Editing GIPF Project

The '''GIPF Project''' is a series of nine [[abstract strategy game]]s by designer [[Kris Burm]].<ref name="GJ">{{cite web
 | url=http://www.thegamesjournal.com/reviews/Gipf.shtml
 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105015631/http://www.thegamesjournal.com/reviews/Gipf.shtml
 | url-status=usurped
 | archive-date=January 5, 2013
 | title=GIPF Review
 | first=Mitchell 
 | last=Thomashow 
 | publisher=The Games Journal
 | accessdate=2008-08-24}}</ref>

The series is named after the first game, ''[[GIPF (game)|GIPF]]''. All the games take place on some form of [[Hex map|hexagonal board]]. Each of the games, including ''GIPF'', may be played individually. When playing a standard game of ''GIPF'' the game is played with normal pieces and ''GIPF'' pieces.  

However, the series also allows players to link the ''GIPF'' game to the other games in the series or even to any game at all. It does this by introducing into the game of ''[[GIPF (game)|GIPF]]'' certain new pieces with special powers, called "potentials". Before you start a game of ''GIPF'' with potentials, the players decide to which game they link each potential piece. For example, the ''ZÈRTZ'' potential piece to a game of ''ZÈRTZ'' and the ''DVONN'' potential to a game of ''DVONN''. But they could decide just as well to link the ZÈRTZ potential to a coin flip and the ''DVONN'' potential to a dice roll. Now, when playing the GIPF game with potentials, they can introduce potential pieces whenever they like (according to the playing rules). As soon as they want to use the special power of one of their potential pieces during the ''GIPF'' game, they put the ''GIPF'' board aside and play the game linked to that specific potential piece (in the example above ''ZÈRTZ'' and ''DVONN'', respectively a coin flip and a dice roll). Upon victory the active player can use the power of the potential piece in the game of ''GIPF''. If the active player loses, the special power of the potential piece cannot be used in the ''GIPF'' game.<ref name="GJ" /><ref name="RPGnet">{{cite web 
 | url=http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/11/11300.phtml
 | title=Review of GIPF
 | first=Ron 
 | last=Blessing  
 | publisher=[[RPGnet]]
 | date=2005-06-01
 | accessdate=2008-08-24}}</ref>

The idea of introducing additional games that can be used to affect the outcome of the main game came from Burm's childhood, when he and his brother would "race" cars around a rug.  For each turn, they would play another game, and the winner of that game would get to roll six dice to determine his car's movement, while the loser would roll just five.

{{As of|2022}}, ''[[YINSH]]'', ''[[TZAAR]]'', ''[[DVONN]]'', ''[[LYNGK]]'', ''[[ZÈRTZ]]'', ''[[GIPF (game)|GIPF]]'', and ''[[PÜNCT]]'' are, respectively, the 3rd, 8th, 11th, 19th, 20th, 35th, and 80th highest ranked Abstract Games on [[Boardgamegeek]]. ''[[TAMSK]]'', which was officially removed from the series, is nevertheless ranked 87th.<ref>{{cite web
 | url=http://www.boardgamegeek.com/abstracts/browse/boardgame
 | title=Abstract Games Rank, Boardgamegeek
 | accessdate=2021-12-10}}</ref> ''YINSH'', ''DVONN'', and ''ZÈRTZ'' have each won the [[Mensa Select]] award.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://mindgames.us.mensa.org/participant/past_winners.php
 |title       = Mind Games Past Winners (select year)
 |publisher   = [[Mensa International|American Mensa, Ltd.]]
 |accessdate  = 2008-08-24
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081003013123/http://mindgames.us.mensa.org/participant/past_winners.php
 |archivedate = 2008-10-03
}}</ref>

== List of games in the series ==
[[Image:YINSH in Play.jpg|thumb|''[[YINSH]]'' in play.]]

*''[[GIPF (game)|GIPF]]'' (1996) is a game of pushing.
*''[[TAMSK]]'' (1998) is a game of time (replaced by ''[[TZAAR]]'').
*''[[ZÈRTZ]]'' (1999) is a game of sacrifice.
*''[[DVONN]]'' (2001) is a game of towers.
*''[[YINSH]]'' (2003) is a game of flipping.
*''[[PÜNCT]]'' (2005) is a game of connection.
*''[[TZAAR]]'' (2007) is a game of capture and stacking (replacing ''[[TAMSK]]'').
*''[[LYNGK]]'' (2017) is a game of networking.
*''MATRX GIPF'' is a game of combining all elements (potentials).

