Game Variations and Tips

Duco can be played a number of different ways to enhance many skills.  As you play Duco, you may find a new way that is not listed here.  You can send in your own variations to customer_service@ducogames.com to be posted here. 

Beginners

• Minimum of two players.  TEACHES COLOR RECOGNITION.  Instead of having the player choose their color, have them pick 7 winks of multiple colors (example: two of each color and then have them pick their favorite color to get to seven).  When a number is rolled on the die, ask them to pick a specific color (one of the four).

Advanced Game Variations

• Sub-Attack.  Instructions are included with purchase.  In this variation, players roll for the opponent to their left and attempt to role subtract.  The first player to 20 wins or when all other players run out of winks.
• Give-N-Take.  Instructions are included with purchase.  In this variation, players start with all 20 winks of their chosen color.  When the player rolls subtract, the player will pass their colored winks (number shown on the die) to the left.  When a player rolls an add, the player will take back their color first or take winks from the player to the right (number shown on the die).  If a player runs out of winks, that player is out.  Any winks the eliminated player has are assumed by the player that eliminated them.  Play continues until one player remains.    
• Minimum of three players.  TEACHES LEFT AND RIGHT DIRECTION.  All players still start with 7 winks.  The youngest player goes first.  In this variation, when a player receives an "add" on the action token, the player to his/her LEFT adds the appropriate amounts of winks.  If the player rolls a "subtract", the player on his/her RIGHT subtracts the appropriate amount of winks. 
• Minimum of two players.  TEACHES GROUPING/PATTERN RECOGNITION.  Have the player(s) line up their winks in rows of 2,3,4 or 5.  Encourage the player to maintain the winks in rows and have him/her tell you how many are in the row throughout play.  Enforce follow-on counting after recognizing what is already in a row (started with three in a row, the next number would be four and so on).