Reflecto
Reflecto Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
I. Components
- 1 Game board
- 2 Player boards
- 14 Plastic screens (7 of each color)
- 12 Erasable tiles and 4 Mirror tiles
- 2 Marker pens
Note: Insert each tile to each Plastic screen. Put 5 Erasable tiles and 2 Mirror tiles into each set of Plastic screens. The remaining 2 Erasable tiles are used for variants rules.
II. Setting up the Game
- Place the Game board between the two players. Each player takes one set of screens (5 Erasable screens and 2 Mirror screens), a Player board, and a Marker pen.
- Each player must find a secret word with 5 letters and write it on their Player board (to remember the word). Keep this word secret so the opponent cannot see it.
- Note: You can choose a word which has two or more same letters like PIZZA. You can discuss to limit the category of words or to allow plural form or a proper noun etc.
- Each player writes each letter of the secret word on an Erasable screen.
- Note: Write in capital letters on the empty space below the striped area. Each letter should be written clearly and largely to fit with the empty space.
- Each player places their 7 screens on their starting area (the first row in front of them).
III. Playing the Game
The younger player starts the game.
On your turn, move one (either an Erasable or a Mirror screen) of your screens in either of two ways as below.
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You can move from one square to another adjacent empty square, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
OR
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You can jump over an adjacent screen, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. You can jump over either your or opponent's screen. And, as in the Chinese checkers, you can combine several screens to jump over them.
- Example 1: Tylor moved his Mirror screen into the space 2 via the space 1 by jumping over an opponent's screen and his screen. He could move into the space 3 but he chose to stop at the space 2. The space 4 is occupied by another screen so he cannot move his screen there.
Discovering opponent's letter
You can discreetly move your Mirror screen in the way to discover the opponent's letter. (Note that the letters in the Mirror look reversed.)
When you will give a look at your Mirror, you have to do it very discreetly to keep the position of your Mirrors secret, as long as possible.
When you have discovered an opponent's letter, you can write it on your Player board to remember. Or you also can keep it in mind to keep the position of your Mirror secret, then write it later to confuse your opponent.
During the game the players must stay vertical. They cannot be too much inclined to a side (right or left) to see letters on screens at their left or right. The players also shouldn't tilt the Mirror screens.
Removing your Erasable screen in correct order
Once your Erasable screen arrives on the last line, you can remove it from the Game board at any time and place it beside the Game board showing the hidden side. Place the removed screens in a row so the first removed screen lies on the leftmost position and the next one lies on the right of the previous one.
- Note: Screens must be removed and placed in the order of letters in the secret word. Therefore, if the second letter of your word arrives on the last line earlier than the first one, you should not remove it until you remove the first letter. But, leaving the second letter on the last line for a long time will be risky because it could be discovered by the opponent's Mirror. So, you need to move your screens more wisely.
Also, you can remove your Erasable screen by jumping over another screen on the last line. Even in that case, you also have to be careful to remove them in the correct order.
- Note: You cannot remove your Mirror screen.
IV. End of the Game
Guessing opponent's secret word
During your turn, instead of moving your screen, you can announce your guess of your opponent's secret word. You can guess only once. If your guess is correct, you win. Otherwise, you lose.
Removing all your Erasable screens
When you remove your last Erasable screen, you win.
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Example 2-1: Marco already saw 4 of the opponent's letters; 'P', 'I', 'A', and 'N'. On his turn, Marco announces to guess the opponent's secret word. Though he was not able to see one remaining letter, he guessed that the secret word would be 'PIANO'. Fortunately the guess is correct. Marco wins.
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Example 2-2: Tylor already has removed 'P', 'I', and 'A' from the Game board in the correct order. Now he needs to remove 'N'. But there is no way to remove it on this turn, so he advances his 'O' instead. It arrives at the last line but cannot be removed and remains there. On Tylor's next turn, he removes 'N' by jumping twice over an opponent's screen and his screen ('O'). And he can also remove 'O'. Tylor finally succeeds in removing all his Erasable screens in correct order and wins.
V. Variants
Shorter or longer word
You can find a word with 4 letters or more than 5 letters. But you have to tell the number of letters. If you find a word with 4 letters, leave an Erasable screen as a blank. You must remove this screen first. If you find a word with more than 5 letters, distribute the letters evenly on your Erasable screens. For example, if you find a word with 8 letters, write the first letter and the second letter on two screens then two letters on each remaining screen.
- 4 letters: Example layout of 7 screens, with one Erasable screen left blank.
- 8 letters: Example layout of 7 screens, with two letters on each of the remaining screens.
Guessing frequently
On your turn, you can try guessing once instead of moving your screen. The opponent's checks, without revealing their Player board and Erasable screens, whether your guess is correct. If your guess is correct, you win. Otherwise, you lose your turn.
Playing with a younger player
You can use some of the below variants to make balance.
- A more experienced or older player uses more Erasable screens and less Mirror screen (change the Mirror tile with the remaining Erasable tile). If the secret word is shorter or longer than the number of Erasable screens, refer to the Shorter or longer word variant.
- A more experienced or older player writes the order to be removed beside the corresponding letter to give more hints to the opponent. The order can be written on every Erasable screen or on some of them to adjust balancing.
- An inexperienced or younger player can remove the blank screen at last when they find a shorter word. When they find a longer word, they can distribute the letters in a different way so the remaining screens have fewer letters.