Mentok

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Mentok is a point-scoring game, created as a hybrid of '''Go Fish''', and '''Blackjack'''
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{{TOCright}}
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Mentok is a point-scoring game, created as a hybrid of '''Go Fish''', and '''Blackjack''' (though it owes more to the Pontoon blackjack variant)
   
It is named after Judge '''Mentok The Mindtaker''' from [[Wikipedia:Harvey_Birdman%2C_Attorney_at_Law|Harvey Birdman]].
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It is named after [[Wikipedia:Mentok the Mind-Taker|Mentok the Mind-Taker]] from [[Wikipedia:Harvey_Birdman%2C_Attorney_at_Law|Harvey Birdman]].
   
The game indeed has an element of mindtaking (basic memory and deduction). The basic goal is to build a Blackjack hand (21 points) using methodology derived from Go Fish.
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The game does indeed has an element of mindtaking (basic memory and deduction). The basic goal is to build a 21point hand (blackjack/pontoon style) using methodology derived from Go Fish.
   
Note that this page uses 'meld' as terminogy borrowed from [[Mock]]
 
   
== Game play ==
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= The Game =
   
=== Setup ===
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A Game of Mentok consists of multiple rounds for 2-5 players. Players score points at the end of each round, and the game ends at 21 points.
Cards are dealt as follows:
 
   
Four cards to each players hand, and one open card on the table to each player. This table card is the start of your blackjack hand.
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== Lexicon ==
   
=== Play ===
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;Hand
You now start building your table hand using Go Fish techniques. So, so you ask another player for a card that you desire. If they have it, they HAVE to give it to you, and you HAVE to meld it to the tabe. If on the first round you ask for (and get) the card dealt on the table, you may split your hand blackjack style (ie, you now have two base cards), thus potentially doubling your possible total.
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:1. What you are dealt
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:2. What is on the table to be scored (also: 'table hand')
   
If the player you ask for a card doesn't have it, you have to take a card from the top of the deck, and you HAVE to meld it.
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;Round
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:The basic scoring unit of the game. Each round consists of a single scored hand per player.
   
'''Note that you cannot ask for just ''anything''. You can only ask for cards which are already 'yours'.''' ie, in your hand, or part of what you are building on the table. Thus what you ask for will reveal what cards you have to other players, possibly to their advantage. (And thus, Mindtaking!)
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;Game
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:A series of rounds, culminating with 21 game points for a player.
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  +
;Meld
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:Joining a card to the table hand(s).
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:*The usage of 'meld' here is based on usage in [[Mock]], rather than the more common usage of [[wikipedia:Meld (cards)]] in cards.
  +
  +
== Play ==
  +
Using a regular 52 deck, cards are dealt as follows:
  +
* Four cards to the hand of each player
  +
* One card open to the table for each player. This table card is the start of the players blackjack hand.
  +
  +
You now start building your table hand using Go Fish techniques. That is, you ask another player for a card that you desire, and if they have it, they HAVE to give it to you - from their hand only - and you HAVE to meld it to the table. If the player you ask for a card doesn't have it, you have to take a card from the top of the deck, and you meld that instead.
  +
  +
If on the first round you ask for (and get) the card dealt on the table, you may split your hand blackjack style (ie, you now have two base cards), thus potentially doubling your possible total. Note that you may only split once.
  +
  +
'''Note that you cannot ask for just ''anything''. Like Go Fish, you can only ask for cards which are currently in your sphere of influence.''' ie, in your hand, or part of what you are building on the table. Thus what you ask for may reveal what cards you have to other players, potentially to their advantage. (And thus, Mindtaking!)
   
 
The game moves quite fast since on every turn, a card IS melded to the table.
 
The game moves quite fast since on every turn, a card IS melded to the table.
   
When everyone sits on their cards (or has busted), points are scored.
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When everyone sits on their cards (or has busted), the round is over and points are scored.
   
 
=== Scoring ===
 
=== Scoring ===
At the end of each round, you get 1 game point for a card total of 17, 2 for 18, 3 for 19, 4 for 20 and 5 for 21.
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At the end of each round, cards still held are revealed (technically for purposes of detecting cheating, but mostly for banter and complaint about the dealer), and game points are scored thus:
In addition, a bonus point is awarded for true blackjack (21 in 2 cards), or for '5 and under' (ie, 5 cards or more, and 21 points or less). (thus 6 points are the maximum possible - 12 is the maximum possible if you are able to split your hand at the start of the game)
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{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border=1
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!|hand!!points
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|-
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|17||1
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|-
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|18||2
  +
|-
  +
|19||3
  +
|-
  +
|20||4
  +
|-
  +
|21||5
  +
|}
  +
  +
Bonuses:
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* A blackjack or pontoon (ie, 21 points in only 2 cards): bonus 1 point (so, 6 points total)
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* "five-and-under" (5-or-more cards, and 21-or-under points): bonus 1 point. (thus: a hand up to 16 in 5 cards will score 1 point, 17 scores 2, etc, up to 21 scores 6.
  +
  +
With a split hand, 12 points is the maximum possible in a single round!
  +
  +
Note that at this final scoring stage, you can choose to score on the cards held in your hand instead of the hand(s) on the table. This should only be considered a backup, as there is no direct control you can have on the cards you remain with. However, in-game hinting of cards in your possession (to encourage others to fish for it) is permitted in friendly games. (and the inventors of Mentok play no other type!). Remember that such hinting may well give away your intent to swap hands.
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  +
=== Penalties ===
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If a player is found to have cheated (eg, requesting cards outside their sphere), minimum penalty is a score of negative 5 points for that round. Repeat offenders at the discretion of the table.
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== Winning ==
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A game is won when a player reach 21 points. (Tied games are possible if two players reach 21 game points on the same round).
  +
  +
Whilst a game must last a minimum of 2 rounds, and has no technical limit, nost games last 4 or 5 rounds, with 3 to 7 are common enough with regular play.
   
