Match Mastery Tutorial Video

1. Game Setup

Start by sitting in a circle, either around a table or on the floor allowing for space in the centre for gameplay. 

Shuffle the name and meaning cards separately, arranging them face down into two decks - Deck A for names and Deck B for meanings.  

Choose one person to hand out up to 5 name cards from Deck A to each player, and another person to give out up to 5 meaning cards from Deck B to each player. Ensure that every player has an equal number of name cards and equal number of meaning cards. If there are a lot of players, reduce the number of cards per player accordingly to maintain balance.

2. Initiating the game

Select a player to start the game. This player initiates the game by choosing any card from their hand and reading its content aloud before placing it face up in the centre of the play area. This 'read aloud' rule is mandatory for every player and applies on every turn. 

Once their turn is finished, they should draw replacement cards from the respective decks.  

- If a player has played a name card, they should draw a replacement from the name card deck;  

- If they have played a meaning card, they should draw from the meaning card deck.

- Players can only draw replacement cards after they have officially completed their turn, not after each individual card play. This process of drawing new cards at the end of a turn ensures that the player's hand is replenished for their next turn. 

3. Turns

After the turn is complete, the game always continues to the player on the right. Each player has the option to play either a name card or a meaning card. The aim is to match a name card with its appropriate meaning card or vice versa, based on any of the cards in the middle with the cards in their hand.

- Initially, there may be fewer matches since only a few cards will be in the middle. As the game progresses and more cards are in the middle, the chances for making matches will increase.

During their turn, if a player is unable to make a match, they must still play a card regardless by reading it aloud and placing it in the middle. This card then becomes available for matching by any player during their future turns. After completing the turn, it moves to the next player on the right.  

If a player successfully creates a matchon their turn, they collect the matched pair to add to their collection of matches. The objective is to gather as many matches as possible.

- Additionally, if a player makes a match, they get to continue their turn, with the opportunity to make UP TO THREE successful matches in one turn. After completing up to three matches or if no more matches can be made, the turn passes to the next player. 

4. Duplicate Cards 

Note that there are duplicate cards in both decks, meaning another player with the same card may potentially get the match before you.

During your turn, if you find yourself holding both the original card and its duplicate, you have a specific strategic option. You can either keep both the original and duplicate in your hand and continue playing as normal or you can shuffle the duplicate back into the respective deck. This action can only be executed during your turn and requires clear communication to all players. Here's how it works: 

- Announcing the Action: If you decide to shuffle the duplicate card back into the deck, you must first declare your intention to all players by saying aloud "Duplicate shuffle." 

- Shuffling the Duplicate Card: Once you've announced, "Duplicate shuffle," you may then proceed to placing the duplicate card back randomly into its respective deck. 

- Drawing a New Card: After placing the duplicate card back, draw a new card from the same deck. If you put back a 'meaning' card, draw from the meaning deck; if it was a 'name' card, draw from the name deck. 

- Continuing Your Turn: After completing the "Duplicate shuffle" process and drawing a new card, continue with the rest of your turn as normal. 

5. Unclaimed Matches

During your turn, if you notice a pair in the middle that haven't been matched yet due to no-one noticing them - for example, a name card and its corresponding meaning card are both in the middle - you have the chance to claim this match.

However, you can only do this on your turn. Be cautious and avoid drawing attention to these potential matches; if you do, you might tip off other players, allowing them to claim the pair on their turn.

Note: This act of claiming matches does not count as your turn, so you can claim as many matches as you see in the middle before proceeding with your official turn.

6. Quiz Rounds

The game goes on until all players have played all the cards in their hands. The player who has collected the most matches by the end of the game is declared the winner.  

If the game ends in a tie, a quiz round will be used to determine the winner. Here's how it works: 

  • Selecting a Quiz Master: Appoint someone to act as the quiz master. This person will not participate in the quiz but will conduct it. 
  • Conducting the Quiz: The quiz master selects a name from the game at random. The tied players must then provide the meaning of that name. The answers don't need to be word-for-word but should accurately convey the same meaning. 
  • Quiz Format: Each player answers 5 questions. The player who correctly identifies the most meanings wins. 
  • Knockout Rounds: If players are still tied after answering their 5 questions, the quiz enters a knockout round. In this round, questions continue until one player emerges with more correct answers than the others. 
  • Multiple Tied Players: If more than two players are tied, the same format applies. Each tied player answers 5 questions initially. If there's still a tie, they proceed to the knockout rounds. 
  • The player with the most correct answers at the end of this tie-breaking quiz round is declared the winner of the game. 
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