Thumbs Up!
Thumbs Up! Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
- Illustrated rules
- 50 challenge cards
- 48 rings (12 red, 12 green, 12 blue, 12 yellow)
Players: 2-6 Ages: 6+ Playing time: 10 minutes
Object of the Game
Each round, players race to stack rings on their thumbs in the order shown on the current challenge card. The first player to win 7 challenges wins the game.
Set-Up
Shuffle the challenge cards and place them as a face-down pile in the center of the table.
Choose which game mode you want to play. If players can't agree, the youngest one decides. For your first few games, we recommend you choose "Classic."
The game is played in several rounds.
Playing the Game
To begin the game, the oldest player takes the top challenge card from the pile and places it face up in the middle of the table so that all players can clearly see it.
NOTE: In the following rounds, the player who won the previous challenge will reveal the next card.
Once the card for the round has been revealed, all players simultaneously race to stack the correct combination of rings onto their thumb in the order indicated on the challenge card.
The first player to finish lifts his thumb up in the air and calls out "OK!"
Everyone then stops stacking their rings to verify that the player has correctly matched the order shown on the challenge card.
- If the player is correct, he takes the challenge card and lays it down in front of him. He scores one point.
- If the player is incorrect, he is out of the rest of the current challenge. The remaining players continue, still using the same card.
After each round, return all rings to the starting position and get ready to begin a new challenge.
End of the Game
The first player to win 7 challenges wins the game.
Game Modes
"Classic"
Each player receives 2 rings of each color (2 yellow, 2 green, 2 red, and 2 blue), and places them in a stack on the table in front of him.
The standard rules apply.
"Fingers"
Each player receives 2 rings of each color (2 yellow, 2 green, 2 red, and 2 blue), and stacks them (randomly) on each finger on one hand (except the thumb). You cannot have 2 rings of the same color on one finger.
The standard rules apply.
NOTE: We recommend this mode if you don't have a table at your disposal (car, train, picnic, ...)
"Center Ring"
All the rings are mixed and piled up in the middle of the table, accessible to all players.
The game is played as usual, with players taking rings they are interested in from the middle of the table, one after another.
Variations
Players can decide that the game is over after all 50 challenge cards have been completed. The player who got the most challenge cards wins the game. In case of a tie, the player who reached that number first wins.
At the beginning of each round, the player who flips over the new challenge card, can call out a number from 1 to 3 before revealing the challenge. The ring in this position will be ignored this round and not be added to your thumb.
For younger players, you can choose to ignore the order of the rings placed on the thumb, and only consider the colors.
Print & Play Extension
This extension was published by Blue Orange only in French, as a free download comprising 30 new challenge cards and 5 variants. It is translated below for completeness. These 5 variants work with all the modes described above (Classic, Fingers, or Center Ring).
1 - The Missing Color!
At the start of each round, the player who won the last card names a color (blue, yellow, red, or green). Then the card is revealed, and the named color does not play (this color must not be used for this card).
2 - Odd or Even?
In the same way, the player who won the last card can call "odd" or "even." Then the card is revealed, and depending on the call, even numbers (2, 4, and 6) or odd numbers (1, 3, 5, and 7) do not play.
3 - The Other Hand!
Whatever the game mode, you must play with the hand you are least skilled with (take the rings with your left hand if you are right-handed, and vice versa).
4 - Backwards!
Whatever the game mode, you play "backwards." When a card is revealed, first look for the highest number, then stack your rings "in reverse" (instead of placing ring one, then two, then three... make the combination in the other direction: five, then four... down to the first).
5 - Let's Team Up?
Whatever the game mode, you can form teams of two. Yes indeed! Form 2 or 3 pairs. Each pair stands facing each other, and each player places one hand on the table (thumb up), facing their partner. The game proceeds as usual, except that you stack the rings on your partner's thumb! When both estimate they have everything right, they both say "OK!" Naturally, in case of a mistake, the pair can no longer participate in the current round.
Credits
Original game idea by Alexandre Droit.
Special thanks from the author: A big "THANK YOU" to Jean-Luc Guillot for the huge amount of work he did with the original prototype, to Stéphane Maurel and the entire Blue Orange team, to Marc Chouinard and Stephane Escapa for their superb illustrations, to everyone who welcomed me in those "magic" places where we played, to all the players, to the CAListes and finally to Fabienne Guillot (for everything!).
©2015 Blue Orange. All rights reserved for all countries. Rings Up! is a trademark of Blue Orange.