Most board games have fairly simple boards. Usually with square fields arranged in simple shape or a set of intersecting lines. Rarely boards have circular shape or fields arranged in interesting pattern.

There are of course a few games that have fancy boards. I already described Russian game Spider and flies, which is an interesting example. Now I’m going to describe another Russian game with fantastic board – Vsadniki.

Vsadniki is a little-known Russian game. I found information about it in two old books. I know nothing about the origins of this game. I can only say that the structure of the board is similar to Spiders and Flies (sorta), but unlike Spiders and Flies, this is a game without random element. Strategy and tactics of this game resembles some contemporary games like Camelot, but it’s rather difficult to talk about kinship between those games.

Russian word “wsadniki” (всадники) means “riders”. In this game word “Rider” refers to a piece, which is gaining power of capturing enemy pieces. Interestingly, the promotion of a piece to a Rider is done only by setting piece on a special field.

Vsadniki rules

Vsadniki is a strategy board game for 2 players, with no element of luck. Players take turns alternately. They move their pieces and try to promote them to capture enemy pieces.

Board and pieces

Vsadniki board is shown on the picture below. It consists of 140 ordinary fields (small circles) and 11 promotion fields (large circles). The fields are connected by lines in a suitable manner.

Each player begins the game with 18 pieces (pawns). This is a game for two players, so at start there are 36 pieces on a board.

Initial setting

At the beginning of the game each player sets his (or her) pawns on the two first rows of the board on his side . This is shown on the image below.

Moving rules

One of players must start (there’s no rule – you can draw lots). After first move players make moves alternately.

There are 4 types of moves in the game of Vsadniki:

• Simple move,
• Jump,
• Promotion,
• Capture.

Ordinary pieces (pawns) can make simple move, they can jump and they can be promoted to Riders. Capturing is reserved for Riders.

Simple move

Ordinary pawn can move to the neighboring ordinary field joined by a line. The diagram below shows possible moves.

Jump

Pawns can also perform jumps. It means they can jump over pawns standing next to them, to the field behind them.

It is possible to jump over friendly and enemy pieces. It’s possible to make few jumps in one turn (as in checkers). The diagram below shows jump over two enemy pieces. Similar jumps can be made over friendly pawns.

Promotion

Ordinary piece can become a Rider if he jumps over the enemy piece into a field of promotion (large circle). Entering this field is possible only through such jump (over enemy pawn).

An example of the Promotion is shown on the picture below.

Capture

Only a Rider has the right to capture enemy pawns. Capture is made when a Rider jumps from the one promotion field to another, over the enemy pawn. In one move rider can make several jumps. The picture below shows double capture.

Captured pieces are removed from the board. They don’t come back to game.

Note: Rider can make a simple move. It means a Rider can get off the promotion field and then it becomes ordinary pawn. Such pawn can be once again promoted to a rider if such opportunity arises (if he can once again jump into the promotion field over enemy piece).

Scoring and the aim of the game

In Vsadniki players earn points

• For jumping into the promotion field and promoting pawn to a Rider – 2 points
• When capturing enemy pawn – 1 point.

Game ends when one player achieves 15, 20, 25 or 30 points (you have to choose winning score before playing). Players can also decide that winning requires not only certain number of points, but also  appropriate number of captures. For example, you can decide that that winner must score 15 points and capture at least 6 enemy pawns.

Impressions

It’s hard to find a partner to play Vsadniki – game is not popular, and most people didn’t heard about it. I once made myself a board with the computer printer, and I used nuts as pawns. I was able to persuade someone to play only few times. I can’t say I tested this game well but I think it has lot of potential. I describe it because I do not want this game to be forgotten.

Read also:

1. Spider and Flies – Russian national game
2. Camelot – you can charge in this game
3. Ringo – playing round and round
4. Belagerung – yet bigger „fortress”