Keep Cool
Keep Cool Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 120 cards (2400 words in total)
- 1 electronic buzzer
- 1 rulebook
Goal of the Game
Make your own words guessed and guess the words of your neighbour.
Setup
- Players sit around the table.
- Choose a card face (red / blue) and a line number (from 1 to 10) which will be used for the whole game. Warning: lines no. 8, 9 and 10 contain more difficult words; they are not recommended for your first games. (Example: play with the lines no. 3 of the red card face.)
- Place the buzzer in the middle of the table on the ON position (adjustable underneath). When a player presses it, it will buzz after 8 seconds.
- Deal 4 cards to each player. Each player looks at their 4 words on the chosen face and the chosen line number. Each player may, if they wish, reject one of their cards to the centre of the table and draw another one in replacement. Rejected cards will not be used.
Each player therefore has 4 words to make their left neighbour guess. Consequently, each player will have to guess the 4 words of their right neighbour.
Play
The player with the poorest hearing plays first, then players take turns clockwise.
On their turn, a player:
1. Pronounces a single word
-
either a clue, to make a word guessed by their left neighbour;
It is forbidden to pronounce:
- The roots of the words on their cards. Example: "arme" for "armure".
- Onomatopoeia. Examples: "crac", "miaou"...
- Translations of the words and/or roots into a foreign language. Example: "window" for "fenêtre".
You may pronounce:
- Proper nouns (but still only one word). Example: "Dujardin" but not "Jean Dujardin".
- Compound words (which count as a single word). Examples: "chien-loup", "grand-mère"...
-
or a proposal, to guess a word of their right neighbour.
If the word pronounced is indeed a word of their right neighbour, the card containing that word is won by the 2 players and is placed face up between them. The game continues without waiting.
2. Presses the buzzer immediately
This starts the 8 seconds for the next player.
Note: if you are many players and it is difficult for some players to reach the buzzer, pass it from hand to hand.
If the buzzer sounds before the player has pronounced their word, they cannot say anything and just press the buzzer. It is then their left neighbour's turn to play.
Turns around the table continue like this without pause, the buzzer being restarted by each player on their turn.
Clarifications
- Players must hold all their cards in hand. They may make their 4 words guessed in any order and may switch from one to another at any time. BUT when changing word, it is forbidden to announce it! Be careful not to confuse your neighbour even more!
- On their turn, a player does not specify whether they are pronouncing a clue or a proposal. This possible confusion is intended and is part of the fun!
- Special case: if a player happens to say the word of an opponent when that player has not yet given a clue for that word, the card is not revealed and the game continues without any comment from the owner of the card. At least one clue must be given for a word to be guessed.
End of a Round
As soon as a player has no more cards in hand, the round stops.
Each player discards their cards in hand and adds up the visible cards to their right AND to their left. The player(s) with the most cards win(s) the round!
Example: Laura's score = 4 points (cards to her right) + 2 points (cards to her left) = 6 points.
A new round begins:
- Each player receives 4 new cards and may exchange one.
- The player whose turn it was at the end of the previous round plays first.
- However, this time the game proceeds counter-clockwise: each player must make their words guessed by their right neighbour while guessing those of their left neighbour.
Each round, the direction of play alternates: one clockwise, one counter-clockwise, etc.
End of the Game
As soon as a player has won 2 rounds, they win the game!
Do not hesitate to change places for the next game in order to change neighbours!
Too "Cool"? (Advanced Variant)
After a few games, step up a gear and add a 3rd possibility!
On their turn, a player always pronounces ONE SINGLE WORD:
- either a clue, to make a word guessed by their left neighbour;
- or a proposal, to guess a word of their right neighbour. If the word pronounced is indeed a word of their right neighbour, the card containing that word is won by the 2 players and is placed face up between them.
- OR a proposal to guess a word of an OPPONENT other than their right neighbour! This is an "attack"!! If the word pronounced is indeed a word of another player (other than their right neighbour), the card containing that word is lost by its owner and won by the player who places it face up in front of themselves.
- If the word is that of their left neighbour (the next player), the card is nevertheless placed in front of the attacker and not between the two players. Yes, it is an attack by the rules!
At the end of the round, when counting their cards, each player scores:
- 1 POINT per card visible in front of them (successful attack).
- 2 POINTS per card visible to their left and to their right.
Example: Laura's score = (cards of Mike guessed by Laura: 2 x 4 = 8 points) + (cards of Laura guessed by Matthieu: 2 x 2 = 4 points) + (cards won by "attacks": 1 x 1 = 1 point) = 13 points.
Batteries
The buzzer works with 3 AAA batteries of 1.5V. Follow the instructions carefully: to change the batteries, unscrew the compartment cover with a small screwdriver. Respect the polarities; do not short-circuit the terminals. Only batteries of the recommended or a similar type must be used. Non-rechargeable batteries must not be recharged. Rechargeable batteries must be removed from the toy before being recharged. Do not mix new and used batteries. Do not mix different types of batteries. Do not reassemble the compartment without removing used batteries. Battery handling must be done by an adult. Keep this information. Protect the environment: do not throw used batteries in household waste; take them to a recycling centre.