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Prompt Refinery · worked example · PLY

MathMasters

Say the same number in more than one way. 2–4 players · 25 min · ages 8+ · 52 play cards + 3 table cards. Climb with Same Number, Times, Make 13, or All Four — or pass. Leave the three table cards out.

Play / simulatePrint the 9-up sheetShare the introFront / back imagesBack to Make
Thesis: This game is about saying the same number in more than one way, exactly, felt as the click when 2 times 3 really is 6, decided by when you spend a Times set versus when you play more of the same number.

How to start

Put the 3 table cards out. Mix the other 52. Give 16 each (3 people) or12 each (4 people). Put 4 extras face-up as Hints. First round: table card 2 only (Same Number and All Four). Then add table card 3.

A turn

The leader plays a set. Going left, play a stronger set of the same kind, or say pass. Last person who played wins the pile, scores it, and leads. If their hand is empty, the next seated person with cards leads. You may always leadone card.

Once per round you may add one Hint card into your set. If you win that pile, score 1 less.

The four kinds of set

Same Number — one or more cards with the same number. More cards win, then the bigger number. Three 4s beat two 13s.

Times — exactly three cards. Two numbers multiply to the third. The small one is at least 2. Bigger answer wins. Answers: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12. Primes 7, 11, 13 are never the answer.

Make 13 — two or more cards of one kind that add to 13. More cards win.

All Four — all four kinds of one number. Beats every other set.

Wrong Times

If a Times set does not multiply, say Wrong Times. Those cards go back. That person must pass. You get +1. If you were wrong, you pass.

Score

Add the numbers on the pile. Times +3. Four-card Make 13 +3. All Four +5. Highest total after 3 rounds (3 people) or 4 rounds (4 people) wins.

Sample turn

Ana leads two 9s. Bo plays three 4s (more cards win). Cam takes Hint Match 5 into All Four of 5 (the deck only has four of each number — Cam cannot also All Four the 4s). Ana and Bo pass. Cam scores 9+9+4+4+4+5+5+5+5 = 50, plus 5, minus 1 = 54.

2 people / young table

16 each, 4 Hints, leave 16 unused, 3 rounds. Young table (8–9): Same Number and All Four only, 10 cards each, 2 rounds if people are tired.

Print

9-up sheets orfront and back images. Numbers are 1–13. No A, J, Q, or K.

Shareable intro: https://tablepress.space/mathmasters/