Abstract:
A game kit includes a set of cards placeable on a magnetically attracting playing surface and a set of point markers. The game is expandable and can include multiple players. The players randomly select a playing surface and decide the order of playing the game. The game has a set of restrictions that guides the progress of the game. The game concludes when one player runs out point markers, there are no more cards to pick, or no more playing surface available.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/458,269, filed Mar. 29, 2003, entitled “Strategy Card Game Expanding Into a 3-D Puzzle,” which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to games, and, more particularly, to playing activities engaged in for diversion and amusement that incorporate formulating strategies and solving puzzles. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In recent years, there has been a resurgence of game playing among people. Two factors help the comeback of game playing—the preference of consumers to get entertainment in less expensive ways, and the desire of people to spend more time with family and friends. For example, parents like to have time together with children. Besides or instead of taking a long expensive trip to a remote place, parents are more likely to play games together with their children now and then. Games are thus a family affair. Board games, such as card games, have the appeal of great entertainment for a small price. They also have the element of human interaction that enables family and friends to mingle. 
   According to research data, the most popular board games are card games. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a conventional card game  104  usually consists of cards that are marked with figures, numbers, or symbols. The corresponding game playing usually is about coordinating these figures, numbers, or symbols to reach a winning outcome. Image creation generally is not part of a card game. As a result, the game playing process generally does not involve artistic creation of images. 
   Puzzles  106  enjoy wide popularity as well. See  FIG. 1B . Word puzzles are common scenes in newspapers and magazines. Jigsaw puzzles and 3-D puzzles mostly are about image making and shape formation. However, both the jigsaw puzzles and the 3-D puzzles usually focus on putting pieces together to recreate predetermined images and shapes. NO emphasis has been placed on the dynamic creation of random, artistic images. The processes are generally mechanical, hence weak on creativity and strategy as well. 
   Further, both the conventional card games  104  and puzzles  106  are generally restrictive. They put limits on where the games can be played and how many people may participate. In physical form, cards and puzzle pieces are generally made of paper, cardboard, or plastics. These materials cannot sustain good game play in adverse outdoor conditions that may include rain and wind. Hence, players usually need to move themselves indoors if they want to continue the game in inclement weather. Further, the playing surfaces generally have to be flat and horizontal. 
   Even more, both the conventional card games  104  and the puzzles  106  tend to separate the game playing experience from a player&#39;s immediate environment. For example, conventional card games or puzzles may require playing surfaces that have a certain size. Further, both the conventional card games and the conventional puzzles tend to predetermine the numbers of players per game. These restrictions put limits on how the consumers may entertain and socialize by playing a game. 
   Thus, there exists a need for a card game that avoid or reduce the problems discussed above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, a kit and a method for playing a strategy card game is provided. The kit form of the invention includes a game kit that comprises a set of cards selected from a group consisting of a play card, a pointer card, and a blocker card. Each card has a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a design superimposed by a configuration. The bottom layer is magnetized. The game kit further includes a set of point markers. The configuration includes dotted lines. The play card includes dotted lines forming one or more open polygons. The pointer card includes dotted lines forming one or more closed polygons. 
   In accordance with further aspects of this invention, a method form of the invention includes a method of playing a strategy card game. The method includes selecting a playing surface formed from a magnetic element. The method further includes placing a card from a set of cards that is selected from a group consisting of a play card, a pointer card, and a blocker card. Each card has a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has a design superimposed by one or more lines with a pattern. The bottom layer is magnetized. The act of placing the card on the playing surface includes forming a closed polygon in which a point marker can fit. The act of placing the card on the playing surface further includes placing the card in a position selected from a group consisting of parallel and perpendicular so as to touch other cards in play. The act of placing the card includes refraining from overlapping the card by more than 50% of another card underneath. The act of placing the card includes avoiding overlapping a line that is a part of a formed polygon. The act of placing the card includes inhibiting the placement of the card to form a void showing through from any playing surface under the puzzle. The act of placing the card includes refraining from placing the card outside the perimeter of the playing surface. And the act of placing includes avoiding a formed polygon. The method further comprises ending the strategy card game when one of the players is first to run out of point markers. The method yet further comprises ending the strategy card game when there are no more cards available to pick. The method as yet further comprises ending the strategy card game when there is no more playing surface on which to place cards. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where: 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B illustrate a set of conventional game cards and a piece of a conventional puzzle; 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a set of game cards, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a number of game cards in play, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 3A–3K  are process diagrams illustrating a method of playing a card game, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Various embodiments of the present invention provide a card game that allows two or more players to participate. Any suitable playing surface can be used (such as vertical or horizontal) as long as the playing surface formed from a magnetic element, such as iron. At the conclusion of the game, an esthetic, random image is created by the plurality of played cards. 
