AMOEBA (Inspired) Board Game

I have made an update to this game which can be found here.

Amoeba, also know as Tantalus, is a board game published in 1975 by Samsonite (also published by Marx and Ravensburger) with the goal of creating “Amoeba” shapes with 49 tiles on a square tray. The tiles have an arc on two opposite corners. This is my interpretation on this classic game.

Cards are also needed to play the game. I have remastered the cards based on the cards uploaded to boardgamegeek.com by Harvey Wasserman. Rules and cards to print are included in the “other files” section.

Description

The amoeba game is primarily for two players, although as many as four can play. It consists of a tray of 49 square pieces and a deck of 52 cards. The object of the game is to create amoeba shapes with the pieces on the tray, that will match the shapes on the cards held by the players. Each piece on the tray may be picked up and turned (a quarter turn), to make a change in the pattern. There are no duplicate cards; the shape on each card is different from any other shape in the deck. The cards are marked with the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 to denote the number of points scored when a particular pattern is achieved. The first player to score 50 points or more wins the game.

How to play

1. To start, the amoeba tray should be set up in an overall pattern of circles.

2. Determine who makes the first move by cutting the deck. High card plays first. In case of a tie, re-cut the deck.

3. Each player is dealt three cards. Each player conceals his hand from his opponents.

4. Each player plays in turn, by picking up one piece, rotating it a quarter turn, and replacing the piece in its space.

5. Each player turns pieces that will enable him to match a shape on one of his cards.

6. When a player creates a shape on the board that matches a shape on one of his cards:

a. He calls out “amoeba!” and reveals the matched card, placing the card in a discard pile.

b. He scores the point value on the card.

c. He draws another card from the deck.

d. He takes an additional turn.

7. If a player inadvertently creates a shape on the board that matches one of the shapes on the cards held by an opponent:

a. The opponent calls out “amoeba!” and reveals the matched card.

b. The opponent scores the point value on the card, and draws another card from the deck.

c. The player who created the shape does not get an additional turn. His opponent then takes his regular turn.

8. Rarely, a single move may create two amoeba shapes matching cards held by the players.

a. If both shapes are held by one player, he scores both, and draws two cards. If he is the player who made the shapes, he takes an additional turn.

b. If one shape is held by each player, both are scored, both players draw a card, and the player who made the two shapes takes an extra turn.

Rules

Each player will always have three cards in his hand. A shape is not complete unless the entire formation is on the board. A mirror-image does not count as an amoeba. A single piece may not be moved twice in two consecutive moves. (A player may not move the piece which his opponent has just moved; after making an amoeba, a player may not move the piece which he himself has just moved.)