Binomial Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Components
• Setup
• Game Flow
• Stage 1: Numerology
• Stage 2: Colloquium
  • Example of a Round
• End of the Game
• Postulates
  • Beautiful Numbers
  • Big Numbers
  • Small Numbers
  • Special Numbers
  • Closest to 50
  • Digits Sum to 10
• Rule Variants
  • Playing in the Dark
  • Reward for Fighting
  • Openness
  • Solo Play
  • In the Same Boat

Components

• 7 laminated record sheets for writing numbers. The dotted line is where you fold the sheet so opponents cannot see your numbers. Each sheet has 8 double cells in which you write digits during Stage 1, and 16 round cells that you fill in during Stage 2.
• 16 postulate cards. Each card shows a postulate condition and its victory points.
• 7 markers.
• 1 ten-sided die (faces numbered 0 to 9).
• 1 chairman token.
• 7 reference cards.

Setup

Each player takes a pencil, a blank record sheet and a reference card. To play with a voice assistant, say the command "launch the Binomial skill" and follow its instructions.

Fold your record sheet along the dotted line so that opponents cannot see which numbers you write.

Shuffle the postulate cards and place them face down on the table. The tallest player becomes the chairman and takes the chairman token.

Game Flow

The game consists of two stages. First, players fill in their record sheets until each has a set of eight two-digit numbers. Then players contest postulate cards and choose the best-fitting numbers from their sets for each one. The player who scores the most victory points from postulate cards wins.

Stage 1: Numerology

In this stage each player creates 8 two-digit numbers for themselves. The chairman rolls the ten-sided die 16 times. After each roll the chairman loudly and clearly announces the number that came up, and then each player writes that digit in any free cell in the upper part of their record sheet.

You may fill in the cells in any order; the only requirement is to write the next digit after each roll. For example, you can first write the first digit of one number, then the second digit of another number, and then add a second digit to the first number or move on to a third number. A zero may be used as the first digit of a number (giving, for example, 05 or even 00); such a number still counts as a two-digit number.

Aim to make numbers that will help you in the fight for postulates. Check the reference card to see which numbers each postulate needs and how many points they can earn.

At the same time, try to think unconventionally: the more people fight for a postulate, the harder it becomes for them, and if participants put forward identical numbers, those numbers cancel each other out. And, of course, do not show your opponents which numbers you are getting.

After the players have written the last digit on their sheets and each has 8 numbers, move on to the next stage.

Stage 2: Colloquium

This stage consists of several rounds. In each round one postulate card is contested. If all the cards have been played, or if someone has no numbers left, this stage ends and the players move on to scoring.

At the start of a round the chairman turns over the top card of the postulate deck and reads it aloud. Then each player, starting with the chairman and continuing clockwise, announces whether they will fight for this postulate or not.

If a player wants to fight for the postulate, they choose a suitable number from the upper part of their record sheet, cross it out there, and write this number in the cell for the current round in the lower part of the sheet. The chosen number must satisfy the requirements of the postulate (see below). A number that has already been used and crossed out cannot be chosen. Keep the number you chose secret from your opponents. A player cannot fight for a postulate if they have no suitable number.

If a player does not want to or cannot fight for the postulate, they put a dash in the cell for the current round.

After everyone has made their choice, the players taking part in the fight reveal the numbers they chose.

If only one player fought for the postulate, that player automatically wins the round. If there are several players, they compare their numbers. First, all players who chose identical numbers drop out of the fight. The remaining participants check which number fits the postulate best. If several are tied, the one who chose the largest number wins.

The winner of the round takes the postulate card, circles their number in the cell for the current round, and writes to the right how many points they received for this number. The round winner also becomes the new chairman. Everyone who took part in the fight but did not win crosses out their numbers in the cell for the current round.

If no one wins the round (for example, all players chose identical numbers or no one chose to fight), the postulate card is discarded, and the chairman keeps the chairman token.

Note: if a player mistakenly chose a number that does not fit the current postulate, they immediately drop out of the fight in this round, even if they were the only one who decided to fight for the postulate.

