SMARTish
SMARTish Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Object of the Game
Be first to circle the board by using strategy, trickery and correctly answering trivia questions.
Setup
Up to 4 players can play individually or up to 4 teams (preferably with an equal number of players per team). Place the 20 category tiles face-down in the lid of the game box and mix them up. If you have any app tiles assigned within the app, add those as well.
Each team picks a color and then takes the following: 1 Score Marker, 1 SWAP Tile, and 2 STEAL Tiles.
Place each team's score marker on the game board's start square. Choose a team to go first.
Components
Contents: 1 Game Board, 125 Question Cards (2500 questions), 20 Category Tiles, 8 App Category Tiles, 8 Steal Tiles, 4 Swap Tiles, 4 Score Markers, Rules.
Category Tiles
The 20 category tiles are: Geography, Film, Language, Food & Drink, Design, Art & Stage, Architecture, Nature, TV, Sports & Games, Communities, Technology, Science, Music, Politics, Traditions & Beliefs, Business, Humans, Literature, and History.
App Category Tiles
The 8 app category tiles are marked with shape icons (circle, plus, square, star, triangle, diamond, four squares, and three dots) rather than names.
Want even more categories? Use these tiles and unlock additional categories in the Smartish app for even more Smartish trivia.
*App is available to download at no cost. Content is available for free and for purchase. Standard data rates may apply. We reserve the right to terminate the app after 4/1/19.
Let's Play
Each team draws four category tiles from the box and assigns them to the four scoring slots on their edge of the game board. The number of dots in each slot indicates how many points you will earn for correctly answering the question in that category. Once all teams have assigned their category tiles, the game can begin.
Beginning with the first team, each team attempts to answer a question in their 1-point category.
The team to the left draws a question card or, if using an app tile, taps the category icon on the screen and reads the question for the chosen category.
If the team answers it correctly, they move their score marker clockwise around the board according to the point value (dots) for that question. There is no penalty for answering incorrectly.
The card is then returned to the back of the box and the used category tile is turned face-down. Play proceeds clockwise to the next team.
After all teams have attempted their 1-point category, move on to the 2-point category. Continue this way until all teams' category tiles are face-down.
Steal Tiles
STEAL tiles let you steal points by answering an opponent's question correctly, when they cannot. There are two ways to play a STEAL tile: before the question is read or after the question is read.
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Play a STEAL tile before the question is read. The defending team gets a chance to answer first, then the attacking team provides their own answer. If the defending team answered correctly, the attacking team gains no points (even if they also answered correctly). If both teams answered incorrectly, the attacking team loses 1 point. In both cases, the attacking team loses their STEAL tile by turning it face-down. If the defending team answers incorrectly and the attacking team answers correctly, the attacking team gains 3 points and keeps their STEAL tile face-up.
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Play a STEAL tile after the question is read and before the defending team answers. The defending team gets a chance to answer first, then the attacking team provides their own answer. If the defending team answered correctly the attacking team gains no points (even if they also answered correctly). If both teams answered incorrectly, the attacking team loses 1 point. In both cases, the attacking team loses their STEAL tile by turning it face-down. If the defending team answers incorrectly and the attacking team answers correctly, the attacking team gains 1 point and keeps their STEAL tile face-up.
If the defending team is located in the home stretch, marked with lightbulbs, the attacker can choose instead to use their awarded points to move the defending team's playing piece back. Each point corresponds to moving one space on the game board.
If it is your turn to read the question to the other team, you must play your STEAL tile before you look at the question.
Swap Tiles
Play a SWAP tile at the beginning of your turn to swap any two face-up category tiles. You can swap one of your tiles with an opponent's tile, or even swap two opponents' tiles with each other. You must play the SWAP tile before the question is read.
This is a great way to get rid of a category you don't want or set up another player with a difficult category! After playing a SWAP, turn it face-down.
Ending the Round
Once all teams have had a chance to answer their four questions, the round is over. Return all of the category tiles to the box. All teams return their SWAP and STEAL tiles face-up as well. The right to play first moves clockwise and a new round begins!
Winning the Game
The first team to circle the board and return to the Start Square – after everyone has answered the same number of questions – is the winner!
If more than one team reaches the Start Square, the team who moved farthest past the Start Square wins.
If there is a tie, each of those teams draws a new category tile from what's left face-down in the box and answers one question from their category. Continue drawing category tiles until only one team answers correctly and wins the game.