How Do You Play Qwirkle? (5 Minute Guide)

Overview:

Qwirkle is a colorful and easy matching game that the entire family can enjoy. It is comprised of blocks stamped with one of six different basic geometric shapes in primary colors. Players can choose to keep it simple or strategize the more difficult plays to maximize points.

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Gameplay:

SETUP:

Qwirkle doesn’t require a game board. It can be played on any table or flat surface that allows enough room to join 108 wooden blocks in all directions. To begin, all 108 blocks are placed face down or in a draw bag. Each player randomly draws six blocks from the bag and sets them up so that other players cannot see the block shapes and colors. Each player states how many matching blocks they have and the player with the most begins the game by laying the matching blocks face-up in a row on the play surface. Blocks are considered matching if they share a shape or color characteristic, but not both. Play then moves to the next player in a clockwise direction. If there is a tie in the initial number of matching blocks, the oldest player goes first.

A scorekeeper should be identified and will need paper and a pencil on hand to note each player’s score after each turn.

GOAL or PURPOSE of the Game:

The goal of the game is to add matching blocks to the board and earn more points than your opponent/s by the time all blocks are used.

Player ACTIONS or what they do on their TURN:

A player completes his or her turn with one of two actions:

Add one or more matching blocks, in a linear fashion, to a block already on the board. All blocks played must share the same shape or color characteristic. No block in any row can duplicate the characteristic of another block in the same row. The player then draws the number of blocks played in order to maintain six blocks.
Swap one or more blocks for new ones from the draw bag. The player may swap all six blocks if desired. However, he is not allowed to add any blocks to the game board until his next turn.

How to END the GAME:

Eventually, the draw bag will be depleted and players will no longer be able to maintain a set of six blocks. The game continues until any player adds his or her last block to the board. In doing so, he earns a bonus of six points for being the first to play all of their blocks.

How to SCORE:

Players earn a score at the end of every turn. One point is earned for each block in a new row and one for each block added to an existing row plus a point for blocks already in that row. Thus, the same block can earn more than one point if that block resides in more than one row of adjoining blocks. A bonus of six points is earned when a player completes a row of six blocks called a “Qwirkle.”

For example, if Player A starts the game with three red tiles placed horizontally and Player B adds two vertical tiles, Player B earns three points. Two for the tiles he played and one for the existing tile he adjoined.

Strategies:

Because the goal is to earn the most points, players should try to play blocks in a complex pattern so that existing blocks in one or more rows adjoining played blocks can be counted in the score for that turn.
Players should carefully consider the impact of laying a fifth block in a row when they are not able to play the sixth as this can easily set the next player up for a Qwirkle and six-point bonus.
Players should consider how many more blocks remain of the same shape and color. There are three identical blocks of each shape and color. If a player, for example, has an opportunity to play a yellow triangle and a yellow square and sees that there are already two yellow squares on the board, he knows that his opponent/s will not be able to play a yellow square. Similarly, if a player sees that all three blocks are already on the board, he can safely play a 5^th block in a row if the sixth is one of the blocks already played in three different places.

Common House Rules:

Players should avoid calling out potential plays or missed opportunities as play progresses.

Rule Variations for Playing with Kids:

Qwirkle allows for 2-4 players. If playing with young children, it may be helpful to pair an adult and a child and play with two teams. Each person still takes an individual turn. This will help children gain confidence and receive team credit for complex plays.