Duell (2004)

About this game

The sun breaks across the horizon; the day awakes. The two players take part in a sporting competition: whoever wins five fencing bouts first is the winner. En Garde! The feinting and parrying of the Duell has begun... Touché! —description from the publisher Duell is a revised version of En Garde (published by Abacus). The game is basically the same, but in this version they've added 8 special cards. At the start of a duel you draw one of these cards. This card will change the rules for this duel only (examples: you have to play with open cards; you have to play with less cards; you are not allowed to retreat). The first player to win five duels wins. Belongs to the Ravensburger Fun For 2 Series.

Does it fit your group?

• Group size. Strictly 2 players — no more, no fewer.
• Rules load. At 1.3/5 this is a light game — explain it in a few minutes, good for a table that has not played much.
• Age. The publisher suggests 9 and up. That rates the rules rather than the artwork, so judge the box yourself for younger players.