Ta Yu

Chris also had recently purchased Ta Yu. It was played at game day, and makes a great 2 player game - that's really how it is designed. It is a beautiful game, wonderfully designed.

Tommy was hanging around, and Jake had work to do. So Chris and Tommy played a 2 player version of Ta Yu.

It's a great game of attack and defend. The game is perfectly balanced, perfectly designed, and perfectly devious -- you have little resources, and some great choices. 'Great' in every sense of the word -- each simple choice weighs heavily... promote my own cause, or thwart my opponent?! It's always a tough call. No matter how it comes out, those game is super-satisfying.

On person plays across the board in one direction, and the other plays a perpendicular direction. You multiply the outlets on each of your 'sides' to get a final score.

At the end of the game...

Chris had 2 on one side, 8 on the other. Final Score: 16.
Tommy had 6 on one side, 5 on the other. Final Score: 30.

Tommy wins!!

You can see how the balance matters on each side... Chris had 10 outlets total, Tommy had 11. But Tommy's better balance made his victory that much greater, almost DOUBLE Chris's score.

Ta Yu... if you can find it, and afford it -- it's wonderful.