Play On Words
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"Starter Game" Directions

THE CARDS:
•    Letter cards – A through Z
•    Flip cards – you choose! J or X, V or Z, (indicated by orange dot beneath letter)
•    Combo letter cards – the most common consonant combos in the English language: ST, SH, TH, CH, CK, plus QU
•    Two Wild/Any Letter cards
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OBJECT OF THE GAME: To earn the most points by forming words and stealing opponent’s words. Player with the most letters in words on their side of the table at the end of the game wins. 

GAME SETUP: Choose a playing surface large enough to lay out cards in the formation shown, along with space above and below for words to be played.

Shuffle deck and place 6 cards in each position (for 2-player game), 
face-down as shown, to make 8 stacks (40 total cards.) Set remaining cards aside.
For 3 or 4 player game, place 8 and 10 cards, respectively, in each stack.


PLAYING THE GAME: Non-dealing player (PLAYER ONE) begins play by turning over top card of each stack. From the 8 face up cards, Player One chooses between options to make ONE 2-or-more letter word and assembles it on their side of the table, face up. (Players are required to make ONE new word on each turn.) Play cards closely together to save space, per samples shown. Note: No scoring is done until end of round.

Starting with Player Two, player begins each turn by flipping over the face-down card on each stack, replenishing the formation to 8 face-up cards. Player makes ONE 2-or-more letter word and assembles it on his or her side of table. In addition, with the remaining face up cards in the formation, players have the option of “playing on” any of the opponent’s words (or their own previously played words), to create new words. PLAY TIP: When surveying the 8 face-up cards in the formation at the beginning of each turn, turn any card(s) sideways that are intended for a "play on." This step aids in word planning and sorting out the best play options.

Play-ons are done by adding card(s) to the beginning or end of an existing word, inserting card(s) into the middle of a word, or adding card(s) and rearranging letters to form a new word. Once a word is played on, it is moved to that player’s side of table. 


Examples:

·      Add “C” to “LOUD” to make “CLOUD”  Add “T” to the end of “COME” to make “COMET”
·      Insert “R” between the A and T in “CAT” to make “CART”  Add “K” to RASH and rearrange to me “SHARK”
·      Add “R” to “SHOE” and rearrange to make “HORSE” Add “I” and “T  to “CAVE” and rearrange to make “ACTIVE”


                 WHEN PLAYING ON ANY EXISTING WORDS, YOUR OPPONENT'S WORDS CANNOT BE BROKEN UP; THEY MUST RETAIN ALL ORIGINAL LETTERS. HOWEVER, WORDS ON YOUR SIDE OF THE TABLE CAN BE BROKEN UP IN EFFORTS TO MAKE NEW WORDS..

Play continues with the next player, and continues in this manner until all cards in formation can be used. When any stack is depleted, move face up cards from other stacks into the open position to return to 8 face up cards in the formation. When less than 8 cards remain in formation, continue playing.

Note: If no word can be played from 8-card formation (if all consonants or all vowels), discard the card in the upper left position (from dealer) and flip over next card in stack. If new word cannot still be made, discard the card in the stack to the right and flip over the next card in the stack. Continue in this manner until a card appears that can help produce a word.

BONUS: If a player is able to play all 8 cards from the formation during his or her turn (in either one new word or a combination of new word and play-ons) they qualify for a bonus turn. Player would flip over cards from each stack and continue playing.

ALLOWABLE WORDS: Words from a standard dictionary are allowed, as well as words with prefixes and suffixes. Proper names, foreign words and profanity are not allowed. When pluralizing, “S” can only be used in rearranged
play-ons. No plurals from new words from formation, no “S” or “E-S” allowed as play-ons.

SCORING/END OF GAME: When no further plays or play-ons can be made, players count up the number of LETTERS in the words on their side of table. Combo cards count 1-pt per letter. Wild cards count ZERO POINTS. (Any cards in formation not used are disregarded.) Highest number of letters wins round! Tie-breakers is most combo and flip cards.


Play multiple rounds, as desired by players (best of 3 or 5, etc.) to determine the winner of the match.

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by
​DavidJamesGames

DavidJamesGames - 9613 Palmer Rd - Minneapolis, MN - 55437
​Questions? contact david@playonwordsgame.net
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  • Home
  • Videos
  • Game Versions
    • Directions for Starter Game
    • Directions for Full Deck Version
    • Directions for Solitaire Version
    • Directions for Rummy Version
    • Directions for Cribbage Version
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