Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Playing Cards And Card Games You Can Do While On Quarantine At Home


Are you bored at home during quarantine?  Tired of scrolling through social media?  Is there nothing interesting to watch on TV?  If you said ‘yes’ to any of these questions, perhaps, a rousing game of cards will pique your interest. But, which card game should you play?

The following are three excellent card games you can play at home while on quarantine:

 
Crazy Eights

Before anything else, make sure that you have a complete set of playing cards at home. If not, you can buy online from trusted retailers. Use keywords, like ‘buy playing cards Australia,’ to help you find reputable online sellers.

After acquiring a deck of cards, the first game you can play with your family is Crazy Eights. You can play this game with a maximum of eight players. But, you can’t play this game alone. The main objective of this card game is to be the first player in the group to get rid of the cards in your hand.

Here’s a quick rundown of how to play this game:

  • The dealer deals five face-down cards to each player, starting with the dealer’s left. The rest of the cards will be at the center of the table.
  • The first player turns the first card up from the deck at the center. If that individual picks up an eight, they bury that card in the middle of the pack. Then, the next player picks up the next card.
  • All face-up cards become the ‘starter’ pile. Also, note that each player will place one face-up card on the starter pile. But, the catch here is that each player needs to match the suit of the top card on the starter pile.
  • If the player is unable to play a card, they draw from the deck until a card becomes playable.
  • A player wins if they’re the first participant without cards in their hands.


Poker

You’d normally see Poker games in physical and online casinos. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t play this famous card game at home. Still, you may need to purchase a set of chips to help with the betting.

Also, note that several Poker variations exist. But, if you want to learn one type of Poker game, consider it to be Texas Hold’em because this tends to be the easiest to learn among all the types.

Texas Hold’em Poker might seem challenging for beginners, but the rules are relatively easy to understand.

First, a dealer deals two cards per player before showing three face-up cards to the group. Before the dealer draws the next card, they’ll ask if anyone wants to do anything with their initial bet piles. Note that players can choose to do the following after each drawn card after the initial three-card draw:

Check – do nothing or maintain the number of chips gambled for the round
Raise – put more chips into the betting pool or ‘pot’
Call – match a player's raised chips by the same amount
Fold – Give up the round and all the chips gambled for that particular round
The main objective of Poker is to have the best possible combination using the two cards in your hand and the cards shown on the table. These potential combinations are (from highest to lowest in rank):

Royal Straight Flush – a sequence of ace, king, queen, jack, and ten, with each card having the same suit
Straight Flush – any sequence that bears the same suit (e.g., ace, one, two, three, four)
Four Of A Kind – four cards with the same values, such as four queen cards
Full House – one pair and a three of a kind
Flush – all cards with the same suit
Straight – any sequence regardless of suit
Three Of A Kind – three cards with the same numerical value
Two Pair – one example would be two pairs of nines and fives
High Card – no combination; a player can still win with the highest card in their hand
 

Solitaire

Solitaire might already be part of the digital space, but you may still find playing this classic card game with tangible playing cards. Moreover, you can play this game alone, which can help you pass the time during the quarantine.

If you’re new to Solitaire, fret not because it’s not challenging to learn how to play this particular card game. You only need to know that the objective of the game is to release each card onto the foundations using the correct sequence.

Hence, you start building the foundation with the aces of each suit. Then, you build each foundation by placing cards, like ones, twos, threes, and so on, until you reach the end of the pile (which is the king). You win the game if you can put all cards into their respective foundations.


Conclusion

Crazy Eights, Poker, and Solitaire are three of the many card games you can play at home while you’re on quarantine. You can play these games with your family, friends, or yourself. These card games can help you pass the time at home while the world is trying to figure out a solution for the pandemic. 

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Cards Against Humanity launches new ‘Family Edition’ in printable free beta


Cards Against Humanity has announced a new Family Edition of its popular phrase-matching card game, and you can download and print the public beta of the game for free right now.

You can download two PDFs of the beta: one 21-page PDF with small square cards and one 47-page PDF with larger rectangular cards. If you want to play, all you need to do is print out the PDF and cut out the cards.

Many of the regular Cards Against Humanity cards aren’t appropriate for most children, but the company says this version of the game is designed “for people ages 8 and up” and that the content is “PG-rated.” The game has also been play-tested with families, according to Cards Against Humanity.

