The Baseball Card Cyber Museum: Diamond Solitaire                                 The Six Degrees Of Separation


The Six Degrees Of Separation: Baseball Card Version

"Six Degrees of Separation", in the sports card world, refers to the idea that if an athlete's card is one step related to each athlete's card that has something in common with their card (be it team, set year, first name, last name, card number, etc.), and two steps away from an athlete's card that has something in common with the card of the athlete that they are related to, then every athlete's card is at most six steps away from any other sports card on Earth. The concept was popularized by a play written by John Guare.

So what?

So the curators at the Cyber Card Museum saw this as a way to create a solitaire game, with sports cards, where the player attempts to create the longest chain of related cards possible, by correctly guessing (or knowing in advance) the card number of one of the four cards the game has selected that bear some relationship to the card in play.

It's easier to understand with an example.

Let's say the game starts you out with a '62 Bob Clemente (card number 10). It also presents you with four card fronts (seemingly random) that each have some connection to the Clemente card.

So you might see a '97 Bob Abreu (another 'Bob', #416), an '82 Matt Alexander (another Pirate, #528), a '62 Sandy Koufax (within the same card set, 1962 cards, as Clemente, #5) and a '79 Lee May (also a card #10, as is Clemente).

Each card is related to the Clemente card in some way or another. Now, you can't see the card numbers for the four card choices (since you're looking at card fronts), and the game will ask you about one card, at random. For example:

    "Which of the related cards shown below is card #5?"

Your job at that point is to correctly guess Sandy Koufax; if you do, the game continues with the '62 Koufax up top, with four new cards related to Koufax being shown. If you fail, the game is over. The goal: create the longest chain of related cards possible. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's almost impossible (unless you have every card number memorized in our 46,000+ Cyber Card Museum).

The fun for fans of sports cards is in seeing a lot of cards you haven't seen in a while, while trying to outthink the game as well. Have fun!
 
 
[Rules]   [Tips]   [FAQ]   [Restart Game]

F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)
Have A Question? Ask And You Will Receive
 
Q. Do I have to click the 'Make The Next Connection' button within 45 seconds?

A. No. When you select the correct answer, you can take as long as you need to before you continue.

Q. How does the game select the four related cards for a player such as Felix Mantilla?

A. The game generally selects one card in the same card year/set, one card with a player from the same team, one card with the same card number, and one card with the same first or last name (such as another Felix, or another Mantilla). Generally.

Q. How do you even find four related cards for 'Vandy' Vander Meer?

A. Grasshopper, when you can snatch the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.

 
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Rules
Here's A Short List Of Things To Keep In Mind
 
1. In every round, you either select the correct card requested, or use a LIfeline.

2. You have 45 seconds to choose a card, or choose a Lifeline.

3. Choosing a Lifeline resets the clock; you have 45 more seconds.

4. You may use more than one Lifeline per round.

5. If you need a short break, choose the correct card and rest on the resulting page.

6. DO NOT USE THE BROWSER 'BACK' BUTTON. The game will be over.

 
You get nine (9) total Lifelines per game
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Tips And Hints
A Few Ideas To Help You Make Successful Connections
 
1. Do not die with your Lifelines. Use 'em! They exist to keep the game alive.

2. Keeping a mental note of the previous round's card number is helpful.

3. For a guaranteed answer, use two 50/50 Lifelines in a row in the same round.

4. Another sure answer, use a 50/50 Lifeline, then a Flip-A-Card Lifeline.

5. Recall that Topps generally liked to end Stars' card numbers with a '0' or a '5'.

6. Don't bother to flip T-206 tobacco cards; there are no card numbers.

 
Number One Tip: Have Fun With The Cards
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