How To Play: Pizza

Overview

If you’ve ever wanted to win at Pizza but always end up with a burnt crust or dropped toppings, you’re in the right place. My friends and I gathered around the table (pizza hats on, obviously) to create this How To Play pizza guide. Inside, you’ll find a quick outline of the game rules and the very best strategies for turning your pizza into a prize-winning masterpiece.

What’s in the box

• 1 Game Board
• 6 Pizza Oven Tokens
• 24 Pizza Base Cards
• 60 Topping Tiles
• 36 Order Cards
• 1 First Player Marker
• 6 Player Mats
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Pizza: Rules Summary

Setup: Getting Ready For the Pizza Party

1. Give each player a personal pizza board and sauce token.

2. Shuffle the topping cards and place them in a pile within everyone’s reach. Don’t eat them, even if you’re hungry.

3. Put all special recipe cards face down next to the toppings. They are not dessert, but keep them close.

4. Decide who is the hungriest. That person takes the big chef hat and starts the game.

Gameplay: Cooking Up Some Fun

1. On your turn, draw two topping cards. Gaze longingly at them.

2. Pick one topping card and place it on your pizza board. Place the other card in the discard pile, but tell it you’ll miss it.

3. If you get a double cheese or jalapeño card, shout “Mama Mia!” and draw again. Only once, or your friends might throw tomatoes.

4. Pass the chef hat (imaginary or actual) to the next player. Repeat until pizza boards look delicious or alarming.

Winning: Who’s the Pizza Champ?

1. When all topping cards run out, everyone counts up their points using the handy score track on each pizza board.

2. Special recipes and combos get you extra points, so plan ahead and brag if you nailed one.

3. The player with the most points wins. That person must say, “That’s amore!” and do a victory dance. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. Wait, yes I do.

Special Rules & Conditions: Don’t Burn the Pizza

1. If you collect three chili cards, your pizza is “spicy burnt.” You lose five points and should probably get a glass of milk.

2. If you gather four of the same topping, you unlock the “Pizza Master” bonus: ten extra points. Try not to turn your pizza into a mushroom farm, though.

3. Someone knocks the table? All pizzas survive, but everyone must clap once and say “Oopsie!” before play continues.

With these rules, you now know How To Play pizza—just don’t blame me when you get hungry!

Best Pizza Strategies

The Saucy Secret: Winning With Topping Selection and Placement

If you want to crush your pals at Pizza, start with clever topping choices and spot-on placement. After several game nights, I learned it’s not just about grabbing pepperoni. Here’s what worked best for me!

Pick Crowd-Pleasers

1. Pick toppings that score the most points early in the game.
2. Watch what your rivals want and snatch their favorites.

Combo is King

1. Match toppings for bonus points—double cheese is never a mistake.
2. Build combos that block your friends, too.

Top Like a Pro

1. Spread your toppings to cover more slices—greedy piles lose space fast!
2. Plan ahead: save some hot picks for the final rounds.

How To Play pizza well? Always think ahead and top with purpose. You’ll end up with a tastier win—and probably some jealous friends.

Turn Up The Heat: Winning With Oven Efficiency

Speedy Baking Choices

1. Place your pizzas in the oven as soon as possible.
2. Skip second-guessing your choices—trust your gut, and move fast.

Share That Oven Space

1. Work with your friends to fill the oven with multiple pizzas.
2. Plan ahead so everyone bakes at once, saving precious turns.

How To Play pizza Smart With Rotations

1. Rotate pizzas every turn to avoid burned crusts and get that perfect golden color.
2. Switch oven racks to make sure your pizza cooks evenly.

After several rough rounds with my crew, I found that treating the oven like rush hour traffic leads to nothing but burnt crust and foul language. So stay chill, plan ahead, and bake smarter!

The Secret Sauce: Timing for Perfect Crust

I learned the hard way that a soggy crust can sink your How To Play pizza dreams. Timing matters more than my cousin Tony at the buffet table. When you watch the oven and play it smart, you snag more points and avoid sad, floppy slices.

1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

1. Check your pizza every turn. Quick glances save your crust from disaster.
2. Don’t get distracted by chit-chat. Multitasking ruins your chances.

2. Match Toppings to Bake Times

1. Add toppings with similar bake times. You avoid burning or undercooking pieces.
2. Layer smarter, not harder. No one wants raw onions stuck in cheese.

3. Adjust Your Bake Plan

1. If someone changes the oven temp, tweak your plan. Adapt or toast your points.
2. Stay flexible. Your crust (and score) will thank you.

Time it right, and you’ll be the How To Play pizza champion. Trust me, I’ve been there—and burned that.

Ready to Rule the Pizza Oven?

Let me tell you, after a dozen rounds of Pizza with my friends (and a few slices lost to sabotage), I can promise you this: knowing How To Play pizza is half the battle—surviving your friends’ wild topping combos is the other half. If you follow these tips, you’ll leave them stunned by your crusty confidence and topping tactics. Remember, in Pizza, the only thing better than winning is eating the evidence after the game!

Want to know what we think of Pizza? Read our detailed review of Pizza here