"Apples to Apples" is a party game for four or more players. The game pieces consist of two decks of cards -- a green deck containing nouns and a red deck containing adjectives. The object of the game is to match the best red card that matches the green card on the table. The basic rules for "Apples to Apples" are always the same, though players are encouraged to enact their own house rules.
Set Up
Begin by shuffling both the green and red decks. Select a player to be the first judge and have that player deal every player at the table a total of seven red cards. The judge will then take a green card from the top of the green deck, read the card out loud and then place it face-up on the table. Play begins immediately after the judge places the card on the table.
Playing Red Cards
Each player, except the judge, must pick a red card from their hand that they think best matches the green card and place it face-down on the table. A player may play two cards in one round as long as he puts them down separately, one after the other. In a four- or five-person game, only the first four cards played actually count and in a game with six or more people, the last card played does not count.
Judging and Scoring
The judge will collect all of the red cards that were played in a round and mix them up. He will then read off each card and decide which card best matches the green card. Judges may choose the card on their own criteria, but players are allowed to comment on the cards to persuade the judge's decision. After the judge picks a card, the player who played it will receive the green card.
Winning and Variations
In a four-player game, the first player to win eight green cards wins. For every player you add after four, subtract one card needed to win. Any game with more than eight players requires only four cards to win. Players are encouraged to play with different rules or create their one. For example, "Baked Apples" is a variation where each player gets to play at least one card. In "Crab Apples" players try to make opposite matches.
References
About the Author
K.C. Moore has been writing professionally since 2008. He has contributed to "Eye on Life," Kingdom Hearts Ultimania and several online publications. Moore has also worked professionally as a game adviser for Blockbuster Video since 2004. Moore is a graduate of Central Michigan University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in English with a concentration in creative writing.
