International Code-breaking (Winning Moves Da Vinci Code - The Game)

Member Name: Tamarind

Product:	Winning Moves Da Vinci Code - The Game
Date:	03/12/08 (158 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good family game

Disadvantages: Can take a few games to get the hang of it

If you like games that require some skill rather than just luck, then you will enjoy playing Da Vinci Code - The Game. This international code-breaking sensation can be played by 2 to 4 players and is suitable from age 7 upwards.

The object of the games is to break you opponent's secret code before they manage to break yours.

Equipment

The box contains 26 tiles - a set of 13 black tiles and 13 white tiles. Each set is numbered from 0 to 11 and also contains a Scramble tile which has a dash on it instead of a number.

How to start

Firstly remove the 2 Scramble tiles and then place the remaining 24 tiles face down on the table and mix them about. Each player selects 4 tiles (or 3 tiles if four people are playing) and stands them in front of themselves. The blank side of the tiles should be facing your opponents. You can choose any combination of black or while tiles but it is important not to let your opponents see what numbers you have picked up as this can spoil the game.

You must place your tiles in numerical order - lowest number on your left and highest on your right. This is crucial to the game so make sure you arrange them in the correct order. If you select 2 tiles with the same number, always place the dark tile to your left. For example if you select white 4 and black 4 you should have the black 4 to the left of the white 4.

How to Play

To begin play, the youngest player (who I shall call player A) selects a tile from those remaining on the table. This tile then becomes the Clue tile. Player A stands the Clue tile to one side so only they can see the number. It should not be added to Player A's row of tiles (yet!)

Player A should now point to any tile of an opponent and say aloud the number they think is hidden from view. Player A can choose any opponent to do this to. If they are correct, the opponent must reveal his tile by tipping it forward so that everyone can see the number. This tile remains exposed for the remainder of the game. Player A now tries to correctly identify another tile, either from the same opponent or different player.

If Player A guesses wrongly they must reveal the Clue tile by placing it in their row of tiles with the number facing out towards their opponents. It must be placed in the correct place in the sequence. This then helps your opponents to crack your code. However, if player A guesses correctly again they can decide to end their turn by inserting the clue tile into their row of tiles but without showing it to their opponents. This means Player A has a row of tiles one tile longer than his.her opponents.

After a player's turn is over, either with a correct or incorrect guess, play passes to the player on the left. Any player whose code has been broken is out of the game and can neither take a Clue tile nor make guesses at opponent's tiles. Play continues until only one player has unexposed tiles and this player wins the game.

Advanced Play

To play the advanced version of this game, add the Scramble tiles into the tiles on the table. If a player draws one of these tiles they can insert it anywhere in their row of tiles. This makes it harder for opponents to break your code.

Summary: Game of skill as well as luck