Even though the cards may not be quite as adult as they are in the regular game, they ones in this beta are still creative, funny, and often absurd. And there are still some “dirty” cards, though “‘crap’ and ‘boobies’ is about as bad as it gets,” Cards Against Humanity says in an FAQ on the product’s site.

Cards Against Humanity plans to eventually sell the game this fall, but wanted to let families who might be quarantined because of the coronavirus pandemic play it now so that they “have something to do besides giving more money to the Disney Corporation.”

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

3 Picks From Board Game Geek’s Spring Convention That Anyone can play


Last year, the biggest online fan base of the board games The Board Game Geeks selected the winners of the 2017 Golden Geeks Awards. And the winner was Gloomhaven, the diceless dungeon crawler. Playing board games in this modern century can seem quite old-fashioned. We have people all over with their headsets on playing virtual reality games. And while you can enjoy games with virgin casino promotional code 2018, you would be surprised to note just how popular board games still are.

People still believe in social interaction and getting together around a table. This is why Bthe oard Geek Games started in Dallas, and in few years, has grown so large that they already have like three conventions each year.

The Top Board Game Peeks for You

The spring convention a few weeks ago had brought together over 1000 new board games. The following are some of the few board games that are fun and easy for anyone to play.

1. Werewords (Bezier words)
This game has been a classic for campfires. Ted Alspach and Bezier games decided to add on some simple and fun elements to it. The new franchise adds a whole new element from just the regular game. In this game the” villagers” have to guess a secret word that only the “town mayor” and “village seer” know. They will have to keep on answering yes or no questions. That can either be easy or plain ridiculous.

The villagers have to keep on guessing the correct answer with the help of the seer before time runs out. However, the werewolves try to keep the villagers off the track by asking questions that will not lead to the right answer by not revealing their identity. Once the answer is found or time runs out the villagers have a chance to identify who the werewolf is and that is when they win. Its pretty much that simple.

2. Stop Thief (Restoration games)
This 70’s game was resurrected by former NASA scientist Robert Doyle. The game simply turns the game players into bounty hunters who have to catch some thieves.  The thieves commit various crimes by robbing from the town square that has a bank, museum and some stores. The only clues the bounty hunters get from the thieves is the noises they make while trying to flee.

The noises can be in form of footsteps, broken glasses or creaking windows. In the 70’s the noises were made from a recording but now times have changed. A smartphone app has been created to allow the player to predict where the thief is. This is pretty much the easiest game to come across.

3. Panic Mansion ( Blue Orange Games)
Spiel des Jahres manufactured a board game in which parents and children can play in the same level field. Every player holds an eight piece rectangular shaped house. It entails oddly  strewed objects such as eyeballs, ghosts and snakes. Moreover,there is a human piece who is known as the “adventurer”.

A card is drawn and the player has to make the adventurer find the treasure chests in the rectangular house. They have to ensure that every treasure is found in the right room.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

TING Card Game Uses Israeli Ingenuity To Spark Creativity


You’ve read the book, you’ve seen the videos. Now you can play The Innovation Nations Games (TING) to get your creative juices flowing with Israeli-style ingenuity.

The $18 two-in-one card game – eventually to be a series of physical games plus a mobile version – was conceived by game developer Sharon Gal Or of Galorian Creations as an interactive, educational activity and dialogue-starter for ages seven and up.

“Innovation cannot be taught from textbooks but from experience, and play is the best teaching experience,” Gal Or tells ISRAEL21c.

Each of the cards has fun facts about Israeli startups and innovations grouped by category. They emphasize how Israel shares its technologies through mutual cooperation with other countries.

TING players are encouraged to think of ways they might put these innovations into practice with the help of two games: TripleX and Quartets++.

The goal of TripleX is to use your cards to brainstorm as many innovative ideas as possible. Quartets++ is like Go Fish, in which players try to complete a set of four cards. Bonus points are awarded for creative ideas based on the cards.

You’ve read the book, you’ve seen the videos. Now you can play The Innovation Nations Games (TING) to get your creative juices flowing with Israeli-style ingenuity.

The $18 two-in-one card game – eventually to be a series of physical games plus a mobile version – was conceived by game developer Sharon Gal Or of Galorian Creations as an interactive, educational activity and dialogue-starter for ages seven and up.

“Innovation cannot be taught from textbooks but from experience, and play is the best teaching experience,” Gal Or tells ISRAEL21c.

