Fencer, would it be possible if the Alquerque game boards were shrunk down to add double Alquerque here?

http://www.zillions-of-games.com/cgi-bin/zilligames/submissions.cgi/92230?do=show;id=318

Great, I think thats what the majority of players want.

Fencer, if we can come to a consensus on a way to make this game better, would you consider changing it, or does it stand the way it is?

It would seem that in order to make this a better game a new variation of it might be in order. With enough input from players of the game it might be possible. What about playing with 11 pieces instead of 12? Remove the b3 and d3 piece or something similer?

I dont see Fencer setting up two versions of the same game. But either restricting the c2-c3 opening move or somehow adding something like a dice roll to see which color would start the game is an option. Similir to backgammon where the dice decide the color. It wouldn't prevent the c2-c3 opening but would cut down on people padding their ratings by only playing one color.

There are actually two sets of rules for the game. And the varient version of the rules are used here. The orinal rules (Alfonso Rules) allowed backwards jumping where as the newer rules (Bell Rules) prohibit this.

"Alfonso" Rules

Before starting, the pieces (12 black and 12 white) are placed as shown in figure 2. The game is played in turns, with one player taking white and the other black.

* A piece can move from its point to any adjacent point as long as that point is empty.

* A piece can jump over an opposing piece and remove it from the game, if that opposing piece is adjacent and the point beyond it is empty.

* Multiple capturing jumps are permitted, and indeed compulsory if possible.

* If a capture is possible it must be made, or else the piece is forfeited (also known as being huffed).

The idea of the game is to eliminate the opponent's pieces.
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"Bell" Rules

This set of rules was developed by RC Bell in his book Board and Table Games of Many Civilizations, and were presented alongside an argument that the Alfonso rules weren't detailed enough to be able to play the game.

His rules are an extension to the Alfonso rules, they are that:

* A piece cannot move backwards
* No piece can return to a point where it has been before.
* Once a piece has reached the final line it can only move while capturing opponent pieces.
* The game has been won when either:

1. The opponent has lost all of his pieces
2. None of the opponents pieces are able to move.

Bell also includes a scoring system for rating games.