Likelihood game

Abstract

A likelihood game requires players to estimate the likelihood of other players, or non-present persons known to all of the players, of fitting a statement described on one of a number of cards included with the game. A game board, player position markers, paper and pen or the like, and a single die are provided, with players noting the name of a player or non-present person they feel most likely to fit the randomly selected likelihood statement. Advancement of the player position markers along the path of the board is determined by agreement or non-agreement between players as to the likelihood of persons fitting the likelihood statement on the card. The die provides for the selection of one of a plurality of likelihood actions on each card, as well as serving as a chance device for determining the quantity of the players' moves according to certain rules of the game.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A likelihood game for a plurality of players, comprising: 
 a game board having a playing surface;    a playing path disposed upon said game board;    a plurality of playing positions disposed along said playing path;    a plurality of selectively positionable player position markers;    a starting position and a finishing position disposed upon said playing path;    a plurality of hypothetical likelihood statements; and    a single cubical die, for selecting one of said likelihood statements from said plurality thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The likelihood game according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a periphery disposed about said game board;    wherein said playing path comprises a continuous, closed loop configuration about said periphery of said game board; and    wherein said starting position and said finishing position are jointly located upon a single one of said playing positions of said playing path.    
     
     
         3 . The likelihood game according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of reverse likelihood playing positions disposed upon said playing path.  
     
     
         4 . The likelihood game according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a plurality of likelihood cards, said plurality of hypothetical likelihood statements being disposed upon said likelihood cards.    
     
     
         5 . The likelihood game according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of conditional statements.  
     
     
         6 . The likelihood game according to  claim 5 , further including: 
 a plurality of likelihood cards, said conditional statements being disposed upon at least some of said likelihood cards.    
     
     
         7 . The likelihood game according to  claim 1 , further including a writing surface and a writing implement for each of the players.  
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a likelihood game by a plurality of players, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a game board having a playing surface, a playing path being disposed upon the game board, a plurality of playing positions being disposed along the playing path;    (b) providing a plurality of selectively positionable player position markers;    (c) placing a starting position and a finishing position upon the playing path;    (d) providing a plurality of hypothetical likelihood statements;    (e) providing a single cubical die;    (f) determining the players,    (g) selecting a first acting player from the players, and determining the order of play of other players following the first acting player;    (h) assigning one of the player position markers to each of the players;    (i) randomly selecting one of the hypothetical likelihood statements and reading the selected likelihood statement to the other players, by the first acting player;    (j) selecting the person considered most likely to fit the selected likelihood statement by the acting and other players, independently of one another;    (j) comparing the respective persons selected by the other players in response to the selected likelihood statement, to the person selected by the first acting player;    (k) moving the player position markers of the players along the playing path of the game board, in accordance with any agreement of the selections of each of the players in comparison to the selection of the first acting player; and    (m) continuing in the above manner with each of the other players serving as acting player in sequence until one of the player position markers reaches the finishing position of the playing path of the game board, thereby winning the game for the corresponding player.    
     
     
         9 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , wherein the step of selecting the person considered most likely to fit the selected likelihood statement further comprises the steps of: 
 (a) providing a writing surface and a corresponding writing implement to each of the players; and    (b) writing the name of the selected person on the writing surface of the corresponding players, by each of the players.    
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) determining a minimum number of persons involved in the game;    (b) determining the number of players of the game to be less than the predetermined minimum number of persons involved in the game;    (c) selecting at least one non-present person known to all of the players; and    (d) adding the at least one non-present person to the players to reach at least the predetermined minimum number of persons involved in the game.    
     
     
         11 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of reverse likelihood positions disposed upon the playing path of the game board;    (b) designating any player whose position marker terminates a move onto one of the reverse likelihood positions, as a reverse likelihood player distinct from the acting player for the turn of play;    (c) selecting one of the hypothetical likelihood statements and selecting the person considered most likely to fit the selected likelihood statement, by the reverse likelihood player;    (d) reading the selected likelihood statement to the other players, by the reverse likelihood player;    (e) selecting the person considered most likely to fit the selected likelihood statement by players other than the reverse likelihood player, independently of one another;    (f) comparing the respective persons selected by players other than the reverse likelihood player in response to the selected likelihood statement, to the person selected by the reverse likelihood player;    (g) moving the player position marker of the reverse likelihood player, in accordance with a predetermined agreement of the selections of the players other than the reverse likelihood player in comparison to the selection of the reverse likelihood player; and    (h) returning play to the acting player.    
     
     
         12 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of likelihood cards; and    (b) placing the plurality of hypothetical likelihood statements upon the likelihood cards.    
     
     
         13 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) providing a plurality of conditional statements;    (b) randomly selecting one of the conditional statements from time to time during the play of the game; and    (c) moving the player position markers of any players who meet the condition of the randomly selected conditional statement, in accordance with the instruction of the conditional statement.    
     
     
         14 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 13 , further including the step of: 
 providing a plurality of likelihood cards, the plurality of conditional statements being disposed upon the likelihood cards.    
     
     
         15 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the step of advancing the player position marker of any player selecting the same person as the acting player.  
     
     
         16 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) selecting the same person by a predetermined number of players, as selected by the acting player;    (b) determining the quantity of movement along the playing path by each player, by tossing the die; and    (c) moving each of the player position markers along the playing path in accordance with the number resulting from the die toss of the corresponding player.    
     
     
         17 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) selecting the same person as selected by the acting player, by only one other player; and    (b) advancing the player position marker of the one other player selecting the same person as the acting player, at least one position along the playing path of the game board.    
     
     
         18 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a person other than the person selected by the acting player, by only one other player; and    (b) setting back the player position marker of the one other player selecting a different person than the acting player.    
     
     
         19 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) making a unique selection by at least one player, of a person who is different from the selections of persons made by all other players and by the acting player;    (b) setting back the position marker of each player making a unique selection; and    (c) advancing the player position marker of the acting player a number of playing positions corresponding to the number of unique selections by other players.    
     
     
         20 . The method of playing a likelihood game according to  claim 8 , further including the steps of: 
 (a) making a unique selection by the acting player, of a person who is different from the selections of persons made by all other players; and    (b) setting back the player position marker of the acting player at least one playing position.