Standard Rules
To download a copy of the standard game rules, click
here.
Optional Rules
Timed Answer Rule: Many players enjoy listening to teams think
through and argue over their answers. However if everyone agrees,
a one minute or ninety-second time limit can be set for a team
to answer the question. This keeps the game moving along.
Shortened Game Option: To reduce the time required to play
(especially with three players or teams), many players prefer
to shorten the number of links required to form a winning Brain
Chain. Although the standard rules require connecting six links
in a row, this can be changed to four or five links in a row
to meet your time constraints.
Playing Pawn Option: In the standard rules, the playing pawn
is considered a link and may be used to complete a winning
Brain Chain. Some players prefer to disallow this strategy
and require that the winning Brain Chain consist only of links.
Oddball Gamble: Instead of the standard rules, a player receives
a link and a Brain Pill for providing the correct answer to
an Oddball question (without stating the common connection).
A player may gain an additional Brain Pill if they take a gamble
to state the connection between the three common items. If
the player correctly states the connection between the three
common items, he/she receives two Brain Pills. If the connection
stated is incorrect, that player still receives a link, but
receives no Brain Pills.
Limited Movement Card Players: Especially in large groups,
some players prefer not to follow the game closely enough to
play movement cards. This is fine. As long as an equal number
of players play movement cards on each team, the balance of
the players may simply answer questions for their respective
teams.
Movement Card Penalty: Some players prefer to allow a player
who forgets to take a movement card to draw enough cards to
have four at any time during the game. A player who forgets
a Brain Pill for answering a question correctly, however, forfeits
the Brain Pill once the next player plays a movement card to
start his or her turn.
Table Talk Permitted: In the standard rules, talking with
teammates about strategy is prohibited. However, especially
when playing Brain Chain with rookies, many players allow table
talk in an effort to teach the new players the basic strategy
tenets of Brain Chain.
