Bananagrams

This banana-shaped zipper pouch contains a Ziploc bag full of 144 Scrabble-style letter tiles for playing "the anagram game that will drive you BANANAS". Although the yellow pouch and flat letter tiles are very nice, you could easily replicate this game by using Scrabble pieces in conjunction with the gameplay rules for Bananagrams (below).

How to Play:

1. Place all 144 tiles face down on center of table. These tiles are referred to as the "BUNCH". For games of 2-4 people, each player takes 21 letters from the bunch, keeping them face down. For 5-6 players, 15 letters are taken. For 7-8 (or more) players, 11 letters are taken.
2. Now the game begins!
   Any one player says "SPLIT" whereupon all players turn their own tiles face up and proceed to form their OWN collection of connecting and intersecting words. The words may be horizontal or vertical, reading left to right or top to bottom. Each player may rearrange his/her own words as often as desired. Players DO NOT take turns, but play independently of each other and at the same time.
3. When a player has none of his/her original letters left, that player says "PEEL" and takes a tile from the bunch. At this point ALL OF THE OTHER PLAYERS MUST ALSO TAKE A TILE FROM THE BUNCH and add it to their collection of letters.
4. At any time, and as often as desired during play, any player may return a difficult-to-use letter back to the center of the BUNCH, face down, but MUST TAKE THREE LETTERS IN RETURN. The player must declare this action to the other players by saying "DUMP". This exchange does not affect the other players.
5. Play continues until there are fewer tiles in the BUNCH than there are players. The first player with no remaining letters shouts "BANANAS" and is the winner of that hand. The other players may now inspect the winning hand for misspelled or incorrect words. Proper nouns are not acceptable. Any available dictionary may be used. If all words are acceptable, that player is the WINNER OF THAT HAND. If any word in the "winning" hand is found to be unacceptable, that player becomes the "Rotten Banana" and is OUT OF THAT HAND, and must return his/her letters, face down to the center bunch and the game now resumes for the remaining players.

Suggestions for Playing:

• "BEST OF…" - A hand can take as little as 5 minutes, so players, if desired, could play for the "best of five" or "the best of ten".
• BANANA SMOOTHIE (For those who want to play a less hectic game) - All tiles are placed face down on the table The letters are divided equally among the players, remaining face down. Players then play the regular BANANAGRAMS game, but there is no "peeling" or "dumping". The first player to use all his/her letters shouts "BANANAS" and is the winner of the hand. If the game ends in a stalemate, the player with the fewest remaining letters is the winner.
• BANANA CAFÉ (Play in restaurants while waiting for service) - The BANANAGRAMS pouch is placed on the table. Each player takes 21 tiles from the pouch. Players then proceed to play the regular game with "dumping" but NO "peeling". The first player to use all his/her letters says "BANANAS!!!" and is the winner.
• BANANA SOLITAIRE (One player) - Place all letters down on center of table. Take 21 letters and proceed to play the game. Only peel when needed. Try to beat your own best time in using all 144 letters, or try making as few words to use all 144 letters. This can be a relaxing way of honing your Bananagrams skills.
• BANANA CHALLENGE - Play the regular Bananagrams rules but words must be three letters or longer. NO two letter words.
• Advanced players could create their own special game by limiting the acceptable words to a specific category such as animals, food & drink, etc.