Roll the die, move your token the number of spaces indicated, clockwise around the board. If you land on a colored space, that color on the “Category Rule” card shows which of the seven word-finding categories you are to do. Category clues are determined when you land on a particular color as you go around the board. Draw a “Clue Card”, and the matching color gives you a 3-letter clue for that category. You have 90 seconds to think of a word of four or more letters that obeys the category rules and has the clue letters in the same, exact clue order in the word you come up with.

Your first time around the board, you may not enter the inner spokes.

Scoring
If you come up with a word in 90 seconds, you earn the credit for the category. If you don’t, but another player does, he/she earns the credit. So, it’s to everyone’s advantage to try to come up with as many words as possible, even when it’s not their turn.

Or, another player may challenge your word if he/she thinks it does not meet the category requirements. If your word doesn’t meet those requirements, you are penalized and he/she is rewarded. If it does meet the category requirements, the challenger is penalized.

Paper and pencils
Paper and pencils (not provided) are helpful to players as they try to think of words that meet the "Category Rules" requirements

Going around the board
As you go around the board, you may land on a white “C” space. When that happens, draw a “Condition Card” and do what it says. Condition cards either help speed you on your way or hold you back.

Here are some example “Condition Cards” (click to enlarge)

Having gone all the way around the board
Once you have gone all the way around the board, you earn the “Spoke Privilege”, which entitles you to enter and exit the four spokes. That privilege gives you the opportunity to (1) send another player back to the “Start” space if you land on the same space he/she is occupying; (2) complete the seven word-finding categories faster, since you can “short-cut” to get to the colors you need to complete, and (3) create a strategy to disrupt other players from completing the categories they need.

Winning the game
The first player/team to get credit for all seven word-finding categories wins the game.

No false clues
Sometimes, players find it hard to believe that there is any word that meets the category and clue requirements. But there always is. Just look in the “Dictionary of Examples” and you will find one.

Variations to the game
Lexogon™ has been designed to give players a game that is challenging and fun, and in a context that provides a balance between skill and luck that most players favor. Alternate Lexogon™ rules also provide players with different ways to play that maximize or minimize the interplay between skill and luck.