Quad-Ominos
1. TO KEEP SCORE:
Write the initial or name of each player on a score pad. As each play is made, the scorekeeper will add or subtract points in the proper column. Game is 800 points and consists of several rounds.
2. TO START GAME:
Turn all the Quad-Ominos face down and mix. Each player selects the required number as follows —
2 players 15 each 5 players 7 each 3 players 10 each 6-8 players 6 each 4 players 8 each
Stand Quads up — numbers facing each player. The player having the Quad-Omino with four of the same highest numbers starts the round by playing the Quad-Omino face up on the playing surface.
Four 5’s is highest, then four 4’s, then four 3’s, etc. The player who starts the game receives the total of the four numbers on the Quad-Omino plus a 25 point bonus (See example A) or he may choose to play two bonus Quad-Ominos and add both tiles to his score (See example B).
Example “A”
The player possessing the starting Quad-Omino and the four (0) in the same hand has the option of playing either one. Choosing to play four (0) his bonus is 25 points plus two bonus Quad-Omino plays adding their total to his score. If you choose to play four (0), you must first show that you have four of a kind of a higher number.
If you cannot match two bonus Quad-Ominos, just collect 25 bonus points. Use best strategy.
If no player has Quad-Ominos with the same 4 numbers, the one with the highest total points will start with no extra bonus (See example C).
In clockwise order the next player tries to match any two numbers on the starting player’s Quad Ominos. If the next player can do this he receives the total of all four numbers on his Quad-Omino (See example D).
If a player cannot make a match he must pick from the "well" (remaining Quad-Ominos facing down) until a match can be made (See penalty scoring).
3. WINNING A ROUND:
The first player to get rid of all of his Quad-Ominos is declared the winner of the round. He will receive the total of all Quad-Ominos left in each player’s hands and will add this total to his score. There is no additional bonus.
4. BONUS SCORING:
If a Quad-Omino can be played so that two or its sides (3 numbers = 1-1-0), match two sides of an enclosure, (1-1), (1-0), that player will receive 25 points or an option to play two bonus Quad-Ominos adding their total to his score (See example E).
If one side of the Quad-Omino being played matches two numbers of one side (5-5) and matches corner (3) of opposite side, the player will receive 25 points or option to play two bonus tiles from his hand (See example F).
Other bonus situations where player receives 25 points or option to play two Quad-Ominos.
If a player cannot play his two bonus Quad-Ominos, he must collect his 25 points — he cannot play only 1 tile.
5. PENALTY SCORING:
If a player cannot make a match and must pick from the "well", deduct 20 points from individual score for each tile picked. To assure an accurate count of each 20 point penalty, keep tiles picked from "well", separate from those in your hand. Give total point penalty to score keeper if a player cannot match any Quad-Ominos from his hand and there are none in the well, the player will pass. Deduct 20 points from his score and next player plays.
6. WINNING A GAME:
The first player to reach 800 points is declared the winner of the game.
You may not make the following plays:
That's really all there is to Quad-Ominos. The only suggestion we have to make is that if a player continually takes too long a time at his turn, then set a time limit of 30 seconds or a minute for each turn.
7. FOR BEGINNERS:
We suggest playing initially with 70 tiles instead of 125 tiles. You can do this by eliminating from play all tiles with a "5" on it. Follow the same rules as above except play to 600 points.
For "70 piece" Quad-Ominos, each player selects the required number as follows
2 players 15 each 5 players 7 each 3 players 10 each 6-8 players 6 each 4 players 8 each
The "70 piece" Quad-Ominos game is faster and easier to play than the regular version and is fun to play even for expert Ominos players. We suggest you try both ways. Have Fun!
