CLASSIC THAX Game Rules
THAX is a simple game you can learn in a few minutes. To play Thax, you'll need 2 dice,
30 game pieces (pennies work well) and a copy of the Thax gameboard. Just print the gameboard below and play. These rules work for the pirate motif version, THAXX, as well.
Click here for a full size Thax gameboard you can print.
The object of THAX is to be the first to cover their side of the gameboard.
Pieces are placed on (and sometimes removed from) the board using the numbers on the dice.
Gameplay: After rolling for first turn, players take turns rolling the dice
and placing pieces on the board. Using the numbers rolled on the dice, players
can place both numbers as pieces on their side of the board or take a piece
from the opponent's side and place it on their side. The numbers can also
be added to place a piece on that numbered space on their side of the board.
Sixes are not on the board and mean nothing when rolled. Roll double sixes,
Thax, and you must take a piece from your side of the board. When a
player rolls any doubles except sixes, that player gets another turn.
Here's a list of possible rolls:
- Place 2 pieces on spaces using the numbers rolled on the dice. Example: A two
and a three are rolled. The player places a piece on an uncovered "two" space
and a piece on an uncovered "three" space on their side of the board.
- Take 1 piece from your opponent's side of the board and place it on your own
side of the board using the numbers rolled on the dice. Example: A two and a
three are rolled. The player takes a piece covering a "two" space from the
opponent's side and places it on an uncovered "three" space on their own side
of the board. (Or take a three from the opponent's side and place it on their
own uncovered "two" space.)
- Add the two dice numbers together and place a piece on that uncovered space
on their side of the board. Example: A two and a three are rolled. Add them
together to make five and place a piece on an uncovered "five" space on their
side of the board.
- A six is one of the dice numbers rolled. (called a "half thax") Since sixes
mean nothing, the other number is used to place a piece on their side of the
board. Example: A six and five are rolled. The six has no space and means
nothing. A piece is placed on an uncovered "five" space on their side of the
board.
- Double sixes. You must take a piece of your choice off of your side of the
board. This is called a "thax". (If playing "Thax Out", the piece would go into the "pot".)
- If you don't have an uncovered space for a number you've rolled, you can't
place a piece. It is not uncommon to find you cannot place anything because
you don't have the uncovered space to place a piece on. To take a piece from
your opponent's side, you must have an uncovered space to place it. Example:
If you roll a three and a two and want to take a "two" from your opponent, you
must have the uncovered "three" space to place that piece on. If you get stuck
on a turn, look at the list and see if your roll can apply.
|