BrettspielWelt

Dog - Online Guide

Starting The Game

With /join four players can join the game. With /start the game begins. Alternatively, you can use the Game Tool

Object of the Game

Dog isn't simply an expanded version of "SORRY". The added twist of cards and playing in teams brings its own unique flair which will have you coming back again and again.

Game Board

1. Own hand
2. Indicator for cards to swap
3. Start area
4. Starting space
5. Goal
6. Number of discarded cards
7. Discard pile
8. Deck (with number of cards)
9. Indicator of the starting player
10. Player display with card counts

Flow of the game

The game generally follows the idea of "Sorry" or similar parcheesi-like games: Each player tries to get his pieces out of his home and run them around the board until they finally reach their goal area. This, however, is a partnership game, with blue and yellow teaming up against green and red. While joining, the first two and the last two players joining will be put together as teams.

The Cards

Cards are used instead of dice to move the pawns. In the first round each player gets six cards, in the subsequent rounds they get one card less, thus 5/4/3/2 cards each. They then start the round with 6 card each and so on. The starting player moves clockwise each round.

At the beginning of each round, each player swaps one card with his partner. To do this, you click on the desired card in the card indicator (1) on the left. Until all players have chosen cards to swap, the choices can still be revised. You can see which players have chosen their card already in the player dashboard (10).

Even though it should be self evident in all games which do not specifically allow this: any kind of consultation between players, or exchanges which cards you have, want to have or want to be played is against the rules.

The cards are either blue number cards or red special cards. The blue cards simply indicate the number of spaces a piece is moved forward.

Basic rules for moving:

• The movement number must be used completely, it is not allowed to move fewer spaces.
• Pieces can only be moved forward (exception: the four card)
• You can leap over occupied spaces, but they count as spaces moved.
• You may not leap over other pieces in the goal area.
• If you end on an occupied space, that piece is put back into its start area - even if it is one of your own.

To move one of your pieces, you just pull the card you'd like to play onto the target piece (drag & drop). Whenever two pieces are close to each other, watch for the one that brightens when the card shrinks - that's your indication that it's the target piece.

To move a pawn from your home to the game board, you need one of the two start cards with a little arrow on it.

If you play one of these cards, you can move a piece from the start area to the starting space. On your own starting space, your piece is protected, no other piece can kick it out, leap over it or swap position with it - not even one of your own or your partner's.

If you can't - or don't want to - move a piece to the start space, you can use these cards for normal movement. The 13 allows you to move 13 spaces forward; the 11 allows you to move either 1 space or 11 spaces.

The exchange card allows a player to exchange one of their own pieces with a piece of a different player, either partner or opponent. Pieces in their start areas, goal areas or on their starting spaces after leaving home may not be exchanged.

+/-4 is the only card which allows backward movement. This can come in handy, for example, when you're standing on the starting space. You can move your piece backward and in the next round, if you have the right cards, move it forward into your goal area. When you play the card, you get a choice to either move 4 spaces forward or backward.

With the 7, you may divide the movement points among several of your own pieces. You can for example decide to move 2 spaces with one piece, 4 with another and 1 with a third. You have to use up all 7 points. Exception: If you use a 7 to move your last piece into your home column, you can use the leftover points to help your partner. (See END OF THE GAME.)

Another feature of this card is that it "burns" pieces that are leapt over. They are returned to their home areas - even if they are your own.

The wild card can be used instead of any other card - for example as a starting card.

To play the wild card, simply click on it. A selection of the available cards opens and you can click on the desired card in order to drag it to the piece normally.

Reaching the goal

When a pawn has gone round the board (or is close to home after having used special cards like the exchange card or the 4), the following points should be considered:

• You have to move into the goal area via your start space: The start space counts normally. If you reach the start space exactly , you may not move on to your goal. You have to make another run round the board.
• You can only move forward into the HOME area.
• You have to move into your HOME exactly. You should play a card that enables you to reach one of the four (Available) spaces in your HOME, leftover points are not allowed. You may not leap over pieces in your HOME! You have to move them first in order to free spaces for your other pawns. If you have only high cards (with too many movement points), then you will have to go round again.

Passing

If a player is unable to move any piece, he has to discard all his cards and pass for the rest of the round.

End of the Game

If a player has moved all four pieces into his goal, he uses his cards to help his partner. On his turn, he moves one of his partner's pieces normally, using his own cards. The game ends when one team has reached the respective goals with all eight pieces.