A Magic Square based Party Game

Sometime ago, I had published a version of this game as part of a general blog on magic squares. From the feedback, it seems that people would like more instructions about how to use it, and also how to change it to suit their own usage.  I shall try to help in this through the following blog.

Let us start with a six by six grid that I have constructed - later I shall explain how to make such a grid yourself.  The game is described in the next four slides.  Yes, you can use negative and/or decimal numbers as well.
(click on a slide to see full page image; press Esc to return to main text)

Remember that the number you choose must not be on the scored out numbers (I have shown them masked in this illustration)

The point of the game is that one can choose any combination of the numbers as described above and the sum will always come out to be 50 - very convenient if the birthday or anniversary you are celebrating is the 50th.  

But what if the sum you want is different, say 20 or 70 or something else.  I shall describe how the make a grid with a different outcome for the sum.

Suppose you wish the sum to be equal to the number N.
To play with a six by six grid, you should choose 6 + 6 = 12 numbers that sum to the number N.

let us choose a,b,c,d,e,f,p,q,r,s,t,u for the 12 numbers - they must sum to N.  

Now, outside the grid, place the first six numbers (a to f) horizontally and the other six numbers (p to u) vertically.  In each cell, write doen the sum of the horizontal and vertical numbers as shown in the next slide.  This completes the grid and you are ready to play the game. Simple!

You do not need to have 6 x 6 grid.  You can work with m x m grid but choos 2m numbers to add to N.

Enjoy!
Pass the web link of the blog to friends and family.