The Drive on Metz: - Victory Point Games

TC Tennis
Table of Contents
[1.0] INTRODUCTION ............................ 1
[2.0] GAME EQUIPMENT ...................... 1
[3.0] SETTING UP THE GAME ............... 2
[4.0] CONVENTIONS ............................. 2
[5.0] TAKING TURNS ............................ 2
[6.0] TAKING AN ACTION ..................... 3
[7.0] RESOLVE A RALLY ...................... 3
[8.0] STRATEGY MOVES ...................... 5
[9.0] ENDING YOUR TURN ................... 5
[10.0] CHALLENGES ............................. 5
[11.0] WINNING THE TRAINING GAME 5
[12.0] RETURN & DEFENSE .................. 5
[13.0] RANDOM EVENTS ...................... 6
[14.0] END SET CARDS ......................... 6
[15.0] TIEBREAK .................................. 7
[16.0] A COMPLETE MATCH ................ 7
[17.0] STAMINA .................................... 7
[18.0] INJURIES .................................... 8
[19.0] NEW TACTICS ............................ 8
[20.0] HOUSEKEEPING ......................... 8
[21.0] ALL-SURFACE MATCH .............. 8
[22.0] SCORING THE SET................. IFC
[23.0] TOURNAMENTS ..................... IFC
[24.0] TENNIS HISTORY .................. IFC
[25.0] DESIGNER’S NOTES .............. IFC
[0.0] USING THESE RULES
New gaming terms, when they are initially
defined, appear in dark red lettering for
quick referencing.
<strong>The</strong> instructions for this game are organized
into major Rules sections as shown in large
green CAPS font, and represented by the
number to the left of the decimal point
(e.g., rule 4.0 is the fourth rule). <strong>The</strong>se rules
generally explain the game’s subject matter,
its components, the procedures for play, the
game’s core systems and mechanics, how
to set it up, and how to win.
With each Rule, there can be “Cases” that
further explain a rule’s general concept or
Training procedure. Cases might also
restrict the application of a rule by denoting
exceptions to it. Cases (and Subcases) are
an extension of a Rule shown in the way
that they are numbered. For example, Rule
4.1 is the first Case of the fourth Rule; and
Rule 4.1.2 is the second Subcase of the first
Case of the fourth Rule.
Important information is in red text.
References to examples of a Rule or Case are
in blue text and this font.
TC Tennis Rules v1.0 1
Text in shaded boxes, like this, provides
the voice of the game’s designer, who is
addressing you to explain an idea or
concept that is not, itself, a Rule or a Case.
[1.0] INTRODUCTION
TC Tennis is a sports strategy game for
one or two players, allowing them to pit
some of the greatest tennis champions in
history against each other in a fun, fastpaced
game format that demonstrates how
the great baseline players controlled the
pace on slow red clay, or how serve-andvolley
players attacked relentlessly on
lightning-fast grass courts. <strong>The</strong> tennis
players are presented on cards and rated for
their historical performance at powerful
volleys, exquisite touch shots, sweeping
ground strokes, and cannonball serves.
Stage your own tournaments and lead your
favorite players to victory in TC Tennis!
[2.0] GAME EQUIPMENT
Parts Inventory
● 24 Player Cards
● 80 Strategy Cards
● One 11” x 17” Player Mat
● 56 single-sided markers
● Two 11” x 4.25” Tournament Tables
● 1 Rules booklet
● 1 Momentum Mat (inside back cover)
[2.1] Player Cards
<strong>The</strong> Player Cards represent classic tennis
champions, all of whom are rated for
various tennis abilities, as follows:
Playing Surface
Power Rating
Strokes
{
Return
Defense
Doubles
Stamina
Injury
Strategy
Name and Peak Period
Overall Rating
Players are rated for their performance in
the following tennis Strokes per Surface
(show by abbreviation and symbol):
1S = First Serve, generally the more
powerful, faster way to start each point
2S = Second Serve, normally a safer and
slower Serve, with more spin
FH = Forehand, a groundstroke (the ball
bounces) hit from the backcourt
BH = Backhand, the other groundstroke
FV = Forehand Volley, normally hit “in
the air” from close to the net
BV = Backhand Volley, the opposite
Stroke hit in the air near the net
T = Touch, those shots that require more
finesse than power
For each Stroke, a player will have a rating
from AA to F:
AA = One of the greatest Strokes in the
history of tennis
A = A dominating Stroke
B = An excellent Stroke that can, at times,
take over a match
C = A solid Stroke, but not overpowering
D = An adequate, professional Stroke
E = A flawed Stroke
F = An abysmal, weak Stroke
Example: Tilden is a “C” for FV (Forehand
Volley) when playing on Hard courts, a “B” DEF
(Defense) when playing on Clay, and so forth.
Each player is also rated from A (best) to D
(worst) for the following:
RET = Return of Serve, which is Defense
vs. opponent’s Serves (1S and 2S)*
DEF = Defense vs. all of your opponent’s
other Strokes (except Serves)*
DBL = When joined with another Player to
create a two-person Doubles team***
STA = Stamina; how long the player can
expend energy and continue to play at a
high level**
INJ = Player’s tendency to Injury**
STR = Strategy rating reflects the player’s
tennis savvy and experience
* RET and DEF are introduced in the
Standard Game
**INJ and STA are only used in the
Tournament Game
***DBL is only used for the TC Tennis
Doubles Expansion (for 1-4 players and
available separately)
[2.2] Strategy Cards
Strategy cards are
drawn from the
deck and held in
your hand. <strong>The</strong>y
are played to:
1) Enhance the
various Strokes of
your Player and
gain an advantage,
2) Change the
Tactics of the
I.D. Number
Strokes it can
be played on
(Player Mat)
Category/color
Specific Type
Card Effects:
z: a die roll
1: a Love die roll result
•: Effect on you
•: Effect on opponent
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

TC Tennis Rules v1.0 2
match, or
3) Determine the end of a tennis Set.
