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Bartok (game)

The game of Bartok, also known by a number of other names, such as Wartoke, Warthog, Bartog (in Australia and Mathematical olympiad circles and recently in Computing olympiad circles), Bentok, Last One Standing or Bong 98, is a card game that is often also a drinking game. It belongs to the "shedding" or Crazy Eights family of card games, whereby each player tries to rid himself of all of his cards. The game progresses through a series of rounds with a new rule being added in each round, thus making the game increasingly complex as it progresses. These newly introduced rules may modify any existing rules. It is against the spirit of Bartok to divulge any information about the rules to new players, including when and how they may play. A penalty of one card is typically awarded for any incorrect action.

History

It is claimed in Australian Mathematical Olympiad circles that the game of Bartok originated there, although no inventors can be definitively identified. Others claim that the game came from the UK, possibly as a variant of Mao, which gained popularity in Universities of Cambridge and Oxford around 1975.

Bartok and Mao

Like combination shedding and guessing games such as Mao, the rules can become quite complex. The similarity between Mao and Bartok is such that the two games are sometimes referred to by the other's name. The principal difference is that in Mao a substantial set of rules is maintained between games, whereas in Bartok this is only true of the minimal initial set of rules. Further, in those variants of Mao where rules are added between rounds, these rules are usually added silently, whereas in Bartok the new rules are told to all players. This allows the rules of Bartok to be substantially more technical than the rules of Mao since the rules are known to everyone.

Gameplay

The game of Bartok consists of several rounds of play after which a rule is created by the winner of that round.

The players sit in a circle and the cards are placed face down in the centre and mixed. Each player then picks up either five or seven cards, by agreement. A single card is then flipped to face up to start the discard pile. The rest of the face down cards form the draw pile. Any player may then play on that card, providing such a play is legal. One of the players to the left or right of that person then plays, to determine the direction of play. It is also possible to use a dealer, who deals the cards to each player in the usual manner. In this case play follows to the left of the dealer, as usual.

Initially a legal play is the same as in Uno, one may discard a card face up on the discard pile which has either the same suit or face value of the top card of the discard pile. At that point play moves on to the next player. Plays must be made in a timely manner or face a penalty. In rounds after the first the notion of a legal play may change with the introduction of new rules. Providing there are no new rules that obtain, the Uno system of play is used. If a player cannot, or does not wish to, make a legal play, he may pick up from the draw pile; this also ends his turn. In some games it is acceptable, if a player has just drawn a card to end his turn which could have legally been played, he may jump in with that card before the next player has played.

A round ends when any player has no cards left. That player is declared the winner of the round and is permitted to create a new rule for the next round. Note that if a player has only one card left he must say "Bartok" or receive a penalty. This applies even if he gets down to one card by non-standard means, such as trading hands with someone else. If the draw pile runs out before a round ends, simply flip over all but the top card of the discard pile to form the new draw pile.

The game usually ends when several rules combine to make continued play impossible.

Penalties

A penalty of one card is awarded for a number of illegal actions in Bartok. Anyone may award penalties in Bartok, although only one penalty may be awarded to a player for any given action, so if two people simultaneously accuse player X of the same action, only one of the penalties holds. Penalties do not end a player's turn. For example, if awarded a Too Slow penalty the player must still either play or pick up. Below is a complete list of penalties. In italics is the appropriate accusation that should accompany each one.

Question: For a player who has asked a question or started to ask a question. It does not matter if the question is relevant to the game or not. Sometimes this penalty may be dealt to an observer not playing the game - thus immediately involving them in the game.
Incorrect Play: For a player who has just played illegally during his turn.
Out of Turn: For a player who has played when it is not his turn.
Too Slow: For a player who has not played in a timely manner. These can be issued multiple times during one turn if the player is extraordinarily slow. As a rough guide, leave about 3 seconds between each Too Slow issued.
Failure to say "Bartok": For a player who has only one card left but has not said "Bartok". In many circles these are issued very quickly after the player reaches one card, since he should say "Bartok" directly after playing his last card. If a player wins the round without saying "Bartok" and without being caught, he still successfully wins the round. The penalty is not awarded retroactively.
False Accusation: For a player who accuses another player of a penalty incorrectly.

There is no penalty awarded for drawing a card when it is not your turn, since you only disadvantage yourself by taking another card.

Creating new rules

New rules are introduced to Bartok by the winner of each round, the idea being that as the rules become more and more involved, the game becomes increasingly frantic. The creator must tell the other players what this rule is. Any rule can be introduced providing it is not player specific (such as Skip Bill every turn) and does not remove or alter a rule introduced in a previous round, unless that is the wish of every player. Additionally, if there is a unanimous veto, that is, every player bar the creator vetoes a new rule, then the rule is not used and the creator thinks of another. Commonly there is a time out rule, whereby if players need clarification during a round of a newly introduced rule they may call time out and discuss it.

Almost all rules are of the form if (trigger) then (consequence), for example If a 7 is played, reverse the direction of play. Common triggers and consequences are listed below. Many rules can be made cumulative as well, for example If a 7 is played, the next player picks up two cards and forfeits his turn or plays another 7, if he plays another 7, the player after him picks up 4 cards and forfeits his turn or plays another 7, etc. Generally it is desirable to have the more confusing or tricky rules on a rarer trigger so that the players are not overly taxed by any one rule. The very best rules are creative but playable and fun. The list below is certainly not intended to be comprehensive.

Common triggers

Based on the last played card

Cards of a given rank e.g. 7s, Ks, <4s
Cards of a given rank and colour
Cards of a given rank and suit
Primes (2s,3s,5s and 7s)
Picture cards
One eyed Jacks (two Jacks in a standard deck only show one eye)
Violent royals (royals holding weapons)

Based on the last several played cards

Change of suit
Change of parity (odd to even, even to odd)
Identical/nearly identical top two cards
Relationship between top two cards e.g. face value relatively prime
Relationship between top n cards e.g. last 3 cards ascending face value

Not involving played cards

Someone draws a card
Someone receives a penalty
Someone walks into the room
Someone says a particular word

Common consequences

Changing the order of play

Reverse the order of play
Skip the next n people
Reverse and skip
Position swap, two players swap position
Virtual swap, two players act as though they have swapped position

Changing card values

Simple reassignment, e.g. 3s are 5s and 5s are 3s
Mass reassignment, e.g. all hearts are one value higher than printed

Card shifting

Give n cards to a player of your choice
Swap hands with a player of your choice
The next player draws n cards instead of playing

Not involving the game

Drink a glass of water
Drink alcohol (making Bartok into a drinking game)
Run around the circle
Say a particular word / animal noise
Question toggle, players are only allowed to speak in questions. This may or may not affect things like "Bartok" or penalty accusations.

Other common rules

Redefining legal plays

Only cards of a different parity may be played
Instead of playing the same face value, can only play the inverse modulo 13
A certain card is transparent, so the next player must play on the second top card
A certain card is a rock, it may never be played (you can get rid of it via a hand-swap rule)
A player may jump in (i.e. play out of turn) if he has the same card as the one on top of the discard pile