Apples to Apples is a popular and easy-to-learn card game for people of all ages. The game involves players selecting cards based on prompts provided by a judge, which leads to humorous and interesting matchups. Here are 12 steps to help you become an expert at playing Apples to Apples.

1. Gather your players: The game is best played with four or more players, although it can accommodate as many as 10.

2. Set up the game: Place the two decks of cards – the red apples deck and the green apples deck – in the middle of the table within reach of all players.

3. Deal cards: Deal each player seven red apple cards, face down. These cards feature nouns, including people, places, events, or things.

4. Choose a judge: Select one player to be the first judge. The role of the judge will rotate clockwise among players throughout the game.

5. Start with a green apple card: The judge flips over the top card from the green apple deck and reads it aloud. Green apple cards contain an adjective that all other players must match with one of their red cards.

6. Player submissions: All other players select the red apple card that they believe best fits the adjective on the green apple card and submit it face down to the judge.

7. Shuffle submissions: The judge shuffles all submitted red apple cards so they do not know who played which card.

8. Judge evaluates: The judge reads aloud each submitted red apple card and, based solely on their interpretation and sense of humor, selects which card best matches or is most appealing based on the green apple adjective card.

9. Award points: The player whose red apple card was chosen by the judge receives one green apple card as a point for that round.

10. Replenish hands: All players draw a new red apple card, returning their hand to seven cards.

11. Rotate judges: The role of judge moves clockwise to the next player for a new round. Play continues as before with a new green apple card prompt.

12. Determine the winner: The game ends when a player accumulates a predetermined number of green apple cards (typically four to eight, depending on the length of the game desired). The player with the most green apple cards at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Now that you understand the 12 steps needed to play Apples to Apples, gather your friends and family for an entertaining and enjoyable game night!