PARLAY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

IF YOU DON'T OWN PARLAY:
What if I don't know how to play poker?
How do you play Texas Hold'em with Parlay?
How many people can play Parlay?
Is Parlay fun with only two players?
Is Parlay suitable for children?
Doesn't poker involve gambling money?
How long does a game of Parlay usually last?
How does the Joker work?
Were letters just randomly assigned to playing cards?
Are there any time limits in Parlay?
Will my favorite poker game work with Parlay?
Can Parlay cards be used as a regular deck of cards?
How is Parlay for travel? (compact, tidy, and portable?)

IF YOU ALREADY OWN PARLAY:
Are replacement score sheets available?
What if the entire deck is dealt during a hand?

What if I don't know how to play poker?
No problem! Parlay is easy to learn and the instructions tell you everything you need to know about poker. You also get an Info Card that illustrates each poker hand and what beats what, so you can refer to it during play. You don't need to know how to play Texas Hold'em or any specific poker game, Parlay teaches you all that good stuff.

How do you play Texas Hold'em with Parlay?
Please see our Demo Hand which shows a hand of Parlay 'Texas Hold'em?'

How many people can play Parlay?
2-6 (more with teams), or up to 12 players using 2 Parlay games.

Is Parlay fun with only two players?
Parlay is quite enjoyable with only two players! In fact, if you find that you usually play with more than two players, we highly recommend that you go out of your way to try head-to-head sometime as it plays a bit differently, but in a good way.

Is Parlay suitable for children?
Parlay is great for kids - it helps build vocabulary and improve spelling skills, and because of what we refer to as "the poker factor", kids WANT TO PLAY IT! Our recommended minimum age to play is 9 years old, but parents should use their best judgment as to their child's abilities.

Doesn't poker involve gambling money?
One of our central goals with Parlay was to create a fun, friendly, yet competitive and challenging way to enjoy poker without wagering money with friends or family. Parlay still has the "risky" feel of poker, but without the mess of betting with money or chips.

How exactly does bluffing work in Parlay?
Bluffing in Parlay is called Word Bluffing. If a player thinks your word is not a valid word, she can Call Your Bluff, and if correct receive a 15 point Bluff Call Bonus and knocks you out of the hand. If incorrect, that player is instead knocked out of the hand. The chance to call a bluff is done in turn around the table.

How long does a game of Parlay usually last?
A standard game of Parlay played to 500 points takes about 30-90 minutes depending on how many people are playing. However, the game length is easily adjustable by simply playing to 300 points for a shorter game, or 1000 points for a longer game. We often play Parlay at restaurants, and whoever has the most points by the time the food comes wins, and Parlay is tidy enough that you can put it away in seconds.

How do the Jokers work?
The Jokers are optional cards that can be added to spice up any game. It can either be used as any poker card or any letter (with the value of zero) but not both at the same time.

Were letters just randomly assigned to playing cards?
No, the Parlay deck has been carefully balanced in terms of letter value, as well as consonant and vowel distribution. The higher rank poker cards (Ace, King, Queen, etc) have overall lower value letters (like E, N, A), and the lower rank poker cards (Deuce, Three, Four, etc) have overall higher value letters (like Qu, J, W). The four suits have also been balanced in terms of point values and letter distribution.

Are there any time limits in Parlay?
No, nothing official. However, you can use a watch or sand/egg timer with Parlay if you wish as you can with any game with turns. After players get the hang of the game, the pace of play is usually pretty fluid, and time limits unnecessary.

Will my favorite poker game work with Parlay?
Most likely. We have found that most poker games will work with Parlay simply by substituting any round of betting with a card exchange round.

Can Parlay cards be used as a regular deck of cards?
Parlay uses a standard poker deck with our original artwork and of course the addition of the letter and point value on each card. It replaces a standard deck of cards (just ignore the letter and point value to play regular poker, rummy, or any standard card game).