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About Targi
Targi is a two-player worker-placement game by Andreas Steiger, published by Kosmos. The desert is a five-by-five grid of cards. You place your Targi only on the outer border, but where their rows and columns cross in the middle you also get to take the central card. Goods from the border buy tribe cards, which you arrange in a three-by-four display for points. Blocking is everywhere, and a robber circles the edge raiding both players.
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Is Targi Right for You?
Best for
Targi is for two players who want a proper euro in a small box. The grid of border and centre cards is simple to learn, but every placement creates a second action and blocks one for your opponent. It suits couples who already like worker placement and want something that plays in an hour. The robber's fixed circuit gives the game a clear length, so you always know how many turns remain to finish your display.
Maybe skip it if…
It is dry, with a trading theme that is only lightly present, and the tension comes from blocking. Players who dislike being denied the card they needed will find it more frustrating than clever. It is also two players only, so it never comes out for a group.
How to Play Targi
Setup
Lay the sixteen border cards around a three-by-three centre of goods and tribe cards. Place the robber on the first border card and give each player starting goods.
On Your Turn
- Players alternate placing their three Targi on the border, never on the robber's card, a raid corner, an occupied card or the card directly opposite an opponent's Targi.
- Place tribe markers where each player's Targi lines cross in the centre.
- Resolve your border cards and marked centre cards, then advance the robber.
How to Win
The game ends after the robber completes its circuit or when a player fills their tribe display. Most victory points wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Placing opposite a card blocks it for your opponent. Your second placement is often more about denial than gain.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Placing Targi only for the border card. The centre card at the intersection is often the more valuable action.
- Forgetting the robber. Raids arrive on a fixed schedule, and a player without goods or gold to pay loses points.
- Ignoring the tribe card display bonus. A row of four matching or all-different tribes scores extra, and a random display scores poorly.
- Collecting goods without a target. Tribe cards cost specific mixes of dates, salt and pepper, so gather for the cards you actually want.
Advanced Strategy
- Look at which intersections your opponent is building towards. Blocking the border card opposite can remove their best centre option.
- Place your first Targi to create two options for your later placements.
- Buy tribe cards with ongoing abilities early. Their benefits accumulate across the remaining rounds.
- Plan your display rows from the start. Deciding late which rows will match leaves you with gaps.
Variants & House Rules
Targi: The Expansion
Adds new tribe and border cards, water tokens, sand dune cards and the Targia pawn, which moves opposite the robber and upgrades border cards.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Targi is one of the best two-player worker-placement games, and the intersection rule is an idea other designers have admired for years. It is dry to look at but full of small decisions and denial. For two players who like euros, it is a reliable choice, and it has aged better than most games of its year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Targi a card game or a board game?
It uses cards laid out as a board, so it plays like a board game in a card-game box.
How long does a game last?
Around an hour, over a set number of rounds as the robber circles the border.
Is the expansion worth it?
For regular players, yes. It adds variety and new options, but the base game is complete on its own.