Huw Davies - The Games Book: How to Play the Games of Yesterday

The games described in this book will take you back in time, to an era in which childrens television wasnt available morning, noon and night, there was no such thing as a computer game, and the Internet wasnt even a glimmer in its creators eye.

This was a wild, lawless time, when children ran around in fields on long summer evenings hiding, seeking, chasing and catching, staying out past tea time, bedtime even.

We hope this book will spark lots of happy memories, and also rekindle enthusiasm for all the games in danger of being drowned beneath the tide of the digital age.

If everyone is fighting over who goes first shout, Spuds out!, then e veryone gets in a circle, hands held out in fists, or spuds.

Walk round the circle knocking on each spud in turn with one of yours, reciting as you go:

The spud knocked on MORE goes behind the players back, and the count continues until all spuds but one are eliminated. The owner of that spud is It.

Remember to include your own spud in the count, knocking each on top of the other.
If you are down to just one spud, count by knocking it against your chin (not too hard!).

Adders Nest is an old game that makes a great test of strength and guile all you need is a central object to represent a nest, such as a drain or manhole cover. Oh, and strong arms are a must.

How To Play

Players make a circle of five or six people around the nest.

Each player hooks their hands together with the people either side of them. The circle gathers as close to the nest as possible and chants:

Five little sausages frying in a pan,One went pop and the others went BANG!

On BANG! everyone jumps back from the nest and the battle begins, as players attempt to pull one of the other players onto the nest and keep themselves as far from it as possible.

Anyone who touches the nest is poisoned and out of the game, but this only counts if the circle was not broken at the time.

The game continues with a smaller circle each time until just two players remain, fighting it out to be the winner.

Tactical Tip

If a player next to you seems particularly strong, try to outwit them by allowing them to take you as close to the nest as you dare before attempting to tug them across it instead at the last moment.

Alphabet Minute is played in teams of two, with as many pairs as you want. Youll just need paper and pencils for everyone and a watch or clock to time people with.

How To Play

Before the game starts, everyone writes down a simple topic of conversation on a slip of paper, such as the weather, or television, along with a letter of the alphabet.

The papers are then folded and put into a hat or bowl.

The first team picks out a paper and looks at the subject they have chosen and the letter of the alphabet specified.

They must then strike up a conversation on that subject, for 60 seconds.

The opening sentence has to begin with the specified letter and subsequent sentences must begin with the following letters of the alphabet in sequence, until the speaker gets back to the letter they began with or the 60 seconds is up.

Heres an example:

Topic: Television

Letter: T

The news is my favourite programme on television.

Unbelievable, are you sure?

Vital to having brilliant general knowledge though.

Why? Id rather play a game.

X-ray research shows its good for you.

Youre really strange.

Zany is a better word.

The winning team is the one who gets round the alphabet fastest, or who goes furthest in 60 seconds.

This popular game combines a good memory with running, ball-catching and throwing skills.

How To Play

Youll need a tennis ball and an open space with around six to eight players any more makes it difficult to remember everyones identity. Choose a category such as colours, days of the week (as long as the number of players is not more than seven) or simply numbers. Assign a colour, day or number to each player.

One player starts with the ball and throws it up in the air, calling out one of the colours or days of the week at the same time. If your colour is called you must run in to catch the ball, while everyone else tries to get as far away as possible.

When the ball is caught shout Stop! to make everyone freeze. Take three giant strides towards another player, and throw the ball, attempting to hit them below the knee. A hit gives that player one Bad Egg, or penalty point, for the next round a miss and you get the Bad Egg.

Three Bad Eggs and youre out. Someone else then gets the ball to start the game again.

Tactical Tip

Sometimes rolling the ball along the ground can be easier and more accurate than throwing although a lot of the fun of the game is in throwing the ball as hard as possible.

Just dont be surprised if you get the same treatment!

The perfect combination of good fun, great exercise and skill, ball games are sure to exhaust even the most competitive child.

A simple dice game for two or more people, players must compete to complete their beetle first.

How To Play

Each person has paper and a pencil. Players take turns to roll the dice and the person scoring the highest number starts the game. Play then moves in a clockwise direction.

Everyone must roll a six before they are allowed to draw the beetles head. Only then can they draw the rest of the beetle, although the other body parts can be added in any order. Roll:

One for each of the Beetles two wings.

Two for its tail.

Three for each of its antennae.

Four for each of the two eyes.

Five for each of the six legs.

Six for the Beetles head.

As soon as your creepy crawly is done shout Beetle! to stop the game and claim victory.

(Blind Mans Bluff or Pickety Witch)

A party favourite, Blind Mans Buff has been played for hundreds of years. It works well with at least six players, depending on the size of the room you are playing in. This game is sure to wear out even the most energetic guests.

How To Play

In the classic version of Blind Mans Buff,