Components
- 72 Shape Cards
- 80 Scoring Chips
- 168 Squint Cards
- Squint Card Tray
- Squint Die
- Timer
- Instructions
Object of the Game
Earn Scoring Chips by building and identifying pictures that are created with Shape Cards.
Setup
Spread the Shape Cards, face-up, in the center of the table so that all cards can be seen.
New Players: Look at all of the Shape Cards and practice building pictures before beginning a game. Players usually find that they develop skills in constructing pictures, and identifying them, at a rapid rate. Just keep Squinting!
Choose one player to be the first builder. The builder will create a picture using Shape Cards. Remove the Squint Card Tray and Squint Die from the box and place them in front of the builder.
Decide which side of the Squint Cards, blue or green, to play. The level of play is the same for both sides. Place the cards in the Squint Card Tray so that the chosen color is facing the front of the tray.
The timer goes to the person to the left of the builder.
Game Play
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The builder rolls the die to determine which one of the three items on the Squint Card he or she will build. The die determines both the challenge level and the number of Scoring Chips awarded if the picture is identified.
Higher numbered items are more challenging to build, but earn more points.
New Players: In order to become accustomed to building and identifying pictures, play a few rounds without the die and timer. Select whichever item on the Squint Card you wish to build.
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The builder takes the last Squint Card from the back of the card tray. He or she silently reads the word(s) next to the number rolled. The Squint Card is then placed in the front of the card tray.
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After the card is placed in the front of the card tray, the person to the left of the builder turns over the timer and play begins.
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The builder selects Shape Cards from the table and constructs a picture to represent the item on the Squint Card. To help those guessing, the builder may tell the other players which direction the picture is facing.
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All of the players try to identify the picture as soon as the builder begins to place Shape Cards on the table. Players may guess as many times as they like.
Squinting really does help!
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The builder can move, or animate, the Shape Cards, or point to a specific area on the picture. This will help the other players identify what is being built.
The builder should say "yes" or "no", or "hot" or "cold", to let the other players know if they are on the right track as they guess. The builder may not give any other clues. The construction must be done on the table and the cards must maintain some contact with that surface.
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The builder may use as many Shape Cards as he or she likes. Building continues until someone has correctly identified the picture, or until time runs out.
No Scoring Chips are awarded if the picture is not identified before time runs out.
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The builder and the first player who identifies the picture each receive the same number of Scoring Chips as the number rolled on the die.
For example, if a 2 was rolled, the builder and the first player who identifies the picture each receive two Scoring Chips.
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The Squint Card Tray and the role of the builder pass to the player on the left and the timer passes to the left of the new builder.
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Play continues following steps 1-9 through the assigned number of rounds.
A round consists of each player having one turn as the builder.
Number of Players Rounds of Play 3-4 4 5-6 3 7-8 2
72 Shape Card
End of the Game
The player with the most Scoring Chips, after the as- signed number of rounds, wins the game!
Tie Breaker
If two or more players are tied for the win, they partici- pate in a tie-breaker. In a tie-breaker, only the tied play- ers guess the picture.
The person building the picture is the person to the left of the last builder. If that person is one of the players who tied, the role of builder moves to the next person who is not one of the tied players. The first player to correctly identify the picture wins.
Squint Tips
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Before building, make sure all Shape Cards are visible.
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Builders are encouraged to move and animate the Shape Cards to help players identify the picture.
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It is okay to overlap Shape Cards when creating a picture.
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Use the blank side of the Shape Cards to mask out unwanted lines.
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Identifying pictures is much easier when you create related items. For example, it is much easier to iden- tify a nose if a face is also represented in the picture.
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As a group, decide before the start of the game how precise answers must be.
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Rather than returning the Squint Cards to the card tray, builders can retain the Squint Cards as a way of keeping track of the number of rounds played.
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Squinting at the picture really does help!
Variations
Squint Light
For easier play, skip the timer and the die, and select whichever item on the Squint Card you wish to build.
Squint Challenge
For a more challenging game, skip the roll of the die and play only the level 3 words.
Progressive Squint
The builder starts constructing the level 1 item. When it is identified, the builder immediately begins constructing the level 2 item on the same card, and so on, until time runs out.
Scoring is done when the time runs out, with chips awarded for each item identified. The die is not used.
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