Ahh, - Kramer & Kiesling! Just the thought of another game designed by this dynamic duo is enough to get me woozy! Their track record with me has been darn near perfect, so I am pre-disposed to purchase any game they release that is aimed at the adult market. Now, if they would ever throw Ulrich into the mix and release a Kramer, Kiesling & Ulrich design, then that would be bliss!

My first actual glimpse of this game came at the recent Gathering of Friends and, truth-be-told, the actual appearance sort of startled me. The game is undeniably abstract. That's not exactly the kiss of death, but it also isn't my favorite genre. However, it was designed by Kramer & Kiesling, so there was no way I wasn't going to give it a try.

I shouldn't have had one iota of doubt as I thoroughly enjoyed my first experience so much I eagerly played it again several more times during the course of the week and taught other groups to play, too. The game is very focused, with the rules being very simple and the objective extremely clear. Each play is critical and the choices to be made are tough. Vintage Kramer & Kiesling!

Players have been charged with the task of building a vast new pueblo in the Southwest desert. However, the chieftain has been very specific in his demands and insists that the pueblo blend in with the countryside. His preference for the neutral sand-colored blocks means that he will penalize any player whose colored blocks are visible. Thus, players must attempt to place their blocks in such a fashion so that their colored blocks are obscured from view, especially at the critical moment when the demanding chieftain makes his inspection rounds.

If you desire a more humorous explanation of the theme, drop a note to Ted Cheatham. His inspector has been transformed into a roaming pervert who enjoys peeking in the windows of the pueblo! We won't go there, however!

The board depicts an 8 by 8 grid divided into four equal quadrants. This area is the 'building' site where players will place their building blocks and construct the pueblo. Surrounding the site is a path where the chieftain makes his way around the emerging pueblo, meticulously watching for offending blocks. The board is rather plain, but is decorated along the edges with replicas of native American artwork. There is also a serpentine scoring track that never fails to confuse (sort of like the one used in Fossil). It works, but one must be careful when recording the points.

The components also include strangely shaped building blocks, 8 each in four different colors and 16 in the neutral beige color. These blocks are made of a sturdy plastic and should last a lifetime. Two of them join to form one square block. The components are completed by 4 score markers, the chieftain token and base marker and a few assorted markers used for the variants.

Each player begins the game with five of his colored blocks and four neutral blocks. Four sets of 'blocks' are made (one colored block and one neutral block), leaving one additional colored block. The game rules are remarkably simple, yet the decisions are tough. On a turn, a player does the following:

1. Place a block onto the board, inside the building site grid. The only real rule here is that the block must lay 'flush' to either the board or another block. No 'overhangs' are allowed. The rules could have been a bit clearer in explaining this, but this is the intent.
2. Move the chieftain 1 to 4 spaces and conduct his inspection.

On each player's very first turn, they must place their colored block that has not been paired with a neutral stone. On subsequent turns, each player must select one of their paired block sets and either place the colored or the neutral piece. On the following turn, they then must place the other piece before moving on to another paired set of blocks. Deciding on whether to place the colored or neutral stone is always a tough and critical choice.

A block does not have to touch a previously played block, but it certainly can. Further, blocks may be stacked so long as no overhangs are created. This means the pueblo will eventually rise in height as more and more blocks are placed.

As mentioned, a player concludes his turn by moving the chieftain 1 to 4 spaces and conducting his inspection. The chieftain looks along the row where he is located and if any colored blocks are visible, those players are assessed a penalty. The penalty is equivalent to the level the block is located on. For instance, if the blue player has one visible block on the first level of the pueblo, he is assessed one penalty point. If the red player has a block visible on the second level, he receives two penalty points. Thus, the higher levels are clearly more dangerous if your blocks are visible.

If the chieftain is moved to one of the four corner squares on his path, he takes a puff on his peace pipe and magically floats above the pueblo, gazing down upon the structure. He examines only the quadrant that adjoins the corner square he was located on. Any colored blocks visible result in one penalty point per block being assessed to its owner.

The game ends once all players have placed their blocks onto the board. At that point, the chieftain conducts one final inspection from each point on the path. The player who has best met his wishes and has the fewest penalty points is victorious.

The key to the game is attempting to place your blocks in such a fashion so that they are obscured from view as much as possible. Often, you can place one of your colored blocks and then cover it with a neutral block on a subsequent turn. Or, clever placements may force your opponents to cover your blocks with their placements. The temptation is to avoid the outer edges of the building site since these blocks cannot be obscured from view and will always remain visible. However, if you can place the blocks so that the only colors visible are on the first level, this is often a wise move. Placing blocks at higher levels on the pueblo can result in severe penalties if they remain visible. Trust me, players will maneuver that pesky chieftain in such a fashion as to smack you with the most penalty points possible! That chieftain is an unforgiving fellow!

