Waterworks (card game)

Last updated
Waterworks
PublishersWinning Moves Games USA
Publication1972
Players2–5
Setup time5 minutes
Playing time15 minutes
ChanceMedium
Age range8 to adult
Skills Playing cards, Spatial ability
110 cards

Waterworks is a card game created by Parker Brothers in 1972, named for the space Water Works in the game Monopoly . The game pieces consist of: a deck of 110 pipe cards, a bathtub-shaped card tray, and 10 small metal wrenches. The object is for each player to create a pipeline of a designated length that begins with a valve and ends with a spout.

Contents

Players race to be the first to complete a continuous, leak-free pipeline that connects their valve card to their spout card, while opposing players try to give them leaks that must be fixed. [1]

Gameplay

Players begin with a hand of five pipe cards and two wrenches. Cards used in play are lead pipe cards, copper pipe cards (invulnerable to leaks), and lead pipe cards that are already leaky. The valve card is placed on the table to begin a player's pipeline. The spout card is set aside until it is used by a player who has completed their pipeline, and then immediately the player ends the game by placing the spout aimed down toward the player.

A number of different pipe shapes (L-bends, T-pipes, straight, etc.) are represented in the game. Leaky pipes can only be added to the end or over the last piece of another player's pipeline, and players cannot add to their pipeline until leaks are repaired. Leaks are repaired by either placing an intact pipe of the same shape over the leak or placing a wrench on the leak card. Repaired pipes cannot leak again. Play proceeds clockwise and new cards are drawn after cards are played. Players always have the option of exchanging a single card rather than playing a card. [1]

Cards required to win

The minimum length of the pipeline required to win varies by the number of players, as follows:

PlayersCards
215
312
410
58
66

Other rules

Reissued edition

Winning Moves Games has reissued the game as Waterworks Classic. [2]

Reception

Games magazine included Waterworks in their "Top 100 Games of 1980", praising it as "a hilarious way to spend 20 minutes". [3]

Games magazine included Waterworks in their "Top 100 Games of 1981", praising it as an "interesting card game". [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Wilding, Richard (March 4, 2006). "Official Water Works Game Rules". Richard's Monopoly Site. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  2. "Classic Waterworks". Winning Moves. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  3. "Top 100 Games of 1980". Games . No. 20. November–December 1980. p. 58.
  4. "Top 100 Games of 1981". Games . No. 26. November–December 1981. p. 56.