Basilinda (1890)

Basilinda

Basilinda is a board game created by George Howard Monks, the author of Halma, and was first published and manufactured in 1890 by E.I. Horsman, a toy manufacturer from New York. The game originally sold for $1.00 when it was released. Basilinda resembles classic Chinese checkers with the addition of “cannon” and “ca” pieces.

Why is Basilinda Popular?

Basilinda is a popular game because it involves strategy and tactics, and it is easy to learn and play. The game has been linked to the classic board game Halma, which was invented by George Howard Monks between 1883 and 1884. After the success of Halma, Monks created Basilinda, which shares similarities with Chinese Checkers but has unique features such as “captain” and “cannon” pieces.

Game Components of Basilinda

The game consists of a board, a movable partition, and movable pieces. Each player has eighteen men, three cannons, and one captain or king. The game board is divided into two parts by the movable partition, which is placed across the middle of the board.

Game Setup of Basilinda

The game is played by two people, although three or four may participate. Each player places their pieces on the board, and the game proceeds with players taking turns moving their pieces.

Gameplay Mechanics of Basilinda

Basilinda is played by placing cannon and pieces on either side of a screen that is then removed, and the results imposed. Pieces are removed and play continues until one of the player’s captains is killed.

Game Objective of Basilinda

The goal of the game is to eliminate the opponent’s captain or king while protecting one’s own.

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