- BGG rank
- BGG #7,071
- BGG rating
- 6.3
Zen Master
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,112
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Relationship Tightrope
1999
Rules assistance for Relationship Tightrope
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 30 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Relationship Tightrope
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Relationship Tightrope is a board game released in 1999 for 3–5 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Reiner Knizia and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Trick-taking.
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About the game
This game is a relative of the Raj/Hols der Geier family of games, the german title means Tightrope. Each turn, a number of red and blue sticks are up for grabs. The highest card played will take the blue sticks and the lowest card will take the red sticks. The trick is that a red stick cancels a blue stick (that is, a well balanced tightrope walker), and the goal is to score as few points as possible. However, there are two different ways of playing the game, depending on how players wish to play: strategic or otherwise. The basic game has players simultaneously playing cards (ala Raj), whereas the strategic version plays like a trick-taking game with players selecting a card sequentially. Re-implemented by: Yin Yang/Fifty-Fifty
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- ASS Altenburger Spielkarten
- Überplay
- Korokorodou
Questions and answers
Relationship Tightrope supports 3–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Relationship Tightrope is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Relationship Tightrope for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Relationship Tightrope has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Relationship Tightrope belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Simultaneous Action Selection, and Trick-taking. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Relationship Tightrope are: Reiner Knizia. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Relationship Tightrope as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.