   A portion of a game kit  200  includes a number of cards, such as cards  202 – 228 . See  FIG. 2A . Each card  202 – 228  is formed by a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer has an arbitrary design which is superimposed with dotted-line configurations. The bottom layer is magnetized. Each card  202 – 228  is one of three types: a play card, a point card, or a blocker card. Cards  202 – 210 ,  214 , and  224  are play cards. Cards  212 ,  216 ,  218 , and  220  are point cards. Card  222  is a blocker card. Play cards  202 – 210 ,  214 , and  224  are superimposed by dotted-line configurations. Play card  202  has a superimposed dotted-line configuration shaped like a numeral 1. A dotted-line configuration shaped like a numeral 2 is superimposed over play card  204 . A numeral 3 dottted-line configuration shape superimposes over play card  206 . Play card  208  has a superimposed dotted-line configuration that shapes like a numeral 4. A dotted-line configuration shaped like a numeral 5 is superimposed over play card  210 . Play card  214  has a superimposed dotted-line configuration that shapes like a numeral 7. A dotted-line configuration in the shape of numeral 12 is superimposed over play card  224 . A dotted-line configuration shaped like a numeral 6 is superimposed over point card  212 . Point card  216  has a superimposed dotted-line configuration shaped like a numberal 8. A numeral 9 dotted-line configuration shape superimposes over point card  218 . A dotted-line configuration shaped like a numeral 0 is superimposed over point card  220 . A blocker card  222  has a single dot configuration. These dotted-line configurations for cards  202 – 224  are for illustrative purposes only and any suitable dotted-line configuration can be used. 
   Another portion of the game kit  200  includes a playing surface  292  that is preferrably formed from a magnetic element material, such as iron. See  FIG. 2B . A third portion of the game kit  200  includes one or more point markers in varying shapes and sizes. A point marker  274  circular in shape is shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     FIG. 2B  illustrates a game in play. A deck  290  comprises cards  204 – 212 ,  216 – 220 , and  224  that are facing down. Playing card  214  is drawn from the deck  290  and is placed on the playing surface  292  by a first player. A second player draws playing card  202  from the deck  290  and situates the dotted-line configuration of the play card  202  against the play card  214  to form an enclosed polygon  272 A and create an open polygon  272 B. Once a player forms an enclosed polygon, such a player scores a point by finding a point marker that can fit inside the enclosed polygon. The second player places the point marker  274  inside the enclosed polygon  272 A and the play passes next to the first player. The first player draws the blocker card  222  from the deck  290 . To prevent the second player from potentially creating another enclosed polygon from the open polygon  272 B and score more points, the first player situates the blocker card  222  to line up the single dot on the blocker card  222  and obstruct a portion of the dotted-line configuration of the playing card  214  that form a side of the open polygon  272 B. Each blocker card preferably has one dot on the face of the card. To block an opposing player&#39;s opportunity to create a shape on his next turn, a player places a blocker card to prevent a configuration that has the likelihood of becoming a shape. This is done in such a way that it breaks up one or more sides of an enclosable polygon and prevents the player&#39;s opponents from closing the shape in a single turn. 
   Each player plays preferably with a set of five point markers that are preferably of different sizes and shapes. The bigger the point marker is, the more points it represents. To score points in the game, players attempt to form polygons large enough to fit one of their five point markers. The playing surface  292  is preferably a magnetically attracting surface. This can be anything from a game board to the side of a refrigerator. There is a rule preference that all cards placed on the playing surface, in unison and individually, cannot in any way exceed the size and shape of the playing surface. This means that plays in the game will not only be influenced by whether there is the availability to create a shape, but also whether or not there is enough playable surface area on which to place a card. Narrow and smaller surfaces, as found on the sides of pick-up trucks and mini-refrigerators, would likely be more challenging to compete on than garage doors and full size refrigerators. 
   Multiple players can be accommodated by various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2B , the object of the game is for players to earn points by creating enclosed polygons from cards  202 – 224  that are large enough into which to fit one of the point markers. The player with the most points is the victor at the conclusion of a game. 
     FIGS. 3A–3K  illustrate a method  300  for a strategy card game. From a start block, the method  300  proceeds to a set of method steps  302 , defined between a continuation terminal (“terminal A”) and an exit terminal (“terminal B”). The set of method steps  302  describes how the players set up the game and take turns to place cards on the playing surface to form polygons large enough into which the point markers will fit. 
   From terminal A ( FIG. 3B ), the method  300  proceeds to block  312  where the players choose a playing surface to play the game. See block  312 . For example, the players can choose to play on the door of a refrigerator. Next, the players determine the manner of dealing the cards. See block  314 . For example, the cards may be dealt by each player picking up a single card, per turn, from a face-down deck of cards. Finally, the players determine the order of their participation in the game. See block  316 . For example, the players can flip a coin to see who goes first. The winner of each coin flip will go first. 
