State Capital Game

From LoveToKnow BoardGames

Sequence States & Capitals is a fun, easy-to-play state capital game for all players. Children and non-readers can play by matching colors and shapes while adults play adding their own strategies.

Sequence States & Capitals

State Capital Game: Fun for All

This state capital game was first published by Jax Ltd. Inc. in 2007. This colorful board game is an offshoot of the very popular Sequence game from the same publisher. It can still be played as a strategy game of building sequences; however, the geography aspect of the game adds an educational component, and the colors and shapes make the game appealing to a wider range of ages - seven through adult.

Geography plus Strategy

States & Capitals can be seen as a state capital game or a strategic game. Either way, it is a fun way for players to feel like they are traveling through the United States, learning the names of each state's capital city.

Sequence States & Capitals can bring different types of players together for thirty minutes of fun. The colorful playing cards and game board attract the little players and make play easy for non-readers and non-English speaking players. Players also have the option to add their strategic thinking to the game.

Families, Parties and Schools

This is a great game to add to any family game library. It also makes a great game for a game party or a family gathering. The design of the game allows players age seven or older, with all reading levels and interests, to enjoy playing together. The game is equally fun when played by two to six players or when played by teams of players. An entire family, including all ages, reading levels and levels of strategic thinking can play against each other, and all have an equal chance to win.

Teachers and home schoolers will also find this game as an engaging way to teach geography. The game is easy to play and works with small or large groups. The instructions are available in both English and Spanish, enlarging the audience for the game.

Basics of the Game

This is a matching game where state images and colors on playing cards are matched against images and colors on the game board. Whenever a match is made, a player or team gets to add a chip to the board.

Goal

The object of the game is to build a "sequence" of five chips of the same color in a row. The direction of the row can be up, down, across or diagonally across the game board.

Once a sequence is built, the five chips are turned over, exposing the white side of the chip. The row of white chips shows that the sequence is complete and cannot be changed.

Game Pieces

The game includes:

A folding game board
108 playing cards (including 4 REMOVE cards and 4 ADD cards)
50 green marker chips
50 purple marker chips
50 orange marker chips
Game instructions in English and Spanish

Game Set-up

The game starts with players or teams deciding which color chip they want to use to represent themselves – green, purple or orange.

One of the players is selected as the dealer. The dealer shuffles the playing cards and then deals out the cards. The number of cards dealt to each player is based on the total number of players.

**Cards To Deal**
Number of Players	Cards Dealt to Each Player
2	7 cards
3 or 4	6 cards
6	5 cards
8 or 9	4 cards
10 or 12	3 cards

Playing the Game

Each player selects a card from his or her hand. After reviewing the state shape and color on the card, the player places the card in a discard pile and places one of his or her colored chips onto the game board on a state that matches the same shape and color as shown on the playing card.

Strategy is employed in the game when a player selects a particular card from his or her hand based on that state's position on the game board and whether it can be used to build a sequence or to block an opponent from completing a sequence.

Players also have the option to use a REMOVE card to remove their opponent's chips from the game board or an ADD card to add their own chip to any open space on the board. This can be a high point of the game when a nearly completed sequence is shattered by the removal of a key chip.

Players continue to take turns matching state shape and color of the state on the card with shapes and colors on the board, forming 5-chip sequences.

Winning the Game

To win the game a specific number of 5-chip sequences must be built on the board:

If 2 players or 2 teams are playing – Two sequences must be built by one player or team.
If 3 players or 3 teams are playing – Only one sequence must be built.