Sequence Classic

My first introduction to Sequence was at a large family gathering. We needed a fun, fast-paced game which could be played by the kids and grandparents alike with easy-to-follow rules – enter Sequence!

My mother-in-law was already a big fan and had played the game many times before, but this does not necessarily give an advantage! The game is 40% luck and 60% strategy! You must use the cards in your hand to connect 5 chips on the board creating a Sequence! To win is simple, if you have 2 players or teams playing the aim of the game is connect 5 chips in a line, twice! With 3 players or teams playing you only need one completed Sequence to win!

Gameplay

The game is for 2 to 12 players and can be played individually with 2 or 3 players or composed of up to 3 evenly divisible teams when you have 4+ players. If you are playing in teams the players must sit spaced out from their team mates to make sure the turns are taken evenly. You don’t want one team taking 3 turns in row as this stops the other team from being able to block them!

Each player starts with a hand of cards. The number of cards is determined by the number of players and ranges from 3 to 7 in a hand. From this hand you take it turns to lay one card down, placing a chip on the matching card on the board. The board has 2 decks on it and you can choose which location you would like to put your chip – this is where part of the strategy comes in! The card on the board must be free of chips when you place your chip down. If there are already chips on both cards on the board your card is what is known as a ‘Dead’ card – at the start of your turn, discard it and draw another from the deck. Each time you lay a card you take another from the draw pile to replenish your hand. Sequence lines can be created horizontally, diagonally or vertically, its up to you! The 4 sequence cards displaying the Sequence logo at each corner of the board act as a wild card and can be used by any team for any card.

Hit The Road Jack

The Jacks in Sequence have special abilities and are certainly coveted cards! The one-eyed Jacks allow you to remove a chip from the board – perfect for sabotaging the other teams near 5-in-a-row! The only rule is you can’t remove it from an already completed Sequence. The two-eyed Jacks are wild! This means they can be used as any card in the deck and you can essentially place your chip anywhere where there is a free space on the board. This is a great card to play when the cards in your hand don’t match the cards you want!

The game plays turn by turn with each team or player laying a card, placing a chip and refilling their hand back until the end game conditions are met. The game ends when one player or team has either one Sequence or two completed Sequences! Two Sequences are needed for 2 player/team games and just one Sequence is needed if you’re playing as teams of 3 or as 3 individuals.

Final Thoughts

Sequence is a great family game that can be played and enjoyed by all the family. Simple to play and easy to teach, it takes a very short time to set up and just requires a table for the board. When playing in teams this game really comes into its own! As you lay down chips you have to hope that your team members can see your strategy and have the cards in their hand to help you out!