If there are still cards in the postulate deck, and every player still has at least one unused number, proceed to the next round.

Example of a Round

Five players are taking part. The chairman, Polikarp, reveals the postulate "Two Identical Digits", which is worth 4 victory points. Polikarp himself, Innokentiy, Veniamin and Evdokiya decide to fight for the postulate, while Akulina passes.

Polikarp chooses 22, Innokentiy chooses 88, Veniamin also chooses 88, and Evdokiya chooses 44. Since Innokentiy and Veniamin chose identical numbers, they drop out of the fight. Of the remaining players, Evdokiya wins because her number is larger. She circles it, takes the postulate card and the chairman token. Innokentiy, Veniamin and Polikarp cross out their numbers.

The cautious Akulina also had the number 88, but she foresaw that the fight for 4 points would be fierce and made the right decision not to risk it. In the next round Evdokiya reveals the postulate "Smallest Difference of Digits", and Akulina wins with ease, since the difference of digits in 88 is zero.

End of the Game

The game ends after the round in which at least one of these conditions is met:

• the last postulate card has been played;
• at least one player has used their last number.

After this, the players total the victory points they have earned. The player with the most points becomes the winner.

We recommend playing Binomial three games in a row and determining the winner by the sum of points scored.

Postulates

Beautiful Numbers

• Two identical digits: the number must consist of two identical digits. (a = b)
• Divisible by 10: the second digit of the number must be zero. (ab/10)
• Contains zero: at least one digit of the number must be zero. (0)
• Divisible by 5: the second digit of the number must be zero or five. (ab/5)
• Contains five: at least one digit of the number must be five. (5)

Big Numbers

• Largest number: any number fits, but the largest of the chosen numbers wins. (ab max)
• Largest digit sum: any number fits, but the one with the maximum sum of digits wins. (a+b max)
• Contains nine: at least one digit of the number must be nine. (9)

Small Numbers

• Smallest number: any number fits, but the smallest of the chosen numbers wins. (ab min)
• Smallest digit sum: any number fits, but the one with the minimum sum of digits wins. (a+b min)
• Contains one: at least one digit of the number must be one. (1)

Special Numbers

• Smallest difference of digits: any number fits, but the one whose difference between the larger digit and the smaller digit is minimal wins. (a-b min)
• Largest difference of digits: any number fits, but the one whose difference between the larger digit and the smaller digit is maximal wins. (a-b max)
• First digit divisible by second: the first digit of the number must be divisible by its second digit without remainder. The second digit cannot be zero, because division by zero is impossible. (a/b)

Closest to 50

Any number fits, but the one closest to 50 wins (ideally, exactly 50). (50)

Digits Sum to 10

The sum of the digits of the number must equal ten. (a+b=10)

Many numbers fit several postulates well at once. For example, the number 09 has a good chance of winning the fight for the postulates "Smallest Number", "Contains Nine", "Contains Zero" and "Largest Difference of Digits".

Note: some postulates state that they are worth X points. X equals the number of players who chose to fight for that postulate. For example, if 4 players fight for such a postulate, it is worth 4 points. Do not forget to record these points on your record sheet.

Rule Variants

Try these rule variants as well.

Playing in the Dark

After a postulate is announced, players do not declare whether they will fight for it; instead they simply write their numbers or put a dash. Players learn their opponents' choices only after everyone has chosen whether to fight. This variant is especially useful with two players.

Reward for Fighting

If three or more players fight for a postulate, the round winner receives 1 additional victory point (record it on the sheet). This variant is especially useful with four or five players.

Openness

If at the end of a round a player has only one unused number left, that player must announce this to everyone.

Solo Play

For solo mode you will need a voice assistant; simply follow its instructions.

In the Same Boat

If you play with six or seven players, the fight for postulates becomes easier. When everyone who wants to fight has announced their numbers, first cancel out the matching numbers, and then all remaining contenders receive points for the postulate. However, if there are no matching numbers, only the player who chose the largest number wins.