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ultimate loser
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History: After getting really tired of playing asshole/president,
we sat down and worked out a new game that is not simply
the application of a general use algorithm to a completely
random deal.
And, Ultimate Loser was born.
This game has evolved over the course of a week from
a moronically simple game, to something that is now slightly
too complex for us to handle after we have played for an
hour. Rules have been worked in and removed with this
factor in mind, until we have reached the final version.
We hope you enjoy it is much as we do.
If you love this game, please respond to:
wpowers@nortel.ca
Requirements:
1 deck of cards
2+ players
Object:
To not be the last player with cards (like asshole).
Play:
Cards are dealt to all players such that all players have
the same number of cards AND at least 1 card is left over.
For example, with 3 players, 17 cards are dealt to each
and 1 card remains; with 4 players, 12 cards are dealt to
each player, and 4 cards remain. The spare card(s) are set
in a neutral area of the table, and a single spare card is
turned up. Additional spare cards are not made visible to
players. Optionally, a joker may be included to work out
the math such that all cards are in play. With 2 players,
13 cards are randomly dealt to each player.
Play begins with the person of the left of last hand's
Ultimate Loser. Play is clockwise, and in tricks.
The lead may be a single card, a pair, 3 of a kind, 4 of a
kind, or a straight-flush of at least three cards (ie.
3,4,5 of clubs). Play continues in a clockwise direction
with each successive player choosing to play the same type
of combination (ie. a pair), choosing to pass, or choosing
to pass and exchange 1 card in their hand with the card
exposed during to deal (the card set to the side). In
cases where a player chooses to exchange a card with the
exposed card, the card set down by the player is the new
exposed card, and may be picked up by another player.
It is important to note that players do not have to beat
the previous player in order to play. Players only have
to use the same combination of cards (pair, straight, etc).
When a straight-flush is played, on straight-flushes of
equal length may be played (eg. 4 long, 5 long, etc).
After each player has played, passed, or exchanged; the cards
are removed from play and the player who had the highest
cards wins the trick, and leads. In cases of a tie, 2 players
each play a single ace for example, the player who first
played the highest card wins. In cases where the person
who wins the trick does not have any cards left, the second
best person (accounting for the tie rule) wins the lead.
A person who passes is not considered to have played (obviously).
In the extreme case where all of the remaining players passed
on the lead, the lead is determined by playing Paper-Scissors-
Rock.
Penalties:
The loser of each trick must take 1 drink. In cases of a tie
for the loss, the tie rule is not applied. Both players drink.
Any player who passes is considered to lose the trick.
When only one player has cards left to play, the ULTIMATE LOSER
has been determined. The Ultimate Loser must drink 1/2 of
a full beverage (ie. half a beer), and must then deal the next
hand. In cases where players run out of cards at the same
time, the tie rule is applied, and only the loser of the
trick is the ULTIMATE LOSER.
All drink on a FourPlay (all of a numbered card).
No other penalties/bonuses exist.
Notes:
We had a LOSER SCRAPE rule, but it seemed to prove to complicated
for the loser to always be drinking and scraping. It slowed
play too much. We then tried a WINNER SCRAPE rule, which worked
almost as poorly. We now use the SOMEBODY SCRAPE rule.
The Paper-scissors-rock rule has been a point of debate. A
couple of us love it (we win a lot), and a couple hate it (they
always lose at it). It developed when we realized that there
was an advantage given to passing, if we let the next person
take control of leads. Since we prefer a game the requires
people to consider the cards they play in terms of drinking
and in terms of controlling the game, we refused to let the
lead move to a person who does not play a card. With this in
mind, players will sometimes choose to pass/drink instead of
playing in order to try to control the game when their low
cards might win.
The penalty is enough, if it is enforced correctly. In reality,
we only use of penalty of about 4 drinks for the Ultimate Loser.
The drinks taken along the way do most of the damage (with
3 people, you could drink as many as about 10 before getting
the final penalty).
The Gin card (exposed card, nicknamed the Gin card for it's
resemblance to Gin Rummy) is crucial. A lousy hand can be
greatly improved with some key passes. The randomness of the
deal is lowered, and card playing ability is emphasisized.
Likewise, the straight-flush rule is crucial. The Gin card
will lead to some amazing straights (8 long for example).
Again, lousy hands can be converted into something useful.
We have not used the skip rule. It seems to powerful a weapon
in a trick based game.
Hints:
Always play. Not winning is a heck of a lot better than
losing.
If you can't win, and look like the loser - play your lowest
card. A drink now might save one later.
If resigned to losing the game, make others drink along the
way.
Use the Gin card carefully, what you put down might help
someone else more than you were helped by what you picked up.
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