I have played and cashed in a World Series of Poker event, a World Series of Poker Circuit event, a World Poker Tour event, and a Heartland Poker Tour event. So Tony thought I would be the perfect person to review The Gang, a cooperative Poker game. I will say it made it very easy for me to learn the rules of this game.
Am I all-in on this game? Read on to find out.
Gameplay Overview:
The basic game is Texas Hold ‘Em with 3-6 players. The players work together to try and determine the ranks of their hands without speaking. This is accomplished by players selecting a chip equal to their perceived ranking of their own hand. In a six-player game, after the two “hole” cards are dealt. If you think you have the best hand, you select the 6-star chip; if you think you have the second-best hand, you grab the 5-star chip, and so on until the player who thinks that their hand is the worst grabs the 1-star chip.
Players cannot speak but can steal chips from each other if they believe the ranking is wrong. This process if repeated after “the flop” (3 community cards that are dealt face up and you use these cards with your 2 hole cards to make a 5 card poker hand), “the turn” (1 community card to again use to make the best 5 card poker hand), and “the river” (one final community card used to make your final 5 card poker hand).
After everyone selects their last chip to predict their hand ranks, players flip over their pocket cards. If all players correctly predicted the strength of their hands, they win the round. Win three times before losing three times and the team wins the game.
Game Experience:
Now that is the basic game explanation. The full game experience includes a theme that is pasted onto this cooperative poker game. You play as a team of thieves, and for reasons that make 100% total perfect sense, and that’s not bluffing, if you correctly predict your poker hand order, you break into a vault, if you don’t, you set off the alarm. Break into three vaults before setting off three alarms to get away with the loot. Each time your team succeeds at breaking into a safe, you draw a “Challenge” card that makes your next attempt more difficult. Each time that you fail and set off the alarm, you draw a “Specialist” card that makes your next attempt easier.
Without the added difficulty from the 10 “Challenge cards, there is minimal replay value in this game. Also, at higher player counts, many gangs will need the assistance of the “Specialist Cards.”
I think the creators are self aware of the manufactured nature of the theme as this is their description, “THE GANG — a group of professional thieves ready to commit a series of heists! The success of these heists hangs on The Gang’s perfect coordination. To win the game, you’ll have to work together to crack three vaults without tripping the alarm three times. And how exactly will you do it? You’ll play poker … cooperatively!”
At three players, this game is simple, and at six it is difficult. I have played with my family, who all know how to play poker, but are not super experienced, and it led to a few “Overcooked”-level family fights over people not recognizing what is a good or weak hand.
I played with my poker group, and we did unsurprisingly, very well. I have no idea how one would play this game without at least a basic understanding of poker. The replay value of this game with the same group is minimal for me, but introducing this to new groups that are familiar with poker increases the replay value, as it is easy to teach and to play.
Final Thoughts:
As a poker fan, I love the concept of The Gang. I have enjoyed playing it every time I have played it, but I am never the one to ask to play it. The Challenge cards add difficulty and make each play different, but I wish there were more than 10. The Specialist cards vary in how much they help, but are needed at higher player counts. I find this game works best with four to five players. Three players are too easy and six players present a significant challenge, especially when multiple people don’t make a pair or better. How do you know if your 8-3 is the second worst hand after the 5 community cards, if two other players think their 2-4, and 4-9 are worse?
Final Score: 3.5 Stars – Fun Cooperative poker game that did not meet my high hopes, but has made it off my shelf more than I expected after playing it the first time. It is cheap enough to be worth a purchase.
Hits:
• It’s cooperative poker, what a fun way to modify a classic game.
• The Challenge cards significantly increase the replay value of this game
• With players familiar with poker, it is easy to teach and easy to play
Misses:
• Needs more Challenge and Specialist cards
• No theme makes sense with this game, and The Gang of Thieves makes as little sense as any other.
• The game can be played with just a deck of cards and then making up your own ways to make it harder or easier.
