Place Value Card Game
Biggest Number is a place value game for two to four players. One card is turned over for everyone, and each player writes that digit in the hundreds, tens or ones box of their record sheet. After three cards, everyone reads their three-digit number aloud and the biggest one wins the round.
Every player gets the same digits, so the only difference is where they put them. A 9 belongs in the hundreds, but a 6 is a gamble: a bigger digit may still be to come. Children argue about place value without being asked to.
Print the PDF: the rules are on the first page, then 40 digit cards, eight to a sheet, then four record sheets, two to a page.
Frequently asked questions
Why does it matter where a digit goes?
A digit's value depends on its place. A 4 in the hundreds is worth 400, in the tens 40, and in the ones just 4. Writing 9, 4, 2 as 942 or 294 is the difference between winning and losing the round.
How do you compare two three-digit numbers?
Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens, and if those are the same too, compare the ones. 742 beats 739 because the hundreds match and 4 tens is more than 3 tens.
Can younger children play Biggest Number?
Yes. Leave the hundreds box empty and play with two-digit numbers, tens and ones only. Each round then needs two cards instead of three.