An Improved Game.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
An Improved Game.
We, CONRAD BUTTGENBACH of No 21, Reinoldstrasse, and JOHANN MARX, of 13
KI Budengasse both of Cologne on the Rhine, in the German Empire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement.
This invention relates to a combination game in the form of cards, of cardboard or
other suitable material, which, owing to its peculiar arrangement, allows a variety of
games to be played therewith, and is designed so that according to the rules under
which the various games are played they may require great intellectual skill or
ordinary attention, so as to suit all tastes and all classes.
In order that this invention may be the better understood, we will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon.
Figures 1 and 2 show cards illustrating how the vowels and consonants thereon
may be distinguished for easy reference by different designs.
Figure 3 shows a series of 24 cards illustrating the system of assigning a value to
each card by which the distinguishing letter is associated with a certain arithmetical
number.
:
Figure 4 is a similar illustration of a series of 25 cards.
It will be seen from the drawings that the various letters of the alphabet are
printed or otherwise produced on the cards in such a manner that the vowels are
distinguished from the consonants through different ornamental designs or they may
be distinguished by different colouring in order that they may be more easily
recognised by the players, when searching for letters to obtain a combination to form
a word as hereinafter described in the rules of the game. In the upper left hand
corner of each card the letter appearing on the latter is repeated on a reduced scale,
so that a number of cards may be held closely together without interfering with ease
of inspection and sorting and a number is added which expresses the value of the
card as hereinafter explained.
The cards are printed in halves, similar to so-called French playing-cards, i.e., so
that one half side of the face of the card is similar to the other half side of the card in
order to facilitate inspection and sorting of the cards.
A complete pack comprises conveniently the following cards.
All consonants are contained twice in the pack. The five vowels, a, e, i, o, u are
each contained three times and diphthongs or modified vowels may be contained once
each.
The point value of the various cards is suitably arranged according to the following

page_text: According to this rule the game may be played by two or more players, and one
set of an alphabet is used, i.e. 26 cards.
According to the number of the players one or more of these cards, preferably
rare letters such as X Q Y, are placed aside, so that the number of cards will divide
equally between the players. If there are 26 cards and there are three, four or six
players, then two cards are omitted and 24 cards are used. When the cards have
been mixed and dealt, the first player plays a card, for instance B. The game is
that the succeeding players add a card each successively and endeavour that by
their card some noun is formed with the cards on the table. In the formation of such
noun the player is not bound to adhere to the order in which the letters or cards have
been played, but he may arrange the letters in any manner.
The game may be
rendered more difficult or more easy, according to the greater or less minimum
number of letters of which the word is required to consist, by previous mutual
consent. When the player, who can form a word with the addition of his card, has
informed the other players of this, and has given proof thereof if desired, and when
the other players agree that such word conforms to the rule previously laid down or
agreed to, the player who has formed the word can collect all the cards which have
been played and use them in continuation of the game. It will be found convenient
to confine the words to be formed to nouns including those adapted from other
languages, and to exclude foreign languages. It is clear that the conditions under
which the game is played may be greatly varied thus increasing the interest in the
game.
For instance, supposing there are four players, whom we will call 1, 2, 3 and 4,
and who play successively the following cards:-
1X, 2 Q, 3: W, 4: D, 1: Y, 2: V, 3: Z, 4:0, 1: R; the player 1 will
announce that he can form the noun "word," before placing the card R on the
table, supposing of course that four letters are the minimum number of which a noun
is permitted to be formed. The player 1 then collects all the cards played, and uses
them in the continuation of the game.
Of course it will be permissible to form words having more than the minimum
number of letters.
When the game is continued in the above
arrive when all players, except one, have lost
all the cards in his possession will be the winner.
is especially suitable when there are two players.
described manner, the moment will
their cards, and the player who has
This method of playing the game
are used.
One set of the whole alphabet, each vowel twice_extra, and further about nine or
ten of the more usual consonants extra.
Of course the number of cards used will be calculated so that it will divide equally
between all the players.
When the cards have been dealt, the several players form their letters to nouns of
at least three letters each, and place the cards, thus combined to words, in front of
themselves. The value of the points of those cards which have not been formed into
words are added, and debited to the respective players. The player, whose account
first reaches a predetermined number, say 50 or 100, has lost..

page_text: THIRD RULE.
The pack is composed in the same manner as under rule 2. This game is suitable
for from two to six players and is played as follows:-
Each player receives at first five cards, and endeavours to form a word therewith
containing at least four letters. If he can do this he places the combined cards in
front of himself, otherwise he throws all his cards to the remainder of the pack. Any
cards not used in a combination are also thrown to the unused remainder of the pack.
The whole of the cards not previously used in combinations are then dealt afresh and
these operations are continued until all cards have been used up in combinations.
The points of the latter are then added together and credited to the respective
players who formed the combinations.
The player who can form a word of five letters receives a special credit or honour,
by doubling the total point value of the cards thus combined.
The player whose account reaches a certain total first, say 300, is the winner, or if
previously agreed, the accounts may be settled according to the numbers of their
points.
Or 6 cards may be dealt to each player, and the extra credit or "honour" is then
accorded to any word or words containing six letters.
FOURTH RULE.
This game is suitable for from three to eight players and is played with two
complete alphabetical sets of cards. The number of cards used of the two sets is
also arranged so as to divide equally between the players. One set of cards is placed
on the table, faces upward, so that the cards form a square or other plane figure. The
other set of cards is then equally divided between the players, care having been taken
that the letters used in the one set correspond exactly with the other set. The letters
of the set lying on the table are then read off in a certain succession. A player who
has a letter in his hand, which is being read off from the set on the table, places the
card, bearing such letter, face downward on the card on the table bearing such letter.
The player who first disposes of his cards is the winner of the deal. The other
players are debited with the total point value of the cards left in their hands. The
player whose account reaches a certain predetermined number first, say 100, is the
loser of the game.
Or the accounts may be settled according to the number of their
points if previously agreed.
FIFTH RULE.
This rule is also applicable to two or more players and requires also a number of

page_text: ing to the number of their points if previously agreed. It will be easily understood
that these rules may be greatly varied and others added.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Means for playing a combination game consisting of cards or tablets each of which
bears a letter of the alphabet such letter appearing one or more times on the said
card, the vowels being easily distinguished from the consonants by being of different
design or different colour, each letter has a point value expressed by a figure added
thereto so that the letters, and figures denoting their values, can be read in two
directions the two halves of the face being divided by a line or other device.
Dated this 9th day of October 1897.
FELL & JAMES.
Agents for the Applicants.