Two players place their marbles on a game field of interconnecting wooden panels. Each player attempts to win control over as many panels as possible by strategically positioning his or her coloured marbles (red or black) in the free spaces. A player wins control of a panel by occupying a majority of spaces on the same panel.
A player draws a card, and reads one of the facts about the word (they may choose). Then the other player gets to make one free guess. If they’re right, they get three letter cards. If they’re wrong, the other players get a chance to steal. If they guess the word, they get one letter card. If they have cards, and get it wrong they lose a letter card. If no one guesses the word, another clue is read. If no one gets it the next time around the players will only receive one letter card from that point on.
This is a game in which everything is played in the players’ heads. Each player plays a face-down card, then each player in turn adds one more card – until someone feels safe enough to state that he can turn a number of cards face up and get only roses. Other players can then overbid him, saying they can turn even more cards face up. The highest bidder must then turn that number of cards face up, starting with his own. If he shows only roses, he wins; if he reveals a skull, he loses, placing one of his cards out of play. Two successful challenges wins the game.