How to Play

NumberQuash® is a chance and strategy board game designed for two to six players.

In this game, players use the rolls of two dice to compete strategically to ‘quash’ the numbers 1 to 9 on their selected octagons by covering the numbers with ‘quashers’.

The objective is to be the first player to successfully quash 18 numbers across two octagons of the same colour. At this point, the player shouts ‘Quashed!’ and emerges as the winner of the game.

To begin playing

At the start of the game, a player volunteers to be the Game Master, responsible for overseeing the game and enforcing both the official rules and any house rules. 

Each player then selects a colour (or colours) to represent themselves and receives a box of 25 quashers as well as player’s octagons in their chosen colour(s). 

Players roll two dice each, and the player with the highest total starts the game. The remaining players take their turns in descending order based on their dice totals.

Starting a turn

Beginning with the first player, each player rolls two dice. To place their quashers, the player must use both numbers from the roll. For example, if the dice show a 3 and a 6, the player quashes the 3 and 6 by placing one quasher on each corresponding number on the board. 

The player can also choose to add the face values of the dice together and place a single quasher on the corresponding number on the board. For example, if the roll shows a 5 and a 2, the player can add these numbers to get 7 and quash the 7 on the board.

Alternatively, the player can split the total of the dice roll into any combination of numbers. For instance, if the roll shows a 5 and a 2, the player can add them together to get 7, and then split the 7 into a 3 and 4, quashing both 3 and 4 on the board.

For players with multiple-coloured octagons, a quasher can be placed on any octagon of their chosen colour(s). 

Bonuses

1. If a player rolls doubles of any value, they get an additional turn immediately. However, if a player rolls three or more doubles consecutively in one turn, their next   turn is forfeited.

2. When a player rolls the dice and the numbers add up to 10, 11, or 12, they may choose to either take their turn as normal or place one of their quashers on the corresponding-coloured side of the bonus octagon. This quasher can then be used on their next turn or any subsequent turn. 

• Quashers placed on a 10 allow the player to either take one ‘free roll’ or ‘block a player’s turn’ by placing a white counter in front of the chosen player in subsequent turns. 

• Quashers placed on an 11 allow the player to ‘steal a quasher from a player’ and place it on any number on their own octagon.

• Quashers placed on a 12 allow the player to ‘steal a quasher from each player’ and place them on any number on their own octagon.

The quashers remain on the 10, 11, and 12 bonus octagons until they are used.

Quashers must be played before the dice roll on a player’s turn. Only one quasher can be played per turn, and after use, the player must return the quasher to their pile. 

If a player rolls a 10, 11 or 12 and there is already a quasher of their colour on the bonus octagon, additional quashers of the same colour may be stacked on top of it. 

Ending a turn

A player concludes their turn if they cannot use either of the two dice numbers or if only one die number can be used.

End of the game

The game ends when the following criteria are met:

1. The first player to quash all the numbers on their two octagons wins the game by shouting ‘Quashed!’. Other players continue to play for second and third position.

2. The game ends in a draw if, after five consecutive rounds, no player has managed to quash the remaining number(s) on their octagon(s). The Game Master will keep track of the stalemate rounds by removing a white counter from the box after each stalemated round.

3. Any house rules agreed upon by the players can override rules 1 and 2.

4. When players use up their 25 quashers, they must retire from the game.