Can´t Stop

It sounds like an eighties hit, and in a way it is. Originally published in 1980, Can’t Stop is a blissfully simple game of roll-and-move, the catch being that if you roll the wrong numbers, you don’t go anywhere.

The board shows a series of numbers from 2 to 12, each with a column of varying length. The players each take a set of pieces in their chosen colour. Your goal is to move your pieces up these columns and try and be the first person to get to the top of three of them. But you can only move up three columns on any turn, and you record your progress using white progress markers.

When you roll the four dice you must be able to move at least one of your pieces, using two of the dice. If for instance you roll 4, 2, 1, 6 the dice could be split to make 6 and 7, 5 and 8 or  3 and 10. As long as you have at least one of your pieces able to move from these numbers (or you haven’t yet played one of your progress markers, which allows you to start a new number) you can move the appropriate marker and start again. If you can move two pieces using two sets of dice, even better.

Having done so, you now have two options: stick with the progress you’ve made, or roll again… but if you roll dice that can’t be configured to match any of your chosen numbers.. you’re bust! All the progress you made on this turn is lost. The nagging temptation to make just one more roll is where the game gets its name: it really can be hard to stop pushing your luck!