Permainan-Tabal

Permainan-Tabal is a two-player abstract strategy game from Indonesia specifically from the island of Java. The game is sometimes referred to as a cross between Alquerque and Draughts. It is essentially Draughts played on an expanded Alquerque board. It is especially similar to Draughts in that the moves of the pieces are strictly forward and sideways until they are promoted to Kings by reaching the other player's first rank. It is unknown when the game was invented, however, a link below shows a game played in Java in 1910. The game is also referred to as Dama.

Goal

The player who capture all of their opponent's pieces is the winner.

Equipment

The game uses an expanded Alquerque board. Two triangular patterned boards are attached on two opposite sides of the Alquerque board.

Each player has 16 pieces. One player has the black pieces, and the other player has the white pieces, although any two colors or distinguishable objects are appropriate.

Rules and Gameplay

1. Players decide among themselves what colored pieces to play. They also decide who will start first.

2. Each player's 16 pieces are lined up initially on the first four ranks of each player's side.

3. Pieces must move one space per turn either straight forward, diagonally forward, or sideways following the pattern on the board. They cannot move backwards in any direction until they are promoted to Kings. However, pieces can make "capturing" moves backward.

4. A piece is promoted to King when it reaches the other player's first rank. Kings can move in any direction.

5. Captures are done by jumping over an adjacent enemy piece onto a vacant point on the other side following the pattern on the board. The jump must also be in a straight line. Even pieces that are not yet promoted to King can capture enemy pieces backwards. Kings can capture in any direction.

6. Captures are compulsory. Captured pieces are removed from the board.

7. Multiple captures are allowed. That is, a piece that "can" continue to jump "must" continue jumping until it can jump no more.

External Links

http://www.zillions-of-games.com/cgi-bin/zilligames/submissions.cgi/20359?do=show;id=1528

http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/permainan.htm

http://www.pbm.com/pipermail/hist-games/2008/001369.html