It’s all fun and games until your child realizes they’re learning something! But with this new card game Hex-a-Dex, they won’t want to stop. The game design was led by Yaqi Zhao in Harrow Beijing’s marketing department and it’s a fun skill-based game for kids ages 4 and up. Hex-a-Dex offers families three separate games to involve parents in their child’s learning. Scan to watch our test run!

As you can see, the game was a blast! The concept of the first game was familiar and easy enough for young kids to grasp while staying challenging for the older kids. And when I’m not filming the playtime, I’m assuming it will be a lot more fun to actually join them, and help the kids sound out words.

Other games can be played with the deck besides Match and Match, such as Roadman and Amazing Cells. Once the cameras stopped rolling, our younger set of kids even made up their own game! I couldn’t quite follow the rules, but they were having fun while sounding out words, and that’s really what counts.

Here’s what some Harrow teachers say about using Hex-a-Dex in their classrooms:

You can purchase Hex-a-Dex directly from Harrow Beijing via this QR code. Happy phonics play!

KEEP READING: Roundabout’s Book Store is Now Online!

Images: Cindy Marie Jenkins, courtesy of Harrow Beijing

Given how 2020 has been for most of us in Beijing, especially after our city got over the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had hoped that New Year’s celebrations would look much more like those in the good old pre-COVID-19 days. Unfortunately, with the new confirmed cases, Beijing has gone back to implementing safety and prevention protocols. Hundreds of thousands of Beijing’s residents in Shunyi and the rest of Beijing have been flooding testing centers to know their status. Additionally, bars, restaurants, and night clubs across the city which had initially advertised New Year’s Eve parties have since announced a change of plans as they are now only allowed to have no more than a ‘sitting capacity’ number of guests for their events, and this has meant that tickets for such events are now severely limited.

But never fear. Though your plans to have a far more glamorous, festive, maybe even tipsy New Year’s celebration this year might appear to be toast (no pun intended), you and your family might still be able to toast to the new year in fun, creative, equally festive, but safe ways.

Here are some ideas!

How Many Chinese Card Games Do You Know?

Ever heard of Dou dizhu, 斗地主? This particular game rose up during the Cultural Revolution, as a way of fighting against the landlord class, which was one of the “five black categories“. Its origins can be traced back to Hubei province. The nature of the game is that of shedding cards, with three players playing with a full deck of cards including the three jokers. Players start by ‘bidding’ for the landlord position. The one who wins takes the place of the landlord and has to play against the two other players who are now ‘peasants’, with the objective of being the first to get rid of all of the cards in their hand. Even though the history of this game is a rather dark one, it no longer holds the same cultural baggage and is a fun way of engaging in a game of teams with the kids or even among friends without having to fork out piles of cash.

For a full list of instructions, please click here.

Information courtesy of AJ at Culture Yard.

Drinking Games for The Entire Family!

Yes, I said drinking games, but for the entire family! I am by no means advising you to pull out the shot glasses, fill them to the brim with tequila and have the kids swig every time they fail to win a round of whatever game you are playing. Drinking games, far from being a preserve of drunk college students and merry revelers in bars and house parties, can be quite exciting for the entire family, even when the alcohol element is removed. Just replace the booze with a beverage that anyone in the family would loathe to drink and get to playing. Let’s check out some classics! Better yet, bypass the drink part entirely and get yourselves a nice big jar of stinky tofu! I promise you, the prospect of having even a piece of that would light a fire under even the least competitive member of the family!

1. Flip and Sip – The rules are as simple as you might imagine. Flip a coin and call it. If you get it right, pass it on to the next person to your left. If you get it wrong, however, you have to empty the contents of the glass in front of you (or have a nice juicy piece of stinky tofu!)
2. Jenga – Yet another classic! And as you would imagine, the premise is, every time anyone forfeits on pulling out a block, or knocks down the blocks drinks, or eats whatever is in front of them.
3. No-Beer Pong – This one gives you an opportunity to turn up the pressure, as in every cup you can vary the disgusting treat awaiting the loser of each round. Split into two teams, aim and throw ping pong balls into as many cups as you can, and watch in glee, the horrified expression of the loser as they down whatever is in their cup.

When in Doubt, Crack Out the Board Games 

We all have happy memories of hours spent playing board games both as kids and as adults. What could be better than getting stuck into one or more of these games to ring in the New Year? Earlier this summer, our Teen Takeover writer, Dorothy Asiedu, did a roundup of some of the best board games there are in the market and just how they are played. Here are just some of them.

