NEW: 24/7 Reverse: (2, 3 or 4 players. Best with 4)

The Goal: each player, drawing one tile from the board at a time, tries to build the best combination of tiles in their rack. Highest score at the end of four rounds wins.

Setup: mix and randomly lay 25 tiles face up on inside 5×5 grid of gameboard. From remaining face down tiles, randomly draw 1 into your rack. Give each player 5 stones.

To Play: game is played in rounds. Each round has three parts: 1) Bidding, 2) Picking, 3) Scoring.

Bidding: each player selects from 1 to 5 stones into their hand. At the same time, everyone opens their hand to reveal their stones. Players with same number of stones cancel each other out. Person remaining with highest number of stones goes first.

Picking: person who won bid, picks up a tile from anywhere on the gameboard and places it in their rack. Moving clockwise, the next player picks a tile, but it must be adjacent to the previous tile picked up. If it is not possible to pick up a tile, that player must pass and the next player may pick up a new tile from anywhere on the board. Once a player has 6 tiles, they must pass. Once everyone has passed, the Scoring round begins.

Scoring: players use tiles to create scoring combinations as in the regular game. However, a tile may be used more than once to create various combinations, but the same tile may be used only once in each combination. Example: Bobby has these tiles 3,4,5,5,5,9 creating these scoring combinations: 3+4=sum of 7, 3,4,5=run of 3, 5,5,5=set of 3, 5+5+5+9=sum of 24. His total score is 140 points this round.

Ending game and winning: play as many rounds as players in the game. Add scores for each round to get your final score. The person with the highest score wins. If there is a tie, play an additional round.

24/7 the Game Solitaire: (1 player)

Setup: draw and place face up 1 tile on each bonus square and on the center start position. Draw 6 tiles into your rack.

To Play: play one tile at a time using normal rules scoring along the way. If you cannot play or run out of tiles, discard any remaining tiles and draw 6 more tiles. The game ends when you run through all the tiles. Try to score 500 or more points. (Thanks to Dan George for this variation.)

24/7 Crosswise: (3 players or 3 teams)

The Goal: one player (or team) plays scoring combinations in horizontal rows, the second player (team) plays scoring combinations in vertical rows and the third player (team) plays scoring combinations in diagonal rows. Your goal is to create the best-scoring combinations possible in your seven rows, while minimizing your opponent’s scoring opportunities in their rows.

Setup: setup for 24/7 Crosswise is the same setup as in 24/7 the Game.

To play: rules for 24/7 Crosswise are the same rules as in 24/7 the Game accept your next play does not have to be adjacent to another tile. If, by placing a tile, you create a scoring combination in a different axis other than your own, it counts for your opponent and they receive any score as a result.

Team Variant #1 (two teams two players each)

To Play: players break up into two teams of two. Rules of play are the same except that on your turn, you and your partner trade one tile with each other. You shouldn’t see your partner’s tile until the trade is complete then you may both look. You both should have 5 tiles in your rack at the start of your turn. Scoring is by teams rather than individual. (Thanks to Rick Soued for this variation.)

Team Variant #2 (two teams two players each)

To Play: players break up into two teams of two. Rules of play are the same except that on your turn, your partner secretly gives you a tile from their tile rack. You should now have six tiles and your partner only four. You do not have to use the tile given to you, but at the end of your turn, your partner gets to draw a tile back into their rack. You both should have 5 tiles at the end of your turn. When you have one tile left in your rack, passing ceases. Scoring is by teams rather than individual.(Thanks to KC Humphrey for this variation.)