Bagh Bakr

Bagh Bakr is an ancient predator-prey strategy game played on various geometric grids with 1-4 predators and 12-28 prey. The game features an uneven matchup that emphasizes collective strategy among the prey while allowing the predator to create attack formations to break their defence.

These games were historically popular and can still be found etched onto the stone floors of ancient temples. Variations exist in the grid design, the playing pieces (such as elephants or lions instead of tigers and humans or sheep instead of goats), and the number of pieces used. However, the core principle remains the same: the stronger pieces can jump over and capture the weaker, while the weaker can collectively trap the stronger, limiting their movement and securing victory.

Contents

1 game board

19 stones in two colours : 

a. 3 stones in one colour represent tigers

b. 16 stones in the other colour represent goats

How to Play

I. The game begins with the tigers placed at the intersections marked with the largest dots.

II. The player controlling the goats places one goat at an empty intersection per turn. After each placement, the tiger can move to an adjacent empty intersection along the marked lines.

III. Once all goats are placed, they can begin moving.

IV. Tigers can jump over and capture a goat if there is an empty intersection behind it, forming a connected line between the tiger, the goat, and the empty intersection. The captured goat is permanently removed from the game.

V. Tigers cannot jump over another tiger.

VI. Goats cannot jump over any piece.

VII. A tiger cannot move to an intersection occupied by another tiger.

VIII. Tigers can only jump over one goat per turn and cannot perform multiple jumps in a single turn.

IX. The game ends when:

a. The tigers capture four or more goats, winning the game.

b. The goats successfully trap all three tigers, preventing them from making any legal moves, in which case the goats win.

c. This game is a test of strategy and teamwork, with tigers using aggression and positioning while goats must rely on collective defence and movement restriction.

As shown in the image, another variant of the board allows the game to be played with one tiger and three goats.