Compucards

Compucards was a computer-themed deck of cards that used binary values (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, etc) as opposed to the standard decimal values (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc) and created by Sam Pitroda in 1983. They also had a computer bug instead of the standard joker and instead of full courts (J,Q,K) they only included computer cards and programmer cards (which resembled the creator Sam Pitroda). The suit signs have been kept as the standard (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades) but with a slight difference. In each suit there is two of each card, there is a + card and a * card. For example, the order of the hearts suit goes: +1 of hearts, *1 of hearts, +2 of hearts, *2 of hears, +4 of hearts, all the way up to +128P of hearts and the *128P of hearts (the P representing the Programmer or King card). In each suit there is 16 cards (two of each) with the four suits the pack has 64 cards in total. The back of the card has a border of binary 1s and 0s with Compucards written from corner to corner. There is two Software Bug cards (Joker) and two instruction cards and a booklet that accompanied the deck which explained how to play games such as Poker and Blackjack with the Compucards. The booklet also included information about the Compucards Company and greater details on how to play standard games such as Poker, Rummy and Blackjack using the Binary cards. For example, playing blackjack using the Compucards was said to be the easiest to learn. Instead of using the standard Get to 21 points to win you have to get to 256 points to win, with using the additional rule that you can use the multiply (*) to increase you point value. There also apparently was a version of the deck called Trumping - http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/29389/trumping 1983 newspaper article http://static.squarespace.com/static/5356af05e4b095ff0fea9e11/t/53912f18e4b062c3a0f09bf1/1402023704326/Computer-coded+game+hits+the+deck.pdf Learn more - http://www.wopc.co.uk/reviews/compucards/index.html