OBJECTIVE OF CHECK THE BOX: Be the player with the most sets at the end of the game
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 3 – 6 players
CONTENTS: 6 bulbs of each color, 6 bubble bulb cards, 8 plug cards
TYPE OF GAME: Set Collection Card Game
AUDIENCE: Ages 6+
INTRODUCTION OF CHECK THE BOX
Check the box is an adaptation of Go Fish that uses the Christmas Lights card game. In this game, players are trying to collect the most sets of matching cards. Cards are collected by asking an opponent for a specific card. If the player does not have the card that was asked for, they say check the box. The asking player draws a card from the draw pile. The player with the most matching sets at the end of the game is the winner. Although this game is just light Go Fish, playing with the Christmas Lights Card Game will add a little festive spirit to the activity.
CONTENTS
Players will need six cards of each bulb color (red, green, yellow, blue, purple, pink), six bubble cards, and eight plug cards.
SETUP
Shuffle the deck and deal five cards to each player. Place the rest of the cards face down in the center of the table. This stack is referred to as the box.
THE PLAY
At the beginning of the game, everyone places any matching sets they have face up in front of them. A set consists of two cards that are identical. The youngest player goes first. On a player’s turn, they may choose one player and ask them for a card. If that player has the card, they give it to the person who asked. If the player doesn’t have it, they say check the box.
When a player is told to check the box, they must draw a card from the box (draw pile). This ends the player’s turn, and play passes left.
Whenever a player runs out of cards in their hand, they immediately draw five more. There are less than five in the box, draw as many as possible.
The game continues until all of the cards are in pairs on the table.
SCORING
Players earn 1 point for each pair they have.
WINNING
The player with the most points is the winner.
- TRIPLE SNAKES - February 15, 2021