Numberfeud Rules & Scoring Guide

🎯 Game Overview

Numberfeud is a strategic tile-placement game where two players create mathematical equations to score points. Think Scrabble meets mathematics – place number and operator tiles on a board to form valid equations and outscore your opponent!

Objective

Score the most points by strategically placing tiles to create mathematically correct equations. The player with the highest score when all tiles are used or when both players pass consecutively wins the game.

Players

Numberfeud is designed for exactly 2 players. Games are played in turn-based rounds where players alternate placing tiles, exchanging tiles, or passing their turn.

Reading Direction

All equations are read from left to right (horizontal) or from top to bottom (vertical). This is crucial for understanding multi-digit numbers and equation flow on the board.

🎮 Game Setup

The Board

The game is played on a 15×15 grid with special bonus squares:

• DN Double Number: Doubles the point value of number tiles
• TN Triple Number: Triples the point value of number tiles
• DC Double Combo: Doubles the entire equation score
• TC Triple Combo: Triples the entire equation score

Starting Position

Each game begins with a random 2-digit number placed vertically at the center of the board. All subsequent plays must connect to existing tiles.

Tile Rack

Each player starts with 7 tiles drawn from the tile pool. The game maintains a balanced distribution to ensure fair gameplay.

🎲 Tiles & Point Values

✅ Valid Equations & Multi-Digit Numbers

Basic Requirements

• Must contain exactly one equals sign (=)
• Both sides of the equation must be mathematically equal
• Must include at least one existing tile from the board
• New tiles must be placed in a single row or column
• Equations are read left-to-right (horizontal) or top-to-bottom (vertical)

Multi-Digit Numbers

Numbers can contain multiple digits! Adjacent number tiles form larger numbers based on reading direction:

Multi-Digit Examples

Primary vs Secondary Equations

Understanding the dual-equation scoring system:

Primary Equation

• The main equation formed by your tile placement
• Must include ALL tiles you place in that turn
• Must be mathematically valid for the move to be legal
• Always gets scored

Secondary (Perpendicular) Equations

• Additional equations formed perpendicular to your primary placement
• Created when your new tiles intersect with existing board tiles
• Only valid secondary equations are scored - invalid ones are ignored
• Provide bonus points on top of your primary equation

Equation Examples by Type

Simple Equations

Arithmetic Equations

Multi-digit Equations

Advanced Operations (via Wildcards)

Primary + Secondary Equation Example

🎲 How to Play

Turn Options

On your turn, choose one of these actions:

1. Place Tiles

• Place one or more tiles to form a valid primary equation
• All placed tiles must be in a single row or column
• Must connect to existing tiles on the board
• The primary equation formed must be mathematically valid
• Bonus: Any valid secondary equations formed perpendicular to your placement also score points!

2. Exchange Tiles

• Exchange unwanted tiles for new ones from the pool
• Can exchange 1-7 tiles (as long as tiles remain in pool)
• Uses your turn but allows you to improve your rack

3. Pass Turn

• Skip your turn without playing
• Game ends if both players pass consecutively

Connectivity Rules

New tiles must connect to the existing equation network. Your placement must form at least one equation (primary or secondary) that incorporates tiles already on the board.

Reading Direction Rules

Critical for multi-digit numbers:

• Horizontal equations: Read left to right (1-2-8 = 128)
• Vertical equations: Read top to bottom (stacked 1-2-8 = 128)
• Multi-digit formation: Adjacent number tiles automatically combine
• Operators break numbers: 1-2-+-8 = "12 + 8" (not 1,2,+,8)

🏆 Scoring System

Score Components

Your score for each turn consists of several components:

1. Base Tile Points

Points from the face value of tiles placed, modified by number bonus squares (DN/TN).

2. Equation Value Bonus

Bonus points equal to the mathematical result of your equation(s).

3. All-Tiles Bonus

+50 points if you use all 7 tiles in a single turn.

4. Combo Multipliers

DC and TC squares multiply your entire score after other bonuses are added.

Detailed Scoring Example

Multiple Equations Bonus

Primary + Secondary Equation System:

When you place tiles, you create a primary equation that must be valid. If your placement also creates valid secondary equations perpendicular to your primary placement, you score points for ALL valid equations!

🧠 Advanced Strategy

Wildcard Mastery

Wildcards (♦️) are the key to high-scoring plays:

• Exponentiation: 2♦️4 = 16 (worth 16 equation points!)
• Square Root: ♦️25 = 5 (worth 5 equation points)
• Basic Operations: 8♦️2 = 4 (could be 8÷2 or 8-4, etc.)

Bonus Square Strategy

Multi-Equation Plays

The key to high scores: Look for opportunities to create both primary and secondary equations in one turn. This is especially powerful when:

• You can form both a horizontal and vertical equation
• Each equation uses existing tiles (meeting connectivity rules)
• Both equations are mathematically valid
• You maximize equation value bonuses from both equations

Multi-Digit Number Strategy

Reading direction matters:

• Plan multi-digit numbers based on available space
• Remember: 1-2-8 horizontally = 128, but vertically also = 128
• Large numbers create higher equation values (128 ÷ 4 = 32 points!)
• Strategic placement can create valuable multi-digit intersections

🏁 Game End & Winning

Game Ends When:

• A player uses all their tiles and the tile pool is empty
• Both players pass consecutively (neither can or wants to play)
• No more valid moves are possible

Determining the Winner

The player with the highest total score wins the game. In case of a tie, the game is declared a draw.

Final Scoring

If the game ends with tiles remaining in players' racks, no penalties are applied. Only the points scored during the game count toward the final total.

🌟 Tips for New Players

Starting Strategies

• Learn the tile distribution: Know which digits are rare (7,8,9) vs common (0,1,2,3)
• Save your wildcards: Don't waste ♦️ tiles on simple operations when they could unlock powerful equations
• Plan ahead: Look for bonus squares and plan your rack accordingly
• Think perpendicular: Always check if your placement creates additional valid equations

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting that operators (+, -, ×, ÷, =) are worth 0 points
• Missing opportunities for multi-equation scoring
• Placing valuable tiles without considering bonus squares
• Using wildcards too early in the game

Practice Equations

Try to spot valid equations in these examples:

Multi-Digit Reading Practice

Understanding how numbers are read:

Primary vs Secondary Example

📚 Mathematical Operations Reference

Standard Operations (Available as Tiles)

Advanced Operations (Wildcard Only)