Zoff in Buffalo

About this board game

Zoff in Buffalo is a fast-paced pasture-placement game for 2–5 players, with a playing time of about 45 minutes. In the Wild West city of Buffalo, cowboys bring their herds to the biggest auction of the year, while players compete to find grazing space on limited pasture.

Each player has 10 cards showing different numbers of cows. Over five rounds, everyone simultaneously selects two cards and chooses which pasture to target. The central challenge is that no two players may have exactly the same number of cows in a pasture.

If your chosen number matches another player’s total when your turn arrives, your herd is reduced until it no longer matches. Planning to place four cows may therefore leave you with three—or even fewer. Failing to place every cow on your card can seriously disrupt your plans.

• Simultaneous selection of cow cards and pastures
• Several pastures, with the number depending on the player count
• Five swift rounds using all 10 cards
• Pasture-completion bonuses that reward different positions

When a pasture fills, it pays bonuses that let players add extra cows to other pastures. The twist is that the best rewards do not necessarily go to the player with the most cows; the second- and third-place players can receive stronger bonuses. This makes every placement a delicate calculation.

By the end of the fifth round, all 10 cards have been played. The player with the most cows across the pastures wins. Released in 1998, Zoff in Buffalo combines quick simultaneous decisions with an unusually tricky contest for pasture space.