Probe Game Directions

Thinks of a word to be your secret word; each of the other players does the same. Select the appropriate letter cards from your deck of alphabetical cards. Spell out the word, keeping the cards face down and in the appropriate order in the rack. You can use the blank cards to trick your opponents into thinking your word is longer than it really is.

Decide on a scorekeeper for the game. This person will record each player's scores, which will ultimately help determine the winner.

Choose a player to begin the game. This player will draw the top card from the activity deck and must read it aloud. After the player has followed the directions, she will place the card face up on the opposite side of the draw pile.

The same player will then try to solve a secret word of another player. She can ask any player whether he has a particular card or blank in his word. If he does, he must reveal it to the rest of the group. If the player in question has multiple letters in his word, he can choose which letter to reveal. For example, if the word is "castles," and the letter in question is "s" he can decide which "s" to reveal.

If the player guessed correctly, she is entitled to guess again. She can question any other player in the game. Her turn does not end until she fails to correctly guess a letter. After this happens, the player to her left takes his turn.

After a player correctly guesses a letter, the scorekeeper records the player's points. The placement of the card on the rack determines how many points the player will receive.

Players are not eliminated when their words are revealed; rather, they continue to play and can amass points by correctly guessing letters and words.

The winner of the game is the player who has the most points after all secret words have been revealed.