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Word-chains is a word-making game for two or more players

 

HOW TO PLAY

Players need paper and pencil.  It helps if each player uses a different coloured pencil.

 

The first player chooses a letter. (This is to ensure a fair start.)

 

The second player writes a word beginning with the chosen letter.

The word must be at least five letters long.  (Player scores 1 point.)

 

The next player has 30 seconds to write a word which starts with either:

  • the last letter of the previous word (score 1)

  • the last 2 letters of the previous word (score 2)

  • the last 3 letters of the previous word (score 3)

  • the last 4 letters of the previous word (score 4)

etc.

 

If a player cannot think of a word within 30 seconds, they lose 3 points and play passes to the next player.

 

When everybody has had a turn, play passes back to the first player and continues around the circle until an agreed time limit is reached - or until one of the players reaches an agreed target.  (20 points is a good target for 3 or 4 players.)

 

Players cannot use a word that has already been used earlier in the same game.

 

It is sensible if players agree before play starts NOT to allow plurals that end in "s".

 No foreign words or proper nouns (names).

 

  
  EXAMPLE GAME  
 

First player chooses C as start letter.

(No score)

C

 

  
 

Next player writes CONTEMPLATE

(Scores 1)

C

CONTEMPLATE

 

  
 

NOTE: The next player cannot choose PLATE or TEMPLATE as their word because they will not be adding any letters - and they cannot choose PLATES or TEMPLATES because plurals formed with "s" are not allowed.

 

Player writes PLATE and adds LET to form PLATELET.  (Scores 5 because the last 5 letters of previous word are used.)

C

CONTEMPLATE

PLATELET

  
 

Next player writes LET and adds TER to form LETTER.

(Scores 3 - for using last 3 letters of previous word.)

C

CONTEMPLATE

PLATELET

LETTER

 

  
  Next player writes TER (scores 3) and adds M - forming TERM

C

CONTEMPLATE

PLATELET

LETTER

TERM

 

  
  Next player writes TERM (scores 4) and forms TERMINATE

C

CONTEMPLATE

PLATELET

LETTER

TERM

TERMINATE

 

  
 

Next player writes TE (scores 2) and forms TEMPLE.

 

NOTE: This player is not allowed to use TERM or TERMINATE because they have already been used.

 

Play continues...

C

CONTEMPLATE

PLATELET

LETTER

TERM

TERMINATE

TEMPLE

 

  
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