2011 Major Fun Award Winner - Thinking Games & Family Games
2009 Parents' Choice Silver Award Winner

Tri-Spy... The frantically fast-paced pattern matching game! Tri-Spy is a smart game, a very smart game- for a wide variety of reasons:

Encourages visual-spatial development
Extends pattern recognition capacity
Incorporates problem solving
Speeds mental reaction time
Promotes concentration

The basic method for playing Tri-Spy follows - though not the most interesting play scenario. See below for that one.

THE OBJECT:
To be the first to spot a pattern on the game board that matches one of the twelve cards round the perimeter of the board.

SET UP:
Place 12 cards around the perimeter of the game board. The rest of the cards are placed in a deck face down. Place the eight tokens on the board as pictured above.

SIMPLE (Amazingly Complex) GAME PLAY:
Look for the one (and only one) of the eight wooden tokens that you could move to any spot on the board to recreate the pattern shown on one of the 12 cards around the board perimeter.
When you find it say "STOP!" to alert the other players. Show the other players the match.
Keep that card. Replace it with another card from the deck.
*Important note: All players play simultaneously in Tri-Spy. There is no turn-taking.

WINNING:
Play continues until the deck is depleted. The player with the most cards - wins!

You as the star of the play scenario:
You are watchful. Your mind takes in the colors, the white space, the arrangement of pieces. Your eyes slide back and forth carefully studying the dots on the cards. Comparing the color arrangement with the colored pawns on the game board. You spy a move that is the one. You belt out, "STOP!" (Which essentially means "Eureka! My genius eyes and brain have spotted a solution. Stand back and observe.")

You casually slide the pawn into position that creates a match to a card. You dramatically pick up the matching card- show the group the sameness of pawns and card image- (No need to say anything. Never gloat over your rival's misfortune.) You proceed in the same manner. (Gathering cards shamelessly.)

(Tips: Keep your eagle eyes focused, your brow unfurrowed -you are a genius after all- you don't want to look like it's an effort. Offer helpful tips to the other players -such as, "If you close your eyes, it will clear your mind." or "I've heard blinking repeatedly stimulates the brain.")

Tri-Spy Game