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The box for the game Probe

The parlor game Probe was introduced in the 1960s (at least as long ago as 1964) by Parker Brothers.

The game set originally consisted of four plastic display racks each able to hold twelve cards, with a point value assigned to each card position: 5-10-15-15-10-5-5-10-15-15-10-5. Each player in a game took one of the racks (although two players could each play with two racks in a "double" game). Each player also took, for each rack, a plastic card holders holding a selection of cards, each letter represented on one or more cards, plus five "blank" cards.

Players each selected a word (without consulting a dictionary except to resolve spelling disputes during the course of play) and spelled it out, using cards from the plastic holder, and if they so chose, disguise the length of the word and the starting position with the use of blanks. The cards were laid so as to keep the word hidden, but be read from left-to-right by the player opposite. Once all players had their words set up and in place, the play would begin.

Play was conducted by having the turn-holding player drawing a play card from a deck; the card told the turn-holder how to play his/her turn, e.g. "Take your normal turn" meant to ask any other player if they had a particular letter of the alphabet hidden on their display rack. If the questioned player had no such letter, the turn-holder's turn ended (unless the play card said otherwise, i.e., "Take an additional turn"), and play continued to the next player in sequence. Players whose words were completely exposed continued to play.

If the questioned participant had one or more of the requested letter, that player turned up any one card showing that letter, and the play continued for the turn-holder. The turn-holder could continue to address questions to that player or any other player until they missed.

When the turn ended, the points would be tallied for that player based on the point values where cards were turned up during that turn. Some play cards directed a special value for the first guess, e.g. "Triple the value of your first guess", meant that a card sitting at a 15-point place on the display rack would generate 45 points.

Some cards forced a player to expose a card, e.g. "Player on your right will expose a card", "If you have a blank, expose it". If a turn-holder asked a player if he/she had a blank, and there was no blank, the turn-holder was penalized 50 points. At any time during the game, a player could interrupt the game and ask another player (who had five or more cards unexposed) if his/her word was a specific word, if successful, the inquiring player earned the point value of all unexposed cards, plus 100 bonus points. If incorrect, the inquiring player lost 50 points. There was no penalty for misuse of the rule; the inquiree was not expected to offer any response.

If only one player had letters still hidden, the game continued for two rounds, including the player still with hidden letters, before the game ended. The player would then acquire points for the hidden cards plus a bonus award for successfully hiding the word.

If two people played the game and each used two display racks, then the player could turn up a requested letter in either word. If the opponent wished to guess the word, the opponent would specify which word he/she was asking the identity of.

Words were required to be regular words of the language played by the participants, and not include proper names or trademarks. The rules were similar to Scrabble.

Early versions of the game had unusual colours for the letter cards: instead of the usual red, yellow, blue and green, the colours included light brown, dark brown and pale green. The 1972 retail price was approximately $6.00. Later versions of the game did away with the letter cards and their racks and replaced it with strips of paper on which the letters were written, and doors snapped into place to cover them.