Pyramid Siege

Alternate Names

No. of Players

Two

Equipment

A Pyramid Siege board, twenty-seven black attacker counters and three white defender counters are required for play. A triangle consisting of six intersections is highlighted n the center of the board and is called the “fortress”.

History

This game originates from Germany or Scandinavia. It is described by Parlett (1), who, in turn, cites Glonnegger.

Objective

The objective of the defenders is to capture all but five of the attackers. The objective of the attackers is to occupy all six positions of the central highlighted triangle, or fortress.

Play

Turns alternate with the defenders moving first.

On the defender’s turn, any single friendly counter may be moved to any adjacent vacant intersection along a line in any direction. Defenders may also jump adjacent attacker counters in a straight line to a vacant position just beyond, thereby capturing the attacker. Only one option is available to the defender per turn however, move or jump; and a defender may not jump friendly counters. A defender may jump and capture multiple attacker counters in one turn with two or more jumps, changing direction after each jump if desired. Captured counters are removed from the board and not entered into the game again. Captures by the defender are compulsory, but if more than one capture move is available to a defender, that player may choose between them. If a jump and capture move is available to the defender and that player only moves a counter instead, the attacker may capture that defender counter as a bonus before his next turn.

The attackers move along a line to an adjacent vacant intersection. The attackers do not jump over counters. They must always move towards the fortress unless no other move is available, in which case they may move in any direction. Once an attacker counter enters any of the six positions of the fortress, they must stay at that position, but may still be captured by defender counters. On a player’s turn, they must move a counter.

Strategy

It takes tremendous skill for the attacker to win this game. The defender, on the other hand, has little to watch for other than....

Incomplete

Variations

Sources

1. Parlett, David. The Oxford History of Board Games. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1999