How To Play: Target

Overview

If you’ve ever sat around with friends, arguing over who forgot to read the rules for Target, you’re not alone. I’ve lost count of how many times someone tried to sneak in their made-up rules. In this post, I’ll give you a clear outline of the actual game rules and share the sneakiest, cheekiest strategies that helped me win (or at least helped me lose with style).

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 4 player pawns
• 1 target token
• 60 objective cards
• 40 action cards
• 30 point tokens
• 1 rulebook
• 4 player reference cards

How To Play Target: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Put the board in the middle of the table (not in the middle of your pizza, learned that the hard way).
2. Give each player their set of colored pieces.
3. Shuffle the target cards and hand two out to everyone, face-down. Don’t peek! Not even a little.
4. Place the rest of the target cards in a face-down pile.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, you may move one piece or play a target card. Simple, right?
2. You can move your piece according to the number on the card, or block your opponent, pretending to be their friend while secretly plotting their downfall.
3. After each move, draw a new target card. Never leave your hand empty! (Unlike my fridge, which is always empty.)

Winning

1. The first player to complete all their target cards shouts “Target!”—bonus points if you do it dramatically.
2. If two people finish in the same round, the tiebreaker is whoever did the best victory dance. (Okay, that one’s not official.)

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If you draw a double-move card, you must take two actions in a row. This can be glorious or a moment of total panic.
2. If your piece lands on another player’s piece, send that unlucky soul back to their start. Sorry, I don’t make the rules—wait, yes I do, but this one stays.
3. If the target deck runs out, reshuffle completed cards to form a new pile. No, you can’t just make up your own targets, I checked.

If you follow these rules, you’ll know How To Play target like a pro—at least until your friends gang up on you. Enjoy the chaos!

Best Target Strategies

Mastering the Target Card Objectives

Spot the Big Winners Early

First, always look at your target card objectives before you make any moves. These are the key to your win. They tell you exactly what to chase, so you don’t waste time.

1. Read your cards—twice, if you’re like me and get distracted by snacks.
2. List the easiest tasks first and focus on them.
3. Don’t ignore the hard objectives. Work on those bit by bit.

Stay Flexible

Sometimes, your objectives change if someone blocks your path. When that happens, use plan B without sulking.

1. Check your objectives each turn.
2. If a card becomes risky, shift your focus to safer objectives.

How To Play target Like a Pro

Finally, make your moves with the objectives in mind to win. It sounds simple, but trust me, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos.

Walking the Tightrope: Risk vs Reward in Target

Know When to Hold ‘Em

Sometimes taking a risk feels as smart as eating soup with a fork. So, before you leap, ask yourself: what are the odds?

1. Check card probabilities before making big plays.
2. Watch your opponents and their likely moves.

Be Calm Under Pressure

When stakes climb, my hands get sweaty. Stay cool and calculate rewards. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!

1. Assess the cost of mistakes.
2. Take manageable risks, not wild guesses.

How To Play target When the Clock Ticks

Near game’s end, I get reckless. Instead, focus on strong plays, not flashy ones, and remember: a safe move can win the day.

1. Play solid cards to secure a win.
2. Don’t let pressure force errors.

How To Play Target: Outsmarting Your Opponents

Spot Patterns Fast

First, watch for sneaky moves or repeating card choices. If Liz grabs the same number every round, she’s up to something.

1. Notice trends in their picks
2. Call out suspicious plays

Block Their Plans

Next, use your cards to throw a wrench in their plan. Block their path to objectives whenever possible.

1. Pick cards that limit their options
2. Change your own playstyle so they can’t predict you

Keep Them Guessing

Finally, switch up your actions each round. Steal their thunder, but also make them second-guess their next move.

1. Use decoys to bait them
2. Adapt quickly, don’t get stuck in a rut

Ready to Hit The Bullseye?

Alright, that’s my whole bag of tricks for How To Play target! Whether you’re a sly fox or just playing for laughs, remember to keep your eyes on your own cards and your foes’ sneaky moves. My group had a blast, and we still argue about “the great Target comeback of 2023.” So grab your game, shuffle those cards, and may your next Target night end in glory (and maybe less bickering over the last card played!).

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