Mentok

Mentok is a point-scoring game, created as a hybrid of Go Fish, and Blackjack

It is named after Judge Mentok The Mindtaker from 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.

Note that this page uses 'meld' as terminogy borrowed from Mock

Game play

Setup

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.

Play

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.

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.

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!)

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.

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. 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)

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).

Winning

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.