Rules & Tips

It’s Easy to Play . . . Form your teams, and try to be first to place five chips in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). Do this three times, and your team wins (hence the name. Gridlock “The Original 3 X 5 Game).It’s challenging, though some luck is involved in the cards you draw, so play your cards wisely. The more you play, the more you will develop your own strategy and techniques.

Use your “Jacks” and your “free space” corners to make strategic moves. The challenge lies in constantly evaluating each play and using both offensive and defensive moves as the game unfolds. Be careful, you may not advise your teammates. They must pay attention on their own. The age range is from eight to adult. Total number of players allowed are two, four or six.

“PLAY ONCE . . . YOU’RE HOOKED!”

RULES OF THE GAME

Object of the Game:
Each team must form a “RUN” of 5 consecutive same color chips in a row. When a team achieves a “RUN” (any direction: horizontal, vertical or diagonal), team turns over the chips (Gridlock Label). The “RUN” now is “Frozen” to the opposite team and can’t be picked-up.
Play continues until ONE TEAM has three “RUNS” (hence game of 3 X 5) and considered the Winners of that single game.
Equipment: 2 decks of cards (no jokers) 1 game board 2 colors of Chips (48 each)
Note: One Eyed-Jacks are considered “WILD” Two Eyed Jacks are considered “PICK-UP”
Playing:
You can only play with two teams (White & Red) but can have 1, 2 or 3 players per team.

Number of dealt cards per team member per hand (Exhibit A)
1 Player per Team 7 Cards dealt to each player
2 Players per Team 5 Cards dealt to each player (Most common and Tournament Play)
3 Players per Team 4 Cards dealt to each player

Set Up:

  1. Determine the number of Games per “Match” (2 out of 3 games, 3 out of 5 games or a set time limit).
  2. Alternate seating of team members (do not sit next to your partner).
  3. Distribute equal number of chips to each team member (White & Red).
  4. Establish who will deal. Dealer will deal out the appropriate number of cards to each player who puts cards in their hand (See Exhibit A.) Shuffle both decks together. After dealing, divide remaining cards into two even stacks and place near the outside corners of game board.
  5. Person on the left of dealer will start and move clockwise. Player starts by selecting a card from their hand, and placing it face up (starting their own discard card stack). They then place a chip on game board that matches the card that was placed down.
    • If your card is a One-Eyed Jack (“WILD”), play it any place in an open square (usually used to complete a “RUN”).
    • If your card is a Two Eyed Jack (“Pick-Up”), you may pick up an opponent’s chip (usually to stop a “RUN”) but you cannot replace that chip with one of your own until your next turn.
  6. After playing, the player must draw a “replacement card” from the draw stacks. Note: If player forgets and fails to draw a card before the next player has played, they must wait until their next play, and then draw two cards.

Additional Rules:

  1. “Corner Squares”  (4) on game board are “free”, and considered “WILD”. No chip needs to be placed on them. They can be used by either team to create their “RUN”.
  2. NEW “RUNS”. You may not start, or end your “RUN” with a chip that has been turned over. However, a turned chip may be used in the mid-section of your “NEW RUN”
  3. “Dead” Cards. These are cards that cannot be played, as the space on the board where they are located, is covered by a chip. When you have a “Dead Card”, “Announce” it, place it in your discard stack, and continue your turn. Then you may draw 2 cards, (one for taking your turn, and one for the “dead card”).
  4. Reshuffle when all draw cards have been selected. Take all the discard piles and reshuffle. Put into (2) new draw stacks. This process will create quite a few “Dead Cards”. Play out and see if you have a winner (3 X 5’s). If not, it is a tie (rare).
  5. No Table Talk or Non-verbal Signs are allowed. You may not advise your teammates so pay attention. Option: Before the match, you can decide if you want to penalize a team if violated. (Penalty. Each team member forfeits one card from their hand and puts it on their discard pile).

Click Here to View Gridlock Game Tips

12 Tips & Hints for Playing Gridlock

  1. Use your “Jacks” (Wild or Pick-up) cards and “free space” corners to make strategic moves
  2. Try to play off your team member’s placement of chips, to build your rows.
  3. Play offense first during the beginning of the game to help set up your rows.
  4. Use defense moves only when your opponent is close to getting a run (5 in a row)
  5. Beware of your horizontal, vertical, and diagonal options. Watch the flow during the game.
  6. Evaluate each play—the dynamics change as the game unfolds. (Beginning, Middle, Ending stages)
  7. Have a plan B if the opposing player on your right stops your plan A
  8. More the players, more cards are out and is harder to predict a good play
  9. Try to remember how many wild cards are left in the decks during the final stage of the game
  10. You can bluff your opponents by playing a weak card (one that doesn’t help your team), making your competitors think you’re going to start somewhere else on the board.
  11. Placing your chips towards the center of the board, early in the game, often gives you more of an advantage.
  12. Most importantly: Remember to have fun playing with your family, friends, and neighbors.

Enjoy playing GRIDLOCK (The Original 3 X 5 Game) Any questions, email:info@WWW.GRIDLOCK3X5.COM Copyright © 2017 CURTIS MARKETING GROUP INC