Tank Chess: Portable - preview
almost 3 years ago
– Fri, Jun 09, 2023 at 04:28:27 AM
As you probably already know, Tank Chess can be played on a variety of boards of different sizes, with different, unique, obstacle setups, and with a different number and types of pieces involved. All this makes the game extremely versatile in terms of gameplay, as games on the smallest board, with fewer pieces, tend to have a ‘blitz’ nature, while on the other end of the spectrum, the games on the largest of boards, require a much more elaborate approach to strategy, due to many different engagements in the battle phase that all need to be handled properly in order to emerge as winner.
The smallest board, 12 x 12 squares, is the board featured in Tank Chess: Portable.
Tank Chess: Portable is a standalone expansion that offers a more dynamic Tank Chess experience and also comes in a travel-friendly box, which means you can carry it around and squeeze a game in whenever you have 15 to 20 minutes at your disposal. The original TC backers would know we’ve always wanted to make this game suitable for travel, and TC: Portable is the answer.
As you can see in the pictures, the box is much smaller than the one for the base game, as it measures just 15.5 x 15.5 x 4 cm.
The board measures 29 x 29 cm, and it features a square grid of 12 x 12 squares. The basic obstacle setup printed on one side allows for a game that only features Medium and Heavy Tanks; however, in the set, you’re provided with all the piece types (Light Tanks, Medium Tanks, Heavy Tanks, Tank Destroyers, and Heavy Mortars) in the same quantities as in the base game set. That means you can customize your battle any way you want by using different tanks and the obstacles from the set on the other side of the board. Take a look at the basic setup and also at some custom setups that feature different tanks, in different numbers:
Note there are custom setups intended for 4 players (the additional distinction between the teams is made by using the flags provided), since even the smallest of boards is sufficient for a blitz 4-player gameplay.
Whichever setup you choose, the games will be tense right from the start, as every single decision matters. You can expect casualties from turn two, as the players will fight immediately for the outposts, in order to help the push of their own Command Tank through the battlefield, or to restrain and eliminate the opponent’s main piece.
Another important thing about Tank Chess is that there is a notation system that helps you write down the moves as you play, in order to analyze the game after. Analysis helps with building up tactical awareness and pattern recognition, and it is another fun way to engage with the game, even if you don’t have an opponent at your disposal at a certain time. Since the games on the smallest board are shorter and usually less complex in tactical terms, TC: Portable is extremely suited for learning how to properly notate and analyze games.
Here is an example of a notated game between the two authors, with the analysis in comments (you can find many more on BGG).
So, to sum it up, you’re looking for shorter games, filled with tactics, that play out in 15 minutes, and can be played, basically, anywhere, look no further - Tank Chess: Portable is the thing you need. Don’t miss the chance to grab it for only $16 on Kickstarter ($25 in future retail)!
P.S. If you have TC: Portable but you’d like to play a longer game, on a bigger board, from time to time, since you have all the pieces for it, you can easily make a DIY 16 x 16, or even a 20 x 20 board, like the one in the pictures:
