Yavalath (2007)

About this game

Yavalath is an abstract strategy game for two players. Players strive to make a straight line of 4 pieces of their colour, but lose if they make a line of 3 before doing so. The board (a hexagon 5 spaces on a side) is initially empty. Players take turns placing a piece of their colour on an empty cell. Yavalath was invented / discovered by a game-generating computer program developed by Cameron Browne as part of his Ph.D. research.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Works with 2 to 3.
• Rules load. At 2.2/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 8 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.