Kniffel: Das Duell^*

Kniffel: Das Duell ("Yahtzee: The Duel") is a two-player take on the classic dice game from Schmidt Spiele, designed by Reiner Knizia. A game takes about 15 minutes and is rated for ages 8 and up. The familiar Kniffel rules stay the same; what's new is a tug-of-war over discs on a shared board, so two players can start right away.

What's it about?

With five dice you try to roll the usual combinations. Instead of filling in a score pad, you fight over discs lying between you on the board.

How it plays

1. Roll for combinations using the familiar Kniffel rules.
2. Use your rolls to claim discs or steal them from your opponent.
3. Keep an eye on which areas are about to matter.
4. The first player with five discs, or three adjacent discs, on their side wins immediately.

What makes it special?

Almost everyone already knows the base game, so there is next to nothing to explain. The tug-of-war turns side-by-side rolling into a direct duel where every roll can take something away from the other player. Games are short enough to play best of three.

Who is it for?

Couples, grandparents with grandchildren and anyone who likes Kniffel and wants a quick two-player game.