My Word (1980) Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Basic Game
• Easy Game
• Solo Game

Components

The pack contains 48 cards to play the game, and these 6 cards on How to Play: Basic game, for 2 to 6 players; Easy game, for younger players; Solo game, for one player concentration.

Basic Game

For 2 to 6 players.

1. The object of the game is to score points by forming 4 letter words. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the game.
2. Choose a dealer and scorer. Use pencil and paper to score.
3. The dealer shuffles the pack and deals 3 cards to each player (4 cards if there are only 2 or 3 players). The rest of the pack is put face down on the table and the top card placed face up in the centre of the table.
4. The player at the left of the dealer starts the game.
5. At a turn, a player either:
   • a) plays a card next to any card already played, making a word where the cards touch. If a card is played next to 2 or more cards, words must be made on all edges which touch; or
   • b) plays a card on top of any card already played, so long as he makes as many new words where his card touches others; or
   • c) misses a turn by knocking, placing one of his cards face down at the bottom of the pack and taking the top card.
6. A player scores by adding together the values of the pairs of letters in the word or words he has made, and then takes a card from the top of the pack to his hand. The turn now moves to the left.
7. Red cards with . . symbols at various positions are played like other cards. The player must state what 4 letter word he is making when using the symbols, but the substitute letters are valid for his turn only. Any other player may later play a card next to the symbols (as in rule 5b) and declare other substitutes for his turn.

7 cont. The use of symbols triples the value of the pair of letters it meets. 8. During play, cards can only be played long edge to long edge or short edge to short edge with no overlapping. 9. The layout, as the game progresses, must not exceed six cards wide or six cards deep. 10. The game ends when the pack is used up and either one player has played all his cards or no player can play another card. The winner is the player with the highest score.

Easy Game

For 2 to 6 players, for younger players.

Play as the basic game but omit rule 9, so that the layout has no limit.

Solo Game

For one player.

Shuffle the pack. Take the top 4 cards, place the rest face down and face the top card to the centre of your table. Play as in rules 5 to 10 of the basic game and total your score. Can you beat it next time!