With the holiday season in full swing, I was contemplating how small puzzles can be used for game play when family and friends gather. Parker Brothers Pastime Puzzles created Contest Sets with between four and twelve small puzzles. I am fortunate that I own two of these sets (of four puzzles and eight puzzles). After reading the Pastime rules, I wrote the following versions that I will use with some small puzzles that I have cut:
Contest Design 1:
For 2 puzzlers to many
The number of rounds will be determined by the number of puzzles (if more people than puzzles, each round can have a puzzlers “sit out” or puzzlers can work in teams)
Each person starts with one boxed puzzle
EACH ROUND
• When “start” is called, boxes are opened and everyone starts assembling their puzzle
• First person to finish is awarded 5 points, second is awarded 4 points, third is awarded 3 points and all others are awarded 2 points
AT END OF ROUND
Puzzles are disassembled back into their boxes by the puzzlers. Each passes their puzzle to the person to their right, and a new round begins
END OF GAME
At the end of all rounds, puzzlers add up their points, and the one with the most points wins.
If puzzles will be given as gifts, all puzzlers sign the backs of all the finished puzzles. The winner gets first pick of the puzzles to keep, second place gets second pick and so on
Contest Design 2:
For 2 puzzlers to many
The number of puzzlers (or teams of puzzlers) should equal the number of puzzles in play
SETUP
•Puzzle boxes are passed out to players
•Each player opens their box and removes one piece and places it face down in front of them
•All remaining pieces are placed in one pile at the center of the table (mixing up all the puzzles)
•Players turn all pieces image side up in the center of the table
PLAY
•When “start” is called, each puzzler turns their face down piece to the image side and passes it to the player on their left
•All players race to find their puzzle’s pieces from the pile and assemble their puzzle around the one piece they were given
END OF GAME
The first to finish their puzzle “wins”
If puzzles will be given as gifts, all puzzlers sign the backs of all the finished puzzles. The winner gets first pick of the puzzles to keep, second finsher gets second pick and so on