Objective of the Game
Jetan, also known as Martian Chess, is a strategic board game set on the planet Mars. The objective of the game is to capture the opponent's King or Chieftain and to gain control of the board through skillful maneuvering of one's pieces.
Game Materials
- A 10x10 board, also called the Jetan board.
- Each player has 20 pieces comprising various ranks: King (Chieftain), Princes, Warriors, Captains, Scouts.
Setup
- Players sit opposite each other.
- Each player places their 20 pieces on the first two rows of their side of the board.
- The arrangement follows a specific order, which can be referenced in the rulebook.
Game Flow
Movement Options
- King (Chieftain): Can move to any adjacent square and capture.
- Princes: Can move or capture two squares in any direction, jumping over an intervening square.
- Warriors: Move one square diagonally in any direction.
- Captains: Move one or two squares horizontally or vertically.
- Scouts: Move one square in a straight line.
Rules
- Capturing: A player can capture an opponent's piece by moving onto the opponent’s piece’s square. The captured piece is removed from play.
- Objective: The ultimate goal is to capture the opponent’s King.
- Stalemate: If no legal moves are possible or if a King is guaranteed to be captured in the next move, the game ends in a stalemate, possibly considering the strategic score to determine a winner.
Strategic Tips
- King's Protection: As with many strategy games, protecting your king piece is of utmost importance. It is advisable to keep some of your stronger pieces near the king to defend it.
- Opportunistic Moves: Always look for chances to capture opponent pieces, particularly strategic pieces like Princes and Warriors.
- Center Control: Like many strategic games, controlling the center of the board is crucial for flexibility and success in the later stages of the game.
End of the Game
The game ends when one of the Kings is captured or in a stalemate, as described above.
