How to play the Cheers episode timeline game

The cards are classic episodes of Cheers, each with a one-line hint under the title, and you sort them by original air date. One episode begins on the timeline with its date in view. You take each new card and set it in the gap you think fits, among the episodes already placed. When you're right, the air date shows. When you're wrong, it still moves to its proper place, and one of your three lives goes with it.

Cheers ran a long time, and the faces behind the bar changed along the way, so the hint's mention of who works there or who is dating whom is your best guide. The will-they-won't-they romance at the start gives way to a different kind of story later on. Episodes built around the regulars and their schemes could come from any point, and they're the ones that tend to cost lives.

Want a longer game? On the deck tree you can tick this deck alongside any other one measured in exact air dates, and they shuffle into a single timeline together.

What's in the deck

Here are 28 of the 28 cards you might be dealt. Their values stay hidden until you place them.

Give Me a Ring Sometime Diane is stranded at the bar and hired on as a waitress
Showdown, Part 1 Sam's smooth brother visits and charms Diane.
Showdown, Part 2 Sam and Diane finally admit their feelings.
Power Play Sam and Diane navigate their volatile new romance.
I'll Be Seeing You, Part 2 Sam and Diane's relationship explodes.
Rebound, Part 1 Diane returns from a sanitarium; Frasier debuts.
Rescue Me Sam rushes to stop Diane's wedding in Europe.
Birth, Death, Love and Rice Coach is gone; Woody starts tending bar.
Strange Bedfellows, Part 3 Sam battles Diane over councilwoman Janet.
The Proposal Sam impulsively proposes to Diane.
Thanksgiving Orphans The gang's Thanksgiving erupts in a food fight.
I Do, Adieu Diane leaves to write her novel.
Home Is the Sailor Sam returns broke; Rebecca now runs the bar.
Backseat Becky, Up Front Rebecca schemes over Robin Colcord.
Bar Wars II: The Woodman Strikes Back Cheers and Gary's Olde Towne Tavern feud again.
The Visiting Lecher A married author makes passes at Rebecca.
The Improbable Dream, Part 1 Rebecca fantasizes about Robin Colcord.
What Is... Cliff Clavin? Cliff competes on Jeopardy!.
Finally!, Part 1 Sam pursues Rebecca as Robin's empire wobbles.
Finally!, Part 2 Robin is arrested for insider trading.
Cry Harder Robin Colcord's fortune collapses.
Love Is a Really, Really, Perfectly Okay Thing Rebecca copes after Robin's fall.
Uncle Sam Wants You Sam contemplates fatherhood with Rebecca.
Baby Balk Sam and Rebecca try to conceive.
An Old-Fashioned Wedding Woody and Kelly's chaotic wedding day.
The Little Match Girl Rebecca accidentally burns down the bar.
How to Recede in Business Rebecca loses her manager job.
One for the Road Diane returns and the gang shares a last round together