Schotten Totten

The Basics
Description: Nine boundary stones lie between you and your opponent. In front of each, you build poker-like formations of three cards on a side. Whoever plays the higher-ranking formation wins the stone. And in a unique twist, you may use your powers of logic to claim a stone even before your opponent has played all three of his cards, by demonstrating that the stone is impossible for him to win. Successfully claim five stones, or any three adjacent stones, and you win the game.

The original game consists of 54 cards, numbered 1 to 9 in six colors. The 2004 Pro Ludo reprint adds 10 special tactics cards, which can serve as wild cards or allow you to "break the rules" in various ways, and it's this version of the game that was soon rethemed into Battle Line for the American market. Opinions in the gaming community on whether the tactics cards improve or take away from the game seem to be quite evenly divided.

How to Play (This game is easy to learn, basically 3 card poker hands)

• Yucata (Web Guide)
• Flex Games (Quick Web Guide)
  
• Convium (Official Rulebook)

Where to Play Online (I play on Yucata, but Flex is good)

• Yucata (Free - Registration Required)
• Flex Games (Free - Registration Required)

Cheat Sheets (from the Geek)

• Hand/Card Strength (Downloads a GIF)
• Rules on Geek (Downloads a Pdf)
• Rules on Flex Games (Downloads a Pdf)
• Card summary (Downloads a Word doc)

Game Hints

• Basic Strategy: Thread on the Geek
• My Tips: Very simple game, tips coming soon.
  

Views

• Opinion: I enjoyed Battle Line more at first. Since playing online, have gotten to like this version more.
  
• Online: Works very well online.
• Work: We could easily play 3-6 games of this at lunch time.
• Home: Great game, very easy to teach, theme of Scottish clans is fun and works.

Other Info

• Plays best with: 2 player game.
• Gateway Suitability: Very easy to learn. If they like Poker, this could be a great two player filler.
  
• Spouse Suitability: Chrissy liked it, very simple and hits the Poker hand enjoyment.
• Re-playability: So quick and easy, has a high replay value. More so if you sleeve the cards and take the game on a trip (or to work for lunch time play).
  
• Real Life Setup: A few minutes of shuffling cards and placing markers.
• Real Life Time/Length: 10-20 minutes.
• Geek Link: http://boardgamegeek.com/game/372