INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYING

Contents:
48 playing pieces (12 each of 4 colors), TOPPLE board, game base, game stem, playing die.

Setting Up:
1.  Set up the playing area on a flat surface by placing the stem into the base and balancing the TOPPLE board on top of the stem (see Illustration 1).
2.  Each player selects a color and takes all the playing pieces of that color.
3.  Each player rolls the die.  Highest roll will go first, then play continues to the left.
4.  Make a score sheet, listing the name of each player.  Choose someone to keep score during the game.
5.  Decide what the winning score will be.  For example, 100 points.
 

	Illus. 1
To disassemble the game.   Remove the playing area from the stem.  Twist and pull the stem to remove it from the base.

How to Score:
1.  If you place a piece that completes a row of 5 pieces in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) you score 3 points for completing the row plus 1 point for each playing piece of your color that tops each other stack in that row (see Illustration 2).

2.  If you add a piece to a completed row of 5, you score 1 point for each piece of your color that tops each stack in that row (see Illustration 3).
 

Note:  You can score multiple points if you place a piece that completes or adds to more than one row, or which stacks more than three high and completes or adds to a row.  The piece you play that is common to different rows or to a stack and a row, is counted for each row and/or stack.  Illustration 5 shows how a player can score 3 ways.
   

Player scores 1 point for each piece of his color in a    stack 3 or more pieces high. This play scores 2 points.

Player scores five points on 2 rows and 1 stack.

 
Toppling:
A TOPPLE occurs when a player causes one or more playing pieces to fall off a stack or off the TOPPLE board.  When this happens the round ends.  The player who caused the TOPPLE loses 10 points.  In addition, when a player causes a TOPPLE while placing a piece on the board, the player whose turn it was immediately before scores a 3-point bonus.

REMEMBER:

• Player cannot touch the TOPPLE board or any of the pieces already placed on the board.
• If you accidentally knock the board, or table, and cause a TOPPLE, whether or not it's your turn, you lose 10 points.
• Look for multiple scoring possibilities!

Even if a player reaches the required number of points during a round, the game is not over until all the pieces have been played or a TOPPLE has occurred.  If more than one player reaches the required number of points at that time, the player with the highest total wins.

Two-Player Version:
Each player takes two colors and scores them separately.  For example, if you have yellow and orange and you play a yellow piece to score, you get points for the yellow pieces scored on that move only.  A player may choose which color to play at any time.

Young People Version:
Play the same way as the original instructions, but don't keep score.  Players place their piece on the level indicated by the die.  Whoever causes a TOPPLE is out of the game.