Rules at a glance
Jarnac is a real-time two-player word game. Each player has their own rack of letters, visible to both players, and a personal board where the words they've claimed live. On your turn, you build words from your letters, steal from your opponent if you can, and pass the clock back.
Turns are timed. Pick your cadence before the match:
On your turn you can place a word on your own board, steal one of your opponent's words by extending it, or pass. After each action you draw a letter (or six on your very first turn).
If you can use your letters to extend an opponent's word into a new, longer word, that word leaves their board and joins yours. The classic French expression - "un coup de Jarnac" - means exactly this: a sudden, unexpected, decisive blow. Read your opponent's board, hoard the right letters, and strike when it hurts the most.
Each match awards points based on the words on your board at the end. The match ends when the letter bag is empty and no more legal plays remain, or when one player runs out of plays.
Jarnac ships with two dictionaries - English and French - covering word lengths 3 to 9 letters. The dictionary is locked at the start of the match and is the same for both players.
If you lose connection mid-match, you have 60 seconds to come back before the game forfeits your turn. Open the app again - the server will route you straight back into your duel.
