BOX GAME

"BOX" style of play is slightly more challenging and is played with less players. This game gets players thinking about how to combine roots and maximize points. BOX requires a table top and is best played at a slower pace.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Intermediate

OBJECT: Match a card from the deck with as many cards on the board as possible to form all or part of a word. (1 to 4 players)

SETUP & GAME PLAY: 

1. Deal 8 cards from the deck and arrange them face up in a 2 x 4 grid. Place the remaining cards from the deck next to the grid.
2. The first player draws a card from the deck and tries to think of a word that contains both the root on the drawn card and one or more from the grid.
3. If the player is able to think of a word, they say, "WORD"
4. The player then picks up the card or cards from the grid and groups them with their drawn card.
5. The player then places the group (book) facing down in front of themselves.
6. Draw cards from the deck to replace any cards that were removed from the grid during their turn.
7. If the player draws a card and is unable to think of a word, they place the drawn card facing up next to the deck to start a pile of drawn cards.
8. The next player may pick the top card from the deck or the top card from the pile of drawn cards and repeat the process.
9. A hand is over when one player creates 10 groups (books). 

USE THE FOLLOWING PHRASES AND ACTIONS TO PLAY THE GAME:

SAY: "WORD!" if you think that your plucked card and one or more cards from the grid form all or part of a word. You do not have to announce what word you intend.

DO: Show the cards to the other players for them to confirm. Then place the cards in a group (book) facing down in front of you.

SAY: "SAYWORD!" when you want to verify an opponent's word.

DO: The opponent then says the intended word out loud.

SAY: "THAT'S NOT A WORD!" to challenge a word said by an opponent.

DO: Confirm the word and origin (etymology) using one of our approved dictionaries listed below. If the word is not valid, the player being challenged loses a turn and a book to the challenger. If the word is valid, the player that made their challenge loses their turn and must give up a book to the opponent.  When taking penalty books from another player, the cards must remain face down.

SCORING & WINNING THE GAME: Hands continue until one player has collected 10 books and wins the round. Advanced players also have the option to play for points. In this variation, players keep count of the points from the cards they have collected during the round. Players can choose to play up to 50 points (novice), 100 points (standard), or 250 points (master). The last word played receives an additional 10 point bonus.

WILD CARDS: Wild cards must remain with their book and can only count towards multiplying the score from that book.

ADDITONAL RULES:

• When starting a word group or adding to one, you do not have to say what word you intend to make unless you are asked to "SAYWORD!"
• A word can only be challenged when it is first played.