Words

Clover rules

Everybody builds a four-card clover and writes a word on each outer edge; then the cards are shuffled and the table rebuilds it from the clues.

2–6 players 15–20 min Free, in your browser
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The rules, step by step

  1. You get four cards. Each card has a word on each of its four edges.
  2. Lay them in a square. Only the two words facing OUT of each card count. Turn a card and one of them slides round to the next leaf while a new one takes its place — so one turn changes two leaves at once.
  3. Write one word on each of the clover’s four outer edges, joining the two words that meet there.
  4. Your four cards then get shuffled with a fifth nobody needs, and the table rebuilds your clover from the clues.
  5. Everyone but you solves it together, out loud, on the same live board.
  6. All four leaves right first time is 6 points. Otherwise you are told only HOW MANY are right — not which — and get one more go for a point a leaf.
  7. One score, for the table. You are all on the same side.

Scoring and the fiddly bits

The geometry

A card shows only the two words facing out of the clover. Turning it slides one round to the next leaf and brings a new one in.

Scoring

Six for all four leaves on the first attempt. Otherwise a point a leaf on the arrangement finally locked in.

The count, and nothing else

After a failed first attempt the table is told how many leaves are right. It is never told which ones.

How a leaf is graded

By the two words sitting either side of the clue, matched as an unordered pair against the writer’s. The placement itself does not have to match.

Writing a clue

One word per leaf, up to twenty characters, and never one of the two words it is joining.

Questions about Clover

Is Clover free?

Yes. Every game on Table Party is free, with no accounts, no adverts and nothing to buy.

How many people do you need for Clover?

Between 2 and 6. Below 2 there are not enough of you for the game to work.

Do we need to download anything?

No. One person opens the site and starts a room; everybody else joins by typing the room code on their own phone. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.

Can we play Clover over a video call?

Yes. Share the room code in the chat and play with the call running — everything private stays on each player’s own phone.

Play Clover online

Free, in the browser, with everyone on their own phone.