Marbles !
Object: To be the first player to move all their own marbles out of the Starting Area, around the board, and into home.
Setting Up: Each player places his marbles in the starting area. After setting up, each player rolls the die. The highest number goes first.
Playing: To move a marble out of the Starting Area to the Starting Position, you must roll a 1 or a 6. The Starting Position is the circled space just outside and to the left of the Home Area. After rolling a 1 or 6, place a marble on the Starting Position. If you roll a 6 you are allowed to roll again.
There is no limit to how many extra turns are allowed. If a 6 is rolled, you are allowed an extra roll. You may never land on or pass one of your own marbles.
If a marble lands on a space already occupied by an opponent’s marble, the opponent’s marble goes back to his or her Starting Area. If you roll a number and cannot move, your turn is over.
If on your turn you roll a number that would get you exactly into the center hole instead of turning to continue on the path, you may do so if you wish. It could be a great shortcut. However, you are still subject to opponents landing on your marble. Additionally, to get out, you must roll a 1 or 6. You may exit at any of the points near the center hole, but it is usually to your advantage to exit nearest your Home Area.
Winning: The game is won when the first person has all his or her marbles safely home. Remember, you cannot land on or pass your own marbles. That means it may get congested toward the opening to your Home Area. Also remember, if another player comes along and lands on your marble, it goes back to the Home Area.
Two dice option: Use two dice instead of one. Either die could be a one or six to get out of the starting area or the center spot. Rolling doubles (two of the same number) earns an extra roll. Same game, just faster.
Cards option: Use the cards instead of the dice. Choose one player to be the dealer. Each player starts with 5 cards. Play the card of your choice on your turn and move the appropriate number of spaces. If you cannot move using a card, you must still place one in the discard pile. Once you have used all your cards, the dealer gives you 5 new cards. Reshuffle and reuse the discard pile if/when the deck has been depleted.
Move Clockwise around the board the value of the card played with the following exceptions:
Ace: Move a marble from the starting area or move one space.
4: Move a marble backward 4 spaces
7: You may split the move between multiple marbles, but a total of 7 must be moved.
Jack: Move 11 spaces or trade places with another player’s marble. (Marbles traded may not be in the starting circle or the home area)
Queen: Move 12 spaces
King: Move a marble from the starting area or move 13 spaces.
Partners option: When an even number of people are playing, you may choose to play partners. Players opposite each other are partners. You are not allowed to “take out” your partner by landing on his or her marble, you cannot pass your partner either. When one partner gets all his marbles in the Home Area, they then use their turn to help their partner finish the game. The partners assist each other only when one partner is finished. The first pair to get all their marbles to the Home Area wins.