Description
Tigers and Goats, or Bagha Chal, is an ancient game and is considered the national game of Nepal. Rules are listed below.
Made in our shop, this set is all hardwood construction measuring about 5.5" sq x 1.1" deep. Comes with solid wood cover and wood pegs. Peg colors vary. Very unusual and interesting item.
Object: Tiger player must capture 5 goats or immobilize the goats so they cannot move. The Goat player can only win by immobilizing the tigers.
Goat Player needs 20 pieces of the same color. Tiger Player needs 4 pieces of different color than goats.
-To start the game, place the 4 tigers on the 4 corners of the board. The goats are held off to the side. Goat player start by placing 1 goat anywhere. The players then alternate turns. During the initial phase, goats cannot be moved once placed on the board until all goats are placed.
-Tigers may move from space to adjacent open space following any connecting line. When positioned next to a goat, a tiger can try to "eat" goats by jumping over them in a straight line (as in checkers). A tiger can jump over a goat as long as there is an open space at the end of the jump. Goats can defend against being eaten by having no open places for tigers to land. Tigers may not jump over other tigers.
Once all goats are on the board, the Goat player can move from space to any adjacent open space in any direction. Note, a goat may not move the same pc into and out of the same apace more than twice without moving another goat. If this is the only move left, the goat must forfeit the game.
Strategy Hint for Goats: The goats should try to drive the Tigers toward the edge of the board. Goats must also try to take control of important positions on the diagonal matrix (which has more freedom of movement), the most important being the center square.