Chebache / Pardee Games: 2P, $29.95

    CHEckers. BAckgammon. CHEss. This ambitious combination even includes a glimpse of the game of go, but its greatest appeal will be to backgammon enthusiasts. On a 4x4 board, men are placed on the centers and intersections of squares. They move from one to another on a meandering path by dice rolls. The winner is usually the first to get all pieces to the finish, but trapping an enemy king also means victory. The bewildering route to the goal is intimidating at first, but the diagram cards thoughtfully provided will soon make things clear. After the first play, the game becomes much more accessible--your efforts will be rewarded, and you'll appreciate its fascinating nuances.
    You will also be amazed at how much originality, choice and action there is in this tiny arena.
-- JJMcC

Originally published in Games Magazine, Dec. 1999, p. 36, in the Games 100 List, Year 2000 Buyer's Guide, in the Abstract Strategy category. Review text and images reproduced in full with permission from Games Magazine.