Epaminondas (1975)

About this game

Epaminondas is one of Bob Abbott's masterpieces, sadly poorly known. It's a pure abstract 2 player game, white versus black, the board is somewhat similar to the one in Brain Trainer or Othello. Epaminondas is named after the Theban general who invented the phalanx formation he used to defeat the Spartans in 371 B.C. The term "phalanx" is used in the game to describe a connected group of two or more pieces in a straight line, either orthogonally or diagonally. Epaminondas is played on a 14 x 12 checkered board with 28 black pieces and 28 white pieces. The objective is to move your pieces across the board onto your opponent's back rank, the row closest to him, by moving your phalanxes and capturing enemy pieces. Re-implements: Crossings that is on a 8x8 board.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 2.9/5 this is a mid-weight game — expect a proper rules explanation before you start.
• Age. The publisher suggests 10 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.