Components

  • 56 number cards
  • 50 goal cards

Object of the Game

In this cooperative game, everyone works in cahoots to complete a series of goal cards. Each goal card states a specific requirement that needs to be showing on the four face up piles of number cards.

Take turns playing cards to one of the four piles, which must either share the same color or same number as the top card on the pile. As an added challenge, you are limited in what information you can share with your teammates! Get through all the goal cards to win.


Setup

  1. Shuffle the number cards and deal four face down to each player. (Look at your cards but keep them secret from other players).

  2. Deal four number cards face up in a row in the middle of the playing area to form four piles.

  3. Stack the rest of the number cards face down next to one of the piles to form a draw pile.

  4. Shuffle the goal cards, and create a face down "goal" pile, according to the number of players and difficulty level you wish to play:

    PlayersBeginnerNormalExpertInsane
    2-315182124
    412151821

  5. Flip four goal cards face up in a row next to the goal pile.

    Note: If any of the goal cards are completed by the starting face up number cards, place those cards in a separate "wins" pile and replace them with new cards from the goal pile.


Starting Layout




Game Play

The game starts with the player who last ate something orange and continues to the left. On your turn, play one card from your hand onto one of the four number card piles.

The card you play must either be the same color or the same number as the card that is on top of the pile. (It can also be both). Then draw back up to four number cards, if there are still cards in the deck.

If the card you placed completes any of the visible goals, immediately collect all related goal cards and place them in your wins pile. Then replace them with cards from the goal pile so that there are four visible goals.

If your card does not complete any goals, the next player takes a turn.



Notes

It's possible that multiple goal cards may be completed on a turn or that a goal card is completed by the face up number cards as soon as it is revealed. In these cases, collect any completed goal cards and replace them with new goals from the pile.

Goal cards must be completed exactly how they are written. For example, "three green piles" means there needs to be exactly three green piles showing.

Goal cards that list one or more colors must have at least one named color in play in order to be completed.

You may look through the face-up piles at any time to see what numbers have been played.


Communication

As you try to achieve the goals, your team is restricted in what you can say during the game. In particular, you are not allowed to state what numbers or colors you have in your hand.

The only communication allowed is which piles you would like to play onto, or which goal cards you think your team should go for next.

Examples of things you can say:



End of the Game

Continue taking turns playing number cards until one of the following happens:

You win if...

You complete all of the goal cards. Congratulations! You worked in cahoots and beat the game. Time to step up the challenge with a more difficult level!

You lose if...

  • The draw pile runs out and all players are out of cards, OR

  • One player cannot legally play a card before all of the goals have been completed.

Your team was defeated by the game. Reshuffle the cards and try again!



Variants

Speed Cahoots

Set a timer for 4 minutes. Try to complete all goal cards before time runs out. Ignore the turn order, so players can play cards when they would like, out of order.

Mum's The Word

For an added challenge play without any verbal communication whatsoever.

Lil Cahoots

When playing with younger players, you may ease the communication restrictions. Also try playing with "open hands".


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