How To Play: Target

Let me tell you, my last game night with Target got wild! If you want to outplay your sneaky friends (looking at you, Karen), you’re in the right place. This guide has an easy outline of the game rules and my hard-earned best strategies for winning. So if you’re sick of losing the last cookie to Steve, stick around.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 32 colored pawns
• 60 target cards
• 4 player reference cards
• 1 rulebook
• 12 blocker tokens
• 1 cloth bag

How To Play Target: Rules Summary

Setup

1. First, lay out the game board in the center of your table. Make sure Steve doesn’t hog all the elbow room.
2. Give each player a set of colored pieces and one score tracker. I recommend counting twice, unless you want to start a family feud before turn one.
3. Shuffle the Target cards and place the deck face down. Put the discard pile spot next to it. Shuffling is not optional, even if it feels like a warm-up workout.
4. Everyone draws three cards from the Target deck to start. If anyone draws three trap cards and groans, laugh at their misery. It’s tradition.

Gameplay

1. On your turn, draw one card from the deck. (Yeah, it’s that easy. Even my cousin Dave gets it.)
2. Next, play a card from your hand. You can place a piece, block someone, or use a special action. Read your card carefully, unless you enjoy chaos.
3. Now, check if you’ve completed a target. If so, do a little victory dance and move your score tracker ahead. If not, glare at Steve for blocking you.
4. Discard the played card. Your turn ends. Pass play clockwise. Do not forget to gloat or whine as needed.

Winning

1. The first player to reach the target score (usually 10 points, unless you all love pain and pick 20) wins. Start your champion speech now.
2. If two players hit the target in the same round, everyone else loses their minds while you share victory.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Some cards force you to skip a turn. Accept your fate. Blame Steve.
2. If the draw deck runs out, shuffle the discard pile to make a new deck. This step stops the world from ending.
3. Blocking cards can only be used once per round. Steve tried to use two and we banned him for life (okay, just one round).

So now you should know How To Play Target! With these rules, you and your friends can play without chaos… well, less chaos than my group anyway. Good luck!

Best Target Strategies

Smash the Start: Mastering Your Opening Move Placement in Target

When you sit down to play Target, your opening move can set the tone for the rest of the game. I learned this lesson the hard way after my friend Steve steamrolled me twice. But, after some trial and error (and some yelling), I found these tricks work wonders. Here’s how to get that early edge.

Choose an Aggressive Starting Position

1. Place your piece near the middle to control more options.
2. Block key spaces your opponents want.

Watch Your Opponents

1. Look for predictable habits in their placements.
2. Use their patterns to your advantage.

Adapt Based on Player Count

1. With fewer players, grab central spots.
2. With more, focus on flexibility and defense.

Learning How To Play target well starts with these opening strategies. Trust me, your friends will notice the difference—and not just because you won’t be whining this time.

Card Management Tactics That Crush Your Opponents in Target

Have you ever felt betrayed by your own hand of cards? Yeah, me too. But after a few rounds with my friends—where I definitely didn’t cry—I learned how to keep my cards in check and grab the win. Here’s How To Play target like a card boss:

1. Know When to Hold ‘Em

1. Hold onto high-value cards for surprise moves.
2. Save wilds for moments of true desperation.

2. Discard with Purpose

1. Get rid of duplicates unless you need them for combos.
2. Watch for patterns in what other players throw away.

3. Bluff if You Dare

1. Pretend that your discard is useless, even if it hurts inside.
2. Fake confidence when playing weak cards to mess with opponents’ heads.

With these How To Play target card tricks, you’ll stop your friends from calling you ‘That Easy Win’ ever again.

Outsmarting Your Friends: Reading Opponents’ Intentions in Target

Watch Their Faces

If you want to master How To Play target, always check their faces. People can’t help but show little clues.

1. Notice smiles when a good card is drawn.
2. Watch for frowns when you block them.
3. Look for quick eyes—sneaky players always glance at their best cards!

Spot Their Patterns

You must spot habits. My friend Tina always attacks the leader. Knowing that, I plan for her moves.

1. Track repeated card choices.
2. Write down their favorite plays if you want to get really nerdy.

React and Adapt

Stay flexible! Now, change your plan as soon as you spot something. I used to play stubbornly—don’t be me.

1. Switch up your own strategy to avoid being read.
2. If they act weird, act weird back.

Ready to Outsmart Your Friends?

So there you have it—the tricks, traps, and tantrums (looking at you, Dave) of Target strategy. Don’t stress if your first moves land you in the “Oops” zone. We’ve all played a card too soon or misread Aunt Linda’s poker face. The best part? Every game is a new chance to bamboozle your buddies and brag about it for months. Try these moves in your next match and soon you’ll hear those sweet, sweet words: “You cheated, didn’t you?” For more winning tips, search for ‘How To Play target’—maybe you’ll even beat Steve.

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