DIRECTIONS FOR

TIDDLEDY WINKS

The chief implements for the game of Tiddledy Winks are bone disks of two sizes. The larger disks are used to make the smaller ones jump, which is done by placing the edge of a large one on a small one near the center, and drawing it quickly over the edge, with more or less pressure according to the distance to be jumped. Each player has one large disk and several smaller ones of the same color.

The disks jump best from a soft, elastic surface. The mats provided with the game supply this requirement for some methods of playing, but for others it is desirable to play on a table covered with a thick cloth.

SIMPLEST METHOD OF PLAYING.—In its simplest form, the game is played on a cloth-covered table. A cup is placed in the center of the table, and each player places his small disks in a row near the edge in front of him.

The object is to see which player can first jump all his small disks into the cup.

The turn to play passes to the left. Every time a player succeeds in jumping a disk into the cup, he is entitled to another turn, and so on, until he fails, when the turn passes to the next on the left.

After the game is started, a player, when it is his turn, may jump any of his disks from wherever it may lie on the table.

The small disks must not be touched during the game except with the large disk of the player to whom they belong; unless one rolls off the table, when it may be replaced near the edge. A player must not touch another’s disk, and if one lies on his, and he has no other to jump, he must wait for the opponent to remove his disk before he can play.

The player who first gets all his disks into the cup, wins the game.

When four or six play, they may play as partners. Partners may jump each other’s disks.

If but two or three are playing, each may use two sets of disks.

GAME WITH COUNTERS.—This method is used when it is desired to play several games in a series.

Each player receives the same number of wooden counters. The white counters represent a value of one point each; the blue, three points; and the red, five.

The game is played under the same rules as the preceding one. When one of the players has jumped all his disks into the cup, each other player pays him a one-point counter for each disk of such player remaining on the table.

Then each player places his disks again at the edge, and another game is begun.

At the end of the series, the player (or pair of partners) having the greatest value in counters wins the series.

GAME WITH MATS.—With mats, the game may be played on a hard-surfaced table.

The small disks may be apportioned equally between the players irrespective of color, any surplus over an even division being set aside.

The counters are not divided, but remain together to be taken as points are won.

Each player jumps all his disks from his mat on his first turn. When all have played, the first player on the next round may take any disk on the table, outside of the cup, regardless of the owner, and jump it from his mat. He may continue to do this as long as he lands disks in the cup, but as soon as he fails, the turn passes to the left.

For each disk put in the cup, a player receives a one-point counter. The game continues until all the disks are in the cup, and is won by the player then having the greatest value in counters.

TARGET GAME.—In this game the circular target is used instead of the cup.

Each player takes all the disks of one color.

Each blue counter, in this game, is equal to five of the white, and each red one equal to five of the blue, or twenty-five of the white.

The players jump their disks in tum, one disk on a tum, until all have been jumped. Then each receives counters equal in point value to the numbers on the circular divisions of the target within which their disks have fallen.

A disk partly in one and partly in another division, is counted as lying in the outer division. Disks partly or wholly outside of the outer circle, count nothing.

The game ends when all the counters have been won. The winner is the player who has won the largest value in points.

If the number playing is small, or a short game is desired, all the counters need not be used.

PUSSYCAT TARGET GAME—The target is set up on edge, and the players try to jump their disks through the holes in its face.

Each player jumps all his disks on one tum, and if he sends any of them through a hole he may jump them again on the same tum, and keep on until he fails.

Each time a player sends a disk through a hole, he receives counters equal in value to the number over the hole; and if it rolls out through a hole at the bottom, he get counters also for the number over that hole.

The players continue to play until the counters have all been won. If the full number of counters makes the game too long, some may be set aside.