No.349
Surakarta
Japanese name: スラカルタ
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Diagram key
- A
- Each side starts with 12 pieces in its 2 rows.
- B
- Use the loops only when capturing.
- C
- 8 loops in total, large and small
- D
- An ordinary move may also be 1 diagonal step.
Materials
- A 6 × 6-point surakarta board with eight loops
- 12 counters in each of two colours
How to play
- Fill the twelve points in the two rows nearest you with your colour. The opponent fills their nearest two rows. Choose who starts and alternate moving one counter.
- A normal move is one step to an adjacent empty point, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Never move onto an occupied point or jump a counter.
- For a capture, travel straight horizontally or vertically inside the board, turning only on the outside loops. Follow empty points through at least one loop before reaching an opposing counter.
- No intervening counter may block the route. Remove the opponent at the destination and occupy that point. Capturing is optional; a normal move is allowed instead.
- Capturing every opposing counter wins. If no legal move remains, or an agreed 20-minute limit ends, the side with more counters wins. Equal counts are a draw.
Ways to adapt
Introduction: practise captures with fewer counters. Older primary and adults: twelve each.