PAVLOV'S HOUSE

The heroic defense of a Soviet strongpoint during the Battle of Stalingrad

Pavlov's House is a tactical and operational wargame covering one of the most famous episodes of the Battle of Stalingrad.

Players take control of the defenders of the fortified apartment building known as Pavlov's House, as well as key leaders of the Soviet 62nd Army whose support makes the defense possible.

The game is primarily designed as a solitaire experience, but also includes two-player cooperative and 2–3 player competitive modes. The German forces are driven largely by card systems, creating a constant stream of threats that the Soviet player must manage.

THE SIEGE OF STALINGRAD

Pavlov's House was a fortified apartment building used as a strongpoint by the Soviet 62nd Army during the Battle of Stalingrad.

In the game, players must simultaneously manage the close defense of the building, available resources and the wider Soviet command structure supporting the defenders.

The objective is to hold the position until the Soviet defenders are ready to launch their own assault, while surviving the German forces represented by the deck depicting elements of the German 6th Army.

THREE WAYS TO PLAY

Solitaire
The player controls both the defenders of Pavlov's House and the key leaders of the Soviet 62nd Army.

Two-player cooperative
One player controls the defenders of Pavlov's House while the other takes command of the Soviet 62nd Army leadership.

Competitive – 2 to 3 players
One player commands the German attackers against one or two players controlling the Soviet side.

The result is a flexible wargame that works particularly well as a solo design while also providing cooperative and asymmetric competitive play.

A CARD-DRIVEN BATTLE

Cards are at the heart of Pavlov's House.

Soviet cards provide different action possibilities, while the Wehrmacht deck introduces German units and events that continually threaten the Soviet position. Fog of War cards further restrict the player's options and add uncertainty to the battle.

The game alternates between Soviet card play, Wehrmacht card play and Soviet counter actions, producing a constant series of tactical and operational decisions.

The result is a tense game in which every action, unit and resource matters.

GAME DETAILS

• Theme: World War II – Battle of Stalingrad
• Scale: Tactical and operational
• Players: 1–3
• Playing time: approximately 60–75 minutes
• Recommended age: 12+
• Primary mode: Solitaire
• Additional modes: Cooperative and competitive
• Complexity: approximately 2.82 / 5
• Designer: David Thompson
• Publisher: Dan Verssen Games (DVG)
• Edition: 2nd Edition, 2019
• Product code: DV1-045
• Language: English

CONTENTS

The 2nd Edition includes:

• 140 cards
• 1 mounted tactical map, 33 × 17 inches (approximately 84 × 43 cm)
• 4 counter sheets
• 5 dice
• 3 reference sheets
• 1 full-color rulebook

These components are those specified by DVG for the edition.

WHY PLAY PAVLOV'S HOUSE?

Pavlov's House is an excellent choice for players looking for:

• a historical solitaire wargame;
• a relatively short playing time;
• strong asymmetrical Soviet/German gameplay;
• a combination of cards, counters and dice;
• a focused simulation of a specific historical situation;
• the ability to play solo, cooperatively or competitively.

Rather than attempting to recreate the entire Battle of Stalingrad, Pavlov's House concentrates on the dramatic defense of a single strongpoint and the operational support required to keep that position alive.

It combines a highly thematic historical setting with a compact rules system and a strong emphasis on difficult decisions, making it a particularly attractive choice for players interested in solo World War II wargaming.