OBJECTIVE OF BARTOK: The objective of Bartok is to be the first player to discard all cards from your hand.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Any number of players
MATERIALS: One or more 52-card decks, and a flat surface.
TYPE OF GAME: Discarding Card Game
AUDIENCE: Any
OVERVIEW OF BARTOK
Bartok is a fun party style card game meant to be played until people wish to stop playing. There is no way to win Bartok, unless a rule is implemented for a win condition. It’s a Crazy Eights style game where players follow implemented rules to discard cards. The first player to discard all cards wins the hand.
Unlike most discard games though, Bartok evolves with each hand. The winner of each hand makes a rule to be followed in the next round. The longer you play, the more difficult it becomes to win and remember rules in order not to be penalized.
SETUP
To set up for Bartok a dealer will shuffle the deck(s) and deal each player 7 cards. The remaining cards go in the center of players as a draw pile and the topmost card is flipped to start the discard pile.
Card Rankings and Values
The game does not begin with a set ranking or value attached to cards, but players may implement these later if they become necessary.
GAMEPLAY
Gameplay starts simple enough. A player will discard a card from hand to the discard pile that either matches the suit or rank of the previous card discarded. If they cannot or choose not to do so they pull the top card from the draw deck.
As the game progressed rules will be added and certain cards may change the aspect of the game. If a player ever plays an illegal card that is determined by the other players collectively that player must draw one or more penalty cards from the draw pile.
Traditionally players do not get to ask questions regarding the rules during the game.
Once a player has a single card left in hand a player will declare “Bartok” so others may know.
Rule Examples
After each hand is completed the winner will add a new rule for the next hand. These rules can be anything from certain cards causing game mechanics to change or fun player requests when certain acts are completed.
For example, a player might have to say the name of the card out loud when they discard an even card. Players might have to reverse the play order when an Ace is played. 7s might become wild cards that can be played on any other card. The possibilities are endless.
If a new rule would contradict an old one, most people play that the old one is replaced by the new one.
END OF GAME
When a player discards their last card form hand, they have won the hand. They can implement a new rule for the next round and the next game can begin.
The game can be left by individuals whenever or the whole game can end once players decide they have had enough.
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