...or a
board game consisting of 16
pieces and a
4x4 playing
field.
Each figure has 4 (important) characteristics (get why it's called "Quarto"?):
* height : tall/short
* color : light/dark
* shape : square/round
* solidity : filled in/with a whole
The first player starts off by giving one of the figures to the other player. The first places the piece and then gives a new piece to the second. (Symmetry, explains how the rest goes.)
The point is to be the first person to get 4 figures with one characteristic (all tall, all short, etc.) in a row. (If play has moved on and you find a row during your turn, it still counts.)
The game is something of a mix between Tic-Tac-Toe and chess. It sounds simple, but there is quite a good thinking required, including the chance to (try to) think many moves in advance. Super fast to learn; "a lifetime to master" (or something like that.)
An advance stage of play allows for more than just rows. In addition, any square of four -- meaning each piece is next to two others of the four to make a square, see example) with one common characteristic also wins. (Extremely tough)
Ex. s=short, x=other (all win)
ssss | sxxx | sxxx | ssxx
xxxx | xsxx | sxxx | ssxx
xxxx | xxsx | sxxx | xxxx
xxxx | xxxs | sxxx | xxxx (advanced only)