BINO: The Computer Math Card Game

Comments on BINO

Anyone from 8 to 80 can have fun playing BINO, provided he/she has some knowledge
or abilities in the following areas:

Directions: left to right, and clockwise.
Numerical order and counting.
Subtraction in one's head.
Addition: score keeping.
Absolute Value: 12 - 3 = 9, or 3 - 12 = 9.
Symbolic Attributes: Red Card = 1,
Black Card = 0, Jack = 11, Queen
= 12, King = 13, Ace = 1 or 14.
Memorization: rules, special hands, illegal
hands, the binary numbers from 0 to 15.

About Binary Numbers

BINO is a card game that uses two number systems: the common decimal system, and the binary system which is used by computers.

In the decimal system, places increase from right to left by powers of 10 (100, 10, 1). In the binary system, places increase by powers of 2 (8, 4, 2, 1).

The decimal number 523 equals (5 X 100) + (2 X 10) + (3 X 1); the number 906 is equal to (9 X 100) + (0 X 10) + (6 X 1).

The decimal number 5 is expressed in the binary system as 101, which equals (1 X 4) + (0 X 2) + (1 X 1). The decimal number 10 becomes 1010, and is equal to (1 X 8) + (0 X 4) + (1 X 2) + (0 X 1).

Any number can be expressed in the binary system by using only the digits 1 and 0.

To change a binary number to a decimal number, mentally add the values of all the places indicated by a 1.

Examples of Binary to Decimal

	8	4	2	1
Binary	1	0	0	1	8	+	1	=	9			Decimal
	1	1	0	0	8	+	4	=	12
	0	1	1	1	4	+	2	+	1	=	7

[ Binary Number Chart ]

Rules of BINO

NUMBER OF PLAYERS -- Two to five.

THE PACK -- 52 cards. Since the deck is used up so quickly in the game for three to five players, it is convenient to use an extra deck. This deck should be shuffled and held by the player to the left of the dealer.

VALUES OF CARDS -- Ace = 14 OR 1; King = 13; Queen = 12; Jack = 11; all other cards their pip value. The four cards representing the binary number -- Red card = 1; Black card = 0.

THE SHUFFLE AND DRAW -- The deck is shuffled and spread face down on the table. Each player draws one card. The player drawing the highest card deals first. Aces are high.

THE DEAL -- The cards are dealt clockwise around the table until each player has five cards. After the play, the dealer deals again in the same way. When five hands have been dealt, called a Round, the deal passes to the player at the dealer's left.

OBJECT OF PLAY -- To determine quickly and play the combination of cards that will give the maximum number of points for the hand.

THE PLAY -- After the last card has been dealt, each player picks up his/her cards and attempts to determine, as quickly as possible, the highest scoring combination for the hand. The hand is divided into two numbers, one card representing the decimal number, and four cards representing the binary number. THE FOUR BINARY CARDS MUST ALWAYS BE IN ASCENDING NUMERICAL ORDER FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. The score for the hand is determined by subtracting the binary number from the decimal number, or by subtracting the decimal number from the binary number. The first player to decide on a combination immediately "slaps" his/her decimal card (called the slap card) on the table. This indicates to the other players that the play is closed, and they must slap their decimal cards on the table before he/she counts to five. Any player who does not slap by the count of five receives NO points for the hand. If, at least, one other player does not slap by the five-count, the first slapper receives double points for the hand (called Double Bino). When everyone has slapped, each player places the second part of his/her hand (the four binary cards) on the table next to his/her slap or decimal card. The players then verify each others scores before they are recorded.

BINO Score Sheet

In BINO, five hands equal a Round, and five Rounds equal one Game. A player receives 10 extra points for each Round he/she wins. In the case of a tie, an extra Round must be played.

[ Score Sheet ]

Suggestions from Readers

Since BINO is not only a game but a scoring system, it might be fun to discover ways to use a BINO hand in various card games. For example, you might use a BINO hand in Five Card Draw instead of a standard Poker hand. The BINO hand with the highest number of points wins. See what interesting ideas you can come up with and then E-mail (Subject: BINO) your ideas to me. Good ideas will be published on the More About BINO page.

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