Tantrix

Tantrix is a 1987 designed by the New Zealand mathematician Mike McManaway strategy and matching game for 1 to 4 people and is played with 56 hexagonal platelets of synthetic resin.

The plates are printed with three connecting lines, each of which connects two sides and always three of the four colors red, yellow, green and blue have. Since more than connecting a straight line connecting opposite sides, there are exactly 56 different pieces.

Game rules

For most game variants, a common rule is: Two stones must borders only with a same line color together. This often leads increasingly long lines of different colors, which constitute the main focus of the game.

Also, apply to many variants, the following placement rules:

• The resulting from the laid tile entity must not contain any holes.
• In a vacancy at most two of the same color lines may lead. They may also be surrounded by more than three blocks, whereby it is forced into a room.
• In the strategy game applies: forced rooms must be filled as long as the active player gets matching jewels on the hand.
• On one side, on which there is already a forced space may only be designed so that, directly or through forced trains no new forced space is created.

Game variations

Basically, there are two game modes can be distinguished: puzzle and strategy game. The latter can play with the Tantrix Game Pack, which consists of all 56 numbered tiles.

• When so-called Discovery puzzle either the tiles with the numbers 1 to 30 from the game pack or the 10 stones contained in a separately available Discovery set are used. The player starts with the stones from one to three, setting a meeting of all stones loop ( closed line ) in the color of the stone with the highest number ( here number 3 = yellow) on the back panel has. For more difficulty levels to the previous loop is dissolved and each of the stone with the next highest number added which now dictates the color to use.
• In the strategy game 2 to 4 players on a common field in each case to create the longest possible line or a closed curve as long as possible in their chosen color. An increasing number of players shifts the focus from tactical planning to go for playful skill.

In addition to the Discovery Puzzle many other puzzle variants exist for one or more players who are more or less well documented. Playing time ranges from a few minutes for easier puzzles over about 30 minutes at the strategy game down to the hour to several days of employment with the particularly difficult puzzles.

Assessment

Tantrix is a game to train spatial ability and training of concentration.