Babuschka

Overview

What ABG knows about this game

Uses an 8x8 board with the 12 corner squares taken out. The pieces are nesting Russian dolls (8 each of small, medium and large, for 24 pieces per player). Reminiscent of Halma, the pieces attempt to cross the board and re-form on the opposite side. You only move the topmost of any Russian doll stack and you must land on an empty space or on top of a smaller piece. Checkers-like jumping is also possible. The clever part is that pieces underneath others are out of reach, thus you immobilize enemy pieces by covering them ... until you move away. Ages 8 and up. 2 or 4 players (not playable by 3).