Play Bartok

Bartok is like Mao only the rules are not totally secret. Therefore, it is either Mao for sissys (when the rules are still basic, but the secrecy is removed) or totally hard khor(when the rules are complex enough that it would be impossible to inforce them secretly). There are many different style rules which can be included in a game, so instead of including actual rules I instead present 'Build your own Bartok'.

  • The History: How did the game originiate?
    • Like Mao, no one really knows when Bartok exactly first appeared.
  • The rules: How to play Bartok.
    • Everyone starts sitting in a circle. N decks of playing cards, with jokers, are shuffled and placed face down in the center.
    • Each player draws five or seven cards, by agreement. A single card is then drawn and placed face up(to make the discard pile.
    • Anyone can now play on that card, provided their play is legal. The person to their left or their right can then play to determine direction of play.
    • 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, or is a joker.
    • Plays must be made in a timely manner or face a penalty. Timely is determined by the players, of course.
    • A legal play may change with the introduction of new rules. But 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.
    • 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.
    • If a player has only one card left he must say "Bartok" (or "Bartog" etc. if playing the game by a different name) 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.
    • When a round ends, all cards are reshuffled and a new round begins, plus the extra rule.(In some circles, the player who went out simply takes a new hand, and play resumes as normal without redealing the cards out).
    • 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. So, for example, if awarded a Too Slow penalty the player must still either play or pick up.
    • Below is a complete list of penalties. Before the semi-colon 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.
      • 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 extrordinarily 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.
    • Penalties can, of course, be added or changed when new rules are added.
    • When a player 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(like Skip Dam every turn). Depending on the nature of the group, a rule can also 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.
    • Many rules can be made cumulative as well, for example If an Ace is played, the next player plus play a two or draw a card and lose his turn. If he plays a two, the next player must play a 3 or draw two cards and lose his turn 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.
    • If a new player joins, he may be told the rules of Bartok, but is not allowed to know any of the rules which have been previously added by players.
  • Variations: There are many rules which can be added, but there are also differences on the starting rules, such as.
    • Deck modification: Instead of using a standard deck, use a deck of SET cards(SET Bartok), multi-colored cards(Ultra Barok), normal Uno Cards(Uno Barok), or even blank cards(Blank White Barok).
    • Don't talk about the rules. But then you have Mao.
    • Your variation here.