Rio Grande welcomes another generation to marvel at the finely honed mechanisms of this fabulous diceless race game. Your supply of carrots carries you forward--one space for one carrot, three for six, with expenditures increasing dramatically for longer moves. You replenish carrots on some spaces by lingering, moving backward, or starting a turn in the race position matching the number on your square. However, blessed are the poor in carrots near the end: You cannot cross the finish to win with more than 10 carrots, and so you must use turns to devour any excess. This subtle classic will have imaginations racing for many generations to come.

I'd been wanting to try H+T for some time. I really enjoyed Cartegena and H+T sounded like a race game with some added strategy. True enough! Although the goal seems simple getting there first can raise your blood pressure. Even if you're in the lead a fellow player can catch and pass you if you're not careful. The multiple choices on each move add some depth and interest to the game,i.e., do I use carrots to move, stay put to collect more carrots or take a chance and roll the die, etc.? I found H+T to be totally engaging. We played three games in a row after I opened the box. I even think the board and cards are charming. I did'nt know what I was missing! Great game.

I don't know what the new edition is like, but if there are dice, it cannot be as good as the original German adition. It is a nice part of strategy to guess which cards are still in the pack, and what your chances are of having luck. Anyway, I don't like board games which include dice. That's one of the reasons I like and still play Hase und Igel.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the aesthetic appeal of the board may or may not tickle your fancy. But the game itself is a gem.

The trick is knowing what options your opponents have, and what kind of play they tend to exhibit. This makes for a good 'repeat' game, as you will find it more enjoyable when you have seen how your friends respond to the board.

Choices make a good game, and this one has plenty.