"dont Lose Your Marbles!" -- Game Rules 3l3a4j

Don’t Lose Your Marbles! Rules Playing Time: 45 – 90 min.

Warning: CHOKING HAZARD!

Ages: 9+ Players: 2 - 4

This game is played with marbles. Not for children under 3 years.

Object: To be the first player to move all four of your marbles around the board–from their starting line to their finishing line.

Contents: The game comes with the game board, 16 marbles, one deck of playing cards, and this official Don’t Lose Your Marbles! game rules and instructions.

Setting Up:  Four of the same colored marbles for each player.  Deal a hand.  Two players – replace a 2-card with one Joker-card. Deal two hands per deck, (13 cards/player).  Three players – add two Jokers to the deck of playing cards. Deal two hands per deck, (9 cards/player).  Four players – replace a 2-card and a 4-card each with a Jokercard, (making a total of two Jokers in the deck). Deal the entire deck out in one hand, (13 cards/player).  Each player places their marbles on their starting line.

Before You Begin:  Each player draws one playing card to see who deals the first hand. The player with the highest card deals first.  Each player takes a turn dealing a hand, clock-wise. The player to the left of the dealer always starts the game first with each new hand. Playing: To move a marble out of their starting line–into play–a player must have either an Ace or a King to start. The starting points are marked with an S, and a colored space, (of your marble color). Players can not jump over their own marbles. If a player does not have an Ace or a King to start, that person waits for the next hand. Other players continue their game play. Discards are stacked in the center of the board, near the Lost & Found. If a marble lands on a space already occupied by an opponent’s marble, that opponent’s marble goes to the Lost & Found. On their turn, that player (whose marble was lost) takes their marble from the Lost & Found and then places it back to their starting line, ending their turn, UNLESS they have a Joker. Jokers are used to prevent your marble from getting lost. When another player lands on your marble, and places it in the Lost & Found, all is not lost! When it is your turn, lay down your Joker. Then place your marble back where it was, moving the opponent’s marble one space forward. If the marble of the opponent was moved by another opponent before your turn, the same move applies, place your marble back where it was, and move the opponent’s marble one space forward. That is considered a turn.

If the Joker is the last card in your hand, you may switch any one of your marbles in play with any opponents’ marble. Winning: The game is won when the first person has all four of their marbles in their finish line. The game may be continued to see who gets second place, and so forth.

Key: Ace = Start/1 move King = Start/13 moves Queen = 12 moves Jack = 11 moves Joker = Wild card–used to keep the marble in the game. ALL numbered cards are valued as written.

Terminology: Lost & Found = Pocket in the center of the board that hold marbles that have been taken out of play. Starting Line = The area to the left of each player where a player’s marbles that are out of play are stored. Starting Point = The ringed position on the board. Finishing Line = The area where the player’s marbles must reach to win the game.

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Copyright © 2010 by C.A. Chicoine