ZÈRTZ

About this board game

ZÈRTZ is a two-player game with an approximately 60-minute playing time, released in 1999. It is the third addition to the GIPF Project, inviting players to compete for sets of multi-colored balls on a hex board.

The central action is a jump, performed by moving one ball over one or more other balls in a Checkers-style move. On a turn, a player either makes a jump or places any color ball on the board and removes an empty space from the board’s edge.

Jumps may be forced, making each position important as the board changes. Removing an empty edge space continually reduces the available play area, so the shape and possibilities of the board develop throughout the game.

• Compete to acquire sets of multi-colored balls.
• Jump one ball over one or more others in Checkers-style fashion.
• Place any color ball, then remove an empty edge space.
• Play on a hex board that steadily shrinks.

This gradual reduction gives ZÈRTZ an increasingly confined endgame, described as having an almost claustrophobic feel. Early choices affect the spaces that remain, while later turns take place in a tighter and more restricted setting.

With its combination of ball placement, jumping, forced moves, and an ever-shrinking play space, ZÈRTZ presents a focused contest for two players. Its distinctive changing board and multi-colored ball objective make it a notable entry in the GIPF Project.