Alquerque

Alquerque is thought to have started in Arabia and migrated into Europe when the Moors invaded Spain.

2 players at a time can play Alquerque.

At the start of the game, each player places their twelve playing pieces on the board as shown in the picture above. The center hole is the only one left empty. Black or White may move first. (Decide by flipping a coin.) A piece may be moved from one space to any adjacent space along a line, forwards, diagonally or sideways, but not backwards. If the adjacent space is occupied by an opponent's piece, you may jump over it and capture the opponent's piece, providing there is an empty space immediately beyond it. If, having jumped and captured a piece, you land next to another of your opponent's pieces with an empty space past it, you may jump again and capture a second piece, continuing to capture other pieces in this manner during your move.

If your piece can make a capture, that piece must do so, otherwise it is "huffed", and can be removed from the board by your opponent. If a piece that cannot make a capture is moved instead of one that can make a capture, the one that could capture but didn't is removed from the board.

If two or more pieces can make a capture on the same move, the pieces that did not make a capture are not removed from the board provided a capture was made by one of the pieces that was able to make a capture. If no capture was made by any of the pieces that are able to do so, then all pieces that could have captured are considered "huffed" and can be removed from the board.

The game ends when one player loses all their pieces, cannot move a piece, or has their pieces lined up along the opponents side back row. The player that has the most pieces left wins.

This game can be washed!

The Alquerque game board comes with two sets of marbles (may vary in color) and instructions. Approximately 9.5 inches square and 3/8 inches tall.

Alquerque game board shown is
© 2003 Danial CrowTalker

Product Code: EG-003