Chaturanga

How to play

The sixth-century Indian game from which all chess descends. The Raja moves like a king, the Ratha (chariot) like a rook, the Ashva (horse) like a knight. But the Mantri (counsellor) creeps one square diagonally, and the Gaja (elephant) jumps exactly two squares diagonally.

Rules

  • Tap one of your (red) pieces, then a highlighted square to move it there.
  • The Raja, Ratha and Ashva move exactly as the King, Rook and Knight do in modern chess.
  • The Mantri (♕) steps one square diagonally only; the Gaja (♗) leaps exactly two squares diagonally, jumping over anything in between.
  • Padati (♙) foot-soldiers step straight forward and capture diagonally, promoting to a Mantri on the far rank. Capture the AI’s Raja to win.

Tips

The Mantri and Gaja are feeble by modern standards — the Mantri touches only one diagonal step, and the Gaja is stuck on eight squares of one colour forever. Lean on your Ratha and Ashva to do the real work, and use the leaping Gaja to reach over pawn walls the enemy thinks are safe.