Baghchal is a traditional board game of Nepal. It is quite simple to setup and play. The board is drawn by a combination of horizontal, vertical, and slanting lines. Each intersecting point can hold a piece, a tiger or a goat. The pieces can only move one step along the lines, except for the case in which a tiger can eat a goat.
The game is played between two players, one represents tiger, four in number, and the other represents goats, twenty in number to start with. The tiger can eat goats by jumping above it, while the goats tries to limit the movement of a tiger.
This is a javascript version of the game, which can be played on the web browserGame Explanation.
At the start of the game all four tigers are placed on the four corners of the grid, facing the center. All goats start off the board.
The pieces must be put at the intersections of the board lines and moves follow these lines.
The player controlling the goats moves first by placing a goat onto a free intersection on the board. Then it is the tigers' turn. One tiger is then moved to an adjacent position along the lines that indicate the valid moves. Moves are alternate between players.
Tigers capture goats by jumping over them to an adjacent free position. Goats cannot move until all 20 have been put on the board.
The tigers must move according to these rules:
1. They can start capturing goats any moment after the match has started.
2. They can capture only one goat at a time.
3. They can jump over a goat in any direction, but it must be to an adjacent intersection following any of the lines drawn on the board.
4. A tiger cannot jump over another tiger.
The goats must move according to these rules:
1. They must leave the board when captured.
2. They can not jump over the tigers or other goats.
3. They can only move after all 20 have been put on the board.
The tigers win once they have captured five goats. Goats try to avoid being captured (jumped over) and they win by blocking the tigers' moves till they are unable to move.
