Hare & Tortoise

Description

--- Hare and Tortoise is a classic 1979 Spiel des Jahres-winning race game requiring precise carrot management to reach the finish with 10 or fewer carrots left, while spending three lettuce cards amid variable movement costs and carrot gains/losses. Key mechanics include: - *Carrot fuel management* Players spend carrots for movement (more for longer moves) and must arrive at finish with ≤10 carrots remaining. - *Lettuce spending* Three lettuce cards must be expended during the race. - *Arithmetic strategy* Gain or lose carrots via track effects, balancing resources cleverly. - *Hare square interactions* Variations include missing a turn (Parlett Strategic Variant), or carrot adjustments based on players passing (Tournament Jugging the Hare rule). - *Randomness variants* Later prints add cards, dice, or charts favoring laggards on Hare squares. Hare and Tortoise (Hase und Igel) is the inaugural 1979 Spiel des Jahres winner, a cunning arithmetic race where players manage carrot "fuel" to hit the finish with exactly 10 or fewer carrots, while spending three lettuce cards. Farther moves cost more carrots, with track effects enabling gains or losses. David Parlett's design creates an entertaining perennial favorite. Multiple editions introduce randomness via cards, dice, or charts to aid lagging players on Hare squares. Parlett's preferred Strategic Variant mandates missing a turn on Hare squares, mimicking the fable's nap. The Tournament Jugging the Hare rule delays action: draw 10 carrots if unpased, or pay 10 per player passing (any direction). ---