This disclosure describes a tabletop game assistant system configured to ingest and guide tangible games (such as board games, card games, etc.) using natural language interaction and image capture/visual display components. The system can include features enabling a game developer to “teach” the system the rules of a game using natural language, such as written instructions, to reduce or eliminate the need for writing dedicated code. The system may process images of a game board and/or tokens such as game pieces and/or cards to further generate game data in the form of a logical game model. The system can use the game data to guide human players of the game and, in some cases, participate as a player itself. The system may further be configured to observe a game and detect invalid actions, answer questions regarding the rules, and suggest moves. The system may provide additional utilities such as generating a random output (e.g., rolling virtual dice) and learning to recognize new game pieces.

A bankruptcy board game, including a game board, including a plurality of spaces disposed on a perimeter of the game board, and a plurality of card retaining areas to receive cards thereupon, a spinner unit removably disposed on at least a portion of the game board to control a course of action of at least one player during a game, and a plurality of figurines to move around the plurality of spaces and represent a position of the at least one player on the game board.

A more challenging tic-tac-toe game is described. This game makes use of an apparatus comprising a grid of openings configured to receive multi-sided playing pieces that each have a symbol on one side that once the playing pieces are inserted into the grid openings with the symbol not visible to the players, each player must memorize their moves to successfully place symbol playing pieces adjacently in a row or obtain tic-tac-toe. This game can be played in several different modes, including electronic versions, with varying complexity. In this game, each move, of each player, is hidden from view once a move has been made and when a player believes they have formed tic-tac-toe, the game apparatus reveals the moves and whether a player has successfully formed tic-tac-toe or not. The methods of play combined with a game assembly that can shield moves from each player but also reveal past moves at the end of play or at other appropriate times provides a challenging game that utilizes a combination of strategic thinking and memory.

A gaming apparatus and method are disclosed wherein a gaming surface having distinct betting locations is provided in order to assist in the play of a hybrid version of blackjack and poker games having a side bet. The gaming surface includes a main betting spot for the blackjack game and a separate raised betting platform for the side bet to keep the bets from being comingled. The side bet of the hybrid game is based on whether or not the dealer's hand is a qualifying poker hand. Multipliers and a progressive jackpot are used during the hybrid game to increase the potential winnings.

An information provision device in an information provision system includes, as its functions: a score control circuit that increases or decreases a provision timing score on the occurrence of a predetermined action; a timing determination circuit that determines the coming of the time to provide quiz information if the provision timing score exceeds a predetermined threshold; a priority control circuit that determines or changes, based on the situation of, e.g., a sport game on each occurrence of an action, priority associated with text information from which quiz information is generated; a quiz information generation circuit that generates appropriate quiz information based on the situation of, e.g., the sport game at the time determined; and a quiz information provision circuit that provides the generated quiz information to a user.

A sports tournament bracket card game that may be played in conjunction with an actual sports tournament. The sports bracket card game may include playing cards with values calculated based upon historical tournament data. The sports tournament bracket card game may also include an additional bonus card deck to provide additional playing excitement as well as a forecasting element using a sheet of integrity on which players may predict the outcome of elements of the games of the tournament.

A board game roughly similar to chess, but having unconventional game elements, is shown and described. The identities of all playing pieces except a king are initially concealed, and revealed after making an initial move. The initial move is predetermined, and changes if the revealed identity differs from a corresponding pre-assigned identity. Move characteristics of the playing pieces are varied in most cases from their counterparts in conventional chess. The king may not leave a certain area of the board, and is not permitted to face an opposed king without presence of an intervening playing piece. A new playing piece with unique move requirements is introduced.

A method of playing a board game includes a game board arranged as a grid. The board is set up before play where certain playing squares include respective first or second uniform indicia such that respective numbered tiles with matching uniform indicia may be randomly placed on the certain playing squares. Players may then perform a series turns placing tiles having a third indicia on the board in a single straight line using at least one of the numbered tiles already placed on the board. The tiles must create one or more linear sequences wherein the sum of the numbered tiles within each linear sequence equals a predetermined value. Points are awarded to the player based at least in part on the number of linear sequences created during the turn. The winner may be the player with the highest total awarded points at the end of the game.

Apparatus and method of a variation of the game of chess are shown and described. The playing board is conventional. Playing pieces have two exposable faces including an initial face concealing identity of that playing piece, and a subsequently exposed face identifying identity of that playing piece. Initially, all playing pieces occupy conventional starting positions on the board, but with the face concealing identity visible to the players. The king is an exception, and is identified and placed in the conventional position for a king. Initial moves by each playing piece have move characteristics of that playing piece which conventionally occupies its space on the board. Upon completion of a first move, the face identifying identity of the playing piece is exposed. Moves subsequent to the initial moves have move characteristics of playing pieces identified by exposing the identity. The game may then be played according to conventional rules.

A method of playing a board game includes a game board arranged as a grid. The board is set up before play where certain playing squares include first or second indicia such that respective numbered tiles with matching indicia may be randomly placed on the certain playing squares. Players may then perform a series turns placing tiles having a third indicia on the board in a single straight line using at least one of the numbered tiles already placed on the board. The tiles must create one or more linear sequences wherein the sum of the numbered tiles within each linear sequence equals a predetermined value. Points are awarded to the player based at least in part on the number of linear sequences created during the turn. The winner may be the player with the highest total awarded points at the end of the game. Other aspects are also provided.