Fighting Serpents (1500)
Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents)
Kolowis Awithlaknannai, also known as Fighting Serpents, is a two-player strategy board game from the Zuni Native American Indians. It was first described by Stewart Culin in his book Games of the North American Indians (1907), and may have been the first publication of the game. The game is a relative of Draughts and Alquerque, and captures are done by jumping over pieces. The Spanish are thought to have brought the game of Alquerque to America several centuries ago, and the game’s development may have been influenced, however there is no conclusive proof. The game is actually more related to Alquerque than Draughts, because pieces can move in any direction from the start of the game, and there is no back row or promotion to King.
Why is Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents) Popular?
Kolowis Awithlaknannai is significant because it is a traditional abstract strategy game from the Zuni people, and it is part of the Alquerque family of games. It is a unique variant of the game, with a board that is neither an n x n square board nor an Alquerque board. The game is popular among those interested in traditional games from around the world.
Game Components of Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents)
Game board23 tokens per player
Game Setup of Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents)
The game board consists of pairs of triangles.Each player starts with 23 tokens of the color of their choice.Tokens are placed on the row of 16 spaces closest to the player and the remaining 7 tokens are placed on the player’s right of the middle row, leaving the middle space empty and 2 spaces on either end of the board empty.
Gameplay Mechanics of Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents)
Pieces can move in any direction from the start of the game, and there is no back row or promotion to King.Captures are done by jumping over pieces.Players must capture a token if the move is available, however, they can choose to stop a capture chain at any point, ending their turn.
Game Objective of Kolowis Awithlaknannai (Fighting Serpents)
The goal of the game is to eliminate the other player’s tokens. If that’s not possible, then the player with the most tokens left in the game is the winner. Another way to win is to block the opponent so that they cannot make a move.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.
