Deluxe Pente, Abstract Family Strategy Game, by Winning Moves Games USA

Great game!

I enjoyed this game. My husband bought it and I won 4 out of 5 games 😂. It was very easy to understand the gameplay instructions.

Good game , quality material, amd and a good bonding tool for father and son .

Great board game!!!

In the early 1990s, I bought a deluxe Pente at an American PX in Germany, where my 10-year-old son and I spent countless hours playing. That version’s flat-bottomed, colorful glass stones, stored in drawstring pouches, felt like little treasures, and the square cardboard board with a round grid of holes made every placement satisfying. Recently, my son visited, and we played the Deluxe Pente by Winning Moves Games USA (for 2-4 players, ages 8+). Though the new board mat lacks the grooves of the original, the vibrant stones and pouches rekindled our nostalgia. Pente’s gameplay—forming five in a row or capturing opponent pairs—blends tic-tac-toe simplicity with Aggravation-like competitive fun, keeping us hooked in 15-30 minute matches. The shiny, colorful box adds charm. Perfect for families, Pente remains a strategic gem that spans decades—certainly a value for the money, highly recommended!

Love the game. Only downside was that the game came with two matching stone colors (supposed to have 4 different ones, only had 3). Not a big deal and I really enjoy playing this game at family gatherings. It's easy to learn to play, but challenging to get good at it! My elementary kids age 7-11 enjoy it, play regularly. Mat is nice quality too! Ranges from 7-80 yr olds who love this game

This will sound unbelievable until you have played several games; but, this is a thrillingly exciting game to play, as incredibly complex scenarios, flavored of a long meticulously planned out tactical assault, emerge in the blink of an eye. As the game is paced so quickly (usually only lasting 2-7 minutes), you repeatedly enjoy the amped-up feeling of satisfaction similar to the end of a closely-matched sports competition, or tactical game that only a lasting struggle or the end of a match/battle/struggle can provide. How to play is simple: The Object of the game is to capture 5 pairs, or get 5 stones in a row (played on a grid). When 3 stones in a row go unblocked, it is an automatic win, as once we have 4 stones in a row, a block to either side cannot prevent the 5 stones in a row victory (Hence why it is customary to say open 3 when this happens to prevent a hollow victory that wastes the setup time and prevents the aforementioned end game of thrones [pun-intended, but in thinking on it, it is very similar to the excitement of a GOT episode but in two minutes not 60]). As per other descriptions, it truly is as easy to learn as tic tac toe, but can get as complex as mid/endgame chess instantaneously. ***I previously didn't buy this particular version as I thought it was a board game version and not the flexible original soft mat. This is a beautiful version. For those who have played on an original board, I have two minor complaints: the board is slightly smaller than the original game, and the grid lines are tan instead of black.

Great game. Easy, quick, fun. Excellent for anytime/anywhere. Been playing for years. Definitely recommend.