Alquerque (also known as qirkat from Arabic: القرقات) is a strategyboard game that is thought to have originated in the Middle East. It is considered to be the parent of draughts (US: checkers) and Fanorona and the diagonals of its grid are the predecessor of the checkering of the draughts board.[citation needed]
An illustration of the game in Libro de los juegos ('book of games')
The game first appears in literature late in the 10th century when Abu al-Faraj al-Isfahani mentioned qirkat in his 24-volume work Kitab al-Aghani ("Book of Songs"). This work, however, made no direct mention of the rules of the game, most likely because it is poetry and they would have been common knowledge in the context the book originated in.
In Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations, R. C. Bell writes that "when the Moors invaded Spain they took El-quirkat with them".[1] Rules are included in Libro de los juegos ("Book of games") commissioned by Alfonso X of Castile in the 13th century.
An empty abstract alquerque boardThis board graphic displays Moorish design elements relating to the origin of Alquerque. The algebraic notation facilitates move annotation and gameplay discussion.
Before starting, each player places their twelve pieces in the two rows closest to them and in the two rightmost spaces in the center row. The game is played in turns, with one player taking white and the other black.
A piece can move from its point to any empty adjacent point that is connected by a line.
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 removed (or huffed).
The goal of the game is to eliminate the opponent's pieces.
Additional rulesedit
R. C. Bell developed additional rules, saying those given by Alfonso X "are not sufficient to play a game".[1] These extra rules are:
A piece cannot move backward (e.g., a piece in the middle of an empty board would have five available moves).
No piece can return to a point it has previously occupied.
Once a piece has reached the opponent's back row it can only move to capture opposing pieces.
The game is won when either:
The opponent has lost all of their pieces.
None of the opponent's pieces are able to move.
Bell also includes a scoring system for rating games.
An open-source Microsoft C# version of Alquerque 2012-03-08 at the Wayback Machine
Adfree Android APK version of Alquerque, minimum Android 4.4.2 (API-19)
An open-source browser HTML5/Javascript version Alquerque, human vs AI in each combination, game rules and game options. Source: https://github.com/OMerkel/Alquerque
Alquerque at BoardGameGeek - Alquerque rules with some sample situations discussed
January 01, 1970
alquerque, confused, with, albuquerque, also, known, qirkat, from, arabic, القرقات, strategy, board, game, that, thought, have, originated, middle, east, considered, parent, draughts, checkers, fanorona, diagonals, grid, predecessor, checkering, draughts, boar. Not to be confused with Albuquerque Alquerque also known as qirkat from Arabic القرقات is a strategy board game that is thought to have originated in the Middle East It is considered to be the parent of draughts US checkers and Fanorona and the diagonals of its grid are the predecessor of the checkering of the draughts board citation needed AlquerqueAlquerque starting positionGenresBoard gameAbstract strategy gamePlayers2Setup time 1 minuteChanceNoneSkillsStrategy tacticsSynonymsQirkat Contents 1 History 2 Rules 2 1 Additional rules 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp An illustration of the game in Libro de los juegos book of games The game first appears in literature late in the 10th century when Abu al Faraj al Isfahani mentioned qirkat in his 24 volume work Kitab al Aghani Book of Songs This work however made no direct mention of the rules of the game most likely because it is poetry and they would have been common knowledge in the context the book originated in In Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations R C Bell writes that when the Moors invaded Spain they took El quirkat with them 1 Rules are included in Libro de los juegos Book of games commissioned by Alfonso X of Castile in the 13th century Spanish settlers in New Mexico introduced a four player variant of alquerque to the Zuni Rules edit nbsp An empty abstract alquerque board nbsp This board graphic displays Moorish design elements relating to the origin of Alquerque The algebraic notation facilitates move annotation and gameplay discussion Before starting each player places their twelve pieces in the two rows closest to them and in the two rightmost spaces in the center row The game is played in turns with one player taking white and the other black A piece can move from its point to any empty adjacent point that is connected by a line 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 removed or huffed The goal of the game is to eliminate the opponent s pieces Additional rules edit R C Bell developed additional rules saying those given by Alfonso X are not sufficient to play a game 1 These extra rules are A piece cannot move backward e g a piece in the middle of an empty board would have five available moves No piece can return to a point it has previously occupied Once a piece has reached the opponent s back row it can only move to capture opposing pieces The game is won when either The opponent has lost all of their pieces None of the opponent s pieces are able to move Bell also includes a scoring system for rating games See also editAdugo Bagh bandi Bagh chal Buga shadara English draughts Fetaix Kharbaga Komikan Kotu Ellima Meurimueng rimueng peuet ploh tiger game played with forty Peralikatuma Permainan Tabal Rimau Sher bakar Sixteen soldiers ZammaReferences edit a b Bell R C 1979 Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations volume 1 New York City Dover Publications pp 47 48 ISBN 0 486 23855 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alquerque An open source Microsoft C version of Alquerque Archived 2012 03 08 at the Wayback Machine Adfree Android APK version of Alquerque minimum Android 4 4 2 API 19 An open source browser HTML5 Javascript version Alquerque human vs AI in each combination game rules and game options Source https github com OMerkel Alquerque Alquerque at BoardGameGeek Alquerque rules with some sample situations discussed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alquerque amp oldid 1193134786, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
