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A throw of one side up is a special throw called a tâb. Casting the dice alternately, neither player may move their counters until one of them throws tâb. This player is then granted the first move and that throw of tâb is counted as part of it. After that first tâb, the player casts the dice again and does so repeatedly so long as the throw is a one, four, or zero plain sides up. The equivalent steps to move of each throw are recorded until the player throws two or three sides up. Then the player moves after all casting is completed. Each cast of the turn is counted as a separate move. Each cast is used to move a single counter but the different casts can be used to move different counters in any order.

After making all the necessary moves the dice are passed and the second player attempts to throw tâb. If they do not throw tâb, they are unable to move and must pass the dice back to the first player. If they do throw tâb, however, they continue casting and recording until throwing two or three sides up, as before. Thereafter, turns alternate.

Each counters fist move must be a tâb move as a result of a casting one plain side up, moving one cell ahead. Any counter that has moved ahead as a result of a tâb throw is said to be converted from a Christian to a Muslim. Only a throw of tâb can convert a Christian to a Muslim. Tâb throws must be used to convert Christians to Muslims until all of the casting player's dogs have been converted. However, a throw of a tâb does not need to be immediately used on the turn that it is thrown and may be noted for use at a later point in the game when the player can make better use of it. Only after all of a player's Christians have been converted may they use a throw of tâb to move a Muslim forward one cell. Then, a tâb throw may also be used to unharness a group of friendly dogs (see below).

A player's counters all begin in that player's home row. Each player's counters move to their owner's right in their home row until they reach the end of the home row. Then they move into the central two rows and here both player's counters move clockwise around these two central rows as shown in the diagram.

Any time that a player lands a counter at the last cell of its move that is occupied by an opposing counter(s), the opposing counter(s) is captured and removed from the board and play for the rest of the game.

After one of a player's Muslims has entered into the central two rows and circulated through all eighteen cells of these two rows it may continue circulating clockwise but it is also eligible to turn into the opponent's home row if at least one enemy dog remains there. A dog that moves into the opponent's home row cannot be captured so long as it remains there, but may itself make captures. A player may land a dog in their opponent's home row and even make a capture as a result of that landing, but they may not continue moving that dog along that row so long as they still have any of their own dogs in their own home row. After all of a player's dogs have left their home row, the player may begin moving forward any dogs in their opponent's home row. A dog that has entered and circulated through its opponent's home row may no longer enter the opponent's home row. How do you know????? I think a footnote is required here recommending that counters be specially marked on one side to show that they have been through the opponent's home row. A dog in the opponent's home row follows the course of the opponent's counters through there and then enters back onto the two central rows to continue circulating clockwise for the rest of the game until winning the game or captured. (Not 100% sure about this).

Once a Muslim has left its home row, it may not reenter there for the rest of the game.

When a dog lands on a cell occupied by a friendly dog, the two dogs are stacked together and said to be harnessed. Thereafter, this group moves as a single counter and if an enemy counter lands at their cell they are both captured. If a group of friendly counters lands at a counter occupied by a single friendly counter or vice versa they are then all harnessed together and may still all be captured as a group. There are two ways to unharness any group of friendly dogs. First, if a player throws a tâb and no longer has any Christians, as all Christians must be converted before any other plays can be made with a tâb, they may then move the top dog of that harnessed stack forward one cell and away from the stack. Second, if a harnessed group of counters move into a row through which any of its component dogs have already passed through, they are automatically eligible to unharness and begin separating on the next move.

Confusion ensues as to which rows a counter has or has not passed through. Solution- use four-sided dice (rectangular sticks) for counters. Side 1 in row one side two in rwo two, side three in row three and side four in row four.

Variations

Deleb of Somalia is a similar game.

Sources