Objective
The objective of Jeu des petits chevaux is to move all four of your pieces from your starting area to the finish area before other players do so.
Components
- A board with a spiraling track
- Four pieces per player, usually in different colors
- A six-sided die
Setup
Each player chooses a color and places their four pieces on their respective starting area, known as the "home base."
Gameplay
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Determine Turn Order: Players roll the die to determine who goes first. The player with the highest number starts the game.
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Getting Started: To move a piece from the home base to the start space, a player must roll a six. The player can then make an additional roll and move.
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Moving Pieces: Players take turns rolling the die and moving one of their pieces the rolled number of spaces clockwise along the track.
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Capturing Pieces: If a player lands on a space occupied by another player's piece, the latter is "captured" and returned to its starting base.
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Reaching the Finish: To move a piece into the exact finish space, the player must roll the exact number required to reach it.
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Extra Turns: Rolling a six grants an additional turn.
Special Rules
- Strategy: Decide when to bring a new piece into play versus advancing pieces already on the track.
- Blocking: Two of your pieces on a space block other players.
- Risk vs. Safety: Balance aggressive play to knock others back and safely advancing your pieces to the finish.
Winning the Game
The game concludes when a player successfully moves all four pieces into the finish.
Tips
- Stay Alert: Always consider the possibility of rolling a six and plan your moves accordingly.
- Maximize Sixes: Use every opportunity when rolling a six to bring more pieces into play or to capture opponents' pieces.
