“Mom, let’s play more math games,” my eight year old said and I wondered what games to suggest that would pose some level of challenge to him.  I came up with the basis for this game and he helped me refine the rules.

Make the Number Game Rules

Set-up:

- Use number cards, no face cards.

- Choose a target number. I recommend 100 as a starting number.

- Each player draws 7 cards. At the end of every turn, draw-up till you have seven cards.

- Players may have a piece of scrap paper for scribbling down ideas while they play.

- Players have to try to use the cards in their hands to reach the target number. If the target cannot be reached, the player can put down cards up to any multiple of 10 and try the next turn to get to the target number. Numbers on the cards can be added, multiplied, subtracted and divided. Players must write out their equation as they play it.

Example play:

Say my hand consists of a 7, 2, 8, 5, 1, 5.  I might choose to play down the 8, 2 and 5 writing: (8 + 2) x 5 = 50. Or I could write (8 + 7 – 5)(5 + 2) = 100 to score a point.

Maybe my son draws a 9, 1, 4, 4, 6, 3, 8. He might choose to play down the 9, 1, 8, 6, 3 writing: 9(8+1) + 6 + 3 = 90. Or he might choose to play 6, 4, 9 writing 9 (6 + 4) = 90. Or better yet he might write (8 – 3)(9 + 1)(6 - 4) = 100 and win a point!

Scoring:

- A player recieved a point upon reaching the target number.

- Once the target number is reached all cards that went towards creating that number are placed in a discard pile.

- Once there are no more cards in the draw pile the points are counted up.