Looking for specific Password Board Game rules? | Setup | Playing the Game | Clue Rules | End of Round | Winning the Game | Three Player Game |
Setup
- Players divide into teams of two. If there are three players, there are unique rules (see below).
- Each team assigns one of their players as the A player and the other player as the B player. The A players from each team should sit next to one another facing their teammates. The B players will do the same.
- Choose which game number you would like to play (1-25), and whether you want to play the normal or * side of the card. The A players take the A version of the chosen card and the B players take the B version of the chosen card.
- Each set of players take their card and insert the end of the card that says top into the bottom of one of the card holders. You will slide the card up until the first word is in the red window.
- The A players will be the first givers while the B players will be the receivers. The A players decide who will give the first clue for the first word. For their second word the other player gets to give the first clue.
How to Play Password Board Game
You will play the Password Board Game over a number of rounds. The A players will start by giving clues for the first word to the B players. After the first word is guessed, the B players will then give clues for their first word to the A players. For each word the players will rotate who gives the first clue.
To start each round the current givers look at the word for the round. Turn the arrow on the Score Indicator to ten.
The player chosen to give the first clue then tries to think up a clue to give to their partner. They need to come up with a one word clue that they think will help their teammate guess the current round’s word. They will say their clue out loud so all of the players can hear it. See the Clue Rules section below for details on what types of clues you can use in Password.
After the player gives their teammate a clue, their teammate has the opportunity to make a guess at the round’s word. They can also choose not to make a guess if they don’t want to.
If they correctly guess the word, the round ends. Their team scores ten points. You will write the score down on the score pad.
Should they guess incorrectly, the round continues. One of the players turns the arrow on the Score Indicator to nine. The other giver then comes up with a clue they want to give their teammate.
The givers will take turns giving clues until the round’s word is guessed. After each incorrect guess, the arrow on the Score Indicator is reduced by one. Whenever one of the receivers correctly guess the word, the round ends. The player who correctly guessed the word scores point for their team equal to the number that the arrow is pointing to on the Score Indicator.
When a player makes a guess that is another form of the round’s word, the clue giver can tell their team that their answer was a form of the word. For example a player says “play” and the round’s word was “player.” Their teammate can then immediately make another guess to try and exactly match the clue’s word. If they successfully match the word, they score the corresponding points. If they fail to guess the exact word, the round immediately ends, and no one scores points.
Should neither player be able to guess the word after ten clues are given (each giver has given five clues), the round ends with neither team scoring points.
Clue Rules
Givers can only give one word clues. You cannot give hyphenated words as a clue. If a player on the other team thinks a clue is two plus words or is hyphenated, they can challenge the clue. Look up the word. If the word is two or more words, the clue was invalid and the player who gave the clue immediately loses the round. The other team scores points equal to the number pointed to on the Score Indicator. If the clue was only one word, the challenging team loses the round. The original cluegiver’s team scores points equal to the number pointed to on the Score Indicator.
You can use proper nouns as clues. For example you can give a clue of a famous person’s first or last name if it is relevant to the current round’s word.
You can never give a clue of a word that is part of the round’s word, or is another form of the round’s word. For example you can’t use the clue “win” for a round whose word is “winner”. Using a clue such as “steal” for “stolen” is not allowed either.
Givers may not use hand gestures or acting when giving clues. You can use facial expressions or how you say the word though in order give additional information for your clue. For example you can whisper or yell your clue.
A player can choose to repeat a clue previously given. You may also give a clue that connects to a previously given word. For example you want to give a three word clue. You can give the clue one word at a time using up three of your clues.
You cannot spell out the clue word you give your teammate.
End of Round
The current rounds ends after someone successfully guesses the round’s word, or no one is able to guess it after ten clues are given.
The B players then look at their first word and give clues to their teammates in the same way as the A players did. After their word is guessed or the round ends, the A players will play the next round with the second word on their card. The A and B players alternate giving clues each round. The player who gives the clue to start each round also should rotate.
The fifth word on each card is unique. Players will score double the points for the fifth word on each card.
Winning the Game
After ten rounds have been played, the game ends.
Each team totals the points they scored with each player as the receiver. The team that scores the most points wins the game.
Three Player Game
If there are only three players, you need to slightly alter the rules.
Choose one player to be the giver during the game. The other two players will play as receivers.
The giver chooses one of the game cards and inserts it into the card holder. Each round they will give clues for the next word on the card. They will give the same clue to both players. Both players can make a guess after each clue. A player can choose not to make a guess. If neither player are able to guess correctly, the giver reduces the arrow on the Score Indicator by one point. They will then give both players another clue.
Whenever a player makes a correct guess, they score points equal to the number the arrow is pointing to on the Score Indicator. If both players guess correctly after the same clue, the player who guessed first scores the points. If both players answer at the same time, both players score the points. For the fifth word/round, the correct player scores twice as many points.
After five rounds/words are played, the game ends. The player that scores more points wins the game.
Components
2022 Goliath Games Version
- 50 Game Cards
- 25 A Cards
- 25 B Cards
- 2 Card Holders
- Score Indicator
- Instructions
Year: 1962 | Publisher: Cardinal, Endless Games, Goliath Games, Milton Bradley, Spin Master
Genres: Family, Game Show, Party, Word
Ages: 10+ | Number of Players: 3-4 | Length of Game: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Light | Strategy: Light | Luck: Moderate
For more board and card game rules/how to plays, check out our complete alphabetical list of card and board game rules posts.