Methods of keeping score all week long and on Shabbos

Rumor has it that if you always keep score for a game without writing,

then even if the game is one that people usually keep score for

by writing, you can play it on Shabbos. One method I saw mentioned

on the CR was a bookmark, placed on the appropriately numbered

page of a book (flip book for odd/even?).

Here are a few score-keeping methods I’ve thought of:

1. Valued tokens

Players hold tokens to the amount of their score.

And by tokens, I mean Monopoly (etc.) money.

This method can keep scores for many players.

2. A Scoreboard

Place tokens on a marked surface to indicate score.

Pieces of games not being played make excellent tokens.

Surface options include:

A “Chutes & Ladders” Board

This should keep scores of up to 100 for a good number of players.

If scores go higher, you can give players a token of some kind

for each 100 points, or place something under their score marker.

Homemade Score Sheets (papers)

Score sheets can keep varying amounts of score for varying

amounts of players depending on design. Options include individually

numbered spaces (as with a “C&L” board) and rows of spaces

designated as 1s, 10s, and 100s columns. If the rows are situated

on the sheet’s edges, paperclips can be used as sliders.

(Perhaps they should be designated for such use

before Shabbos – I don’t know.)

(Making such sheets can be an arts & crafts project. They can be

decorated to individual taste and attached to more durable materials.)

3. Individually Numbered Indicators

Designate items with numbers on them to indicate 1s, 10s, and 100s.

Examples:

Dice (with 9 or more sides)

Place dice with the desired numbers facing up.

Two 9-sided dice can keep scores of up to 99

for a single player – 110 if 10-sided.

Playing Cards

Turn cards over or move them partially out

of lines/piles to designate the active ones.

Cards 1-10 from 2 suits, in order, can keep

scores of up to 110 for a single player.

Feel free to post your own methods below.