Nava Kankari (Nine stones)
Make a line of three and take one of theirs.
- Players
- 2
- Ages
- 7 and up
- What you need
- A grid drawn on paper, and 9 stones each of two kinds
Boards for this game have been found carved into temple steps across India, and versions exist from ancient Rome to medieval Europe. It is one of humanity's oldest games, and it needs nothing more than a stick and some dust to play.
How to play
- 1Draw three squares one inside the other, joined by lines through the middle of each side.
- 2Players take turns placing one stone on any empty point.
- 3Making three of your stones in a straight line — a mill — lets you remove one of the opponent's stones.
- 4Once all stones are placed, take turns sliding a stone along a line to an empty point.
- 5You win when the opponent has only two stones left, or cannot move.
Good for the body
None to speak of — this is a thinking game, and a good one for a rainy day.
Good for the brain
Spotting a line about to form, and blocking it, is pure pattern recognition under time pressure. It also teaches the idea of a threat — a move that is not dangerous yet but will be next turn.
A note for parents
Simple to learn and surprisingly deep — a good first strategy game before chess. Because the board is small, a child can actually hold the whole position in their head, which is what makes it teach rather than frustrate.
Played today?
Ask a parent before going outdoors.