Whirlpool 1922

NOTE: This game board is included in Brian Love's "Play the Game" (1978). While correctly presenting the theme of the game, Love simplified the rules considerably, removing much of the natural "whirlpool" action and reducing each player's pieces from two to one.

Whirlpool is a 2-4 player game from British games maker Chad Valley and functions as an inverted race game: the last player to reach the center (the Vortex) wins. Like Goose games and most other simple spiral race games, there is no strategy, only luck. However, it is fast-paced and fun, especially for kids.

Each player has two pieces of their color and must start them on the track on their first two turns. From then on, they must always move their rear-most piece. If a piece lands on another piece (of any color) they must move it forward an equivalent number of spaces to their roll, which can set off a huge chain reaction if one piece lands on another piece, which lands on another piece, etc. This simulates the "pull" of the whirlpool.

Four "Reserve" spots set just before the Vortex function as last-minute reprieves, with different actions depending on whether the Reserve matches your color or not. On leaving the Reserves, pieces are flung into the Vortex - a dramatic ending! When all others have been sucked into the Vortex, the remaining piece is the survivor and wins the game.