BusyBusy TU Greatest

An educational game for early learners of number and mathematical place

This game is for two or more players. Once set-up it takes five rounds to complete a game ~ each round takes less than a minute. Every player requires a set numbers ~ the ten digits ~ from 0 to 9 ~ printed on slips of paper or cards. They need to be made so that the backs of the cards do not reveal what the faces say. It is possible to use part of a set of playing cards. A suitable set of plain numeral cards is available for sale in our secure sister site as the Dresden Set of cards [shop].

Getting ready to play

Each player takes his/her pack of ten digits and shuffles them up without looking at them. He/she then passes the pile to the next player on the left. This ensures that the cards are jumbled really well for each player. At this stage only the backs of the cards is to be seen.

Each player needs a suitable grid in front of them. For this game the layout of the grid is just two places for the number cards ~ consider them to be the columns for a Tens and Units number.

TU Grid
A grid ~ such as this ~ is needed for each player ~
It is necessary to ensure placement of the number cards in the intended column ~
The scorecard part is a useful extra

For home printing a suitable format of the grid ~ with a scorecard ~ two at a time ~ is available as a jpg [126976] or pdf [126976].

Starting play

The first player takes the top card from his/her pile ~ looks at it ~ thinks about it ~ and places it on his/her grid. The aim is to make a greater two digit number than the other player ~ or the greatest number if three or more are playing. Once played a card cannot moved.

TU Greatest ~ Start of play
East about to play his/her first card

The next player does the same in turn ~ as do all others. The first player then turns over the second card and places it alongside the first ~ hopefully things turn out well! The other players continue until all have played their second card.

TU Greatest ~ Play continues
One card left to play ~ north is likely to win this round ~
South got the second round off to a good start ~ West had a stroke of luck ~
North had even more good fortune ~ East has to play a nine to win

The values of the numbers in the columns ~ read as tens and units ~ are compared between the players. The greater (for two) ~ greatest (for three or more) ~ number wins that round ~ and scores one point.

A game consists of four more rounds ~ each of two moves ~ eventually using all the cards. The player with highest score ~ maximum is five points ~ wins the game.

Players will be able to adjust their strategy ~ if their memory serves them right ~ and if they remember the cards they still have available to play. Unfortunately that does not help all that much ~ the laws of chance require guesswork as to where to place the cards. The game is not a great test of skill ~ do not set too much store by the results. The main aim is to enjoy the game ~ whilst learning to appreciate the value of numbers ~ especially their value if they are placed in the tens column.

Here is the start of the second round of a two-player game ~

TU Greatest ~ Two player game starts
South has a good chance of winning after ~
round one with two very low value cards

TU Greatest ~ Two player game starts
North has an unfortunate turn-up


Another version of this game ~ slightly harder ~ with three columns ~ HTU ~ is available [125394].

The Elbe series of BusyBusy cards ~ and their purpose ~ and with links to other tasks and games ~ is fully described on a separate page [124761].

A commentary for subscribing parents ~ carers ~ or tutors ~ is available [125390]


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Last updated 2021~0112...End of file http://www.busybusy.co/page/12/53/90.htm