[2.3] <strong>The</strong> Player Mat
<strong>The</strong> Player Mat holds the cards and
information markers currently in play for
both players. On one side sits the Favorite
and opposite the Underdog in the match
(shown below the “Player Card” holding
box) as determined by the Overall Rating
of each player (see 2.1).
[2.4] Markers
Each player uses three markers on
their side of the Player Mat to
indicate if they have a Challenge
remaining for the current Set being
played, the current value of that
player’s Strategy Rating, and to
indicate which Strokes have been
resolved during the current Set.
<strong>The</strong> green (Standard Game) and
purple (Tournament Game)
markers are drawn when Random
Events occur. <strong>The</strong> colored
markers (Tournament Game) are
used to record Events from the
Stamina and Injury tables. Some
markers affect both you and your
opponent when drawn and are
marked “BOTH” at the top.
<strong>The</strong> Momentum marker is
used on the Momentum
Track to show who is ahead
in the current Set and by how
much.
[3.0] SETTING UP THE GAME
1. Select Player Cards: You and your
opponent both select a Player card.
<strong>The</strong> Player card with the highest Overall
Rating is placed in the “Favorite” Player
Card Holding Box on the Player mat and
the other card is placed in the “Underdog”
Player Card Holding Box. (If the
Overall Ratings are tied, roll a die to
determine.)<strong>The</strong> players sit on those sides
of the Player mat with their Player card.
2. Strategy: Both players place a
Strategy marker on their
respective Strategy Tracks on
the box number corresponding to their
Player card’s STR(ategy) rating for the
surface on which the Match is being
played (by mutual agreement).
Fred Perry is playing Henri Cochet on an
Indoor Surface. Thus, Perry places his
Strategy marker on the “3” box of his Strategy
track and Cochet places his on the “4” of his
track. If they were playing on Clay or Grass,
Perry would also have a STR(ategy) of 4.
3. Challenge: Both players place a
Challenge marker on their side
of the Player mat.
4. Momentum: Place the
Momentum marker on the “0”
box of the Momentum Track.
5. To play the Training Game: Set aside
all green and purple Random Event
markers, all End Set cards (Strategy
Cards 1-10), and the five Tactic cards
marked “Tournament Game” along their
bottom from the deck. <strong>The</strong>se components
are not used in the Training Game.
6. Shuffle and deal out the Strategy
Cards: Each player receives a number of
Strategy cards equal to his opponent’s
Overall Rating. (Thus the Favorite will
never start with more cards than the
Underdog.) Keep the draw and discard
piles separate, near both players.
7. Plan: Beginning with the First player
(see 5.1), each player may place up to
two Stroke (i.e., Offense or Defense)
cards as per Case 4.2.
You are now ready to begin play (see 5.0).
[4.0] CONVENTIONS
Certain terms and procedures are used
throughout these rules and the game:
[4.1] Dice: TC Tennis uses standard sixsided
dice to resolve various functions.
Sometimes, these dice are added together to
produce a sum. Other times, they are rolled
in groups of two or three dice of different
colors. Finally, you may be asked to
“combine” the dice result as a number from
11-66 for a STA(mina) or INJ(ury) result
(in the Standard/Tournament Rules).
Although the dice are called “black” for the
summed pair of dice and “blue” for the
single die, you may use other colors if you
like, as long it’s two different colors.
[4.2] Strategy Cards: Strategy cards are
held in your hand and are generally kept
secret from your opponent.
When played:
Offense and Defense cards are placed,
face-down, in their corresponding Stroke’s
Holding Box (cards that say “ANY” may
be placed on any Stroke) on your side of
the Player Mat, but only if that Stroke’s
Holding Box does not have a Resolved
marker in it. I.e., you cannot play these
cards on Strokes that
have already been
Resolved this Set.
Example: This Offense:
Overhead Smash card
can only be placed in
your 2S, FV or BV Stroke
Holding Boxes, and only
when that Stroke is still
unresolved.
● A maximum of two cards may be placed
in each unresolved Stroke Holding Box.
If you should be caught with more than
two, your opponent may examine them
and choose which to discard to bring it
back down to two (so pay attention).
● If you must reveal a Stroke card in its
Holding Box on your side of the Player
Mat, that card remains face-up for the
duration of the Set or until that Stroke is
resolved.
Tactic cards are not played on Strokes, but
are instead always played face-up in that
player’s Tactic Holding Box.
End Set cards are played off to the side of
the Player Mat where you and your
opponent can easily see them.
[5.0] TAKING TURNS
A Match in TC Tennis is played in Sets.
Each Set consists of a variable number of
Turns. On your Turn, you must roll
together the two black and one blue die.
Depending on the result, you will play a
Strategy card, resolve a Stroke, or take
another type of Action, all of which end
your Turn.
After that, your opponent performs this
procedure (i.e., rolling the three dice and
attending to the result). Player Turns are
repeated thus until the Set ends.
A Set ends after all of the Strokes are
resolved. <strong>The</strong> winner of that Set is
determined.
A Match ends after a predetermined,
agreed upon number of Sets have been won
by one player (usually 2 or 3 Sets).
[5.1] Who Goes First?: <strong>The</strong> Underdog
goes first in the first Set. If you continue the
Match beyond one Set, whoever lost the
previous Set goes first on the next Set.
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

[5.2] Taking Your Turn: When it is your
Turn, begin by rolling the three dice (two
black and one blue) together.
Note the result of the blue die as follows:
If the result of the blue die is a 1, 2, 3 or
4, you must take one Action (see 6.0).
If the result of the blue die is a 5, you may
either take one Action (6.0) OR resolve a
Rally (see 7.0).
If the result of the blue die is a 6, you
must resolve a Rally (see 7.0).
After your Action is performed or each
player’s Stroke is resolved, it is your
opponent’s Turn unless the Set has ended.
[6.0] TAKING AN ACTION
When you take an Action you must do one
of the following:
Change Tactic: Play a Tactic card (see
4.2). If your Tactic Holding Box is
already occupied by another Tactic card,
you must discard that other card to play
the new one. Alternately, you may use
this Action to simply take your current
Tactic card from its Holding Box and
return it to your hand (thus leaving you
without a Tactic card in play).
Concentrate: Draw one Strategy card
from the top of the Draw Pile.
Hand Size: If you ever have more than 7
cards in your hand, you must immediately
discard down to 7 cards.
Draw: If the deck becomes depleted at any
time, reshuffle it to form a new Draw Pile.
Get a Read: Examine (i.e., flip face-up)
one face-down card in the opponent’s
Stroke Holding Box of your choice.
Outwit: If your opponent Strategized
last Turn, only then can you take the top
card (only) from the Discard Pile, place it
into your hand, and then discard a
different card from your hand.
Restrictions: You cannot choose to
Outwit if you do not have a card in your
hand to place in the Discard Pile. Also,
certain cards (e.g., End Set and some
Tactic) can never be drawn from
the Discard Pile as indicated by the
negated draw symbol shown here.
Prepare: Place a Stroke card from your
hand (see 4.2). If there are already two
Stroke cards in that box, you must take
one of them back into your hand.
Strategize: Discard up to two cards from
your hand, face-up, into the Discard Pile
and draw that many cards from the top
of the Draw Pile.
TC Tennis Rules v1.0 3
[7.0] RESOLVE A RALLY
Strokes are resolved in pairs (one Stroke for
each player) called a Rally. Each player
determines which of their Strokes to
resolve.
[7.1] To determine which Strokes to
resolve, examine the two black dice rolled
and note each of their values and their
sum (when it is 7 or less). One unresolved
Stroke corresponding to one of those
numbers is resolved by the player whose
turn it is first, and then the opponent
similarly resolves one unresolved Stroke
corresponding to those numbers (it does not
have to be the same number stroke that the
other player just resolved). Thus, a Rally of
two Strokes are resolved, in order, every
time that a player Resolves Strokes.
Example, Reading the Black Dice: Stan Smith
rolls a 5 and 2 on the black dice, and a 6 on
the blue die. Because the blue die is a 6, Stan
must Resolve Strokes. Examining the black
dice, he can Resolve the 5 (FV), the 2 (2S) or
their sum, 7 (T). Since his FV is one of his best
Strokes and it is still unresolved, Smith chooses
to Resolve it, placing a Resolved marker in his
FV box afterward.
After that Stroke is Resolved, Tilden must also
Resolve one. He has the same choice to
Resolve the 5 (FV), the 2 (2S) or their sum, 7 (T)
and chooses to resolve his T Stroke, placing a
Resolved marker in his T box afterward.
Reading the Black Dice Continued: On his
next turn, Stan Smith rolls a 5 and 4 on the
black dice and again rolls a 6 on the blue die.
This means that Stan must Resolve Strokes
once more. Examining the black dice, he
cannot Resolve the 5 (FV) as it is already
Resolved (too bad!), leaving only one option, his
4 (BH), which is not his best Stroke. He has no
other choice since 5 + 4 = 9, and 9 doesn’t
match any of the Stroke box numbers.
His opponent, Bill Tilden, still has both his 5
(FV) and 4 (BH) Strokes unresolved, so he can
choose either one.
EXCEPTION: When Resolving a Stroke,
if none of the numbers available to you are
unresolved, then you must resolve any
unresolved Stroke of your choice.
Reading the Black Dice Continued: A few
turns later, Stan Smith rolls a 1 and 4 on the
black dice and rolls a 5 on the blue die. Stan
would like to Resolve Strokes and hurry the Set
while he’s ahead, but his 5 (FV) and 4 (BH) are
both Resolved already, leaving only his
unresolved 1 (S) Stroke, which isn’t so great.
Perhaps he will choose to take an Action this
Turn instead; since he rolled a blue 5, he has
his choice.
Procedure for Resolving a Stroke
After deciding which Strokes to resolve
(above), playing Strategy cards – including
any voiding (see 7.3.3) and Love Die rolls
that must be made (see 7.3.4) – each player
resolving his Stroke rolls up to four dice.
<strong>The</strong> sum of those dice is that player’s Base
Score for that Stroke. <strong>The</strong> Momentum
marker is moved a number of spaces in that
player’s direction equal to the amount of
that Stroke’s final, adjusted (see 7.3.1,
7.3.2) score. With both players Resolving
one Stroke each Rally, the Momentum
marker will be constantly moving back and
forth.
[7.2] Stroke Rating and Scoring Dice:
<strong>The</strong> Rating of your Stroke determines the
number of dice you roll to determine your
Base Score when Resolving a Stroke:
Ratings
AA = z z z z
A = z z z 1/2z
B = z z z
C = z z 1/2z
D = z z
E = z 1/2z
F = z
NOTE: For a “1/2z,” also roll a different
colored scoring die and add in only half of
that roll, rounded up. E.g., half of 5 is 3.
Example: Rod Laver is resolving his 2 (2S)
Stroke, which is rated “C.” He rolls two black
dice and one blue “1/2” die. <strong>The</strong> results are a 6
and 3 on the black dice, and a 5 on the blue
“1/2” die, which is halved to 3, so his Base
Score would be 6 + 3 + 3 = 12.
[7.3] Strategy Cards: When a Rally is
resolved, both players reveal their Strategy
Cards in their respective Holding Boxes for
the Strokes they’ve selected.
Procedure
After both players have declared their
Strokes to resolve for that Rally, they reveal
all of their Strategy (green Offense and red
Defense) cards in their respective Holding
Boxes for those Strokes. All of these
Strategy cards apply their modifiers to the
two Strokes being resolved (see below) and
are then discarded after use.
[7.3.1] Add / Subtract Dice: Offense
cards can show next to a yellow tennis
ball symbol (•; meaning it affects you
when rolling for your own Stroke) at the
bottom a number of black dice symbols
(e.g., z z). Increase the number of
dice rolled to determine the Base Score
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

y the number of black dice symbols
shown. <strong>The</strong>re is no limit to the number of
dice that can be added.
Conversely, Defense cards, next to an
orange tennis ball symbol (•; meaning it
affects your opponent when rolling for
his Stroke) at the bottom, a number of
red dice symbols (e.g., z z) might
appear. In this case, decrease the number
of dice rolled to determine the Base
Score by the number of red dice symbols
shown. Even after subtractions, a
minimum of one die is always rolled to
determine the Base Score.
[7.3.2] Add / Subtract Score: Offense
cards might have a yellow tennis ball
symbol (•) followed by a “+X” value.
That value is added to the Base Score
roll after it is made.
Conversely, Defense cards might have an
orange tennis ball symbol (•) followed
by a “-X” value. That value is
subtracted from the Base Score roll
after it is made. After all subtractions,
any Base Score total that is less than zero
is treated as zero.
All modifiers are cumulative. So, if you
had an Offense card in your 3 (FH) box
that gave you +2, and your opponent had
a Defense card in his 3 (FH) that
inflicted a -1 against your Stroke, you
would apply the net modifier which
would be +1.
Example: You are
conducting your 3 (FH)
Stroke and reveal your
Offense (green) cards
in that box, showing
two cards: Overhead
Smash and Inspired
Play. Your opponent
reveals one Defense
(red) card: Chop Shot.
<strong>The</strong> modifiers for this
Stroke are shaping up to be: +1/2z (one
from the Overhead Smash and 1/2 from the
Inspired Play), and -1 to their sum (from the
Chop Shot).
TC Tennis Rules v1.0 4
[7.3.3] Voiding the Opponent’s Card:
Text might appear on one Strategy card
that voids another; such text always lists
the card that can be voided by its exact
card title.
If Strategy cards currently in play to
Resolve a Stroke are voided, they are all
immediately and simultaneously discarded
without effect on that Stroke. <strong>The</strong> card
which voided it, if not used to Resolve
that Stroke, remains, face-up, in its
Holding Box and is still available for
play when its Stroke is Resolved.
Timing: Voiding cards can only be done
after Strategy cards are revealed /
committed to Resolving a Stroke, but
before any die or dice are rolled to
determine its Score.
Surprise!: A card played to void another
does not have to be played from a box
corresponding to the Stroke being
resolved. <strong>The</strong> owning player can reveal a
card that voids another from any Holding
Box on his side of the Player Mat.
Example Continued:
Interestingly, you have
in your 4 (BH) box, facedown,
the Offense Hard
& Flat card. After seeing
your opponent’s Chop
Shot card, you reveal
your Hard & Flat card
and leave it, face-up, in
your 4 (BH) box (where
it awaits that Stroke still
to be Resolved later that Set.)
[7.4] <strong>The</strong> “Love Die:” Some Strategy
cards add an additional element of
1
risk and reward. Cards with a
purple die roll outcome symbol
each require a separate “Love Die” roll to
determine if that effect is applied or not.
<strong>The</strong>se Love Die rolls require an additional
die cast for each such card showing any
purple die faces; these rolls are separate
from the Base Score roll made to resolve
the Stroke.
Application: If its Love Die roll result is
shown on that card, the indicated effect is
applied. If not, there is no effect.
Unless a Love Die result specifically states
otherwise, the other effects of its card
(modifiers, etc.) still apply.
Note: When the Love Die result calls for
the loss of 1/2z, if a 1/2z was rolled for
that Stroke resolution its result is lost (i.e.,
it adds zero to the Base Score). If no 1/2z
was rolled, take the highest z rolled for
that Stroke resolution and cut it in half
(rounding up as usual).
[7.5] Tactic Cards: Finally, before the dice
are rolled, examine both players’ Tactic
Card Holding Boxes to see if there are any
Tactic cards in play that modify the scoring
result of the Stroke being Resolved. After
affecting a Stroke, these cards remain in
their respective Tactic Card Holding Boxes
and continue to affect play while there.
Example Continued: Your player’s rating for
this Stroke is B, which starts you at z z z.
With the modifiers from the preceding Example,
you will be rolling z z z z 1/2z (four-anda-half
dice), which is very good.
But wait! Your Overhead Smash requires a
Love Die roll and, with the Fates against you,
you roll a 1. This means your highest z is lost
and will not be added to that Stroke’s Score.
Next, you look at each other’s Tactic cards.
Yours is No Pace and your opponent’s is
Wicked Topspin. Your card does not affect
your opponent at the moment (•) since you are
resolving your Stroke right now, but you must
still roll the Love Die to see if you suffer a
penalty for using this Tactic! <strong>The</strong> result is a 4,
which is no effect (this Stroke).
Upon inspecting your opponent’s Tactic card,
because you’re resolving your FH (Forehand),
there is no effect to your Stroke, and the Love
Die checks on that card only affects your
opponent during his Strokes (not yours).
So, the end result is that you’ll be rolling 4 1/2
dice and losing the highest die roll.
You throw a 5, 1, 5, 2 and the half-die is a
3. After losing your highest z (which is a 5),
you add 5 + 1 + 2 + half of 3 (which rounds up to
2) for a total of 10. Note that you would not then
subtract 1 from your opponent’s Chop Shot
card because your Hard & Flat card completely
voided that card and sent it to the Discard Pile.
[7.6] Momentum and Scoring: Once the
Final Score for a Stroke is
resolved (see the example, above),
note the current space occupied by
the Momentum marker (in case there is a
Challenge, see 10.0) and then the player
whose Stroke that was adjusts the
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

TC Tennis Rules v1.0 5
Momentum marker along the Momentum
Track a number of spaces in his favor equal
to that Final Score.
Since Strokes are resolved in Rallies (pairs
off the same dice roll), the opponent’s
Stroke is then resolved and he adjusts the
Momentum marker along the Momentum
Track in his favor that many spaces in his
favor.
Thus, you’ll see momentum go back-andforth
with every Rally of Strokes resolved.
<strong>The</strong> Momentum Track is at 2 in Stan Smith’s
favor from an earlier Stroke resolution. Smith
just resolved his BH with a Final Score of 8, so,
he moves the Momentum marker along the
track 8 spaces in his favor. It is now in the 10
space to Smith’s advantage.
Now, Rod Laver resolves his 2S Stroke and
gets a Final Score 12, so he moves the
Momentum marker 12 spaces in the other
direction towards his side. It is now in the 2
space on Laver’s side. Thus, Rod has gone
from being slightly behind (at the beginning of
this pair of Strokes) to now being slightly ahead
after their resolution.
If one player leads on the
Momentum Track by 20 or more,
replace the Momentum marker
with the “Big Mo” Momentum marker and
continue counting again at the 0 space (this
marker being worth +20).
Whenever this Big Mo + 20 marker is in
play, that player who is ahead receives an
extra 1/2 z on all his scoring resolutions.
[7.7] Resolved Strokes: After
adding your score to the
Momentum Track:
1. Discard all of the Offense and Defense
cards that were played in Resolving that
Stroke (exception, see 7.3.3) and,
2. Place a Resolved marker on that Stroke’s
Holding Box on your side of the Player
Mat to show that you cannot resolve that
Stroke again this Set.
[8.0] STRATEGY MOVES
After the First Player has
completed his turn by either
taking an Action or resolving
Strokes, before he declares his turn ended
and passes play to his opponent, he may
take a Bonus Action (which is an Action,
only, not another opportunity to Resolve
Strokes) by spending one of his Strategy
Moves. He does this by reducing his
Strategy marker by one space. If it is on
the 0 space, that player can take no further
Bonus Actions that Set.
How many Strategy Moves you begin with
depends on the player you choose and the
surface being played on. Strategy Moves
allow you to take an Action during critical
turns of the Set when a well-timed play
could make the difference.
[9.0] ENDING YOUR TURN
After the First Player has completed his
turn, including any Bonus Actions (see
8.0), then the Second Player does the same,
including any Bonus Actions. Turns
continue in this fashion in the Training
Game until all seven Strokes in the Set are
Resolved.
[10.0] CHALLENGES
Each Set, both players may make
a single Challenge to the
resolution of a Rally, thus forcing
both Strokes to be re-rolled. <strong>The</strong>
ability to Challenge is shown by possession
of your Challenge marker.
Procedure
To make a Challenge, you must possess
your Challenge marker. First, the player
whose turn it is (i.e., who is causing the two
Strokes to be resolved) has the option to
Challenge; if that option is not exercised,
then the opposing player has the option to
Challenge that Rally. To Challenge:
1. State to your opponent that you are
Challenging that Rally.
2. Remove your Challenge marker from
your side of the Player Mat.
3. Reset the Momentum marker to the
space it occupied at the beginning of the
Rally (7.6).
4. Re-roll both Stroke Resolutions just as
before and apply those results.
Challenges can only be made immediately
after a Rally is completed (before the next
Turn is conducted).
You can Challenge a Rally that was just rerolled
by your opponent’s Challenge.
[11.0] WINNING THE
TRAINING GAME
At the end of a Set, the player with the
Momentum marker on his side wins. If it is
in its 0 space, the player with the lower
Overall Rating wins. If those Ratings are
equal, the player still possessing their
Challenge marker wins. If neither (or both)
have their Challenge marker, roll a die to
determine the winner.
You now know all you need to play the
Training Game of TC Tennis.
Good luck and have fun!
THE STANDARD GAME
After a Training Game or two, move on to
the more challenging Standard Game where
a players’ Defense and Return ratings affect
scoring and random events can occur, End
Set cards can vary the length of play, and
Matches of more than one Set are played.
Additional Set Up
Add the End Set cards to the Deck.
Have the beige RET(urn) and
DEF(ense) markers handy.
Place the green Random Events
markers into a clean, opaque container
(e.g., a trophy cup) and mix them.
[12.0] RETURN & DEFENSE
After resolving a Stroke in the Standard
Game, before applying the result to the
Momentum Track, one additional step takes
place. <strong>The</strong> Final Score is adjusted by the
opponent rolling a Defense Die for his
player’s RET(urn) and DEF(ense) ratings
(if applicable) depending upon what Stroke
the scoring player just used.
RET = Return of Serve, which is applied
vs. the opponent’s Serves (1S and 2S)
DEF = Defense which is applied vs. all of
the opponent’s other Strokes
Ratings
A = -1/2z
B = No modifier
C = +1/2z
D = +z
Place RET and DEF markers on your
Player card as a reminder of their effects on
your opponent’s ratings, thus:
Jimmy Connors is playing Pete Sampras on
Clay (their respective RET and DEF Ratings
circled, above). During Set Up, Connors takes
a RET A and a DEF C maker while Sampras
requires none for his B ratings in both of these
categories. For the duration of this Match,
Connors must roll a Defense Die versus all of
Sampras’ Strokes (Serves and non-Serves).
Example: Sampras has just rolled a 1 6 on
the black dice and a 5 on the blue. He happily
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

TC Tennis Rules v1.0 6
chooses to resolve his 1S (at AA, it is Pete’s
best Stroke). He rolls z z z z for a total of
14. Because Connors is an A for RET on Clay,
Jimmy rolls his –z1/2 Defense Die to see how
his RET affects Pete’s 1S Score. Jimmy rolls a
4, reducing Pete’s total by two (i.e., -2), leaving
Pete with a Final Score of 12 for that Stroke.
[13.0] RANDOM EVENTS
In the Standard Game, set up the green
Random Event markers in an opaque
container (called the Events Cup) from
which they are drawn at random.
Procedure
When you roll doubles on the two black
dice (i.e., they are both the same number)
while taking your Turn (5.2), if you do not
resolve a Rally, then you may forgo your
Action that turn and draw two Event
markers from the Events Cup instead,
selecting one to keep and returning the
other to the Events Cup (to possibly be
redrawn later).
If you roll a 6 on the blue die, you must
resolve a Rally and cannot draw Random
Events even if you had rolled doubles on the
black dice. If you roll doubles on the black dice
and a blue 5, then you have all of your options
available that turn and must choose to either:
A) draw Random Events, B) take an Action, or
C) resolve a Rally. On any other black doubles
plus blue die roll result, you can either A) draw
Random Events or B) take an Action.
[13.1] Timing: Some Events (as specified
below with the word “Play”) must be
played immediately and, once played, those
markers are set aside (discarded) and
remain out of play for the rest of the Set.
Other Events are continuous or played at a
later time (as specified below with the word
“Retain”). Those markers are placed, faceup
on your Player card. Each player can
have no more than two such Event markers
working for them at a time. If another such
continuous/delayed Event is added, one of
those three Event markers must be immediately
discarded without (further) effect.
Once played, Event markers are discarded.
[13.2] Effects: <strong>The</strong> specific Event markers
are explained below:
+1 to Tiebreak die roll (Retain): Play if you
are behind at the end of a Set and
rolling to obtain a Tiebreak (see
15.0) for a +1 die roll modifier.
+2 to your next Stroke this Set (Retain):
Play when resolving your next Stroke
this Set. Add two (+2) to your Final
Score for that Stroke.
[BOTH] +1/2 z to FH & BH this Set (Retain):
<strong>The</strong> continuous effect is that both you
and your opponent gain 1/2 z to your 3
(FH) and 4 (BH) Strokes this Set. Big
shots from the backcourt are rewarded.
[BOTH] +1/2 z to FV & BV this Set
(Retain): <strong>The</strong> continuous effect is that
both you and your opponent gain 1/2 z
to your 5 (FV) and 6 (BV) Strokes this
Set. Shots played close to the net are
really working.
[BOTH] Discard all End Set & Tactics cards
(Play): All End Set and Tactic
cards in play for both you and
your opponent are immediately
discarded.
Draw 2 cards on next Concentrate Action
(Retain): <strong>The</strong> next time you take a
Concentrate Action, play this marker to
receive two cards instead of the usual
one.
Examine all discards and place one in your
hand (Retain): Play at the beginning of
your turn (before the dice are rolled) to
search the Discard Pile. You may take
any one card without the negated draw
symbol from there and add it to your
hand.
Force Opponent to play End Set card
(Retain): Play at the beginning of your
turn (before the dice are rolled) to force
your opponent to play an End Set card
from his hand if he has one. If he has
none, this marker is discarded without
effect; if he has more than one he may
play his choice.
Gain 1 Strategy Point (Retain): Play at any
time to gain one on your Strategy
track (e.g., to go from 3 to 4).
Your Strategy Rating can never
exceed 5.
Ignore 1 Love Die Result (Retain): Play this
marker when a Love Die roll is resolved
to change its result to “No Effect.”
Must Rally, your choice, same Stroke both
players (Play): Immediately Resolve a
Rally using your choice of available
Strokes. Your opponent must resolve that
same Stroke if available (if not, then his
choice among his available Strokes).
Opponent 1 random discard; you take Action
(Retain): Play at the beginning of your
turn (before the dice are rolled) to discard
a random card from your opponent’s
hand, then take an Action. You may take
an Outwit Action to pick up this
discarded card if it does not have
the negated draw symbol.
[14.0] END SET CARDS
In the Standard Game, a
Set can end before all
seven Strokes are resolved
by playing End Set cards.
Playing an End Set card is
a new type of Action (see
6.0) and is added to that
list in the Standard Game:
Change Tempo: Place an End Set card
from your hand, face-up, adjacent to the
Player Mat where both players can easily
see it. If there is already an End Set card
there, discard it and replace it with the
newly-played one.
Unlike other cards, only one End Set card
is ever in play (not one per player) and it
has no specific Holding Box; End Set cards
are never played in a Stroke or Tactic box.
[14.1] End Set Effect: When no End Set
card is in play, all seven Rallies must be
resolved to end a Set.
While an End Set card is in play, it states
after how many Rallies are resolved that the
Set ends – that is, after 4, 5, 6, or even back
to 7 Strokes are resolved.
<strong>The</strong> reason the End Set After 7 Strokes
card is included is to replace another End
Set card already in play when you want the
Set to go for the full length (to allow your
superior Strokes and strategic decisionmaking
to make a difference).
Example: An End Set After 4 card is in play
and three Rallies have already been resolved.
This End Set card would end the Set after the
next Rally (i.e., the fourth). However, Tilden
isn’t ready for the Set to end (some of his best
Strokes are still unresolved), so he takes an
Action this turn and plays an End Set After 6
card to keep the Set going.
[14.2] End Set Timing: A played End Set
card does not take effect until after the next
Rally is resolved!
Example: You play an End Set After 4 card,
but there have already been five Rallies. Don’t
Panic! <strong>The</strong> set cannot end until after the next
Rally is resolved at the earliest.
Tennis has no clock determining when play
ends (unlike most sports). Each Set has its
own cadence and drama, and the End Set
cards recreate this. Choosing which Stroke
to resolve, and when, is a very important
strategic decision, creating a more fun and
interesting Match.
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

TC Tennis Rules v1.0 7
[15.0] TIEBREAK
Unlike the Training Game, a close score (at
or near 0) on the Momentum Track when a
Set ends might require a Tiebreak (playing
a “mini-Set” of a few additional Rallies) to
resolve that Set and determine its winner.
Procedure
When a Set ends, check the Momentum
Track. If one player is ahead by 6 or more
points, the Set is over and that player wins
the Set. If the Momentum Track is at 0, a
Tiebreak must take place.
If one player is ahead by 1 to 5 points, the
player who is behind rolls a die. If the die
roll result is greater than (>) the score
shown by the Momentum marker, a
Tiebreak must take place; if the result is
less than or equal to (≤) that score, the
player who is ahead wins the Set.
Example: At the end of a Set, the Momentum
marker favors Tilden by 4 points. Since Budge
is behind, he rolls a single die and the result is a
3, which isn’t greater than Tilden’s 4 points, so
Tilden wins the Set. If Budge had rolled a 5 or
6, the Set would be decided by a Tiebreak.
In tennis, the player with the most points
doesn’t always win the Set. This is similar
to a team piling up a bunch of yardage in a
football game, but not quite putting the
opposing team away.
[15.1] Setting Up a Tiebreak:
1. Clear for Action: All Strategy cards not
in a player’s hand are discarded
(i.e., End Game, Tactic and
unresolved cards in Stroke
Holding Boxes). In addition, remove all
Resolved markers from Stroke Holding
Boxes.
2. Strategy: Both players gain one on their
respective Strategy tracks (e.g., to
go from 1 to 2). Your Strategy
Rating can never exceed 5.
3. Challenge Reset: Both players replace
their Challenge marker on their
side of the Player Mat if it is not
currently there. You cannot have
2 of these, so if you didn’t use it
previously, you don’t gain one now.
4. Momentum: Place the
Momentum marker on the “0”
box of the Momentum Track.
5. Concentrate: Beginning with the First
player (see 5.1), both players draw one
card.
6. Plan: Beginning with the First player
(see 5.1), each player may place up to
two Stroke (i.e., Offense or Defense)
cards as per Case 4.2.
You are now ready to recommence play
with the Tiebreak (see 5.0).
[15.2] Ending / Winning a Tiebreak:
<strong>The</strong> Tiebreak ends and the score on the
Momentum Track is checked after three
Rallies. If an End Set card is in play, the
Tiebreak ends after only two Rallies.
If one player is ahead by 6 or more points,
the Tiebreak is over and that player wins
the Set. If the Momentum Track is at 0, the
Tiebreak must continue.*
If one player is ahead by 1 to 5 points, the
player who is behind rolls a die. If the die
roll result is greater than (>) the score
shown by the Momentum marker, the
Tiebreak continues*; if the result is less
than or equal to (≤) that score, the player
who is ahead wins the Set.
Continuing Tiebreaks
*Important: Each time the Tiebreak is
continued, reset the Momentum marker to
zero.
If all seven Strokes are resolved during a
Tiebreak and neither player has won the
Set, then reset for a new Tiebreaker.
This only happened twice in more than 100
test games...
[16.0] A COMPLETE MATCH
In the Standard Game, winning a Set is not
enough. To win the game, you must win a
Match consisting of winning either best 2-
out-of-3 Sets (for most men’s events and
nearly all women’s events) or best 3-out-of-
5 Sets (generally reserved for major men’s
tournaments only).
We strongly recommend that you play best
2-out-of-3 Sets for your first few Matches.
Starting a New Set during a Match
After a Set is completed (including any
Tiebreak) and its winner determined, if the
Match continues, set up the next Set as
follows:
1. Clear for Action: All Strategy cards not
in a player’s hand are
discarded (i.e., End Game,
Tactic and unresolved cards
in Stroke Holding Boxes)
including. any “DISCARD
after Set, if played” cards
that were played that Set
(even if returned to that player’s
hand). In addition, remove all
Resolved markers from Stroke
Holding Boxes.
2. Strategy: Both players reset their
Strategy markers to the box
number corresponding to their
Player card’s STR(ategy) rating
for the surface they’re playing on.
3. Challenge Reset: Both players replace
their Challenge marker on their
side of the Player Mat if it is not
currently there. You cannot have
2 of these, so if you didn’t use it
previously, you don’t gain one now.
4. Momentum: Place the
Momentum marker on the “0”
box of the Momentum Track.
5. Events: Return all of the discarded
Random Events markers to the Events
Cup and mix them up.
6. Refocus: <strong>The</strong> player who lost the
previous Set is the First Player (5.1) for
the next Set and draws three cards.
<strong>The</strong>n the player who won the previous
set draws two cards.
7. Plan: Beginning with the First player
(see above), each player may place up to
two Stroke (i.e., Offense or Defense)
cards as per Case 4.2.
You are now ready to begin play of the next
Set (see 5.0).
THE TOURNAMENT GAME
After you are familiar with the Standard
Game, try the Tournament Game where
players’ Stamina comes into play over long
Matches and injuries can occur.
