Wahoo (board game)

"Wahoo", a game similar to "Parchisi", is a board game that involves moving a set number of marbles around the board, trying to get them into the safety zone. The game originated in the Appalachian hills. Most boards are used by four to six players. "Wahoo" has been a popular game for decades. Even today, custom-made boards proliferate on eBay and game manufacturer Parker Brothers has sold their own version of the game, under the title "Aggravation", for decades.

Rules

Number of Players: 2 to 4

Object: To be the first player to move all of the player’s individual marbles out of the starting area, around the board, and into home, whether by going the distance or taking shortcuts.

Setting Up: Each player places their marbles in the starting area. After setting up, each player rolls the die. The highest number goes first, then play proceeds to the left. If two or more players roll the same number, they roll again to break the tie.

Playing: To move a marble out of the Starting Area to the Starting Position, a player must roll a 1 or a 6. The Starting Position is the space just outside the Starting Area. After rolling a 1 or 6 a marble is placed on the Starting Position. If the player rolled a 6 they are allowed to roll again.

There is no limit to how many extra turns are allowed in regards to this rule. As long as a 6 is rolled, the player is allowed an extra turn. A player may never land on or pass one of their own marbles. If the number rolled on a player's turn puts them on or ahead of their own marble they must move the one in front.

If a marble lands on a space already occupied by an opponent’s marble, the opponent’s marble goes back to that player's Starting Area. If a player rolls a number that does not allow a marble to be moved, that turn is completed and goes to the next player in the sequence.

Shortcut: In the center of the board, there is an extra hole: this may be used as a shortcut. To enter the hole a player must roll the exact number necessary. For example, if a player moves a marble into the Starting Position, then rolls a 5, that allows the marble to be moved to the center hole. The only way off the center is by rolling a 1. The player would then move their marble down the side next to their home base.

In some versions of the game only a 1 or 6 roll will allow someone to come out of their starting area and when a 4 is rolled the player must move one of their marbles backwards. This can be a hindrance on much of the board; however, this can also become a shortcut when a piece has just come onto the board and must back up past their home area.

Winning: The game is won when the first person has all his/her marbles safely home. The game may be continued to see who gets second place, and so on.

With 4 players: When four people are playing, there are two methods of play. One is partners. When playing partners, players opposite each other are partners. You are allowed to "take out" your partner by landing one his marble, as per regular rules (above), however, usually this is not favorable. When one partner gets all his marbles "home," he then uses his turn(s) to help his partner get his marbles home. The partners assist each other ONLY when one partner is finished. The first pair to get all their marbles "home" wins (regular rules apply. The other method is every man for himself, or "cut-throat." By playing cut-throat, there are no partners, and no special rules (see normal rules above)

ee also

*Ludo (board game)
*"Parcheesi"
*"Trouble" (board game)
*Aggravation (board game)

External links

*bgg|33701|"Wahoo"
*bgg|2272|"Aggravation"
* [http://www.spinnerbaker.com/wahoo.htm Wahoo Software version]
* [http://boardgamecentral.com/games/aggravation.html "Aggravation" Info, including Rules in PDF]
* [http://www.hasbro.com/default.cfm?page=ps_results&product_id=9631 Hasbro's Listing of "Aggravation"]
* [http://www.wahoogames.com/ Wahoo Games]