   Then, the method  300  proceeds to a set of method steps  318 , defined between a continuation terminal (“terminal A 1 ”) and an exit terminal (“terminal B 1 ”). The set of method steps  318  describes how the players take turns to place cards on the playing surface to form polygons large enough to fit the point markers in. 
   From terminal Al ( FIG. 3C ), the method  300  proceeds to block  320 , where the active player (a player is an active player when it is his or her turn to pick and place a card) picks a card from the top of a card deck that is face down. See block  320 . Then the method  300  proceeds to a test to determine whether the card picked is a play card. See decision block  322 . If the answer to the test is NO, the method  300  proceeds to terminal A 2 . If the answer to the test is YES, the method  300  proceeds to another test to determine whether there is an open polygon on the playing surface. See decision block  324 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to terminal A 3 . If the answer is YES, the method  300  proceeds to terminal A 4 . 
   From terminal A 2  ( FIG. 3D ), the method  300  proceeds to test if the card picked is a blocker card. See decision block  326 . If the answer is NO, then this card is a point card, and the active player may place this point card anywhere on the playing surface. See block  328 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal B 1 . 
   If the answer to the test in decision block  326  is YES, then this card is a blocker card. The method  300  then proceeds to another test to determine whether the blocker card will be the first card on the playing surface. See decision block  330 . If the answer is NO, the active player may use this card as a blocker card or as a play card on the playing surface. See block  332 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal B 1 . If the answer is YES, the active player may use the blocker card as a point card or a play card on the playing surface. See block  334 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal B 1 . 
   From terminal A 3  ( FIG. 3E ), the active player places the card in an orientation such that a dot from a line of dots on the card aligns with a dot from another line of dots on another card. See block  336 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal B 1 . 
   From terminal A 4  ( FIG. 3F ), the active player places the card in an orientation such that a dot from a line of dots on the card aligns with a dot from another line of dots on another card. See block  338 . The active player also places the card in such an orientation with other cards as to create a closed polygon. See block  340 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal B 1 . From terminal B 1 , the method  300  enters terminal B. 
   From terminal B, the method  300  proceeds to a set of method steps  304 , defined between a continuation terminal (“terminal C”) and an exit terminal (“terminal D”). The set of method steps  304  describes the restrictions of the game that define valid and invalid placements of cards. 
   From terminal C ( FIG. 3G ), the method  300  proceeds to a series of tests. The first test is to determine whether the card is not placed parallel or perpendicular, nor touching other cards on the playing surface. See decision block  342 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to the second test to determine whether the card, if a blocker card or a play card, is placed away from other cards already in play. See decision block  344 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to the third test to determine whether any card overlaps more than 50% of the card underneath it. See decision block  346 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to terminal C 1 . If the answer to any of these tests is YES, the method  300  proceeds to terminal C 2 . 
   From terminal C 1  ( FIG. 3H ), the method  300  proceeds to another series of tests. The first test is to determine whether any card overlaps any lines that form a polygon. See decision block  348 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to the second test to determine whether any card is only partially on the playing surface. See decision block  350 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to the third test to determine whether there is any hole in the puzzle. Undesired holes occur when the cards are placed in such a way that sections of the playing surface show through the puzzle. See decision block  352 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to terminal C 3 . If the answer from any of these tests is YES, the method  300  proceeds to terminal C 2 . 
   From terminal C 2  ( FIG. 3I ), the method  300  proceeds to block  354 , where the active player corrects the mistake by picking up the most recently placed card, inserting it back into the deck of cards and passing the game to the next player in line. See block  354 . The method  300  then loops back to terminal A 1  where the next player starts his or her turn by picking a card from the deck of cards. 
   From terminal C 3  ( FIG. 3J ), the method  300  proceeds to test whether any newly formed shape(s) may fit the available point markers. See decision block  356 . If the answer to the test is YES, the active player places the proper point marker in the shape. See block  358 . The method  300  then proceeds to terminal D. If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds directly to terminal D. 
   From terminal D, the method  300  proceeds to a set of method steps  306 , defined between a continuation terminal (“terminal E”) and an exit terminal (“terminal F”). The set of method steps  306  describes the process where the results of the game are determined and the game ends. 
   From terminal E ( FIG. 3K ), the method  300  proceeds to decide whether any player is out of point markers. See decision block  362 . If the answer is YES, that player is the winner, and the game concludes. See block  368 . If the answer is NO, the method  300  proceeds to decide whether the deck of cards or the playing surface has run out. See decision blocks  364  and  366 . If the answer to any of the tests in decision blocks  364  and  366  is YES, the game ends, and the player who has the highest points is the winner. There can be a tie if two or more players have same points. See block  368 . If the answers to all the three tests in decision blocks  362 ,  364 , and  366  are NO, the game moves on with the next player. The method  300  proceeds to terminal A 1  where the next player picks a card to play the game. Various embodiments of the present invention can be implemented also as a video game or a software game that can be played on a computer or a cellular phone. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.