Ta Yü

About this board game

Ta Yü is a connection game for 2–4 players, played in about 45 minutes, in which players extend a network from the center of a 19×19 board toward opposing edges.

Each turn, you draw a tile and decide where to place it, expanding the connected structure already on the board. Every tile is 3×1 and has exactly three outlets, creating a simple placement system with meaningful choices about how the network develops.

One side aims to connect from the starting tile to the western and eastern edges. The opposing side seeks to reach the northern and southern edges. Although the objective is easy to understand, successful play requires attention to both directions and to the possibilities created by each new tile.

• Connection-focused play: Build outward from the central starting tile.
• Distinct scoring: Your score is the product of the number of spots reached on each relevant pair of edges.
• Double-scoring points: Three special points on each side of the board score double when reached.
• Offense and defense: Decide whether a tile is more valuable for advancing your own network or limiting the opponent.

The product-based scoring makes balance essential. Reaching many spots on one edge is not enough if you neglect the other, since zero multiplied by any number remains zero. The special points add further focus, encouraging players to weigh immediate progress against longer-term positioning.

In Ta Yü, a tile can serve several purposes, and choosing its use is often the central decision. The result is an engaging abstract contest where straightforward rules lead to careful planning, competing routes, and constant interaction.