1. Candy Land (Ages:3+) – “This game is an all-time favorite, and 2-4 people can play at a time. Players are required to follow a rainbow path; the goal is to be the first to reach King Kandy’s castle. Players will encounter certain obstacles, such as cards that send you backward.”
2. Hasbro Connect 4 (Ages: 6+) –  “The goal of this 2-player game is to stack four discs together in any direction (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal). As long as a player gets four-in-a-row, they win. However, players should also attempt to block their opponent’s discs to prevent them from winning.”
3. Monopoly (Ages: 8+) – “During this game, all players roll two dices to move around the board. Players can buy and trade properties, allowing them to collect rent from opponents. Money gained can also be used to further develop real estate properties with houses and hotels. The ultimate goal is to earn money and purchase real estate in order to drive your opponents to bankruptcy.”
4. Marble Circuit (Ages: 8+) – If your kids are good at puzzles but sick of “baby games,” then this one could be excellent even if they’re under the suggested age. Deputy Manager Cindy Marie Jenkins allowed her kindergartner to try different games at a store one day, and they chose this one. It’s a test of math and logic, but mostly it’s good ‘ol trial and error with marbles. What’s bad about that?

2020 has not been the year any of us wanted or expected. But we are hoping for the year 2021 to be all that we wanted 2020 to be and more. For now, however, it is our responsibility to keep ourselves and those we love safe if only to be able to do have a proper celebration do-over next year.

To one and all, a happy and safe New Year!

KEEP READING: Make the Most of Beijing’s Ultimate Family Guide

Photos: Courtesy of Pexels, Unsplash

Even though the Chinese New Year brings with it a flurry of festivity, pomp, and color, it is safe to say that this year families all across Beijing and indeed the rest of China are trading in their much longed-for reunions and celebrations for isolation in the wake of the rather unexpected spread of the Coronavirus. This has left many of us with tons of time and no real way of keeping ourselves entertained. Never fear! There might just be a fun way to pass the time without the customary Netflix binging cycles we are all rather prone to from time to time.

If you are a fan of card games, be it poker or even just a simple game of solitaire, then this is right up your alley. If not, then it is high time that you learned a game or two with our help. China itself has been the home of a great many card games that have morphed, taking different names globally, with variations in the rules and objectives of the games. But the traditions still remain in their original forms in pockets of cities like Beijing. The aspect of gambling associated with playing cards might have been outlawed, but that doesn’t stop groups of the elderly and the young engaging in spirited, no-stakes games, with fans watching in the wings and cheering them on.

Dou dizhu 斗地主

This particular game rose up during the Cultural Revolution, as a way of fighting against the Landlord class, which was one of the “five black categories“. Its origins can be traced back to Hubei province. The nature of the game is that of shedding cards, with three players playing with a full deck of cards including the three jokers. Players start by ‘bidding’ for the landlord position. The one who wins takes the place of the landlord and has to play against the two other players who are now ‘peasants’, with the objective of being the first to get rid of all of the cards in their hand. Even though the history of this game is a rather dark one, it no longer holds the same cultural baggage and is a fun way of engaging in a game of teams with the kids or even among friends without having to fork out piles of cash.

For a full list of instructions, please click here.

Information courtesy of AJ at Culture Yard.

Photos: doutula.com

The beauty of card games is that they are perfect when hanging out with friends. They create an environment that allows for laughter and fun to come about. However, there comes a time when you feel as if card games are becoming a chore to play. That’s when you know it’s time to change to a different type of card game. Here are some alternatives:

 Pit
(3-8 players)
For all you students that take IB Econ, this is the card game for you! This game was created in 1904, and is actually a simulation of the open outcry bidding for commodities, so get ready to do much shouting and gesturing! The origin of the name probably comes from the place where open outcry bidding happens, which is also called the “pit”. Some of the commodities that will be traded in this game include wheat, barley, corn and flax. The bull and the bear are also seen in this game, and used to help you win, but also help you lose points.

Hearts
(4 players)
This game probably became popular because it was found on every Windows computer, and is used with normal playing cards. The point of the game is to have the least amount of points possible, which are gotten from players losing rounds, therefore having to keep heart cards. Be aware of people “shooting the moon” though, as they will take all the heart cards, and causes everyone else to gain 26 points. The game ends when the first person reaches a hundred points, and that person is declared the loser.

Monopoly Deal
(2-5 players)
One of the more recent card games, made in 2008, this game is quite addictive. Although it has “Monopoly” in the name and the main goal is still to monopolize, everything else is different. Instead there are action cards, such as the coveted “Just Say No!” and “Deal Breaker” cards. If you hear people randomly saying“It’s my birthday” while playing a card game, it most likely that they are playing Monopoly Deal, and it’s not someone’s actual birthday. To win this game, you must get three complete sets of property, and it is most fun playing with four people.

Mafia
(4+ players)
This is a great party game that was created in the USSR in 1986, and uses standard playing cards. The point of the game is for the townspeople to figure out who is the mafia is. There are two phases of the game; in the “night phase” the mafia “kills” a person, while in the “day phase” the townspeople vote in order to eliminate the people they suspect to be mafia. Many variations of this game include cut or slit-throat mafia, which involves playing in the dark, and train mafia, which involves playing on a train, where people get “kicked off” the train, and have to wait for another train, where they join another train mafia game.

