En Garde
A tense two-player fencing duel of cards, all about distance, feints, and daring the perfect lunge.
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- Designer
- Reiner Knizia
- Published by
- ABACUSSPIELE
- Editions by
- Eagle-Gryphon Games, New Games Order, LLC, Ferti
A two-player fencing duel fought entirely with cards. You advance, retreat, feint, and lunge across a narrow strip, spending cards to control distance and land a hit. Every attack invites a parry-riposte, so the real duel is one of nerve and timing: strike too early and you leave yourself open, wait too long and your opponent strikes first.
Who it's for
Couples and duos who want a quick, tactical head-to-head with real bluffing and the tension of a proper fencing match.
Not for you if…
You need more than two players or want a rich theme and components. The bare-bones card duel can feel dry and dated to some.
Vibe's take
A nimble psychological duel where managing distance and reading your rival's hand matters more than the cards themselves.
Published 1993 · 33 years ago
older than 96% of games
In 2,287 collections
collected more than 35% of games
2 players · ages 8+
Best with 2
20–30 min
shorter than 69% of games · typical 30–90 min
Complexity: light
Explained in 5 minutes · 1.4 out of 5 · lighter than 76%
Opinions: usual spread
A normal range of ratings
Language: no text
Playable without the language
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