Flanx
Flanx Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
Each player has a deck of 36 cards in their own color (white or black). Every card shows a shape and, on its left and right edges, a colored half-circle.
Setup
One player takes the 36 white cards, the other takes the 36 black cards. Each player shuffles their own deck and places it face down in front of them. The white player then lays one random card from their deck face up in the center of the table. The black player then reveals cards from their own deck, one at a time, until they find one that fits against the card already on the table (see Placement Rule 1 below). Cards that do not fit are shuffled back into the deck. Both players then draw the top three cards from their deck into their hand, without looking at them.
Playing the Game
The players look each other in the eye until one of them — or one of the onlookers — shouts "Omiga!" At that signal, both players turn the cards in their hand face up and the game begins. Players move simultaneously, trying to lay down their cards as fast as possible while following the three placement rules below. If a player lays down every card in their hand, they immediately draw three more cards from their deck.
A player may discard all the cards remaining in their hand, face up, onto a discard pile at any time, and draw three new cards from their deck. If a player's deck runs out, they turn their discard pile face down to form a new deck.
Placement Rules
Cards are always laid down so that the colored half-circles on them face left and right.
When placing cards, players must make sure their cards connect to each other horizontally or vertically, and to their opponent's cards horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Because of this, there are usually two valid spots for a card.
There are three placement rules in total. A player may lay a card into an empty spot next to another card already on the table if all three of the following conditions are met:
1. Matching shape and color. The shape of the pieces and the color of the half-circles on adjacent cards must match. This means the half-circles must join into a complete circle of one color, and the shapes on the cards must fit together like puzzle pieces — a matching diagonal against a diagonal, and a point against a notch, and vice versa.
2. Connected to your own color. The card must be connected horizontally or vertically to a card of your own color.
3. Connected to your opponent's color. The card must be connected horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to a card of your opponent's color.
End of Game
The player who is first to lay a card down "behind" one of their opponent's cards wins immediately. The other way to win is to build a chain of cards all the way to the opposite edge of the table.
Draw
The game ends in a draw if both players have laid their cards right up against the left and right edges of the table. The game also ends in a draw if one player has laid down every card except the ones in their hand, and none of those can be played.
Kids Variant
"Kids" is a simpler variant of Flanx suitable for children age 6 and up. Each player starts on their own side of the table, which gives more room and time to play.
Setup
The players sit at the table facing each other. One takes the white cards, the other the black cards. The players shuffle their decks and place them face down in front of them. Each player then draws one card and lays it face up in front of themselves, right against their own edge of the table. These two cards are placed opposite each other along the same imaginary line.
Playing the Game
Both players look each other in the eye until one of them, or one of the onlookers, shouts "Omiga!" At that point the game begins. As in the base game, players move simultaneously. Each player draws one card from their deck at a time and tries to lay it down, following the placement rules for the Kids variant. If a card does not fit anywhere, the player puts it onto the discard pile of the matching color. As soon as a card is played or discarded, the player immediately draws a new one. If a deck runs out, the player turns their discard pile face down to form a new deck.
Placement Rules
The placement rules for this variant are the same as the base Flanx rules, except for Rule 3. Cards are laid down so that the colored half-circles face left and right. When placing cards, players must make sure their cards connect to each other horizontally or vertically, and match the surrounding cards in the color of the half-circles and the shape of the pieces.
End of Game
The player who is first to build a chain of cards reaching the opposite edge of the table wins.
The game also ends in a draw if both players have laid their cards right up against the left and right edges of the table, leaving neither player a chance to win, or if one of the players runs out of cards.
Toddler Variant
"Toddler" is a variant of Flanx suitable for children age 5 and up. In this variant, players take turns. Play resembles a jigsaw-puzzle race in which you must be the first to reach the opposite edge of the table. With extra sets of cards, more players can join this variant.
Setup
All players sit on the same side of the table. If there are more than two players, a larger table may be useful. The space on the table in front of each player is their play area, so make sure there is enough room.
Each player takes a set of 36 cards, shuffles them, and places the deck in front of themselves. They then flip the top card from their deck and place it right against the edge of the table in front of them.
Playing the Game
Unlike the base "One Minute Game," the "Toddler" variant is played in a series of rounds. At the start of each round, every player draws the top card from their own deck. Players lay their cards on the table according to the placement rules. A player discards a card onto their own discard pile if it does not fit anywhere.
The round ends once every player has played or discarded their card. Players only draw a new card once everyone has finished the round. If a deck runs out, the player turns their discard pile face down to form a new deck.
Placement Rules
The placement rules for this variant are the same as the base rules of the "One Minute Game," except for Rule 3. Cards are laid down so that the colored half-circles face left and right. The card being played must connect to a card of the same color horizontally or vertically, and must match the surrounding cards in the color of the half-circles and the shape of the pieces.
Ordinarily, each player lays their cards within their own play area without interfering with the others. If cards from different players do "collide," they do not need to match each other in half-circle color or shape.
End of Game
The game ends when one of the players builds a chain of cards all the way to the opposite edge of the table.
If two players reach the opposite edge of the table in the same round, they share the win.
Zen Variant (Solo)
"Zen" is a solitaire variant of Flanx. The player chooses a challenge from the special booklet and tries to assemble it using the cards. It is a mode that calls for calm and concentration.
Setup
Set up a generous playing space on a table or on the floor. Separate the white and black cards and, after shuffling each deck separately, place them in front of you. Take the booklet and choose a challenge (a "Zen form"). If the Zen form you have chosen uses only black cards or only white cards, set the cards of the other color aside.
Zen forms come in different difficulty levels. If this is your first game, we recommend starting with an easy Zen form.
Playing the Game
Take the top card from either deck, turn it face up, and place it on the table. This is your starting card. Every subsequent card is placed horizontally or vertically next to another.
The game is divided into rounds. At the start of each round, draw the top three cards from the black deck or the white deck. If fewer than three cards remain in a deck, take however many are left.
You may play the cards from your hand in any order, following the placement rules. You may also choose not to play a card. Each deck has its own discard pile. Once you have finished playing cards for the round, place the cards remaining in your hand face down onto the discard pile of the matching color, in any order. The first time a deck of a given color runs out, turn that color's discard pile over to form a new deck. That discard pile may not be used this way a second time.
Placement Rules
Cards are laid down so that the colored half-circles face left and right.
The shape of the pieces and the color of the half-circles on adjacent cards must match. This means the half-circles must join into a complete circle of one color, and the shapes on the cards must fit together above and below like puzzle pieces — a diagonal against a diagonal, and a point against a notch.
End of Game
The game ends when the cards laid out on the table exactly match the chosen Zen form, in both shape and color.
If both decks have run out for the second time before you manage to complete the chosen Zen form, the game ends in a loss.
Eight Hands (2 vs 2) Variant
Flanx also includes a four-player variant for two teams of two, sold as the "2 vs 2" expansion. See the companion rulebook for this variant's rules.
Credits
A game by Andreas Schleicher. © Dionysos Games 2017. The Russian-language edition was prepared by GaGa Games. Translator: Artem Yasinsky. Editor: Katerina Shevchuk. Designer/layout: Elena Shlyuykova. Project lead: Artem Yasinsky. Overall direction: Anton Skovorodin.