Bossa Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Game components
  • Dot tiles and their usage
  • Action cards
• Preparation
  • 0
• Game play
  • 1 - Establishing order of play and each player's color line
  • 2 - Playing your turn
  • 3
  • Game conclusion
• Optional Expansion rules
  • Expansion chips
  • Additions to 0 (Preparation)
  • Additions to 1 (Game play)
  • Additions to 2
  • Doubler
  • Inverter

Game components

• Dot tiles x 27
• Action markers x 6 (3 types x 2)
• Dice x 2 (white pips x 1, black pips x 1)

Dot tiles and their usage

Either the black dots or the white dots of the tiles are used in play. Multiple tiles may be used in one play. Non-existent color dots cannot be counted as "0".

The printed tile counts per dot pairing are:

Tile (white / black)	Number of tiles
W1 . B1	6 of each
W2 . B2	5 of each
W3 . B3	4 of each
W4 . B4	3 of each
W5 . B5	2 of each
W6 . B6	1 of each

Editor's note: the component line prints "Dot tiles x 27", but the per-pairing table above adds up to 21 tiles, and the Tips box in Preparation describes 6 each of 1-dot black and white tiles, 5 each of 2, down to 1 each of 6. The printed figures are transcribed as they appear; the source does not reconcile the total.

The printed usage examples for dot values are:

• White 1 only (cannot be used as Black 0)
• White 1 or Black 2
• White 2 or Black 3
• White 7 or Black 3 (illustrated as a combination of tiles)
• White 6 or Black 7 (illustrated as a combination of tiles)

Action cards

Each player has 3 action cards, placed face up in front of them. Each action card may be used once per game.

• Redraw: One tile from your hand is discarded and one is drawn from the pile.
• Exchange: One tile from your hand may be exchanged for a tile in your opponent's hand.
• Stack: A tile or the same number of tiles of the same score may be stacked on a tile or tiles already in play. Multiple layers may be stacked.

Preparation

0

• Shuffle the dot tiles well and place in a pile face down. Remove one tile and leave it face down.
• Each player takes 4 tiles from the pile and places them face down in a row (Hand).
• 3 action cards are also placed face up in front of the player.

Tips: Keep track of the number of tiles played and also which tiles with relation to the number of dots makes for easier play. 6 each of 1 dot black and white tiles, 5 each of 2 .... 1 each of 6. Play tiles keeping this in mind (refer to game components in this sheet). During the course of the game both players' hands are open. How many tiles you want are left? Maybe none? Knowing how many remain by the tiles already played makes for easier tactics.

Game play

1 - Establishing order of play and each player's color line

1-1 Each player rolls one dice in the center to determine starting point. If both players roll the same number, dice are rolled again.

• The player who rolls the highest number checks their hand (taking care to not show the opponent), and chooses either the black or white line or chooses to make the first play.
• If that player chooses the color line, the opposing player takes first play. Alternatively, if that player chooses to play first, the opposing player chooses the color line.

(The player who rolls the highest number chooses the color line or order of play.)

1-2 The corresponding dice color is placed in front of each player and becomes the starting point for the black or white line respectively.

• Each player then turns their tiles face up and the game is then played with open hands.

The lines are numbered 1 to 8. As printed in the illustration:

• Player A's line [Black dot line]: positions 1 2 (die) 4 5 6 7 8
• Player B's line [White dot line]: positions 1 2 3 (die) 5 6 7 8

Editor's note: the Regular rules overview diagram labels Player A's line as [White dot line] and Player B's line as [Black dot line], which is the reverse of the step 1-2 illustration above. The step 1-2 labelling is transcribed here as the procedural text.

2 - Playing your turn

2-1 The player taking turn draws one tile from the pile.

2-2 The player then places a tile next to an ascending or descending tile (tiles can be placed on either line) or the player can use an action card.

• When placing tiles only one more or one less than previously placed tiles may be placed.
• Either one or two tiles may be placed adjacent to the dice.
• *Same number of tiles cannot be placed.

The printed examples show these placements: 1 tile or 2 tiles adjacent to the dice; 2 tiles placed in a row; 1 tile or 3 tiles placed in a row next to the dice.

• Using an action card counts as one move (when using an exchange or redraw a tile may not be placed on the field).
• Used action markers are turned face down.

3

• Players alternate turns.

Game conclusion

Game comes to a conclusion in any of the following ways.

• A: All tiles in the player's hand are used. That player wins.
• B: 6 rows of tiles are placed on one player's side (not including dice). That player wins.
• C: All tiles in the player's hand are used placing 6th row (not including dice) on the opponent's side. That player wins.
• D: A player cannot make a move (2-2). That player loses.
• E: The pile is used up. The player with the least remaining tiles wins. Should both players have the same number of tiles, the game is drawn.

Optional Expansion rules

2023 New Feature. Using expansion modifier chips, which modify the number or the colors of dots on a tile, allows for a wider range of strategies and tactics, making the game more of a battle of wits.

Expansion chips

• Modifier chips x 4 (2 types x 2): Doubler and Inverter.

Expansion chips are included in THE ART "yuki" and CLASSIC-neo editions released in 2023. THE ART "mizu"/"hana", CLASSIC, and STANDARD editions do not include expansion chips. General-purpose chips, coins or the "Bossa Expansion Kit" (sold separately) may be used.

Additions to 0 (Preparation)

• Each player has 2 modifier chips, a Doubler and an Inverter, as well as action markers at the commencement of the game.

Additions to 1 (Game play)

1-3 After both players have opened their hands, each player chooses one modifier chip, either a Doubler or an Inverter, to use in the game and keeps it in their hand. The unused chip is removed from the game.

Additions to 2

2-2b Modifier chip performs the function of modifying the number or the colors of dots on a specified single tile. With a combination of multiple tiles in a row, it applies to only one tile and not to the entire combination.

• Each player may use a modifier chip once per game.
• When using a modifier chip, place it on the tile to be modified. May also be used for a stacking tile.

Doubler

Doubler chips double the count of the number of dots on a specified single tile.

• Example: One tile of white 2 is double-counted, bringing the total to White 6.
• The entire combination cannot be double counted.

Inverter

Inverter chips invert the colors of dots on a specified single tile.

• Example: The black 4/white 1 tile is inverted to white 4/black 1, bringing the total to White 6.
• The entire combination cannot be inverted.