Sample game
The Long Word
One set of letters, plenty of possibilities. A relaxed challenge to find a single brilliant word, on your own or together.
1What you need
At least 10 letter cards including 4 vowels, paper, pens and a 2-minute timer. Agree on a dictionary.
2Set it up
Separate and shuffle the vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and consonants. Reveal 4 vowels and 6 consonants for everyone to see.
3How to play
- Start a 2-minute timer. Each player privately looks for the longest word they can make from the face-up cards.
- Each card can be used only once in a word. You do not have to use every card. Write down your chosen word before time is up.
- Everyone reveals one word. Check that the cards can spell it, then settle any dictionary challenges.
4Scoring & winning
Each valid word of at least 3 letters scores its length in points; an invalid word scores zero. Return the cards to their piles and reshuffle for each round. Play 5 rounds. The highest total wins, with shared wins for ties. Solo: try to beat your own five-round score.
5The finer points
No proper nouns, abbreviations, hyphens or apostrophes. Dictionary-listed plurals and verb forms are allowed. Players can submit the same word. If the selection produces no words, everyone scores zero and moves to the next round.
wordgames.dancondali.com/games/the-long-word/