Each of the cards has fun facts about Israeli startups and innovations grouped by category. They emphasize how Israel shares its technologies through mutual cooperation with other countries.

TING players are encouraged to think of ways they might put these innovations into practice with the help of two games: TripleX and Quartets++.

The goal of TripleX is to use your cards to brainstorm as many innovative ideas as possible. Quartets++ is like Go Fish, in which players try to complete a set of four cards. Bonus points are awarded for creative ideas based on the cards.

“TING allows people from all over the world to enjoy Israel and witness Israel as a country with great people, a great atmosphere, great vibes, and moreover great innovations,” said Prof. Evaristo Doria, who introduced TING to his international business students at Georgia State University.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry sent 100 TING card games to its ambassadors in Europe ahead of Israel’s 70th anniversary in April. The Israeli ambassador in Oslo ordered another 300 sets to be played at the Independence Day party he hosted in Norway.

Gal Or gave workshops to visiting international delegations at the College of Management and at the Tower of David, and presented TING at the Israel EdTech Summit in Tel Aviv.

Earlier this week, more than 100 Beersheva students played a mass TING game organized by Tech7 Juniors, a branch of the 14,000-member Tech7 innovation and entrepreneurship community of the Negev.

“In a region rife with challenges, Israelis have honed the art of problem-solving,” says Adi Kotler of Tech7 Juniors. “By asking new questions, we can find the courage and creativity to find new answers. TING makes the learning process exciting, interesting and effective.”

Gal Or says additional events are evolving through partnerships with Israeli and overseas organizations and agencies such as The Jewish Agency’s school twinning program. He envisions TINGathons in cities around the world.

“My goal is to grow a global network of cultural/goodwill ambassadors through innovation and play,” says Gal Or, who has invented more than 100 toys and games and licensed dozens to companies including TRU, Simba Dickie and Funtastic.

Available in Hebrew and English versions, TING card games are printed and packaged by clients of ILAN, an Israeli foundation for people with neuromuscular disabilities. The games can be shipped worldwide.

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Thursday, May 3, 2018

There’s now a RuPaul’s Drag Race card game, and it’s sickening


It’s time to play your best hand, kitty girls.

If you’ve ever found yourself debating which RuPaul’s Drag Race contestant is the ultimate queen – and let’s be honest, who hasn’t? – then this brand new Top Trumps-style card game may be just what you need for your next kiki.

“Drag Chumps is a card game that allows you and your fishy friends to battle it out with some of your favourite queens from the show,” explain the creators of Pop Chumps’ new Drag Race-themed edition.

“Each Ru-Girl has been illustrated in their most iconic moments with categories such as Runway Rating and Lip-sync Level, the game puts you straight into the workroom to see if you can become America’s Next Drag Superstar.”


There are two packs of Drag Race themed cards, each priced at £9.99 on the Pop Chumps website, containing all of your favourite queens.

Volume one features fan favourites including Shangela, Adore Delano, Bianca Del Rio, Laganja Estranja, Sharon Needles, Valentina, Bob The Drag Queen, Jujubee, Tatianna, Latrice Royale, and the iconic Stacy Layne Matthews.

Meanwhile, volume two introduces Alaska, Chad Michaels, Sasha Velour, Violet Chachki, Courtney Act, Trixie Mattel, Willam, Peppermint, Jasmine Masters, Katya, Gia Gunn, Jinkx Monsoon and many more to the game.

“We felt as if there wasn’t a brand out there that was using pop culture in a playable format that people could have fun with before a night out or on the mega bus up to Leeds,” the creators told Gay Times.

“We just wanted to merge the sense of nostalgia of card games that you grew up with, with something embedded in popular culture and Drag Race felt like something people would be gagging for. It’s the game for the new dysfunctional family.”

Well, we know what we’ll be doing during our Pride pre-drinks now…

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Best Solitaire Apps for Android

Good Solitaire apps have a lot to offer, even if you have a Solitaire app installed on your phone already. Free Solitaire apps have modes and game types that you probably aren’t familiar with and don’t cost you anything up-front. The best paid solitaire apps also have new game modes and gameplay options. Because you pay for them, they don’t have ads or annoying in-app purchases.

Don’t get stuck without something to do on your commute or at the store. Download these best solitaire apps and best free solitaire apps to your smartphone or today.


Best Solitaire Apps for Android

These great Solitaire apps work on Samsung Galaxy phones or any Android smartphone with the Google Play Store installed. They also work on your Android tablet.

