How to Play Chinese Checkers? A Simple Board Game Loved by the Chinese
Why is the game called Chinese Checkers?
As a variation on the older American game Halma, the game was invented in Germany in 1892 under the name "Stern-Halma." The "Stern" (German for star) refers to the star shape of the board (in contrast to the square board used in Halma).
The term "Chinese checkers" was coined in the United States in 1928 as a marketing ploy by Bill and Jack Pressman. The game developed by the Pressman company was originally known as "Hop Ching Checkers." The game is not a variant of checkers, nor did it originate in China or any other Asian country.
In Chinese, the game is known as Tiaoqi (跳棋, "jump chess"). The game has a variation in Japan called "Diamond Game," which has slightly different rules.
Solid Wood Chinese Checkers Set with Glass Marbles
What are the rules for the game Chinese checkers?
The goal is to get all of one's pieces into the opposite side of the board's star corner before the opponents do. The destination corner is referred to as home. Except in two-player games, where 15 pieces are used, each player has ten pieces. (For larger starboards, use 15 or 21 pieces.)
The most popular variation is "hop across," in which each player starts with their colored pieces on one of the six points or corners of the star and races them all home into the opposite corner. Players take turns moving a single piece, either by taking one step in any direction to an adjacent empty space or by jumping over other single pieces in one or any number of available consecutive hops. A player may not combine hopping with a single-step move – a move must be either one or the other. Because there is no capturing in Sternhalma, hopped-over pieces remain active and in play. Turns are made in a clockwise direction around the board.
Where to Buy Chinese Checkers?
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Buy it on Amazon: Brybelly Chinese Checkers Game Set with 11.5 in Natural Wood Checkers Board
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Buy it on Amazon: Pressman Chinese Checkers Board Game Redbox Chinese Checkers, 5"
This board is paper-made and has to be used on a flat surface.