Bang!
(4-7 players)
This card game, invented in 2002 is similar to mafia, except that it is Wild West themed. Different people have different roles, which are sheriff, renegade, deputy sheriff and outlaw, where each role has a different objective. For example, the role of the sheriff is to “kill” all the outlaws in the game. Each person also has special abilities, according to the character card they receive, such as Willy the Kid, who is able to play as many Bang! cards as he wants! If you want more to this game, you can even get an expansion packs such as High Noon.Whether you choose to play Monopoly Deal or the classic game of Hearts with your friends, you’ll probably enjoy one of the games. Hopefully, this will help you get rethink how great and fun card games can be!

This article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Gloria Zhang, a student at the International School of Beijing. It was first posted here on March 28, 2013.

About UNIT-E:
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

The beauty of card games is that they are perfect when hanging out with friends. They create an environment that allows for laughter and fun to come about. However, there comes a time when you feel as if card games are becoming a chore to play. That’s when you know it’s time to change to a different type of card game. Here are some alternatives:

 Pit
(3-8 players)
For all you students that take IB Econ, this is the card game for you! This game was created in 1904, and is actually a simulation of the open outcry bidding for commodities, so get ready to do much shouting and gesturing! The origin of the name probably comes from the place where open outcry bidding happens, which is also called the “pit”. Some of the commodities that will be traded in this game include wheat, barley, corn and flax. The bull and the bear are also seen in this game, and used to help you win, but also help you lose points.

Hearts
(4 players)
This game probably became popular because it was found on every Windows computer, and is used with normal playing cards. The point of the game is to have the least amount of points possible, which are gotten from players losing rounds, therefore having to keep heart cards. Be aware of people “shooting the moon” though, as they will take all the heart cards, and causes everyone else to gain 26 points. The game ends when the first person reaches a hundred points, and that person is declared the loser.

Monopoly Deal
(2-5 players)
One of the more recent card games, made in 2008, this game is quite addictive. Although it has “Monopoly” in the name and the main goal is still to monopolize, everything else is different. Instead there are action cards, such as the coveted “Just Say No!” and “Deal Breaker” cards. If you hear people randomly saying“It’s my birthday” while playing a card game, it most likely that they are playing Monopoly Deal, and it’s not someone’s actual birthday. To win this game, you must get three complete sets of property, and it is most fun playing with four people.

Mafia
(4+ players)
This is a great party game that was created in the USSR in 1986, and uses standard playing cards. The point of the game is for the townspeople to figure out who is the mafia is. There are two phases of the game; in the “night phase” the mafia “kills” a person, while in the “day phase” the townspeople vote in order to eliminate the people they suspect to be mafia. Many variations of this game include cut or slit-throat mafia, which involves playing in the dark, and train mafia, which involves playing on a train, where people get “kicked off” the train, and have to wait for another train, where they join another train mafia game.

Bang!
(4-7 players)
This card game, invented in 2002 is similar to mafia, except that it is Wild West themed. Different people have different roles, which are sheriff, renegade, deputy sheriff and outlaw, where each role has a different objective. For example, the role of the sheriff is to “kill” all the outlaws in the game. Each person also has special abilities, according to the character card they receive, such as Willy the Kid, who is able to play as many Bang! cards as he wants! If you want more to this game, you can even get an expansion packs such as High Noon.Whether you choose to play Monopoly Deal or the classic game of Hearts with your friends, you’ll probably enjoy one of the games. Hopefully, this will help you get rethink how great and fun card games can be!

About UNIT-E:
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

San Guo Sha (三国杀 or “Killers of the Three Kingdoms”) is a popular Chinese board game set in the Three Kingdoms period. The rules of the game follow the rules of Bang!, a world-famous card game inspired by spaghetti westerns. How’s that for East meets West?

Ages: 8 and up
Type of game: Card/board hybrid
Number of players: 2-10

Basic Rules
Each player plays one of four roles: lord, loyalist, rebel, or spy. As the game begins, each player must randomly draw a “role card” to determine their role. Whoever draws the “lord” card must reveal their role card to the rest of the players. Those who draw other roles must keep them hidden until they are defeated over the course of the game. Different roles have different victory conditions:

• The lord must survive and defeat all rebels and spies;
• The loyalist must prevent the lord from dying, and kill all the rebels and spies;
• The rebel must kill the lord;
• And finally, the spy must kill all the loyalists and rebels, then the lord.

Over the course of the game, each player is dealt three “hero” cards. Each hero has a different ability and is loyal to one of the three warring states of the period: Wei, Shu, or Wu. After the players have each selected one hero from the ones they have drawn, players draw cards in an effort to defeat players from the opposing team. Some cards are weapons, some are utilitarian, some allow you to attack, some allow you to defend, and so on.

Game Over:  Each character has 3-5 health points. Every time you are successfully attacked, you lose a health point. If you run out of health, you are defeated and thus taken out of the game. As mentioned above, each role has its own victory conditions. The game also ends immediately if the lord is killed or all the rebels and spies are killed.

For more Chinese game spotlights, check out our posts on Dou Dizhu and Chinese chess.

Photo via paopaoche.net