Pensari is played with a special deck of 32 icon cards (originally included with the Pensari Guidebook). To play, 14 cards are selected out according to the charts on the backs of the cards. The goal is to find the one quadlaw* (specific set of cards) that exists in the chosen 14-card world. Somewhat related to the Set card game, which was published in 1988.

The 32 Pensari cards have all the combinations of 10 features (4 features for a "frame," and 6 for a "pip"). The goal of the game isn't simply matching features, but is about finding a unique 8-card relationship: 4 here, and 4 not here --
4 needed cards present in the "dealt" 14 cards, and 4 opposing cards missing.

* quadlaw is a word invented by Robert Katz to represent the 8-card relationship.

The Pensari Guidebook includes solutions for 320 14-card worlds (1-a to 16-t). The list could have been extended to 472, but the 320 are the combinations that Robert Katz chose.

Random deals of 14 cards out of 32 was not considered in the Pensari Guidebook. That is the subject of a different published game.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12564

Originally posted Oct. 11, 2007.

Pensari is played with a special deck of 32 icon cards (originally included with the Pensari Guidebook). To play, 14 cards are selected out according to the charts on the backs of the cards. The goal is to find the one quadlaw* (specific set of cards) that exists in the chosen 14-card world. Somewhat related to the Set card game, which was published in 1988.

The 32 Pensari cards have all the combinations of 10 features (4 features for a "frame," and 6 for a "pip"). The goal of the game isn't simply matching features, but is about finding a unique 8-card relationship: 4 here, and 4 not here --
4 needed cards present in the "dealt" 14 cards, and 4 opposing cards missing.

* quadlaw is a word invented by Robert Katz to represent the 8-card relationship.

The Pensari Guidebook includes solutions for 320 14-card worlds (1-a to 16-t). The list could have been extended to 472, but the 320 are the combinations that Robert Katz chose.

Random deals of 14 cards out of 32 was not considered in the Pensari Guidebook. That is the subject of a different published game.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/12564