Plot, and scheme your way to the finish line (University Games Really Nasty Horse Racing Game)

Member Name: northers

Product:	University Games Really Nasty Horse Racing Game
Date:	25/03/09 (179 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fun for up to six players

Disadvantages: A little secrecy required

The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game certainly lives up to its name as players use their cunning, skill and a little luck in their attempts to finish the game with the most money. I bought this game about a year ago and when we have friends or relatives over it is often the game that visitors ask to play first.

Up to six people can play, as they each control a horse in six races. Money can be garnered from winning races and from bets placed beforehand. The 'nasty' aspect of the game comes in the guise of a number of 'race cards' which are dealt to all of the players at the beginning of the game. These cards are then used at various times during the six races in order to give individual players an advantage.

At the start of the game each player is given money to lay bets and a bookmaker is chosen amongst the players. It is imperative to choose a bookie that is competent with numbers; the responsibility bestowed upon this player is significant, as they must be capable of working out winnings from races. Obviously the maths involved shouldn't trouble most people, but players don't want to get involved in any heated debates over some dodgy sums!

Each player is given a Stable containing six horses of varying grades (1-6). The grade basically dictates how fast a horse is and hence how likely it is to win a race. There are six lanes on the racecourse, with the inside lanes being shorter than the outside lanes. The lanes are then allocated at random at the beginning of each race. Now each horse has an ability and a lane length which together dictate its odds at winning.

At this point each player can place a bet on any horse winning the race. Now we enter the most important phase of the race. The fact that you can place a bet on any horse means that at times you may not want your own horse to win! There are a number of different tactics to consider: do you put down a heap of money on the favourite and hope that it coasts home as it uses its combination of better speed and shorter lane, or do you bet long on one of the donkeys, using your race cards to win big money from its long odds?

During races each horse progresses according to the roll of the dice, with each player taking turns. Certain squares have various effects, both positive and negative, adding an element of luck to each race. At any moment Race Cards can be used (once only) to have an effect on the race. These cards can vary from the fairly benign 'False Start' where the race is restarted, to the downright evil 'Slipped Up on the Flat' where a horse is removed from the race. Other cards have serious nuisance value, such as 'Riderless Horse' which can be controlled by the original owner, often in a blocking capacity. After all this, if a player is still not happy with the end result he or she can use the 'Steward's Enquiry' card, where they have a small chance of disqualifying the race winner.

The Race Cards are a fantastic element to the game and are perfectly weighted such that there are only a few dealt to each player, so you have to be very selective as to when you use them. Similarly until you know that a certain card has been used you know it's out there, waiting to hobble your prize thoroughbred as it glides towards the winning line. It is great seeing an opponent's horse coasting down the home straight and then waiting until just the right moment before making it fall. It's also deeply satisfying seeing other players do their utmost to take your horse out of the race when you secretly know that you have a load of money riding on one of the chasing pack. My most successful tactic is to bet on the horse that is owned by the least arrogant player, as fewer people have them in their sights. The Mother-in-Law is the perfect target for this tactic.... For me, prize money from races certainly helps you accrue cash, but it's the betting that brings in the big money.

One issue I have with the game is that it is easy for players to get bullish and boast about how much money they have won, and for the bookie to divulge winnings. This may not sound like too much of an issue, but when it comes down to the last race you can find yourself in the difficult position of there being an obvious leader with more money than the rest. You then have a number of desperadoes with nothing to lose who then blow all of their money on a last-gasp effort to win a bet on the last race. I have seen people lead a game through using skill and their knowledge of their opponents all the way through to the last race only to get undone by one of three opponents risking everything they have to turn out winners. The trick here is to maintain secrecy, keep your poker face on and, above all, select a bookie that knows how to keep his or her mouth shut.

That one reservation aside, I can not sing this game's praises enough. I am always amazed when other people reveal that they have never heard of The Really Nasty Horse Racing Game; they certainly come away with a positive impression after playing. Games normally take around sixty to ninety minutes, depending on drinks consumed and number of heated debates, so it's an ideal length to round off an evening.

At only £14.66 from Amazon, this game is a great buy.

Summary: Play small, bet large, win big!