Hare games
Encyclopedia
Hare games are two-player abstract strategy board games that were popular in medieval northern Europe
up until the 19th century. In this game, a dog is trying to get past three hares who are trying to surround it and trap it. The three hares are represented by three pieces which normally start on one end of the board, and the dog is represented by one piece that usually starts in the middle of the board or is dropped on any vacant point in the beginning of the game.
Hare games are similar to Bear games
and hunt games. One side has more pieces than the other with the larger side attempting to hem in the smaller side. The smaller side though is usually compensated with more powers. Where Hare games differ is that the hares can only move forward or sideways, and not backwards. The hunters in the Bear games can move in all directions. Furthermore, the dog in the Hare games cannot capture any of the hares, unlike the tigers, leopards, jaguars, and foxes in the hunt games which can capture their respective prey counterparts.
There are several different Hare game boards depending upon the country of origin. Many preferred the narrow double-ended spearhead-like boards with orthogonal and diagonal lines running through them. There were several variations on this design. However, one in Denmark used a round board. Another interestingly unique design is found in Latvia.
Hare games are referred to by diffent names. In 19th century France, a hare game that was popular among the military was called The Soldiers' Game. The dog is sometimes referred to as a hound, and hence the alternative title to this game as Hare and hounds. Other names are Game of Dwarfs, The Devil among trailors, and Trevolpa or Volpalejden .
The second link below allows you to play this game. In this computer game, the hares and hounds are reversed. Instead, it is the hounds attempting to surround and immobilize the hare.
The dog attempts to pass the hares, and/or reach the other end of the board.
Three pieces representing the hares are of one color, and one piece representing the dog is of another color.
2. It is unknown exactly which animal traditionally starts first, and it may actually depend on which Hare game version is played, or perhaps there was no traditional first player, and it was up to the players themselves to decide who goes first. Players alternate their turns.
3. Hares can only move straight forward, diagonally forward, or sideways. They cannot move backwards in any way. They can only move one space per turn onto a vacant point, and follow the pattern on the board. Only one hare can be moved per turn. There are no captures in this game by either the hares or the dog.
4. The dog can move one space in any direction onto a vacant point following the pattern on the board.
5. If the dog successfully passes the three hares or reaches the other end of the board, the dog wins. If the hares surround and immobilize the dog, the hares win.
, and hunt games such as Rimau
, Rimau-rimau
, Adugo
, Kaooa
, Main Tapal Empat
, Bagha-Chall
, Aadu Puli Attam, and the game called Watermelon Chess
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
up until the 19th century. In this game, a dog is trying to get past three hares who are trying to surround it and trap it. The three hares are represented by three pieces which normally start on one end of the board, and the dog is represented by one piece that usually starts in the middle of the board or is dropped on any vacant point in the beginning of the game.
Hare games are similar to Bear games
Bear games
Bear games is a category of board games of which many have historical roots to the Roman empire. They are still played today especially in Italy. They were played in many parts of the Roman empire as far away as Turkey and France. All of the games are two-player abstract strategy board games. ...
and hunt games. One side has more pieces than the other with the larger side attempting to hem in the smaller side. The smaller side though is usually compensated with more powers. Where Hare games differ is that the hares can only move forward or sideways, and not backwards. The hunters in the Bear games can move in all directions. Furthermore, the dog in the Hare games cannot capture any of the hares, unlike the tigers, leopards, jaguars, and foxes in the hunt games which can capture their respective prey counterparts.
There are several different Hare game boards depending upon the country of origin. Many preferred the narrow double-ended spearhead-like boards with orthogonal and diagonal lines running through them. There were several variations on this design. However, one in Denmark used a round board. Another interestingly unique design is found in Latvia.
Hare games are referred to by diffent names. In 19th century France, a hare game that was popular among the military was called The Soldiers' Game. The dog is sometimes referred to as a hound, and hence the alternative title to this game as Hare and hounds. Other names are Game of Dwarfs, The Devil among trailors, and Trevolpa or Volpalejden .
