Chess or Thirty-One?
Both games come with Gather. Here’s how they differ and when each one fits better.
The key differences
- From 3 players on, only Thirty-One works: it goes up to 9 players, Chess only up to 2.
- Thirty-One is quicker to learn than Chess (quick to learn vs. takes experience).
- Chess rewards skill more than Thirty-One (pure skill vs. skill and luck).
- Thirty-One is louder than Chess (lively vs. silent).
- Thirty-One is over sooner: usually 10–20 minutes, while Chess takes 10–40 minutes.
- Chess works from age 6, we recommend Thirty-One from 8.
- In Thirty-One everyone has secret information on their phone; in Chess more is out in the open.
- Chess is one of the Board and dice games, Thirty-One one of the Card games.
At a glance
| At a glance | Chess | Thirty-One |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Board and dice games | Card games |
| Players | 2 players | 2–9 players |
| Length of a game | 10–40 min | 10–20 min |
| Age | ages 6+ | ages 8+ |
| Luck or skill | pure skill | skill and luck |
| Noise level | silent | lively |
| Learning curve | takes experience | quick to learn |
| Interaction | you react to each other | you react to each other |
| TV | not needed | not needed |
| Against the computer | yes | yes |
| Teams | no | no |
| Bluffing | no | no |
| Reading needed | no | no |
Which one suits you?
Chess
Two players, one board, no luck: whoever plans better wins. With a clock it turns into a race against time; without one there’s room to think things through.
Pick Chess when two people want a calm, focused game.
Thirty-One
Three cards in your hand, three in the middle: swap until one suit gets as close to 31 as you can. Whoever knocks ends the round – and the worst hand then loses a life.
Pick Thirty-One when a bigger group wants a fast card game with a bit of a thrill.
What they have in common
- Both only work with exactly 2 players.
- Both also work without a TV, right on iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- You can play both against the computer.
- Both come free with Gather and need no account.