally, it is possible to arrange the initial card position  55 , the dumping card position  60 , and the remaining card position  70  in a different order or place them on different locations. For example, it is possible to put the remaining card position  70  on the left and the initial card position  55  on the right. 
         [0078]    It is possible to include text on the initial card position  55 , the dumping card position  60 , and the remaining card position  70 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , “13 Cards” is printed on the initial card position  55 ; “Face Up, Dumping Pile” is printed twice on the dumping card position  60  on both up-side-up and up-side-down manners; and “Remaining Cards” is printed on the remaining card position  70 . These texts serve to remind the players of the basic rules of the Tunsh game. The initial card position  55  is to receive 13 cards to start the game; the dumping card position  60  is to receive cards that are drawn from the stack on the remaining card position  70  but cannot be placed on the playing field; the remaining card position  70  is to receive the rest of cards from the player&#39;s deck after the initial 13 cards are placed on the initial card position  55 . It is clear that the specific content and format of the text printed on these card positions may be changed and supplemented. For example, the card positions may further include symbols of smiley or sad faces. 
         [0079]      FIG. 4  shows a top view a card position that is representative of the black collecting positions  50 . While shown in  FIG. 4  is a black collecting position  50 , this Figure also represent a red collecting positions  45 , which is different from the black collecting position  50  only as to the card suit to be collected. As indicated above, the red collecting positions  45  and the black collecting positions  50  may be arranged in a 4×2 matrix with alternating order. These collecting positions are used to build up the collecting stack starting with Ace (or any other starting number for a particular suit) and ending with King (or any other ending number for a particular suit). For each collecting position, the user may place the cards belonging to a same suit in an ascending order. When the Tunsh game is played with unconventional card decks that do not use black and red as distinguishing colors, the specific designation of the collecting positions may vary. In a general sense, the red collecting positions may be considered first color collecting positions when two suits have the same first color; the black collecting positions may be considered second color collecting positions when the two other suits have the same second color. 
         [0080]    The collecting positions are preferably located within a center area  30  on the game board  10 . The center area  30 , in a general sense, is the area surrounded by the playing field positions  75  and  80 , the initial card positions  55 , the dumping card positions  60 , and the remaining card positions  70 . It should be noted that aside from the current alignment, the red collecting positions  45  and the black collecting positions  50  may be arranged in different orders and place on different location of the board. 
         [0081]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , text and symbol may be printed on the collecting card positions. Shown in  FIG. 4  is the Spade symbol as well as the text “Ace to King” in both up-side-up and up-side down formats printed on a collecting card position. The up-side-down version of the symbol and the text may be used to remind the player sitting across the board regarding the basic roles played by the collecting position—for the placement of card sequences in an ascending order. Similarly to the other card positions, the text and symbol printed on the collecting positions may vary. 
         [0082]      FIG. 5  shows a top view a card position that is representative of the first player playing field position  75  and the second player playing field position  80 . The first player playing field positions  75  and the second player playing field positions  80  are used to place the cards that may build up a descending sequence with alternating colors. The playing field positions  75  and  80 , combined with the collecting positions  45  and  50 , may be considered the “playing field” because that is the card sequences are being built. 
         [0083]    It is also possible for the playing field positions  75  and  80  to include text and/or symbols. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , “Face Up, High to Low #, Alternating Colors” is printed on the playing field position  75  or  80 . These texts serve to remind the players of the basic rules of the Tunsh game. The playing field position  75  or  80  is to receive face up cards in a descending sequence in alternating colors. Similar to the other positions, the text and/or symbols printed on the playing field positions may vary. 
         [0084]    More accessories may be added to the game board  10 . As indicated by  FIG. 2 , a first timer  100  and a second timer  105  may be affixed to the game board  10 , close to the first player side  20  and the second player side  25 , respectively. The timers  100  and  105  may be used to keep time and/or used as stop watches. The presence of the timers  100  and  105  adds more flexibility and twist to the Tunsh game. For example, the players may set a time limit for each turn so that when the time is up, a player&#39;s turn is automatically over. In such a manner, the timers  100  and  105  add more excitement to the game. 
         [0085]    In addition, the Tunsh game device may also include a speaker. The speaker may be programmed to utter “Tunsh” or other words when a button is pushed or a switch is flipped. So instead of calling “Tunsh,” a player may simply push the button to let the speaker complete the calling. 
         [0086]    Aside from the texts and symbols in the card positions, the game board  10  may bear text and/or symbols that may be used to serve a number of purposes such as but not limited to: (1) reminding the players to maintain a high concentration level, e.g. “Don&#39;t Tunsh, Stay Focused!”; (2) reminding the players about basic tactics, e.g. “Stay cool” or “Show No Motion”; (3) encouraging the player to start the game, e.g. “Let&#39;s Play Tunsh!”; and/or (4) providing notice and samples to the players regarding the card decks being used and the basic rules of the game. These texts and symbols are preferably placed on corners of the game board  10 . Inscriptions  85  and  90  shown in  FIG. 2  serve as examples for such texts and symbols. 
         [0087]    The game board  10  and the positions may be any size. When the game board  10  is a physical board, the length and width of the game board may range from 20 cm to 500 cm, with the preferred range of 35-150 cm. The various positions may have the same or different sizes. The length and width of a position (if the position has a rectangular shape) may range from 1 cm to 30 cm, with the preferred range of 3-20 cm. 
         [0088]    As indicated above, the game board  10  may be a physical board or a virtual board. When the game board  10  is a physical board, it may be made from any material, including but not limited to: paper, wood, metal, rubbers, glass or fiberglass, plastics, fabrics such as velvet, and any combinations thereof. When the game board  10  is a virtual, it may be displayed and used on any kind of screen and display devices. 
         [0089]    The Tunsh game is an entertaining and exciting game suitable for many occasions and for people of all ages. The game board herein disclosed may be used to facilitate game play. 
         [0090]    Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.