Sorry! Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• 1. Game Equipment
• 2. To Start the Game
• 3. Object of the Game
• 4. First Turn
• 5. Entry of Pieces
• 6. Moving Pieces
• 7. Sending Opponents Back to the Start
• 8. Slides
• 9. Diamond Squares
• 10. Moving Backward
• 11. Split "7" Move
• 12. Safety Zones
• 13. Home
• 14. Winning
• Partnership Game Rules
• Point Score Game Rules (for adult and Club Play)

1. Game Equipment

1 pack of cards (there are no 6's or 9's in the pack); 1 game board; 16 playing pieces, 4 each of 4 colors.

2. To Start the Game

Each player chooses a color and places the 4 pieces of that color on the matching START circle. Shuffle the pack and place it face down on the space marked "PLACE PACK." Select a player to play first. (The winner of one game goes first in the next.)

3. Object of the Game

The player who first moves all 4 pieces from their START to their HOME of the same color, according to the rules, wins.

4. First Turn

The first player draws the top card and places it face up onto the "DISCARD" space. They enter 1 piece if the card so directs; otherwise they forfeit the move. Detailed instructions for entry and moving pieces are given on each card—especially read the "SORRY!", "1", "2", "4", "7", "10", and "11" cards. Play continues from right to left. Each player in turn draws a card, discards it, and enters a piece if possible or forfeits their turn.

5. Entry of Pieces

On the draw of a "1", a player may place 1 piece from START onto the small circle on the square directly outside that player's START, and the turn ends. On the draw of a "2", a player may enter a piece as with a "1" and draw a second card to move that piece or any other of their pieces. Two pieces of the same player may NOT occupy the entry square at one time. If another player's piece occupies that entry square, a piece may be entered, sending the opponent back to their START.

6. Moving Pieces

Once entered, pieces move forward in the direction of the arrows, unless a card directs otherwise. Pieces may pass each other, whether or not the same color, and an occupied square counts like any other. Pieces of the same color may not occupy the same space. If a player is unable to make a move (for any reason), they forfeit their turn—but a player MUST make any move directed by a drawn card if possible, whether or not it's to their advantage. A player may move 1 piece (or divide the move among 2 pieces if they draw a "7"), or enter a piece, as the cards allow. When a move ends on a square occupied by an opponent, that opponent is sent back to their START.

7. Sending Opponents Back to the Start

A piece sent back to START is re-entered as before on a subsequent turn at the player's option. An opponent's piece may be returned to START if: a) a player's piece ends a move on a square occupied by the opponent; b) a player draws a "SORRY!" card; or c) the piece is located anywhere along a SLIDE when any player's piece makes the slide (see rule 8).

8. Slides

A piece which lands on the triangle of a SLIDE of a color other than its own slides directly to the round end of that slide. All pieces of its own or any other color occupying spaces on that slide are sent back to their respective STARTs. Pieces do not slide on slides of their own color.

9. Diamond Squares

No piece may move forward over the DIAMOND square of its own color. However, a player's own DIAMOND square may be crossed on a backward move (see "4" and "10" cards), or by replacement of another player's piece (see "SORRY!" and "11" cards).

10. Moving Backward

A player may use a "4" card or a "10" card to move backward. Any player who has successfully moved a piece backward at least two squares beyond their START may move that piece on a subsequent turn into their SAFETY ZONE without having to go around the board.

11. Split "7" Move

No player may take advantage of the "7" move in order to start a piece.

12. Safety Zones

Pieces may enter only the SAFETY ZONES of their own color. All other rules apply, whether or not they may force a piece out of its SAFETY ZONE. No piece may enter its SAFETY ZONE by a backward move; however, a piece may move backward out of its SAFETY ZONE and on subsequent turns move back into the zone as cards permit.

13. Home

A piece may enter HOME only on the draw of a card allowing a move of the exact number of spaces necessary to reach it. A piece which reaches HOME cannot be moved again for the rest of that game.

14. Winning

The player who first reaches HOME with all 4 pieces wins.

Partnership Game Rules

1. All regular rules apply. RED is always YELLOW's partner; GREEN is always BLUE's.
2. A player may enter or move either one of their own or one of their partner's pieces on their turn. They only forfeit their chance to play if unable to move or enter any of their own or their partner's pieces.
3. "SORRY!" cards MUST BE USED, even to send a partner's piece to START, if no opponent's piece is available. When a move ends on a square occupied by a partner's piece, the partner's piece is sent back to START.
4. The "7" card may be split among partner's pieces. On the draw of a "2", the next drawn card may be used to enter or move either partner's pieces.
5. After all of a player's pieces have reached HOME, the player continues to draw cards in turn, using them to move their partner's pieces. The first partnership to reach HOME with all 8 pieces wins the game.

Point Score Game Rules (for adult and Club Play)

All rules of the regular game apply EXCEPT:

1. Each player places 3 pieces on their START; the 4th piece is placed on the starting space next to the START circle. After shuffling, deal 5 cards face down to each player (kept in hand); the rest of the pack goes face down on the "PLACE PACK" space.
2. Play proceeds right to left. On their turn, each player discards one card from their hand face up onto the DISCARD space and moves or enters a piece per that card, then draws a card from the pack into their hand (turn ends). A player forfeits their chance to play if unable to use any card in hand—in that case, they discard one card and draw another, ending their turn. Each player must have 5 cards in hand at the end of each turn. The player who first reaches HOME with their 4 pieces wins.
3. Scoring: All players score 5 points for each piece on HOME. The winner also scores: 5 points for each opponent's piece not in HOME; 100 points if no opponent's piece reached HOME; 50 points if no opponent has more than 1 piece HOME; 25 points if no opponent has more than 2 pieces HOME.