It’s been a long while since a small-box game hit the table that I wanted to like as much as Flip Chess.
The very thought of a micro-version of chess intrigued me—and that’s exactly what Verne Homsher offers up.
In this one, the game board is the plastic box. Pop it open, and you have a 4×8 grid board. The playing pieces are dice—four for each player. Each face on a die is an etched representation of one of the common chess pieces. That’s it for components, although to be clear, the dice are chunky, nicely etched, and feel great in hand. The compact board means this one slips easily into a pocket, ready to play anywhere. Huge marks for looks and quality.
The rules come on separate pages; a small booklet that fits inside the folded board/box would have been a welcome addition. As it stands, there are rules for several different games you can play, which at first glance I applauded—variety is always a plus, especially in a small-footprint game where maintaining replay value is naturally challenging.
The core game here is the closest to chess—and it’s okay, for a play or three at least. It doesn’t offer much if you’re seeking strong replayability. So, we delved into the other included rule variants, and while they extended interest through a somewhat extended coffee break, they didn’t hold our attention long either.
On the website (dicemakers.com), Flip Chess sells for $28. I never checked postage, but we all know that’s gotten ridiculously high in general. The game looks fantastic, but for us, the play never quite matched the presentation. This is definitely one to consider with care.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Handy Little Coffee-Time Filler
The very thought of a micro-version of chess intrigued me—and that’s exactly what Verne Homsher offers up.
In this one, the game board is the plastic box. Pop it open, and you have a 4×8 grid board. The playing pieces are dice—four for each player. Each face on a die is an etched representation of one of the common chess pieces. That’s it for components, although to be clear, the dice are chunky, nicely etched, and feel great in hand. The compact board means this one slips easily into a pocket, ready to play anywhere. Huge marks for looks and quality.
The rules come on separate pages; a small booklet that fits inside the folded board/box would have been a welcome addition. As it stands, there are rules for several different games you can play, which at first glance I applauded—variety is always a plus, especially in a small-footprint game where maintaining replay value is naturally challenging.
The core game here is the closest to chess—and it’s okay, for a play or three at least. It doesn’t offer much if you’re seeking strong replayability. So, we delved into the other included rule variants, and while they extended interest through a somewhat extended coffee break, they didn’t hold our attention long either.
On the website (dicemakers.com), Flip Chess sells for $28. I never checked postage, but we all know that’s gotten ridiculously high in general. The game looks fantastic, but for us, the play never quite matched the presentation. This is definitely one to consider with care.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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