Objective
In Point Salad, the aim is to collect and combine different vegetable cards to score the highest number of points. Each type of vegetable offers different point values and combination options for scoring.
Setup
- Shuffle all vegetable and point cards thoroughly.
- Divide the deck into three roughly equal draw stacks in the center of the table.
- From each stack, flip two cards face up to create rows known as market rows.
Gameplay
The game is played in clockwise order. Each player, on their turn, has the following options:
- Take a point card:
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Draw a card from the top of the draw stacks and place it face up in front of you.
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Take two vegetable cards:
- Draw two of the face-up vegetable cards from the market rows.
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If a draw stack is depleted, immediately replenish the market row with a card from the draw stack.
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Convert a point card:
- If needed, one of your face-up point cards can be turned into a vegetable card (the reverse is not possible).
Scoring
Each point card specifies conditions on how you can earn points based on your collected vegetable cards. For example, some point cards may offer points for a specific number of tomatoes or a particular ratio of different vegetables.
End of the Game
The game ends when all cards have been taken from the market rows and draw piles. Players then count the points they have by matching their point cards with their collected vegetable cards. The player with the most points wins.
Strategic Considerations
- Flexibility: Keep your strategy flexible as the market rows can change quickly, affecting your options.
- Card Combinations: Pay attention to collecting point cards that match well with the vegetable cards you already have.
- Balance of Point and Vegetable Cards: A healthy balance between point cards and vegetable cards is often key to victory.
Additional Notes
- Be mindful of which cards are in the market rows and what vegetables opponents might be collecting to optimize your turns.
