My latest acquisition from the second-hand store for a dollar is this rather boring looking game of SEQUENCE!

My copy literally looks like someone had torn off the shrink, peered inside and said 'nah'. So, to me goes this pretty much new game, labelled as 'an EXCITING game of STRATEGY'. Hey, I can't go wrong with that, now can I?

OK, so SEQUENCE has a simple board showing all the cards in a deck (Twice!), two decks of cards, and 3 bags of surprisingly nice quality chips. (Truth is, if you're scavenging for game parts and need game chips, consider this game!)

The general idea is to form one or more SEQUENCES. A SEQUENCE is 5 chips played in a row. Sounds exciting? No? Well why are you reading this? I figured the title would give you a clue

Basically, if it's your turn play a card from your hand, and place a chip over one of the two corresponding spaces on the board. Jacks are WILD - two-eyed Jacks allow you to play a chip on any space, while a one-eyed Jack allows you to remove an opponents chip from the board.

The, ahem, strategy alluded to on the box cover is to wisely block your opponents attempts at forming SEQUENCES while building as many opportunities for your own SEQUENCE!

The good points about this game is the fast pace, which may make this game a nice filler. Also, it has a very simple board and components, which would make this game an easy one to introduce new players to. Lastly, if nothing else, the game can be cannibalized for two complete decks of cards, plus nice quality chips.

The bad points about this game is that you may feel rather empty after playing. Nothing about this game I would consider 'EXCITING' as promised. It is exactly what it looks like - play a card, play a chip, block and build, and repeat. And if you continue to draw cards that neither help you or help to block your opponent, you're pretty much done for.

Would I buy this full price from the store for myself? - highly unlikely! Would I buy it for my (mostly) cribbage-and-euchre playing parents? - well, maybe!

Know your target game group and SEQUENCE could be right for you. Just take the 'EXCITING game of STRATEGY' with a grain of salt.

p.s. Why on Earth are Jokers included with the decks?? Pretty much the first rule in the instructions is to remove the Jokers!! My only guess is the makers figured if they don't like the game, at least give them some complete decks of cards for use in other games

Cost. The standard deck of cards comes with Jokers and it would cost a lot more to either print a deck without Jokers (in fact given the printing press they would probably include two blank cards anyway) or for them to open every deck and manually remove them from the decks and put them back in the game before shipping.

It is much easier and cost effective to add a line to the rules asking you to remove the Jokers from the standard deck of cards

That actually makes sense! Thanks. I just hate to see those Jokers looking up at me sadly wondering why they never can play too.....

Maybe someone has a clever variant that could use the Jokers...

How about (for a non-clever example): You can play a Joker and be allowed to discard your entire hand drawing an entirely new hand from the deck?

I've only ever used Jokers while playing Blackjack. I play with a house rule that "Jokers are bust". Doesn't really effect gameplay that much as there are only two in the deck. It just adds a little bit of extra chance as regardless of your current standing, your automatically bust on a Joker.