Solitaire by Zynga is the best free Solitaire app you can download on Android.

This Solitaire app includes 1 card draw and 3 card draw. That way, you can up the difficulty when 1 card draw gets repetitive for you. Two extra modes, Klondike Solitaire and Patience, let you mix things up when you’re ready to try something entirely different.

What Solitaire by Zynga lacks in extra modes, it makes up for with tons of features. You can undo any move you make and change the size of your cards. Leaderboards let you compare your stats with your friends and family.

Solitaire by Zynga is an ad-supported game in the Google Play Store. Because of that, it doesn’t have any in-app purchases.


Best Paid Solitaire App for Android: The Solitaire Megapack

If you don’t like ads and want more games, definitely buy the Solitaire Megapack.

You get tons of modes with this great Solitaire app. It includes Klondike, Patience and Windows Solitaire. You can play 1 or 3 card draw too. The Solitaire Megapack lets you change how you’re scored, so you can try something different when you’re ready.

Switch to another game when you grow tired of Solitaire. The Solitaire Megapack has FreeCell, Golf, Spider, 3 Towers, Canfield, TriPeaks, Clock and Pyramid. It’s also stuffed with fan-favorite card games that you don’t get in other Solitaire apps, like Poker Square, Bowling, King’s Corner, Grandma’s Game and Picture Gallery. Track how much your card game skills are improving with built-in stats tracking.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Here's What We Know About Artifact, Valve's New Card Game


Valve demoed its upcoming card game Artifact recently at its Seattle office and the details have begun pouring in. While Valve founder Gabe Newell reportedly called Blizzard’s Hearthstone the “benchmark” for online card games, Artifact sounds like it will be very different.

Previously, all we knew was that the game was inspired by Dota and as a result would have a board consisting of three different lanes. PC Gamer reports that in practice this means Artifact feels like playing three separate Hearthstone matches simultaneously. To make matters even more complicated, what happens on each of these separate lanes (which basically act like mini-game boards) can affect the others in various ways.

If you thought Artifact might be more straightforward and less complicated than Dota, I have some bad news: it seems like Dota crossed with Magic: The Gathering. It makes sense now that we know veteran MTG designer Richard Garfield has been working with Valve on the game since 2014. The game’s base set will consist of somewhere north of 280 cards and 44 different heroes, some of which will be straight from Dota. Valve has also confirmed to IGN that while you’ll be able to purchase card packs on the Steam marketplace, Artifact won’t be free-to-play. An actual price for the game hasn’t been announced yet, however. What we do know is people will be able to trade and sell their individual cards on the Steam marketplace, although Valve is trying to stress that the game won’t be pay-to-win.

Here’s what we know so far about how it will play based on reports by IGN and PC Gamer:

  • Decks will consist of a minimum of 40 cards and have five heroes, with up to three copies of each card allowed.
  • Cards will belong to one of four different colors—Red, Green, Black, and Blue—each set of which will have a distinctive style and can only be played in lanes where a hero of the same color is present.
  • Games start with each player designating a hero for each lane accompanied by some ally creeps, two more of which spawn every turn after.
  • Lanes start with a tower that has 40 health. When they die they’re replaced by an Ancient with 80 health. Lose two towers or one Ancient and it’s game over.
  • Each lane also has its own mana pool, starting at three and increasing by one every turn, which you can spend to play cards which cast spells, summon more creeps, or do other cool stuff.
  • When you play a card, your opponent will get a chance to respond with one of their own. After this back-and-forth, combat takes place, with whatever heroes and creeps you have on your side attacking the enemies directly in front of them (unless there’s nothing, in which case they attack the tower or Ancient).
  • After combat in one lane, the action shifts to the next until all three lanes have been played and the round comes to an end.
  • At the end of combat you collect gold for anything you’ve killed, which can be spent on items to equip your heroes during a shopping phase that occurs between rounds. You also draw two cards from your deck during this period.
  • Like in Dota, heroes have a limited number of slots for equipment. A special cloak might add to their health stat, while a magic dagger increases attack or siege damage against buildings.
  • Finally, when heroes die they aren’t gone for good. Instead they respawn after the next round and can be redeployed to whatever lane you decide most needs them.

Artifact is currently in closed beta on Steam, and it should go public by the end of this year. Then there’s an esports tournament scheduled for the first quarter of 2019, with plans to bring the game to iOS and Android sometime after that.