Sequence Rules

Game Overview

"Sequence" is a board game in which the cards in your hand command the spaces on the board: play a card, then drop one of your chips on the matching space. A sequence is a connected run of five chips of the same colour — up or down, across or diagonally. The box contains the game board, 104 Sequence cards, 50 green marker chips, 50 blue marker chips and 35 red marker chips.

With two players or two teams, only the blue and green chips are used; the red chips come out only when there is a third player or third team. The Joker cards in the deck are not used at all.

Objective

The objective of the game is to create connected series of five chips of the same color, known as "sequences," either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally on the playing surface. For 2 players or 2 teams, one player or team must score two sequences before their opponents. For 3 players or 3 teams, one player or team must score one sequence before their opponents.

Setup

Place the game board on a flat surface, and arrange the draw deck of cards, marker chips, and discards for each player around it. For 2 players or 2 teams, team players must be evenly divided into two teams, with team members alternating their physical positions with opponents around the playing surface. For 3 players or 3 teams, team players must divide evenly into three teams, with team members alternating their physical positions every third player around the playing surface.

Players cut cards and the lowest card deals — aces are high. The dealer shuffles and deals the same number of cards to each player, as indicated in the table below:

For 2 players: 7 cards each
For 3 players: 6 cards each
For 4 players: 6 cards each
For 6 players: 5 cards each
For 8 players: 4 cards each
For 9 players: 4 cards each
For 10 players: 3 cards each
For 12 players: 3 cards each

Ensure that all members of a team use the same color marker chips.

There are printed chips in the four corners of the board, and every player treats them as their own colour. A sequence built off a corner therefore needs only four of your own chips instead of five, and more than one player may use the same corner as part of a sequence.

How to Play

Play begins with the player to the left of the dealer and moves in a clockwise direction. On each turn, a player selects a card from their hand and places it face up on their own discard pile — each player keeps a discard pile in front of them, visible to everyone. The player then places one of their marker chips on the matching card on the game board.

Every card is pictured twice on the board, and Jacks do not appear on it at all. A player can play on either of the two spaces as long as it is not already covered by another marker chip. Once a marker chip has been played, it cannot be removed by an opponent except when using a one-eyed Jack as explained below.

The Jacks

There are 8 Jacks in the card deck. The 4 Jacks with TWO EYES are wild. To play a two-eyed Jack, place it on your discard pile and place one of your marker chips on any open space on the game board. The 4 jacks with ONE EYE are anti-wild. To play a one-eyed Jack, place it on your discard pile and remove one marker chip from the game board belonging to your opponent. That completes your turn. You cannot place one of your marker chips on that same space during this turn. You cannot remove a marker chip that is already part of a completed SEQUENCE: once a sequence has been achieved, it cannot be broken. Either Jack may be played whenever it best suits your strategy on your turn.

Dead Card

If you hold a card in your hand that does not have an open space on the game board because both spaces representing that card are covered by a marker chip, you are holding a DEAD CARD and you may turn it in for a new card. When it is your turn, place the dead card on your discard pile, announce that you are turning in a Dead Card, and take a replacement card (one card per turn).

Loss of Card

Once you have taken your turn and placed your marker chip on the game board, you must take a card from the draw deck. If you fail to take a card before the next player makes a move and takes their card, you lose the right to take a card and must finish the game with less cards than the other players – a disadvantage. When the draw deck runs out during play, all the discard piles are shuffled together to create a new draw deck.

Table Talk

There must be no table talk and no coaching of team members. If a teammate says anything that alerts a fellow teammate to the fact that they are about to do something they shouldn't, every member of that team must forfeit one card of their choice from their hand onto their discard pile.

Scoring and End of Game

Play continues in a clockwise direction until one player or team scores the required number of SEQUENCES, at which point that player or team wins the game. If you are playing the game which requires two SEQUENCES to win, you may use any one of the spaces from your first SEQUENCE as part of your second.

Common Variants

There are several variations of Sequence, including Sequence Dice, Sequence for Kids, and Sequence States and Capitals. Each version has its unique twist, such as using dice instead of cards or focusing on geographical knowledge.

Why This Game Is So Popular

Sequence's simplicity, combined with strategic depth and a fast-paced gameplay, make it an addictive and popular choice for family gatherings and game nights. One memorable moment during play is when a player skillfully places a Jack to break an opponent's nearly completed sequence, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Where to Get the Game sequence board game on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

Not paying attention to the number of cards dealt to each player based on the number of players
Failing to take a card from the draw deck after placing a marker chip on the game board
Using two-eyed Jacks to remove opponent's marker chips instead of placing them on the game board
Overlooking the printed chips in the four corners of the game board

FAQ

What happens when the draw deck is empty? All of the players' discard piles are shuffled together to form a new draw deck, and play continues as normal.
Can a player play a card that does not have an open space on the game board? No — that card is a Dead Card. On your turn you announce it, place it on your discard pile, take one replacement card, and then play your normal turn.
Do the two sequences have to be entirely separate? No. When two sequences are needed to win, any one space from your first sequence may also count as part of the second.
Are the Jokers in the deck used? No. The Jokers play no part in the game; the Jacks fill that role — two-eyed to place a chip anywhere, one-eyed to remove an opponent's chip.
What is the significance of the printed chips in the four corners of the game board? Players must use the printed chips in the four corners of the game board as though their color marker chip is in the corner. Only four of their marker chips are needed to complete a sequence when using a corner, and more than one player may use the same corner as part of a sequence.

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