Der schwarze Pirat

Der schwarze Pirat is a breezy, fast‑paced game that fits perfectly into a 15‑minute family session. Each player commands a small, colored boat that sets sail from the central dock toward six treasure islands scattered across the board. One of those islands belongs to the villainous pirate Salvador Sea Devil, who pilots the "Black Svenja" and tries to board the sailors' vessels. The goal is to reach the islands, collect the gold coins and return to the dock before the pirate can catch you.

The board depicts a windy sea, and the wind is simulated with a bellows. When a player pumps the bellows, two dice are rolled: one shows the wind strength (how many spaces a boat may move) and the other indicates whether the pirate also moves. Movement follows a point‑to‑point system, meaning ships advance from one marked spot to the next, possibly crossing or skirting islands.

Components are minimal – the board, six colored boats, the pirate ship, gold tokens, two bellows tokens and two dice. The rules are learned in minutes, yet the mix of dice luck and quick decisions about when to use the bellows creates constant tension. Kids and adults alike enjoy trying to anticipate the next gust and block the pirate.

The game won the 2006 Kinderspiel des Jahres, a seal of quality for kid‑friendly design and engaging theme. While simple, it still demands attention to boat placement and timing of rolls, making it an excellent warm‑up before heavier games or a pleasant evening filler. If you enjoy light, thematic, and kinetic games that get everyone moving, Der schwarze Pirat will have you feeling the sea breeze on every turn.