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There are only three simple rules in the game of NUMERO®.
1.) - Each turn, play only one NUMBER CARD from your hand:
2.)
- When you BUILD you MUST
have the answer in your hand, in a SINGLE
card. 3.) - A WILD CARD played from your hand gives an extra turn To begin to play NUMERO® follow these simple steps:
A take is when a single Number Card from your hand is matched to a card, or combination of cards, equalling the same number in the centre. The cards in the take and the matching card from the hand are then placed face down on the table near the player (this is your ‘win stack’ and these cards are counted at the end of the game to determine the winner). The hand is restored to five from the pack. It is important to always restore your hand to five cards at the completion of each turn.
Play the 5 from the hand to win the 5 from the centre. However, a better alternative is to add the 5 and 3 in the centre to make 8. Then play the 8 from the hand to win both cards (the 5 and 3 from the centre). Note: Although you may use only one Number Card from your hand, you may win any cards from the centre that equal, or combine to equal, a single card in your hand.
Play the 10 from the hand to win the 10 from the centre. However, a better alternative is to add the 6 and 4 to make 10. Then play the 10 from the hand wins both sets of 10 (the 10 and the 6 and 4 from the centre). It is not always possible to take. If you can not take, you try to build. A build is when a card from the hand is added to a single card, or combination of cards, from the centre. This creates a new number, ready for a later take.
Not being able to match the 9 for a take, you look to build. Play the 1 from the hand, adding it to the 9, for a build of 10 (saying out loud, ‘9 + 1 = 10’). The build of 10 is valid, as you have the answer to the build in your hand in a single card. Note: As you can play only one Number Card from your hand each turn, a build finishes your turn. You can not take until your next turn. Restore your hand to five from the pack. Any player may take a build if it is his/her
turn.
Not being able to match the 5, 3 or combination of 5 and 3 (8) for a take, you look to build. Play the 4 from the and, adding it to the 5, for a build of 9 (saying out loud, ‘5 + 4 = 9’). or Play the 9 from the hand, adding it to the 3, for a build of 12 (saying out loud, ‘9 + 3 = 12’). or better still Combine the 5 and 3 from the centre to equal 8. Play 4 from the hand to the 8, for a build of 12 (saying out loud 5 + 3 = 8, 4 + 8 = 12) If you cannot take or build you must discard. A discard is placed as a single card in the centre, not on top of other cards. Always restore your hand to five cards after every turn. This is the only way cards in the centre are replenished, to be used in later takes and builds. You may discard any card from your hand. However, where possible, discard a card you could use on your next turn.
Having two 12s, you would discard one of them. If it is still there for your next turn, you could take with your remaining 12.
Not having two of any number, but with your 4 and 5 adding to 9, you would discard the 4 or the 5 and if it is still there for your next turn, you could add the other number to it, for a build of 9 in your next turn. If none of the above opportunities present themselves, or if you are in doubt, it is suggested you discard your lowest card. When the pack is finished, keep playing until only one player has cards left. This player is then given a final chance to play, if able to take. The game is then over. Any cards left in the centre are added to the ‘win stack’ of the player who did the last take of the game. Any cards left in the final player’s hands are subtracted from that person’s ‘win stack’. All players ‘win stacks’ are then counted and the player with the most cards is the winner. STOP! STOP! STOP! You now know how to play NUMERO®. It is best to develop a good understanding of NUMERO® at this level, before moving to more challenging stages. When you do proceed to the next level, do so in gradual steps. Learn each level before moving to the next. INTRODUCING WILD CARDS (starting with subtraction) The introduction of Wild Cards greatly increases the possible moves and the level of challenge in NUMERO®.
The –2 Wild Card can be played onto the 10, to make 8. Then having an extra turn, you could play your 8 to take. or An even better move, after playing the –2 onto 10 to equal 8, you could play the –4 Wild Card onto the 5 to make 1 and you still have another turn. You then combine the 8 (10 – 2) and the 1 (5 – 4) to make 9 and take with your 9, winning a total of 5 cards. Notice that you still played only one Number Card from your hand. (Golden Rule No.1) At the end of this turn, you would then restore your hand to five cards from the pack. If you cannot take, you might use your Wild Card in a build.
You could play the –5 Wild Card onto the 8 to
make 3. Then, with your extra turn you could add the 10 for a build However, playing a Number Card would end your turn, and you would have to wait and hope to take in your next turn. Discarding Wild Cards You may discard a Wild Card, however your turn is not complete until you have played a Number Card from your hand. If you have five Wild Cards in your hand, discard all five cards, ending your turn. Then restore your hand to five from the pack. As in the last example, a series of Wild Cards may be played from your hand as long as you play only one Number Card from your hand. Introduce other Wild Cards such as division, multiplication, fractions etc. as you are ready for greater challenges.
