The Owl Game / Das Eulenspiel

We picked up a game this weekend that was one of the most popular board games during Mozart's time: Das Eulenspiel (The Owl Game). Since Mozart's 250th birthday was celebrated in 2006, it means that this game dates back to the late 1700s. Could it be popular today? We think yes!

Based completely on luck, there are three dice, lots of chips, and a round game board. Each player starts with some chips while the rest are in placed in the center of the board. Rolling the dice, the player finds the combination of spots shown on the dice (and every combination is included on the game board) and pays or collects chips depending on the directions for that combination. The game continues until only one player has chips remaining or a player rolls three sixes (and gets to take all the chips from the middle). It is lots of fun! And it is perhaps the best deal in Salzburg too -- only €4.50 for the paster/board, chips, and dice!