The games are based on elements: ''TAMSK'' (time), ''ZÈRTZ'' (water), ''DVONN'' (fire), ''YINSH'' (air), ''TZAAR'' (earth), and ''PÜNCT'' (the interconnectivity of the brain). These elements are brought together in ''GIPF''.

Most of the games in the series can be played free online (for example, at BoardSpace.net) or against freely available computer opponents.

<gallery>
File:GIPF board (start).svg|[[GIPF (game)|''GIPF'']]
File:TAMSK board (start).svg|''[[TAMSK]]''
File:ZÈRTZ-37.svg|''[[ZÈRTZ]]''
File:DVONN board (tri-grid).svg|''[[DVONN]]''
File:YINSH board.svg|''[[YINSH]]''
File:PÜNCT board.svg|''[[PÜNCT]]''
File:TZAAR board (NR start).svg|''[[TZAAR]]''
File:LYNGK board (no labels).svg|''[[LYNGK]]''
</gallery>

== Different type of ''potentials'' ==

* The '''GIPF piece''' - Strictly speaking the ''GIPF'' piece belongs to the standard game of ''GIPF'' and is as such not a potential piece (i.e. it is not linked or linkable to any other game, its special power may be used without winning any other game). However it could be considered a normal piece with a special power in the game of ''GIPF''. So conceptually speaking it ''could'' be considered a ''GIPF'' potential. 
* The '''TAMSK potential''' - As ''TAMSK'' is a game of time, this potential piece grants an additional move to its owner winning him some time in the ''GIPF'' game. (Remember: it is impossible to gain extra moves in a standard game of ''GIPF'').  

* The '''ZÈRTZ potential''' - In ''ZÈRTZ'' marbles leap over adjacent marbles to capture them. The ''ZÈRTZ'' potential piece allows to leap over an adjacent piece in the ''GIPF'' game (remember: leaping over other pieces is not allowed in a standard  game of ''GIPF'').

* The '''DVONN potential''' - ''DVONN'' is a game of stacking pieces. The ''DVONN'' potential piece allows the active player in the ''GIPF'' game to stack his potential piece on top an opponents normal piece and a such changing the color of the piece of his opponent (remember: stacking is not allowed in a standard game of ''GIPF'') 

* The '''YINSH potential''' - In ''YINSH'' the players move their pieces over one or more empty spaces as long as they move in a straight line. The ''YINSH'' potential piece allows a player to move similarly in ''GIPF.'' When the ''YINSH'' potential is activated in ''GIPF'', the active player can move a piece over one or more empty spaces (remember: pieces are move to the first empty space on the board in a standard game of ''GIPF'').

* The '''PÜNCT potential''' - ''PÜNCT'' is a game about covering pieces of the opponent with your own pieces. The ''PÜNCT'' potential allow the active player to slides his potential piece on top of the ''PÜNCT'' potential of your opponent or on top of one of his ''GIPF'' pieces (remember: sliding on top of an opponents piece is not allowed in a standard game of ''GIPF''). 

* The '''TZAAR potential''' - Designer Kris Burm declared that there will be no ''TZAAR'' potential. Please note that ''TZAAR'' is replacing ''TAMSK'' in the ''GIPF'' Project. The ''TAMSK'' potential suits well with the game ''TZAAR''. In ''TZAAR'' the players have each turn the option to perform a second move or not. 

* The '''LYNGK potential''' - Designer Kris Burn declared that there will be no ''LYNGK''  potential.

* The '''MATRX GIPF potential''' - No news yet about any additional potential pieces. However the ''MATRX GIPF'' game will contain the above potentials.


== Origin of the names of the games ==
''GIPF'' derives from the German word for a mountain summit ("Gipfel"), where the original game was conceived.

Subsequent games were named to include one vowel and 4 consonants, but to otherwise remain unrelated to existing language. ''TZAAR'' is the only game deviating from these naming conventions, due to disputes with the game publisher. {{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}

==See also==
* <em>[[Abalone (board game)|Abalone]]</em>
* [[Hex map]]

==References==
<references/>

{{Gipf project}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gipf Project}}
[[Category:Abstract strategy games]]
[[Category:Mensa Select winners]]
[[Category:Kris Burm games| ]]