I wrote about 64-square draughts variants and about three games from orthogonal draughts family. Every time I mentioned that “draughts” is not one game. It’s a group of games with some common features. So far I described only games played on a 64-square board, although with very different rules. Now it’s time to present games on larger boards with 80 squares (8×10), 100 squares (10×10) and even 144 squares (12×12).
Teeko is a wonderful game, although today is almost forgotten. Too bad. Not only the game is interesting, but also its creator – John Scarne. He was a prominent expert on gaming, gambling, and card manipulations. He knew both the techniques of cheating on mathematical issues related to games. He was earning money as a magician, but because of his extensive knowledge we can call him “The Wizard of Games”.
Continue reading “Teeko – a game and a masterpiece of John Scarne, the Wizard of Games”
German word “belagerung” means “siege” and this is also a name of a quite interesting “war game” from 19th century. To be precise, this game is interesting variant of Halatafl, very old game mentioned few times on this blog.
I have already complained that majority of board games have simple boards, just straight lines or squares. Games with circular boards (like spiders and flies) are less common, and there are not many games with boards designed on more complicated shapes (like vsadniki).
Today I want to show you a strategy game that makes perfect use from a round board. It’s Ringo
Earlier I have described basic variants of Draughts and by the way I explained that draughts (checkers) is not one game. Draughts is a huge family of games with some common rules. In most draughts games pieces move diagonally, but there are also variations where pieces move in straight lines (orthogonally). Today I would like to show you three variants of orthogonal draughts – Turkish Draughts, Croda and Dameo.
Continue reading “Orthogonal draughts on 8×8 board – Turkish Draughts, Croda and Dameo”
Game of othello becomes increasingly popular, but many people know this game as “reversi“. Even in some Wikipedia posts you can read that reversi is another name of othello. In fact, they are two different games. Both played on 8×8 board with two-color discs, but details are different.
I would like to bring you closer to the rules of these two games. I would like you to perceive the differences.
Continue reading “Reversi and othello – two different games. Do you know their different rules?”
I already wrote on Halatafl game and its variants such as Freys-tafl. Generally, these are “fox games”, where one player plays with the “fox”, and another player plays with “geese”. Aim of the game is different for each player.
In some Halatafl variants there is only one “fox”, and the aim of the game is to kill the Geese (for Fox) or to block Fox (for Geese). Today I want to show you three slightly different variants in which there are two Foxes, and players fight for a territory.
Continue reading “Fortresslike games – more Halatafl variants”
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.
On Bona Ludo I already wrote about Halatafl or “fox and geese” – a game from Iceland. I mentioned this is old game so there are many variants. Now the time has come to describe these variants and game of Freys-tafl is good starting point.
Chess bowling? What the heck is it? Let me explain…
There is interesting board game, known in Poland as “kręgle szachowe”. It’s a great game, but I have no idea about its name in English. I also don’t know any traditional name of this game. Words “kręgle szachowe” can be translated to English as “chess bowling” or “chess bowling pins”. But this game has nothing to do with chess or bowling. Let’s just say “chess bowling” is nice name.
Continue reading “Chess bowling – board game, that has noting to do with chess or bowling”
Bona Ludo 