Shatra (game)
A chess-draughts hybrid from the Altai region.
Shatra is a chess-like game played in the Altai region, combining elements of chess and draughts. It is notable for its unique board layout, which includes two fortresses connected to a central area, and for its hybrid capture rules.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Shatra
- Italic Title
- no
- Genre
- Board game / Abstract strategy game
- Players
- 2
- Ages
- 7+
- Setup Time
- <1 minute
- Playing Time
- 30 minutes – 2 hours
- Random Chance
- None
- Skills
- Strategy, tactics
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Shatra is played on a board of 62 tiles divided into three areas: a central area of 7x6 tiles and two 3x3 fortresses, each connected to the central board by a single tile called a temdek. The central area is divided horizontally by a ditch. Each player has one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, and eleven pawns (shatras). Pieces move as in chess, but pieces placed in the fortress are called reserves and cannot be moved; instead, they can be dropped onto any free tile on the player's own side of the central board (from the temdek to the central ditch) at any time, ending the player's turn.
Reader's Guide
Shatra's significance lies in its fusion of chess movement with draughts-style capture mechanics. Captures are made by jumping over an adjacent piece to an empty square beyond, with shatras and the king performing short leaps (only over directly adjacent pieces), while queens, rooks, and bishops can perform long leaps (moving over any number of vacant squares and leaping over an opposing man to any vacant square beyond). Capturing is compulsory for every piece except the king, and multiple captures must be continued if possible, choosing the path that yields the most captures. A piece cannot be jumped over more than once in a multiple capture. If a shatra promotes after a capture, it must continue capturing as the promoted piece if that allows more captures. The ditch serves as a marker: shatras that cross it can move like kings. The game ends when a king is captured or stalemated.
Did You Know?
- The board has 62 tiles, including two 3x3 fortresses connected by a single temdek tile.
- Pieces in the fortress are called reserves and cannot move, but can be dropped onto the central board.
- Capturing is compulsory for all pieces except the king, and multiple captures must be continued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of game is Shatra?
Shatra is a board game originating in the Altai region that blends mechanics from both chess and draughts into a single hybrid system.
How is the Shatra board structured?
The board consists of 62 tiles arranged as a central 7×6 playing area flanked by two 3×3 fortress zones, with each fortress linked to the center by a single connector tile called a temdek.
What makes Shatra's capture rules unique?
Unlike standard chess, captures are mandatory for every piece on the board except the king, meaning you must take a legal capture whenever one is available.
How do you win a game of Shatra?
Victory comes either by capturing the opponent's king or by stalemating it so that no legal moves remain.
More in Games related to chaturanga 1-18
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced