... based on the idea of taking the game for free and then donating
what you think it is worth to you to charity later.
Pacru Ltd is ceasing trading
(and not owing anyone but the owner any money) and will shortly cease to be. This site will remain and the games will remain.
Mike Wellman found the company in 2002 after inventing Pacru. Alan Wills developed the software on the website for playing the game, and Pelle Astrom worked on many different prototypes of the gameboard and chevrons.
Mike says "It will be a sad day when the company is finally dissolved. It has not been a financial success and has not done justice to the games, in my view. The only person responsible for that is me: I've not put enough time and effort into the business. I don't regret publishing the games, however, as I don't think I would have found anyone else to publish an abstract game with 50 wooden markers and 4 chevrons of 4 different colours and without a theme spuriously imposed on top of it. Now the games have existed and proved their worth, I'm hopeful that I will find someone else to publish them in a new set but with their integrity intact. I'd like to thank Alan & Pelle, all those who played the games in numerous play-testing versions in the Parrs Wood pub, the people at the Mind Sports Olympiad, and the championship competitors and fans whose appreciation I've valued very highly. And of course my family for putting up with it all!"
World Championships for Pacru, Shacru & Azacru, Manchester England 2013.
Please contact us for further details - date and venue will be announced on 1st November 2013.
Results of 2012 World Championships held University Of London Union Malet Street London WC1E 7HY England United Kingdom.
6th Shacru World Championship
Gold James Heppel, Silver David Jameson, Bronze Andres Kuusk
7th Azacru World Championship
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver Andres Kuusk, Bronze David M Pearce
10th Pacru World Championship
Gold Alain Dekker, Silver Martyn Hamer, Bronze David M Pearce
Results of 2011 Championships held at MSO 15 University Of London Union Malet Street London WC1E 7HY England United Kingdom.
5th Shacru World Championship
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver David Jamieson, Bronze David M Pearce
6th Azacru World Championship
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver David M Pearce, Bronze Andres Kuusk
9th Pacru World Championship
Gold Alain Dekker, Silver Martyn Hamer, Bronze Mike Wellman
Rule change to Pacru from March 1st 2011
Meeting Rule
R12 (i.e. Rule 12 but the numbering is the same in all language versions of published 302 rules)
Modify 2nd sentence to read
When this happens, and at least one of your opponents has at least 9 markers on the board, you can change an unoccupied field anywhere on the board to your own colour.
2010 World Championships held in UK Soho Theatre London August 28th & 29th.
3rd Shacru World Championship
Gold David M Pearce, Silver James Heppel, Bronze Martyn Hamer
These Pacru/Azacru/Shacru events formed part of the 2010 IAGO World Tour. IAGO is the International Abstract Games Organization.
the 5th Azacru World Championship at MSO 14 London Sunday August 29th am only 2010
the 4th Shacru World Championship at MSO 14 London Sunday August 29th pm only 2010
The MSO (Mind Sports Olympiad) generally put the schedule up for the complete event (which runs for 10 days) relatively late in the day - but it should be up already - look at external page: Mind Sports Olympiad MSO 14.
for information. There is now a comprehensive history of results at the MSO, details of the games, and profiles of some contestants at
external page: Mind Sports Olympiad Games and Results.
World Championships for Pacru/Azacru/Shacru were at MSO 13 in London in August. The MSO ran from Friday evening Aug 21st through to Aug 31st 2009
These Pacru/Azacru/Shacru events formed part of the 2009 IAGO World Tour. IAGO is the International Abstract Games Organization.
2st Shacru Blitz
Gold David M Pearce, Silver Martyn Hamer, Bronze not awarded
2nd Azacru Blitz
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver Mike Wellman, Bronze David M Pearce
2nd Pacru Blitz
Gold Alain Dekker, Silver Mike Wellman, Bronze David M Pearce
3rd shacru World Championship
Gold James Heppel, Silver David M Pearce, Bronze Martyn Hamer
4th Azacru World Championship
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver David M Pearce, Bronze Alain Dekker
7th Pacru World Championship
Gold Martyn Hamer, Silver Alain Dekker, Bronze Mike Wellman
These Pacru/Azacru/Shacru events form part of the 2009 IAGO World Tour. IAGO is the International Abstract Games Organization.
Pacru Ltd are currently playtesting a new game for possible publication with a new game set under a different name. The game, however, can be played on a Pacru 302 set. If you are interested in play-testing the game then please get in touch with us. The game sits in complexity somewhere between Shacru & Azacru, but features sides (2, 3 or 4) with different powers.
Gold Alain Dekker, Silver Martyn Hamer, Bronze David M Pearce
More details on competitions page.
Pacru Ltd were sponsors of the 2008 Cambridge MSO held at Trinity College, Cambridge University on May 2nd and 3rd 2008. Anyone getting an autograph on one of the Pacru flyers that will be at the event from current Pacru Champion Alain Dekker who will be at the MSO sometime over the weekend can get �5 off a Pacru 302 set bought direct from Pacru Ltd.
Pacru Ltd considering development of a portable wooden board which could be purchased as an extra for the 302 set. We should have the prototypes in summer 2008 and these will then be evaluated.
Results of U-CON 2007 Pacru & Azacru competitions.
Winner of Azacru Tournament: Gabriel Tamaska of Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA)
Winner of Pacru Tournament: Clark Rodeffer of Ann Arbor, Michigan (USA)
See external link to brief report on boardgamegeek
These events were the second events in the entire history of the newly formed (off-site link) International Abstract Games Organisation or IAGO. Reference to the events can be found on the site, though the main focus is the rather larger list of forthcoming 2008 World Tour events. These should include the MSO 2008 events.
Mind Games Albury Australia now stock Pacru 302 set.
August 2007: Results of the World Championships for all 3 games announced. See competitions page for detailed reports. In summary Alain Dekker retained the Pacru championship, Martyn Hamer took the 2nd Azacru championship and overall Pentamind winner at the MSO, David M Pearce, won the 1st Shacru championship.
Games Magazine awards Pacru runner up position for Best Abstract Strategy Game 2007.
"We warmly welcome ... Mike Wellman's three games for abstract fans" Games Magazine November 2006 issue.
Funagain Games now stock Pacru.
GiochinScatola of Italy now stock Pacru.
UK Retailers stock Pacru via Esdevium Games
Pacru features on Google directory under
http://www.google.com/Top/Games/Video_Games/Recreation/Browser_Based/Board_Games/
by searching simply for browser based board games. Similarly under the dmoz directory.
U-Con, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA First USA Azacru & Pacru tournaments were held in 2006:
The tournaments went ahead despite low numbers. Alain Dekker visiting from the UK carried off the Pacru crown & Stewart T the Azacru crown. Detailed reports on both competitions is on Boardgame Geek under the entries for Pacru & Azacru. Anyone thinking of competing in the 2007 competitions should drop us an email and we will forward the info to the tournament organisers, so they can gauge prospective numbers.
1st U-CON Azacru was held Friday 19th Nov 7pm-10pm
1st U-CON Pacru was held Sunday 21st Sunday 12-4pm
Clark Rodeffer also ran his annual Abstract Games Tournament on Saturday 20th 2-6pm
see here for event details
4th Pacru World Championship Results:
Alain Dekker Gold
David Pearce Silver
Ken Ho Bronze
1st Azacru World Championship Results:
Mike Wellman Gold
Bijan Mehdinejad Silver
Martyn Hamer Bronze
We've just recorded the somewhat different Pacru video (4 minutes) and a video introduction to the rules. Apart from the usual fluffs there is one error that we are aware of in the rules presentation, where what is said about the example position isn't actually true. Spot this (non deliberate) mistake and be one of the first fifty people to tell us what it is and get an extra 2 discount off a Pacru board. Or at least you will be able to do so when the video is on the site ... which should be mid 2007 - we are moving the site hosting (though not address) in order to enable more information to be displayed.
Pacru Ltd supported the first (off-site link) Cast are Dice tournament on 12th & 13th of August 2006 in the "Centre of England" (known to some as The Potteries and to others as in or near Stoke) providing some of the prizes. This was a big success and has received excellent feedback from the participants. We hope this proves to be an annual event.
Get Pacru 302 at a discount by doing us a favour. We have re-instated the
"play across the internet with a friend and get yourself a discount" offer. See the full info on discounts here.
First official "variant" rules for Pacru on the site. The significance of the word "official" means that we've tested them and they work well, and we intend to publish them with the next printed edition of Pacru. The variant is designed for those who like playing Pacru with 3 or 4 but want to have a similar level of fluidity to 2 player Pacru.
Pacru Variant:
(off-site) Review of Pacru, Shacru and Azacru by profilic internet reviewer Tom Vasel:
In depth Pacru review
Pacru Software now has a very basic chat facility. Play someone on-line and you can exchange comments. Please note all comments get stored with the game (see section on playing back past games).
3rd Pacru World Championhip was held at Mind Sports Olympics Manchester, England
Monday 29th August 2005 (a public holiday in England). More details later.
There was also the Olympiad Championship (half day only) earlier in the week.
Pacru software now has a resignation button. In Pacru it is possible to win with only one piece against four. It is possible to turn round a game where a player has gained a ten tile lead. Sometimes, however, we all get that feeling that it just isn't going to be this game, and would like to move swiftly onto the next contest ... so this is the button for those times. More Pacru software developments will follow.
Best time to drop in for an on-line game with a stranger? Tuesday evenings GMT/UST.
You may have to wait for a while (but open up another window and play the machine while you wait)
but if haven't joined the pacru yahoo group and offered a game playing time directly, Tuesday is your best bet.
Translations. Sincere apologies for the delay in
presenting other translations but we have finally provided downloadable pdf translations of
the rules containing the same diagrams as the printed rules.
Please note that though the 101 series and 302 series use different kit, and therefore require slightly different phrases to articulate the rules, the rules themselves are entirely the same and it should not be a problem using the rules for the 302 kit with a 101 board (which is closest to the current games software) or vice versa.