Note that at this final scoring stage, you can choose to score on the cards remaining in your hand instead of the cards on the table. This is only ever a backup, as there is no direct control you can have on the cards you remain with. However, late-game hinting of a card in your possession (to encourage others to fish for it) is permitted in friendly games. (and the inventors of Mentok play no other type).
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Note that as the game score of 21 is reached, players may need to target a smaller point scoring hand in an individual round, so as to not bust out of the game. Players may deliberately have to bust their hand to ensure their game target remains below 21. (for eg: a player with a game score of 20, will only want a hand of 17, for 1 point to reach a game score of 21!
   
=== Winning ===
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== Extra Notes ==
The game is normally played in multiple rounds untill the threshold score of 21 is passed. (at the extreme case, this could be accomplished in as little as two games. We play for maximum points with 21 merely as a threshold. To adhere more closely to meta-blackjack, you may wish to play for a target of 21 game points - though anyone busting this way may continue playing, with their game points reset to zero.
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No reason offhand why more than 5 players cannot participate, but an additional deck is recommended (should the pickup deck be exhausted mid-round, that round is abandoned)
   
 
[[Category:Games]]
 
[[Category:Games]]

Latest revision as of 23:57, 26 December 2012

Contents

Mentok is a point-scoring game, created as a hybrid of Go Fish, and Blackjack (though it owes more to the Pontoon blackjack variant)

It is named after Mentok the Mind-Taker from Harvey Birdman.

The game does indeed has an element of mindtaking (basic memory and deduction). The basic goal is to build a 21point hand (blackjack/pontoon style) using methodology derived from Go Fish.


[edit] The Game

A Game of Mentok consists of multiple rounds for 2-5 players. Players score points at the end of each round, and the game ends at 21 points.

[edit] Lexicon

Hand
1. What you are dealt
2. What is on the table to be scored (also: 'table hand')
Round
The basic scoring unit of the game. Each round consists of a single scored hand per player.
Game
A series of rounds, culminating with 21 game points for a player.
Meld
Joining a card to the table hand(s).

[edit] Play

Using a regular 52 deck, cards are dealt as follows:

  • Four cards to the hand of each player
  • One card open to the table for each player. This table card is the start of the players blackjack hand.

You now start building your table hand using Go Fish techniques. That is, you ask another player for a card that you desire, and if they have it, they HAVE to give it to you - from their hand only - and you HAVE to meld it to the table. If the player you ask for a card doesn't have it, you have to take a card from the top of the deck, and you meld that instead.

If on the first round you ask for (and get) the card dealt on the table, you may split your hand blackjack style (ie, you now have two base cards), thus potentially doubling your possible total. Note that you may only split once.

Note that you cannot ask for just anything. Like Go Fish, you can only ask for cards which are currently in your sphere of influence. ie, in your hand, or part of what you are building on the table. Thus what you ask for may reveal what cards you have to other players, potentially to their advantage. (And thus, Mindtaking!)

The game moves quite fast since on every turn, a card IS melded to the table.

When everyone sits on their cards (or has busted), the round is over and points are scored.

[edit] Scoring

At the end of each round, cards still held are revealed (technically for purposes of detecting cheating, but mostly for banter and complaint about the dealer), and game points are scored thus:

hand points
17 1
18 2
19 3
20 4
21 5

Bonuses:

  • A blackjack or pontoon (ie, 21 points in only 2 cards): bonus 1 point (so, 6 points total)
  • "five-and-under" (5-or-more cards, and 21-or-under points): bonus 1 point. (thus: a hand up to 16 in 5 cards will score 1 point, 17 scores 2, etc, up to 21 scores 6.

With a split hand, 12 points is the maximum possible in a single round!

Note that at this final scoring stage, you can choose to score on the cards held in your hand instead of the hand(s) on the table. This should only be considered a backup, as there is no direct control you can have on the cards you remain with. However, in-game hinting of cards in your possession (to encourage others to fish for it) is permitted in friendly games. (and the inventors of Mentok play no other type!). Remember that such hinting may well give away your intent to swap hands.

[edit] Penalties

If a player is found to have cheated (eg, requesting cards outside their sphere), minimum penalty is a score of negative 5 points for that round. Repeat offenders at the discretion of the table.

[edit] Winning

A game is won when a player reach 21 points. (Tied games are possible if two players reach 21 game points on the same round).

Whilst a game must last a minimum of 2 rounds, and has no technical limit, nost games last 4 or 5 rounds, with 3 to 7 are common enough with regular play.

Note that as the game score of 21 is reached, players may need to target a smaller point scoring hand in an individual round, so as to not bust out of the game. Players may deliberately have to bust their hand to ensure their game target remains below 21. (for eg: a player with a game score of 20, will only want a hand of 17, for 1 point to reach a game score of 21!

[edit] Extra Notes

No reason offhand why more than 5 players cannot participate, but an additional deck is recommended (should the pickup deck be exhausted mid-round, that round is abandoned)

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