The Rules of Halma
These rules are provided by Masters Traditional Games, an Internet shop selling quality traditional games, pub games and unusual games. We publish free game rules in order to promote game playing around the world. To find out more, visit the website www.mastersgames.com or email custserv@mastersgames.com.
You are welcome to print, copy or pass these rules on but only in their original form including the copyright and the information about Masters Traditional Games. The disclaimer on the Masters Traditional Games website applies.
Masters
Traditional Games sells this beautiful inlaid hand-made Halma
board.
The Equipment
A Halma board consists of 16 x 16 small chequered squares. In each corner, a heavy line delineates 13 squares, which are the starting squares for pieces in the 4 player game. Two opposing corners additionally have another heavy line which delineates the 19 corner squares for the initial position of the pieces in the 2 player game. Pieces are usually flat disks like draughtsmen or upright like the classic pawn in chess. They come in four different colours.
The Preparation
Halma can be played by 2 or 4 players. When 2 players play, 19 pieces are positioned in the appropriate opposing corners in formation 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 4; when 4 players play, 13 pieces are positioned in each corner in formation 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 3.
The Objective
The aim of the game is to be the first to player to move all pieces across the board and into opposing corner, within area delineated by the heavy line. Should one or more of the squares in the target area contain a piece belonging to another player, this does not prevent a player from winning. In this case, the game is won when all the available points within the area are occupied.
The Play
A toss of a coin decides who starts. Players take turns to move a single piece of their own colour. The piece may either be simply moved into an adjacent square OR it may make one or more hops over other pieces. Where a hopping move is made, each hop must be over an adjacent piece and into the vacant square directly beyond it. A hop may be over any coloured piece including the player's own and can proceed in any one of the eight directions. After each hop, the player may either finish or, if possible and desired, continue by hopping over another piece. It does occasionally happen that a player is able to move a piece all the way from the starting corner across the board and into the opposite corner in one turn!
Pieces are never removed from the board. It is permitted to move a piece into any square on the board including squares in areas belonging to other players but, once a piece has reached the opposite area, it may not be moved out of the area but it may move within the area.
Copyright © 1999 Masters Games. All rights reserved.
Product Index
General
Info
View
Basket
Contact Us
Game Rules
Shortcuts
Chess
Go
Croquet
Skittles
Bowls
Poker Sets