Tak (game)
Abstract strategy game from fiction, now played in the Mind Sports Olympiad.
Tak is a two-player abstract strategy game. It originally appeared as a fictional game in Patrick Rothfuss's fantasy series, *The Kingkiller Chronicle*. James Ernest, working with Rothfuss, later created a real version, which Cheapass Games published in 2016. In 2021, Tak became an event at the international Mind Sports Olympiad. Players try to connect two opposite edges of the board using pieces called stones, forming a road. The ability to stack and unstack stones vertically adds a three-dimensional aspect to play.
**Rules**
**Setup** The game is played on a square board, which can have various sizes. The board starts empty. Each player receives a number of stones that depends on the board size. Like in chess, the stones are divided into white and black sets, and players are often called "White" and "Black." However, Tak sets come in many colors and styles. The capstone's shape can differ between sets, while flat and standing stones are simple, stackable pieces.
**Opening Turn** Who goes first in the first game is decided randomly; for later games, the first move alternates. In competitive play, White moves first. Every game begins with an empty board. On each player's first turn, they must place one of their opponent's flat stones on any empty space. After that, play proceeds normally, with each player controlling their own pieces.
**Standard Turn** After the first turn, a player must either place a stone on the board or move a stone or stack they control. Passing is not allowed.
**Placement** On their turn, a player may place one stone from their reserve onto an empty space. There are three types of stones: - **Flat stones** are played flat on the board. They can be stacked on by either player and count as part of a road. - **Standing stones** are played on their edge. They cannot be stacked on except by a capstone, and they do not count toward a road. They are also called walls. - **Capstones** are the most powerful pieces. They count toward a road and cannot be stacked on by any piece. A capstone can move onto a standing stone and flatten it into a flat stone, whether the standing stone belongs to the player or the opponent.
**Movement** A player may move a single stone or a stack they control. A stack forms when a stone is moved on top of any number of flat stones of any color. The top stone of a stack determines who controls the whole stack. Al
- Year Published
- 2016
- Publisher
- Cheapass Games
- Designers
- James Ernest (in collaboration with Patrick Rothfuss)
- Genre
- Abstract strategy game
- Board Sizes
- Various lengths (e.g., 5x5, 6x6)
- First Player Advantage (5x5)
- 55%
- First Player Advantage (6x6)
- 52%
Lore & Background
Tak originated as a fictional game in Patrick Rothfuss's fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle, first appearing in the 2011 novel The Wise Man's Fear. James Ernest, in collaboration with Rothfuss, designed the physical game, which was published by Cheapass Games in 2016. The game gained enough recognition to be included as an event in the international Mind Sports Olympiad in 2021.
Players take turns placing stones—flat stones, standing stones (walls), and capstones—on a square board, aiming to build a road connecting opposite edges. Standing stones block roads but can be flattened by capstones. Stacks form when stones are moved onto flat stones, with the top stone controlling the stack. The carry limit for moving stacks equals the board's dimension.
Endgame conditions include a road win (first to connect opposite edges), a flat win (most flat stones when board is full or stones run out), or a draw if flat counts are equal. The Dragon clause awards the active player if both players complete a road on the same move. Komi, typically adding 2 to the second player's flat count, is used in US Tak Association tournaments to counterbalance first-player advantage.
Reader's Guide
Tak's significance lies in its transition from fictional game to real-world competitive abstract strategy, joining the Mind Sports Olympiad in 2021. Its design incorporates three-dimensional stacking, unique piece types (flat, standing, capstone), and a road-building victory condition that distinguishes it from other abstract games like Go or chess. The game has a low draw rate (0.91%) and a first-player advantage that decreases on larger boards (55% on 5x5, 52% on 6x6). The adoption of komi from Go reflects efforts to balance play. The US Tak Association standardizes terminology and tournament rules, including optional calling of 'Tak' (one move from winning) and 'Tinuë' (guaranteed road win). The game's legacy includes a dedicated online community at playtak.com, which provides analytics on gameplay statistics. Its fictional origin in a popular fantasy series has helped attract a broad audience, while its strategic depth has earned it a place in competitive mind sports.
Did You Know?
- Tak first existed fictionally in Patrick Rothfuss's fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle before being brought to life by James Ernest.
- In 2021, Tak was incorporated as an event in the international Mind Sports Olympiad.
- The game has a first player advantage of 55% on a 5x5 board and 52% on a 6x6 board, according to playtak.com analytics.
- Komi, typically adding 2 to the second player's flat count, is used in US Tak Association tournaments to counterbalance first-player advantage.
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