The second link below allows you to play this game. In this computer game, the hares and hounds are reversed. Instead, it is the hounds attempting to surround and immobilize the hare.
Goal
The three hares attempt to surround and immobilize the dog.The dog attempts to pass the hares, and/or reach the other end of the board.
Equipment
There are a variety of Hare game boards. The more common one is a two-ended spearhead-like board with orthogonal and diagonal lines running through it.Three pieces representing the hares are of one color, and one piece representing the dog is of another color.
Game Play and Rules
1. Players decide which animal to play. Depending on the versions, the hares will usually be placed on one end of the board while the dog will be placed in the middle of the board or dropped onto any vacant point on the board in the first move.2. It is unknown exactly which animal traditionally starts first, and it may actually depend on which Hare game version is played, or perhaps there was no traditional first player, and it was up to the players themselves to decide who goes first. Players alternate their turns.
3. Hares can only move straight forward, diagonally forward, or sideways. They cannot move backwards in any way. They can only move one space per turn onto a vacant point, and follow the pattern on the board. Only one hare can be moved per turn. There are no captures in this game by either the hares or the dog.
4. The dog can move one space in any direction onto a vacant point following the pattern on the board.
5. If the dog successfully passes the three hares or reaches the other end of the board, the dog wins. If the hares surround and immobilize the dog, the hares win.
Related Games
Bear gamesBear games
Bear games is a category of board games of which many have historical roots to the Roman empire. They are still played today especially in Italy. They were played in many parts of the Roman empire as far away as Turkey and France. All of the games are two-player abstract strategy board games. ...
, and hunt games such as Rimau
Rimau
Rimau is a two-player abstract strategy board game from Malaysia. It is a hunt game, and specifically a tiger hunt game since it uses an expanded Alquerque board. The one tiger is being hunted by 24 men. The tiger attempts to eat the men, and the men attempt to trap the tiger...
, Rimau-rimau
Rimau-rimau
Rimau-rimau is a two-player abstract strategy board game that belongs to the hunt game family. This family includes games like Rimau, Bagha-Chall, Main Tapal Empat, Aadu puli attam, and the Fox games. Rimau-rimau is the plural of rimau which means "tiger" in the Malay language. Therefore,...
, Adugo
Adugo
Adugo is a two-player abstract strategy game that comes from the Bororo tribe on the Pantanal region of Brazil.It is a hunt game similar to those found in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It is especially similar to Komikan, Rimau, Rimau-rimau, Main Tapal Empat, and Bagha-Chall as they...
, Kaooa
Kaooa
Kaooa is a two-player abstract strategy game from India. It is a hunt game like Rimau, Rimau-rimau, Main Tapal Empat, Bagha-Chall, the Fox games, and Aadu Puli Attam. However, what makes Kaooa unique is that the board is a five-pointed star or a pentagram. Kaooa is also known as Vultures and Crows...
, Main Tapal Empat
Main Tapal Empat
Main tapal empat is a two-player abstract strategy board game from Malaysia. It is a hunt game, and specifically a tiger hunt game since it uses an Alquerque board. The interesting aspect about this hunt game is that the tigers are able to move as many spaces as they can in a straight line as...
, Bagha-Chall
Bagha-Chall
Bagh-Chal is a strategic, two-player board game that originates in Nepal. The game is asymmetric in that one player controls four tigers and the other player controls up to twenty goats...
, Aadu Puli Attam, and the game called Watermelon Chess
Watermelon Chess
Watermelon Chess is a two-player abstract strategy game from China where it is known as Xi Gua Qi. It is also known as The Surround Game and Globe. It is related to the Bear games of the ancient Romans. In fact, the board is exactly the same as one of the Bear Games...
External links
- http://hem.passagen.se/melki9/haregames.htm
- http://www.mazeworks.com/hounds/index.htm