Chinese Draughts, also called Chinese Checkers,are a board gameof German origin that can be played by two, three, four or six players, either individually or in pairs. This game is a modern and simplified version of the game Halma, and it takes place on a boardwith 121 fields, in the shape of a six-pointed star.

Aim of the game

The objective is to move all one's pieces to the corner of the star located on the opposite side of the board, before the opponents do the same. The destination corner is called "home". Once a player has brought all their pieces home, the game continues to determine the second, third, fourth, fifth and last place.

Rules

Each player has 10 pieces, except in games between two players, where 15 pieces pro player are used. (On larger boards, 15 or 21 pieces are used.)

In the most popular variant, each player starts with their pieces of their colour in one of the six corners of the board and tries to take them all to the opposite corner. Players take turns to move only one piece at a time, either advancing a step towards an adjacent empty space or performing a sequence of jumps over other pieces. Jumps cannot be combined with simple steps. There are no captures in Chinese Checkers, so the pieces that are jumped over, remain in play. Turns are taken in a clockwise direction around the board.

Initial configuration

Six players: The game can be individual or in teams of two, with the partners sitting in opposite corners and each controlling their own set of pieces. The first team to take both sets to their destination corners wins. The remaining players continue on to determine the second and third places.

Four players: Similar to the six-player variant, but only four corners of the board are used, leaving two opposite corners empty.

Three players: Each player controls one or two sets of pieces. If only one set is controlled, these are moved to the opposite empty corners. With two sets, each player controls two different colours on opposite corners of the star.

Two players: Each player can use one, two or three sets of pieces. With a set, the pieces usually go to the opponent's starting corner, and the number per side is increased to 15. With two sets, the pieces can go to the opponent's starting corner or to an opposite empty corner. With three sets, the tiles usually go to the opponent's starting corners.

Strategies

One strategy is to find or create the longest jump path in order to approach “home" more efficiently than with simple movements. Since any created sequence of jumps can be used, a more advanced strategy consists of hindering an opposing player, in addition to making it easier for oneself to jump across the board. Games between experienced players are usually decided by just a few moves.

The layout of the pieces at the beginning varies according to the number of players, affecting the strategies. For example, if a player's destination corner starts empty, he can freely build a ”ladder“ or ”bridge" of pieces. But if the opponent occupies the target corner, the player must wait for it to get clear before they can occupy it themselves.

Challenge your friends, test your strategies and compete to get all your pieces to the opposite corner before them. Guaranteed fun for everyone!