Venice Connection
Venice Connection Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 16 Tiles - all tiles are identical, with one side having a straight canal and the other a bent canal.
- Rules
How To Win
The player who completes the canal wins. Note that it is not necessary to use all the tiles for the game to end. Figures 2-5 show possible end game situations.
Game Play
Players take alternate turns.
The current player takes 1, 2, or 3 tiles, and places them on the table, either side up.
When laying more than one tile, these tiles must be placed in a straight line and connected. Only the tiles must be connected, not the course of the canal. Figures 6-11 provide examples of legal plays.
After the first turn, at least one tile played must be adjacent to a previously laid tile.
At least one tile must be played every turn. Tiles must not be laid in such a manner as to:
- block the canal (see figure 12).
- not be beside a previously laid tile (see figure 13).
- not be in a line (see figure 14).
Impossible
If the current player notices immediately after his or her opponent has played that it is no longer possible to make a complete canal, then the current player says "Impossible!". The other player then plays alone.
If the challenged player can complete the canal with the remaining tiles, he or she has won. If the challenged player cannot complete the canal, he or she has lost.
Strategy
It is very important to make unusual plays, especially in the beginning of the game. Therefore, the examples of play given in figures 7 and 9 are in reality very poor. The play given in figure 7 leads to an immediate win with the play shown in figure 7A, while the play given in figure 9A (the follow up to the play in figure 9) forces a win.
Examples
On page 5 of the rules are a number of puzzles; in each case, a win can be forced with the proper play. The first puzzle is very easy; the others are much more difficult. Solutions can be found on page 6.