Playing the –2 onto 10 makes 8; the ÷4 played changes this to 2; the x3 played makes this 6; and you then take with the 6, all in one turn, winning five cards, but still using only one Number Card from your hand. NUMERO® is a game for all ages. Simply set the level of difficulty to match the ability of the users. This is done by deciding which cards are included in the pack for a particular game. To play NUMERO® well all players must start at the early stages and progress to more challenging levels. As a learning game it is best played between two people, which provides the optimum playing conditions to challenge minds and improve number skills, but can be played by up to four players. The NUMERO® Pack includes: Number Cards: Four sets of Number Cards (1–15) –green, orange, blue and red. When learning to play NUMERO®, use these cards only (and only numbers 1–10 with young children). Wild Cards: Are added to increase the level of challenge of play as the ability of players increases. – 4 subtraction, 4 multiplication, 4 division, 13 fraction/decimal/percentage. Square root, cube root, squared and cubed cards (for players looking for a challenge). 2 blank cards: To be used as replacements if cards are lost 2 point-scoring cards: To be used as reference cards when players reach the scoring level of challenge. White Dot: cards have a small white dot on the NUMERO® side of the card. The dot has been placed on the cards so that individual packs can be numbered to avoid situations where different packs can become mixed. For the ultimate NUMERO® challenge, play the game using the points scoring system. The winner now is the one who scores the most points, instead of the one who simply wins the most cards. Try scoring with NUMERO® after you have become a confident player. Scoring does not affect any rules of play, however it will influence strategies used during play. Scoring must be recorded progressively, spreading out the cards after each take, to note their bonus points value on a score sheet.
Bonus Points Bonuses are the means of earning the most points. Bonus points for the number and colour of cards (item 4, 5, 8 and 9 on the Easy Check List) apply to individual takes only, and not to all cards won in one turn, if that included multiple takes. The same applies to bonus points for the number of operations (items 6 and 7). For this purpose, fraction cards with a numerator (top number) of 1 count as division only, while fraction cards with a higher numerator count as division and multiplication. Roots If playing with powers and roots (N 2 , N 3 vN, 3 vN) at scoring level, N 2 and N 3 count as multiplication, while vN and 3 vN count as division, when calculating the number of operations used. Challenges When at the scoring level of NUMERO®, where tactics become more important, players are tempted to break Golden Rule No. 2 and build without holding the answer. If the opponent suspects this has happened and challenges the build (‘Show me that 10…’), and the required card can not be shown, the offender is penalised 20 points and the card used in the build is placed in the centre as a discard. If a player is challenged and can show the card concerned, the challenger is penalised 10 points. Such a challenge must be made before the challenger’s second turn, after the move being challenged. End of Game When only one player has any cards left, he/she may complete one take if this is possible, when play will end. (If a take can not be made, that is the end of the game.)
Easy Check List for Point Scoring
NUMERO Patience is an interesting and challenging version of NUMERO, if you are on your own. It provides the same enjoyment and challenge as the normal game and also means you can practise working out the infinite variety of possible number combinations. The Basic Rules
Frank Drysdale is the creator of NUMERO®. Born in 1932, he began his working life as a physical education teacher and later became a minister in the Methodist (later Uniting) Church in Australia. Most of his time as a minister was spent as a school chaplain. In 1967, he was voted ‘The Outstanding Young Man in Australia’. After a successful career in both education and the church, Frank was forced to retire when, in 1989, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In 1993, he developed NUMERO® as a game to play with his grandchildren and to keep his mind active. With the help of his family he first published NUMERO® in 1994. At this early stage, Frank and his wife Joan donated all rights to NUMERO® to the Alzheimer’s Association of Western Australia and have since worked tirelessly promoting NUMERO® throughout the world—Frank being a personal example of the benefits of regular mental stimulation. In 1998, he received the Order of Australia Medal ‘for services to youth, through sport and youth clubs, to education through the development of the maths game NUMERO®, to the community and to the Uniting Church’. In 2001, Frank was awarded a Fellowship of Edith Cowan University in recognition of distinguished contribution to learning and in particular to mathematics education. Frank and Joan were elected Life Members of the Alzheimer’s Association of WA. Royalties from the sales of NUMERO® now go to The Drysdale Family Foundation Charitable Trust to further the work of the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s disease research. The Drysdale Trust has been established to receive and manage royalties received from the sale of every NUMERO® pack throughout the world. These royalties are distributed to projects working with Alzheimer’s sufferers. |
