Parforcejagd

Before the actual game begins, the players have to place the same bet, so that the pot a number of tokens that is divisible by six and eight. The stag starts at square "c" and moves in the direction of the arrow with knight moves around the pond. The four hounds beginn at squares "a" and move in the direction the stag follows, one, two, or three squares forward or backward, but never diagonally. The hounds may move over squares occupied by a rider or the dog handler, but not over the square occupied by the stag or another hound. They may also never land on a square already occupied by other pieces. The four riders start at squares "b" and move in the direction of the arrow on the bishop's move, diagonally over as many squares as they can and wish; they too must follow the stag's trail. They may not move over squares occupied by a hound, the stag, or the dog handler. At the beginning of the game, the dog handler is placed on the edge of the board at "k" and, each time it is his turn, he moves one square forward, sideways, diagonally, or backward, like the king in chess. The dog handler may not move to a square occupied by another piece. However, he may move counter to the stag from the beginning, while the riders and hounds may not. The stag may only enter the pond in die middle of the board if he has no other move available, in which case he must pay three tokens to each piece that prevents him from moving further. In the pond, where the other pieces may follow him, all lose their own move in order to continue moving with the king's move, i.e., they swim. The order of moves is as follows: The stag - one knight move The four hounds - one move each as indicated The dog handler - one king move The four riders - one bishop move each Now it is the stag's turn again, and the sequence repeats itself until the game is over. The hunters, hounds, and dog handler win when the stag is so enclosed that it can no longer move, and the pieces occupying the squares to which the stag is allowed to move receive the pot equally. The same applies if the stag is enclosed in the pond. The stag wins when it reaches square "c" again. If the stag cannot reach square "c" because it has been occupied by the pursuers, it can move through the pond to the opposite corner with the knight's move. In this case, the pursuers may not follow it into the pond, but must try to get ahead of it on land to prevent it from reaching the corner opposite "c," where the stag wins and takes the entire pot as the winner's prize. —user summary