Rules

~ promise, it's simple ~

The Jungle Game (斗兽棋 / Dou Shou Qi) is a Chinese strategy game playable from age 6. Two sides — Red and Blue — face off with 8 animals per side.

1Goal of the game

Win by entering the opponent's den or by capturing all the opponent's pieces.

2Animal hierarchy

A piece captures a piece of equal or lower rank. Except for the exceptions below.

  • Éléphant
    rank 8
  • Lion
    rank 7
  • Tigre
    rank 6
  • Léopard
    rank 5
  • Loup
    rank 4
  • Chien
    rank 3
  • Chat
    rank 2
  • Rat
    rank 1

3Special rules

  • The Rat captures the Elephant. The Elephant cannot capture the Rat (its trunk fears the sharp teeth).
  • The Rat is the only one that can enter the water. From the water, it can only capture another Rat in the water (not the Elephant on land).
  • The Lion and the Tiger can jump over the river in a straight line (vertically or horizontally). The jump is blocked if a Rat is in the water along the way. On landing, they can capture an enemy piece of equal or lower rank (normal rules).
  • The traps around the opponent's den reduce an enemy piece's rank to 0 while it stands on them: anyone can then capture it.
  • You can not enter your own den.

4The board

A board of 7 columns × 9 rows. Two rivers in the middle, two dens at the ends, three traps around each den.