The rules also include two variants. The first results in the demolition of the pueblo once it is constructed, with each player taking turns removing a block and moving the chieftain. This one doesn't entice me as it seems a bit repetitive and I don't really see the point. The 'Pro' version introduces up to four sacred cult sites that are marked on the board with tiles. These areas are taboo and no block may be placed onto these tiles. This seems to make placement decisions even tougher and offers the most promise. I look forward to trying this variant soon.

The game is one of choices, most of them being very tough: which block to use, where to place it and how far to move the chieftain. The factors to consider are not many, but the ultimate choice is critical. A poor placement here or there can and will spell doom. Such tough choices present throughout a game usually elevates my appreciation for that game considerably. Pueblo is one such game. I get those wonderful 'butterflies' in my stomach while playing and constantly feel challenged in each and every game. Kramer & Kiesling have done it again!

We still consider last year's Best Abstract Strategy Game a towering achievement. Your building blocks are formed by connected cubes in your color, or the neutral color. Each turn, lay a block in the 8x8 building site--on a vacant space, or resting on previous blocks. Then move the Chieftain one to four spaces around the site's perimeter. "Looking" down the row on which he stops, he awards penalty points to players whose colors he spots! Fewest points wins after all blocks are placed.

Fanatics can try the Demolition variant, where scoring continues as blocks are removed, or the Pro variant, in which (with a smaller site) turn order is auctioned in points before play starts. Wow!

Treat yourself to the towering talents of these two imaginative designers. Your building blocks comprise four asymmetrically connected cubes, in either your color or the neutral color. Each turn, place a block in the inner 8 x 8 area; blocks may be laid on the ground or be supported by other blocks. Then move the Chieftain one to four spaces around the area's perimeter. The Chieftain award penalty points to players whose colors he spots as he "looks" down the row or column in which he ends a move. After all the blocks have been placed, the player with the fewest points wins. In the Demolition Variant, final scoring takes place after further turns that consist of removing a block before moving the Chieftain. The Pro Variant features a more limited building area, with turn order auctioned in points before play starts. By successfully hiding your color, you'll reveal your talent for playing this strategic game.

I am not an abstract game player, but I really enjoyed this game. The reasons are simple -- it is a short game, and there is very little down time. In fact, the final scoring takes as long as 2 turns. The few abstract games I have played lasted 90-120 minutes and seemed to always leave me with a headache. It's tough to play an abstract game right after a long day at work! (At least that is the excuse I use.)

The object is simple -- do not score any points. Seems simple enough, but if you let the 'Chieftain' see any of your color blocks as he/she travels around the playing field, you will score points. Players start by placing a colored piece in play, then they can alternate between a blocking piece and their color piece. After playing a piece, the player can move the Chieftain up to 4 spaces. Any color that the Chieftain sees, scores against the player. The higher up the piece, the more points are scored. If the Chieftain lands on a corner, then the whole quadrant is scored, from an aerial view.

Once the last piece is played and scored, then the Chieftain moves around the board, one space at a time, and scores points for all seen pieces including the aerial view.

The game I played lasted about 40 minutes. I didn't win, but felt like I had a fighting chance until the final scoring round.

Players can work together to score points against the leader by the Chieftain movement on their turn. This adds some spice and fun to the game but doesn't result in a 'Kingmaker'.

If you have the chance to play this game, do so immediately -- you will not be disappointed!

Too many games these days are just too deep or complicated for play at the end of a workday. This is just the right mix. The Chieftain who walks around assessing penalties provides a great screw factor. The tension between building as the play develops and trying to position your pieces for a favorable endgame (one last walk around EVERY space) requires short and long term planning. Could the game bog down without a time limit per move? Perhaps, but actually most times there aren't too many choices to slow the game down. Excellent scoring system overall; the endgame allows tension to remain until the last penalty is assessed. Deserving of best abstract game!

I have always enjoyed games with building blocks based on polyominoes like quintillions by Kadon. This one is very straightforward to learn and yet provides solid depth for strategy.

So far, I have only tried the game with two players. Planning ahead is critical. Sometimes it is better to take a penalty or two so that you can avoid having to play a piece on a higher level. Also, moving the chieftan so that you have a better advantage two plays down the road, adds to the planning. I am looking forward to the extra complexity three or four players will add to the game.

If you like games that require spatial skills, prefer faster paced over slow and methodical, then Pueblo is the game for you!

this one is sure to please. Kiesling and Kramer prove again that complex strategies can be built on a foundation a few simple rules. Large pieces, evocative artwork and the clever mechanics of where to move the chieftain and how best to hide your pieces in a 3-D environment make for a rewarding game that clocks in at under an hour. Enjoy.