Shax / Jar

Quick Pitch

Shax (also called Jar) is a Somali strategic board game where 12 pieces per player move along a 5×5 grid with marked diagonals, capturing by forming and breaking mills (three in a row).

Equipment Needed

• One Shax board (5×5 grid with marked connections, or draw on paper)
• 24 game pieces (12 per player, two distinct colors)

Setup

1. Set up the board: a 5×5 grid with all intersection points marked and diagonal connections drawn
2. One player takes black pieces, the other takes white (or contrasting colors)
3. Starting position: 12 pieces per player placed around the outer edges and corners of the board
4. Designate first player to move

Rules

Objective

Reduce opponent to fewer than 3 pieces, or block all remaining pieces so no legal moves exist.

Board Layout

• 5×5 grid with 25 playable positions at all intersections
• Marked connections: pieces move along horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines
• Board structure allows pieces to move in multiple directions

Gameplay

Phase 1—Placement (Opening):

• Players alternate placing pieces on empty board spaces (typically around the board perimeter first)
• Placement continues until all 24 pieces are on the board (12 per player)
• During placement, no captures occur

Phase 2—Movement and Capturing:

• Players alternate turns after placement is complete
• On each turn, move one of your pieces to an adjacent empty space
• Pieces move only along marked lines (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal)

Mill Formation and Capture:

• A mill is three of your pieces in a straight line (any direction)
• When you complete a mill, immediately capture one opponent piece NOT currently in a mill
• Captured pieces are removed from the board
• If all opponent pieces are protected in mills, no capture is possible that turn

Game End:

• Player wins when opponent has 2 or fewer pieces remaining
• OR when opponent cannot move any piece to an adjacent empty space (immobilization)

Key Clarifications

• Jumping not allowed: Pieces move only to adjacent empty spaces; no jumping over pieces
• Mill protection: Only pieces in actual mills are protected from capture
• Once per mill: Completing a mill allows exactly one capture (if available)