The GIPF Project is an innovative series of abstract games; each game is very original
with high-quality production. Additionally, each of the games can be combined with the original
game for a truly mind-bending experience! Amongst its other triumphs, two games of the project
have been nominated for the prestigious German Spiel des Jahres (game of the year) award; virtually
unheard of for an abstract game!
See GIPF revisited for my review, or visit
the GIPF home page for more on the GIPF project.
GIPF is the foundation of the project; a deceptively simple but very deep game where players
slide pieces onto the board, attempting to make lines of 4 and capture their opponent's pieces. Special
pieces called "potentials" add extra moves to GIPF and link in the other games in the sequence.
GIPF: £18 including postage
TAMSK is the only strategy game which uses time as a tactical element; your pieces are egg-timers,
which die if they run out of sand. You will often be forced to choose between a strategically sound
move, and one which saves a piece. You will find a full review here.
TAMSK: £28 including postage
In ZERTZ, players try to capture pieces on an ever-shrinking board. Pieces are not owned by
either player, so it is vitally important to stay a move ahead of your opponent, or you may find yourself
caught in your own trap. You will find a full review here.
ZERTZ (37 ring version): £15 including postage
ZERTZ (49 ring version): £18 including postage
DVONN is the fourth game in Project GIPF, and builds on the theme of a shrinking playing area common
to TAMSK and ZERTZ. Predictably, Kris Burm has produced another masterpiece, combining fast game play with
deep strategy.
DVONN: £18 including postage
YINSH is the fifth game in Project GIPF; coming soon - watch this space.
The potentials are the glue in Project GIPF - they are extra pieces for use in GIPF, which have special moves linked to other games in the series. Not to everyones' taste, and the most controvertial part of the project. Some potentials were included in TAMSK and ZERTZ, to give players a feel for the combined game, but for maximum chaos, buy the potential sets. Note that potential set 2 also includes 12 extra rings for playing ZERTZ on a grand scale.
GIPF Potentials Set 1: NO LONGER AVAILABLE (6 extra TAMSK potentials of each colour)
GIPF Potentials Set 2: £7 including postage (ZERTZ & DVONN potentials, plus 12 extra ZERTZ rings)