…Player A had 1 and 7 out. Player B had out 8 and 9, and someone played the Goal: 17. Does the first part of Math Rules come into effect first and allow Player A to get 3 cards and discard the goal, or does Player B simply win because 8+9=17?

A: It depends whose turn it is. Math Fluxx is the only version of Fluxx where you can only win on your turn. This is to avoid constant “analysis paralysis” when it’s not your turn, as you constantly evaluate and re-evaluate your Keepers when the Goal changes. This may also help level the playing field a bit in groups where math ability may vary widely.

But meeting a Goal without using math doesn’t involve a lot of analysis, so this works instantaneously, like other Fluxxes. So if it’s not the turn of the person with the Math win, the other player gets the three-card bonus, the Goal is discarded, and the game goes on.

However, if everyone in your group doesn’t find it a burden to be constantly evaluating your Math-win status, we encourage you to play like other Fluxxes, where one can win at any time. As with any house-rule, just make sure everyone knows before the game starts that’s how you’ll be playing.

In that case, the Math win would take precedence over the three-card bonus, since the win would end the game.