Get Forked is one of those games that someone who's bored could easily make up to pass the time. It's really simple to play, but not easy to master. A steady hand must be used to roll a coin into the tines of a fork in this Minute To Win It game.
The Goal
Roll quarters at a fork to get one of them stuck between the tines of the fork. No really, that's all there is to it.
Equipment Needed
The real beauty of Get Forked, besides the name of the game, is that it uses household items that everyone has on hand. Plus there's not much set up required, making it a great pick-up game or one to add on stand-by for a party. Here's what you'll need to play.
- A roll of quarters (or a bunch of them - they don't have to be rolled)
- A standard kitchen fork, metal not plastic
- Masking tape, string, or whatever you have on hand to mark a foul line on the floor
- Timer or stop watch
You'll also need a bit of open floor space that isn't carpeted, or a smooth outdoor surface. You could also use a long table instead.
How to Play
Set it up: Mark a foul line with tape or string - this is the line from which you'll be rolling the coins. Place the quarters in a bowl or a pile beside the foul line. Place the fork, facing down with the tines facing the foul line, at whatever distance you'd like. You can start fairly close and move the fork back after each round if there are lots of players, or just choose a distance that looks challenging but not impossible. On the show, the distance varied depending on where in the money ladder the game cropped up.
To play, the player sits, kneels, or stands at the foul line. When the one-minute timer begins, he can start rolling coins at the fork. The quarters must be rolled one at a time. Only one quarter needs to stick between any two tines on the fork in order to win. Get one in there in under a minute and you win.
The Rules
You can only roll one coin at a time - no grabbing a stack and sending them off all together, hoping for favorable odds. In order for the winning coin to count it must remain stuck between the fork tines for three consecutive seconds.
Finally, you may only use one hand to roll the quarters with.
Tips and Tricks
Try rolling the quarters in different ways. You can pinch them and use a wrist flick to roll them, or place the tips of your fingers on the edge and push the coin along the surface, for example. Trying a variety of methods will give you a better idea of which way to roll them so they'll go straight. Then, take your time and keep your eyes on the fork as you send the coins off from the foul line.
The blueprint with video instructions for this game can be found at NBC.com.
Playing Get Forked at a Party
If you're putting together a Minute to Win It party, have the quarters and a fork on hand in case you have time for an extra game or two. Since there isn't much to it, you can get it all set up and underway in no time flat. (Another game that you can keep on standby is Back Flip.)
Don't try using plastic forks for this game, however. They're not sturdy enough and will move when hit by a rolling quarter, making it impossible to win the game.
