Bausack, Baukette Variant (Building Chain)

(Editor's Note: Milton Bradley markets Bausack as Bandu. The following variant is playable with either set.)

In this variant, each player builds their own tower with the aim of including as many building blocks as possible. Each player first takes a base block. All the other blocks in the tower must rest on this first one. So, each player takes one of the Sparkasse blocks and uses it as a base for the tower, all other pieces must be supported by this first block.

Empty all the building blocks into the middle of the table, then choose a player to play first. They choose a building block from the pile and put it in front of them. The other players follow suit in a clockwise direction until all players have 10 building blocks in front of them. (Experienced builders may choose more blocks if they wish, ten is enough for most people). Each player should lay their blocks out in a chain, showing the order in which they propose to place the blocks. (It may be better if all players lay out their chain in the same direction, from left to right for example). The remaining blocks are then removed from the game and put back into the sack.

Now, beginning with the chosen player, each player in turn chooses a block from a chain and adds it to their tower. This block must always be the first available in that player's chain, so each player has a choice of stones, one for each player playing. Players may choose stones from their own chain if they wish. Once a chain has been used up, the choice is reduced to the first available stone in each of the remaining chains. If a tower falls down, then the blocks in that tower are removed from the game, and the player drops out, but the remaining blocks in their chain are still available for the other players. The winner is the last player with a standing tower, or, if all the blocks have been used, then the player with the highest tower still standing.

Distributed by The Sumo Rules Bank.

The Game Cabinet - editor@gamecabinet.com - Ken Tidwell