KhlaSiKo (Tigers and Cows)

The ancient Khmer game of Tigers and Cows is the national game of Cambodia where it is known as KhlaSiKo.

The game of Tigers and Cows is played on a board of 4 x 4 cells. There is a two-player game of uneven sides and is played with four pieces representing tigers and 12 pieces representing cows.

1- Objective

The objective of the tigers is to capture all cows. The objective of the cows is to hem the tigers in so that they cannot move.

2- Play

The game has two phases. In the first phase, the Tigers are put at corner of the board. Players take turns to plays and cows start first.Only tigers can move at the first phase. Once all cows have been placed to the board, the second phase started in which the cows can move too.

3- Move and Capture

All tigers and Cows can only 1 step upward, downward or left, right. The tiger can hop over adjacent cow into a vacant cell beyond along a straight cell. The latter move captures the hopped-over cow which is removed from the board. Cows can not hop or take tigers. Tigers cannot hop over other tigers.

4- Finishing

A game is won by the tigers if they capture (eat) all cows. A game is won by the cows if they succeed in preventing all tigers from being able to move.