Additional Set Up
Add the “Tournament Game only”
Tactic cards to the Deck.
Add the purple Random Events
markers to the Events Cup.
Have the gray Stamina Effects markers
handy.
[17.0] STAMINA
In the Tournament Game, players are
required to make a Stamina Check
immediately prior to the start of (i.e., just
before the First Player takes his
first Turn) every Set after the
second Set and when called for by
a Random Event selection.
Procedure
To make a Stamina Check, consult the
Stamina table and roll one black (the 10s)
and one blue (the 1s) which are read
together to generate a value from 11 to 66
to determine the column to use. <strong>The</strong> row to
cross-index it with is your Player’s
STA(mina) Rating.
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games

TC Tennis Rules v1.0 8
Example: Tilden must make a Stamina check.
On every court, his STA(mina) Rating is “B.” He
rolls a 4 and 5 (i.e., “45”), which means that
Big Bill is Tiring.
After the result is found by this crossindexing,
it is shifted as indicated by the
Shift Modifiers below the table. Some
circumstances shift the results by columns
(i.e., or ) while others lower which
row is used (). All modifiers must be
applied!
Example Continued: Since it is currently a Set
being played after one resolved by a Tiebreak,
the result is shifted one column to the right ().
This means that Tilden is now Fatigued.
Effects
When an effect occurs (e.g., “Tiring”), it is
explained below the table. A result of or
2 lowers both of that player’s DEF(ense)
and RET(urn) Ratings (i.e., from “A” down
to “B,” but never below “D”).
Split Ratings: Some players have a Split
STA(mina) Rating (e.g., “C/B”). This
shows how some stars are prone to tough
matches and even upsets early in a given
tournament, such as when they play on an
unfamiliar surface.
When playing a Tournament (see 23.0 on
the inside front cover), a Split-Rated player
uses the lesser STA(mina) Rating until that
player reaches the semifinal, at which point
the higher STA(mina) Rating is used.
This allows for a star to play himself or
herself “into shape” during the course of
the Tournament. Tennis can be a grueling
sport, and unlike a team sport, you can’t
substitute off the bench. So, the longer the
match goes, and the more hard-fought it is,
the more important physical and mental
conditioning becomes. Note that some court
surfaces are more grueling than others.
Random Event
Second Wind (Retain): Play this marker
when you obtain an adverse result
from a Stamina Check to negate
that result.
[18.0] INJURIES
In the Tournament Game, players are
required to make an Injury Check
immediately prior to the start of (i.e., just
before the First Player takes his first Turn)
every Set after the third Set and
when called for by a Random Event
selection.
Procedure
To make an Injury Check, consult the
Injury table and roll one black (the 10s)
and one blue (the 1s) which are read
together to generate a value from 11 to 66
to determine the column to use. <strong>The</strong> row to
cross-index it with is your Player’s
INJ(ury) Rating.
Example: Boris Becker is playing indoors and
must make an Injury check. His INJ(ury) Rating
is “B.” He rolls a 5 and 1 (i.e., “51”), which
means an attack of Cramps.
After the result is found by this crossindexing,
it is shifted as indicated by the
Shift Modifiers below the table. Some
circumstances shift the results by columns
(i.e., or ) while others lower which
row is used (). All modifiers must be
applied!
Example Continued: Having already suffered
two bad results from previous Stamina checks
this Match, the result is shifted two columns to
the right (), increasing the injury to Slight.
Effects
When an injury occurs (e.g., “Minor”), it is
explained below the table. A result of or
2 lowers both of that player’s DEF(ense)
and RET(urn) Ratings that many levels
(i.e., would go from, say, “A” down to
“B”) but never below “D.”
Injury Aftereffects
If an injured player wins the Match, an
Injury Aftereffects Check must be made
for that player at the start of every Match
played thereafter.
Unlike Stamina (which is checked every
Set after the second), Injury Checks only
occur when chosen by a player as a
Random Event or in a best-of-five-set
Match (after the third and fourth Sets).
[19.0] NEW TACTICS
In the Tournament Game, certain Tactic
cards can mitigate the effects of adverse
Stamina and Injury Check results.
If played into your Tactic
Holding Box, the Second
Wind card mitigates the ill
effects of the last Stamina
result you suffered. It is then
discarded.
Similarly, if played into your
Tactic Holding Box, the Call
for Trainer card can
potentially improve (heal) an
injury by one or two (e.g.,
from Serious to Medium would
be one level of improvement;
from Serious to Slight would be two).
[20.0] HOUSEKEEPING
In the Tournament Game, starting a new
Set requires a couple more Housekeeping
Checks be performed just before the First
Player takes his first Turn of that new Set:
After Set Up and Before First Turn
After the second Set (i.e., for the 3 rd
through 5 th Sets), both players make a
Stamina Check (see 15.0).
After the third Set (i.e., for the 4 th and 5 th
Sets), both players make an Injury
Check (see 16.0).
Before the first Set of a new Match,
Injured players must make an Injury
Aftereffects Check (see 16.0).
Note that Tactic cards which would help
you through Stamina and Injury Checks
will not be in play at this time and therefore
cannot help you with these Housekeeping
Checks.
[21.0] ALL-SURFACE MATCH
Players may agree to try a 5-Set All-
Surface Match. To do so, prior to Setting
Up the first Set, the Underdog chooses the
surface to be played on.
Afterwards, the loser of the just-completed
Set, before Set Up, chooses the surface for
the next Set. This process repeats until the
Match is over. However, no surface can be
chosen a second time until all four have
been chosen at least once.
Which means the fourth Set will always be
the last surface not yet chosen and the
winner of the fourth Set can choose any
surface for the final Set.
© 2011 Terry Coleman & Victory Point Games