Wizard is a several times selection of Games Magazine. Wizard is a trumps and bidding game which is easier for kids than hearts (fewer cards to hold, quicker rounds) and as appealing to adults as euchre. In the first round, each player gets one card; there will be one trick. Everyone bids. In the second round there are two tricks. Total of bids may or may not equal the number of tricks available. At the end of the round, each player who makes his bid gets 20 points plus 10 per trick one. Miss your bid and lose 10 points per trick.
Here's how one thoughtful reader responded, "Hi - I'm not too happy with your review of Wizard. We are four adult female relatives who happily play Wizard all afternoon once a week, and have done so for two years straight! It's like Spades plus wild cards, only better. It's a wonderful, wonderful game and I can't figure out why it's not better known - but I don't know anyone who's heard of it.* It's much more interesting than Euchre because of the added risk, and also because it calls for more skill in bidding and taking tricks; that's not a good comparison (Euchre bores us). It's a TERRIFIC game and we're so glad I happened on it at your Keystone Crossing store! - Mary et al. (Indianapolis) Mary also wrote, "We wore out enough sets of cards that we eventually bought plastic cards and made up our own sets, buying blank cards to label 'Wizards'. The cards are not of great quality - poorer quality than generic poker cards you can buy in the drug store."
Another customer testimonial came when I was showing Wizard to a customer in our store recently. A shopper who happened to be standing nearby chimed in. She said, "Our family loves Wizard...even the people who claim not to like cards. We call it the card game for people who don't play card games." She made the sale. * Note to Mary, somebody has heard of Wizard. It has led our card games department in sales for the past two years.
A fast, appealing, and inexpensive word card game. Sort of a gin rummy with words. You start with three cards in your first hand, four on your next, and so on until you are dealt ten cards for your last hand. The challenge is to meld your entire hand into words. Draw and discard in turn. Try to use high scoring letters, but don't get caught with them uncombined. Quiddler rewards forming even short words because there is a bonus for making the most words in each round. Another bonus is rewarded for the longest word played in the round. Quicker and less intimidating than Scrabble Appealing card designs. Solitaire rules included.
Publisher The Set Game Company produces several high quality games, the most popular of which are Set, Quiddler, and Five Crowns. Be sure and check them out!
Would you believe that we discontinued this item at one time? Then friends and the Mensa Hall of Fame urged us to give it a try. Fun, fun, fun. We've played at home every night for a week. This is a game that can be played by children as young as 6. All of us are over 13, but still enjoy it. We have customers who are on their second or third set, having worn out previous decks. Mechanics of play are unusual but simple to learn.
You are trying to end the game with the fewest points on your four face-down cards. One wrinkle is that you may only peek at two of your cards as the game begins. Draw a card from the pile, then choose whether to discard it or substitute for one of your 4 cards. Because you sometimes do not know what a card in your hand is, you may put a pretty good card into your own hand and end up discarding a great card for the next player. On the other hand, a "Swap" card sometimes allows you to do the "pole cat pass" where you stick an opponent with one of your lousy cards while making off with his low point cards. "Peek" and "Draw Two" power cards turn up occasionally, allowing players to maneuver and strategize further. Witty pictures of cats (the good guys--low points) and rats (bad guys--high points) illustrate each of the 54 cards. Winner of Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award and the 1996 Mensa Best New Mind Game.
Check out other great Gamewright Games!
A quotation from the game's box: "Parental Alert: A sharp eye and fast hand will prevail, so be warned when you play this game with children." There are 55 amusingly-illustrated, slice-of-bread-shaped cards. Players take turn flipping over a card. Slap the pile when a Slamwich has been built, but don't "Slip Slap" or you lose a card. Very nice components.
Many Awards! Highly Recommended.!
An instant classic and winner of many awards, Set is "The family game of visual perception." Each of the 84 cards shows 1 to 3 symbols. The object is to identify a "set" of three cards in which each feature (symbol, color, number or shading) is either the same or different on all three cards. The magic rule: "If two are... and one is not, then it is not a set.
Five Crowns is not over 'til the kings go wild. This game is very popular for several reasons. It is easily learned, yet addictive. Fortunes can change quickly, so even if behind, one has hope. Five Crowns is fun for 2 or more. Kids, teens, and adults all enjoy playing. There are five suits in five bright colors. In the first round play three cards, threes are wild. Next, four cards; fours are wild. Remember, the game's not over 'til the kings go wild. The pace is fast and luck is more important than skill.
Try to sneak your way to victory by swindling your opponents. Both strategy and skullduggery will help you become the top pirate as you storm merchant ships and seize treasure. The artwork by Gary Locke is reason enough to buy this game.
Winner of the Dr. Toy Smart Play Smart Toy and Mensa Select Awards
Contains: 78 cards, rules
"Hmmmm, 3 hearts or 4 no trump?..." Printed on these laminated plastic placemats are helpful hints and gentle reminders about specific rules, bidding conventions, and general strategies. If you can't mind-meld with your partner, this is the next best thing. Includes high card count, opening bids and responses, takeout doubles, no trump bids and responses, overcalls, rebids, Blackwood, etc... Bridge scoring information is on back.
Set of four placemats.
A woven fabric (polyester?) tablecloth with very lucid bridge bidding and scoring information screen-printed along each side.
Having recently taught our teenagers the basics of bridge, I can attest that beginning and intermediate players will find this an invaluable tool. As a matter of fact, I'm still referring to the hints on what to lead. Includes point counts, opening and responding bids, Blackwood, what to lead, how to keep score, and much more.
Table cloth measures 44 x 44 inches to fit most card tables. Edges are whip-stitched.
