Geohash Card Game

This is a game invented by Nemo, Psud, Joanna, Andi and Kieran whilst at the Canberra hashpoint on 2008-June-01

The basic win state is to determine the values of two cards set aside at the start of the game. They represent the target long and lat.

Setup

After two cards are set aside (jokers not included), all cards are dealt out amongst all players.

Pair of cards

Two cards of the same face value (number), and same colour. eg, 4 of hearts and 4 of diamonds.

The players remove all pairs from their hand and discard them.

Gameplay

Early stages

Players in turn (starting left of the dealer, clockwise), ask any other player for a card from their hand. At this time in the game, they MUST ask for a card which they already have one of. If the asked player has the card (eg: black queen), then it is turned over. The asker has a pair which can now be discarded. If the askee does not have the requested card, then the asker picks one randomly from their hand. The asker asks twice per turn (does not have to be to the same askee).

This may be recognised as a variant of 'Go Fish'.

Mid game modifiers

• When any one player drops down to two cards, the requirement that the asked-for card be in the askers hand is dropped. You may now ask for ANY card from players in your two questions
• If a player has only one or two cards, you cannot 'fish' from their hand. They must still surrender a card if asked for directly however, and can be forced out of the game if they lose all their cards.

End game

At any time a player may 'declare' a card (from their hand) to the whole table. Challenging the table to prove that that card is NOT a long or lat card. They forfeit their next turn to ask this of only ONE card, so it is in fact a poor tactic. However they may declare two cards for proof for the win (if they are wrong, they have surrended two turns, but continue playing)

Alternatively, a player at ANY time may throw down the gauntlet to check the long and lat cards. They do not need to have the alternative long and lat cards in their hand to do this, but they DO forfeit their gameplay if they are wrong. The player names the cards they believe to be the long/lat cards, and checks. If wrong (either one or both), they are returned to hidden, and the players cards are shuffled and dealt amongst all other players.