Game 139: Push

Push is a game we've been playing a lot of lately. It's simple and casual and can easily be played while carrying on a conversation at the same time. Our friends the Kirks introduced us to this one. It's mostly a game of luck, but there is a teeny-tiny bit of strategy in it - for example, how far to "push" your luck on your turn - and also when to skip your turn and "bank" instead to keep cards (points) safe.  It's nice in that it can be played and enjoyed by people of (almost) all ages, which is something we're thinking more and more about with 4 young grandchildren. We played with my parents on Easter Sunday:

The person whose turn it is draws card after card - creating as many as three "piles" of cards - with the restriction that no pile can have two cards that share a color or that share a number The cards picturing dice cause you to roll (which isn't a good thing). Once the person whose turn it is decides to stop drawing cards, that person choosed the pile they want to keep, then the next person chooses from the remaining piles if any, and then the third person takes what is left (if anything). Anyone who has a die card in their pile has to role the die, and they lose all the cards (and therefore all the points) in front of them of that color. It is possible for the person whose turn it is to "bust," in which case that person has to role the die and possibly lose cards in front of them, and the next three people in line get to choose from the piles in order. There are also reverse cards (shown below) which cause the choosing to take place in the reverse order. 

You can choose to skip your turn and "bank" all the cards in front of you of one color. These cards are turned face-down and are safe from any die roles. The fame ends when the stack of cards is used up, and the person with the most points wins.