Make Ten

How do you play Make Ten?

Open Make Ten from the game card above. Choose one card and the game shows a prompt such as “4 + ? = 10”. Now choose the card that completes the sum. If the two numbers make ten, both cards are marked as matched and the number of pairs left goes down. If the total is something else, neither card disappears. You can look again and make another choice. Selecting the same card twice cancels that selection, which is useful if you change your mind before making a move.

The board starts with eight pairs to find. It includes two copies of each of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. The matching combinations are 1 + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7 and 4 + 6. Each combination appears twice, though the cards are shuffled into a different order for a new board. Clear all eight pairs to finish. The move counter increases when you choose a second card, so it records both correct and incorrect attempts.

What is a number bond to 10?

A number bond is a pair of numbers that makes a chosen total. For this game, the total is always ten. If you see a 7, its partner is 3 because 7 + 3 = 10. If you see a 2, look for an 8. The order does not change the total: 3 + 7 and 7 + 3 both make ten. You do not need to memorise the position of every card. All the numbers are visible; the challenge is deciding which two belong together.

Make Ten uses four different combinations rather than every possible way to write ten. For example, there is no 5 card on this board, so you will not be looking for 5 + 5. That small set gives each round a clear goal. If you already know the pairs, you can focus on choosing them accurately. If the pairs are new to you, leave the board open and work through one sum at a time. Nothing in the game forces a quick answer.

How can you find the missing number?

One method is to count on from the card you picked until you reach ten. Pick 6, then count 7, 8, 9, 10: that is four steps, so look for 4. Another method is to think of the whole ten and take away the number you can see. Ten minus 6 is 4, which gives you the same partner. Both methods help you check a choice before clicking it. As the pairs become familiar, you may recognise 6 and 4 immediately without counting.

Try saying the full sum before you choose the second card. “Six plus four equals ten” connects the numbers on the screen with the calculation. You can also reverse the order aloud and check that four plus six reaches the same total. If you make a wrong pair, read the feedback rather than immediately guessing again. It tells you the two numbers you chose and says that their sum is not ten. Work out what total they did make, then decide which card would complete ten instead.

A simple practice route

For a first round, ignore the move counter and aim only to clear the board. Start with whichever pair you know best. If 1 + 9 feels easy, remove those cards and then look at the remaining numbers. On a second round, choose a different starting pair. That changes the order in which you think through the bonds even though the four combinations stay the same. Use New board when you want another shuffle; it resets the cards, the number of pairs left and the move count.

After a few rounds, you can give yourself a small challenge: try to check each sum in your head before selecting its partner. Eight pairs can be cleared in eight moves if every choice is correct. There is no need to chase that number on your first attempt. A wrong answer is useful feedback, and the game leaves the cards available for another try. The counter is a way to compare your own rounds, not a grade or a race against other players.

Playing on a phone, tablet or computer

The number cards are buttons. You can tap them on a touch screen or click them with a mouse. Because they are buttons, you can also move through them with a keyboard and activate a card with the usual keyboard controls. The same two-card rule applies on each device. The game runs in the browser and the page does not ask you to download a separate app. If you want more space for the board, use the Fullscreen control above the game.

Read the feedback below the board after each move. It announces the first number you selected, confirms a pair that makes ten, or tells you which pair missed the target. The “pairs left” label shows your progress through the current board. When it reaches zero, the board is complete and the game reports the number of moves you used. Press New board for a fresh shuffle. It does not unlock extra levels or change the target total; it simply gives you another round with the same rules.

Common questions about Make Ten

Is Make Ten timed?

No. There is no clock or time limit in Make Ten. You can pause between choices and think through a number bond before selecting the second card. The move counter records attempts, not seconds. This makes it possible to play slowly when you are learning a pair, then try a more accurate round later if you want a challenge.

What happens when I choose the wrong pair?

The cards stay on the board. The game tells you that the two numbers do not add to ten, and the move count increases by one. You can choose another card and keep going. There is no loss screen for a wrong answer. The round ends only after all eight correct pairs have been found, or when you decide to start a new board.

Are there different totals or levels in Make Ten?

The current game has one target: make ten. It does not have separate levels or a setting for totals such as twenty. The New board button changes the order of the cards, not the target or the set of number bonds. For varied arithmetic questions and difficulty choices, Math Sprint is the playable alternative linked below this guide.

Can I play without installing anything?

Yes. Make Ten plays on this website in a browser. Open its card, choose two numbers, and continue until the board is clear. A mouse, touch screen or keyboard can be used to select the cards. If a device has a small screen, keep the page in its normal layout or try the Fullscreen button to give the game more room.

More ways to practise

For more on number bonds, read the addition games guide. If you want ten mixed arithmetic questions instead of a matching board, try Math Sprint or explore the mental maths games collection.