Kamisado Game Rules

Welcome to the world of Kamisado! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this guide will help you navigate the exhilarating twists and turns of this remarkable game.

Kamisado, derived from the Japanese words for “divine” and “way,” is a strategic board game that combines logic, intuition, and skill. It’s played on an 8×8 board, and each player begins with eight towers, each a different color.

The goal of the game is simple: be the first to reach the eighth row with one of your towers. However, this seemingly straightforward objective becomes a captivating challenge as you encounter the unique mechanics of Kamisado.

Here’s how it works: each turn, you select a tower and move it in a straight line, either orthogonally or diagonally. The twist lies in the mechanism of tower selection. The color of the tower you move must match the color of the last square your opponent landed on. This ingenious rule ensures countless strategic possibilities and keeps the game unpredictable and engaging.

As you progress, you’ll discover that Kamisado is a game of both offense and defense. You must think two steps ahead, carefully planning your moves to outwit your opponent. With every decision you make, you have the power to set traps, block your opponent’s path, or seize the advantage for yourself.

Every game of Kamisado is a dynamic puzzle waiting to be solved. It’s a game that rewards creativity, foresight, and adaptability. Each move opens up new avenues and forces you to react swiftly and thoughtfully.

To truly master Kamisado, I encourage you to study different strategies and experiment with various approaches. As you become more familiar with the game, you’ll uncover hidden depths and develop your own unique style of play.

So, gather your wits, sharpen your focus, and embark on the divine way of Kamisado. May your towers find victory and your mind be forever delighted by the intricate dance of strategy that unfolds on the game board. Enjoy!

Welcome to the game board! It’s a special board divided into 64 squares, each with its own unique color. Isn’t that cool?

This board is actually double-sided. The side shown below is one option, but the other side is pretty cool too. On the reverse side, each square has Chinese characters marked on it.

Why did they do this? Well, there are a couple of reasons. First, it helps people who have trouble seeing colors. They can still play the game because they can use the characters instead. Second, some players just like the way it looks with the Chinese characters. It adds an extra touch of style!

So, you can choose which side of the board you prefer. Either way, the game is exactly the same. It’s just a matter of personal preference!

Did you know that there are sixteen unique playing pieces in the game? They’re called ‘dragon towers’ and have a really cool octagonal shape. Now, here’s the interesting part: half of these towers have a shiny gold dragonscale design on top, while the other half features a fierce black dragonscale pattern.

Did you know that in my favorite game, Sumo Rings, there are two sets of octagonal rings? One set is gold, and the other is black. Each set has different sized rings, and each size is worth a different number of points. Let me break it down for you:

• There are 8 large-sized rings in each set, and each one is worth 1 point.
• There are 6 medium-sized rings in each set, and each one is worth 2 points.
• There are 2 small-sized rings in each set, and each one is worth 4 points.

Now, let’s talk about setting up the game. It’s super easy!

First, place the game board between the two players. We have something called a “home row” for each player. This is the row closest to them. You can tell if the board is in the right place because each player will have an orange square on the right end of their home row, and a brown square on the left end of their home row. Pretty cool, right?

Oh, and here’s a fun tidbit: The game works just as well if you flip the board around. That means the orange square will be on the left, and the brown square will be on the right. So don’t worry if things get switched up!

Now, when it comes to distributing the towers, the more experienced player gets to play with the towers that have gold dragonscale motifs. The other player gets the towers with black dragonscale motifs. It’s all about keeping things fair and exciting!

When it comes to any match, I’ve learned that the player who grabs the gold dragon towers first gets to keep them throughout the entire match. Meanwhile, their opponent is stuck with the black dragon towers.

So now, each player has a tower in every color – brown, green, red, yellow, pink, purple, blue, and orange.

Here’s how it works: both players put all their dragon towers on their own ‘home row’. In the first round, they match the color of each tower with the color of the square it’s placed on. So, the brown tower goes on the brown square, the green tower on the green square, and so on.

I know it can be a bit confusing, so let’s take a look at the starting position for the first round:

Every new round of the game begins with the towers in different positions. This is determined by where each player’s towers were at the end of the previous round. We’ll go over this later in the rules.

The Goal of the Game

The game is played in rounds. In each round, the goal is to get one of your dragon towers to your opponent’s “home row”. This means placing one of your towers on one of the squares in your opponent’s home row.

The first player to do this scores a point. In later rounds, you can score two, four, or even eight points for winning a round. You can learn more about this in the rules.

Before starting the game, you need to decide what type of match you want to play. Here are your options:

• Single Round (where the first player to score 1 point wins)
• In a Standard Match, the first player to score 3 points wins.
• In a Long Match, the first player to score 7 points wins.
• In a Marathon Match, the first player to score 15 points wins.

If you want to know how long each type of match is expected to take, refer to the beginning of this guide.

Special Features

The type of match you choose will determine how many special features you’ll encounter in Kamisado.

In a Single Round match, which ends as soon as one player scores a point, you only need to learn the basic rules of Kamisado. Read the section below on ‘Method of Play (Single Round)’ and you’ll be ready to start playing.

Hey there! Let me break down the different match formats for you. We’ve got three types: Standard, Long, and Marathon.

Each format has its own special features. For example, in Sumo dragon towers are used, and the scoring system is different in the longer matches. Oh, and don’t forget how the towers are set up at the start of each round!

But here’s the best part: you only need to read the rules for the match format you want to play. No need to go through all the others!

How to Play – Single Round

Alright, let me explain the basic idea. In each round, players take turns trying to put a dragon tower on one of the squares in their opponent’s home row. Simple, right?

Which Tower?

Now, let’s talk about which tower you can move. The rules for this are:

Rule T1: In the first move of any round, you get to choose any of your eight dragon towers to move.

Rule T2: For all moves after the first, you have to move the dragon tower that matches the color of the square where your opponent’s previous move ended.

It’s really important that you fully understand this rule before playing Kamisado!

What Moves Are Allowed?

Here are the rules for how you can move a tower:

• Rule M1: You can only move a tower in a straight line, either straight ahead or diagonally ahead. You can never move sideways or backwards, unless it’s because of a ‘Sumo push’ (which won’t happen in a Single Round match).

Rule M2: I can move a tower as far as I want, but I can’t go through a square that already has a tower on it, whether it’s mine or my opponent’s. I can even move a tower from my home row to my opponent’s home row, but only if it’s a straight line and there are no towers in the way. Rule M3: I can only move a tower to an empty square. Two towers can never be in the same space. Rule M4: I can move a tower diagonally between two dragon towers that are positioned on squares that touch each other’s corners. Rule M5: I have to move a tower at least one square if it’s possible to do so. Rule M6: If there is no possible way to move the required tower, meaning it is completely blocked from moving forwards or diagonally forwards, you have to skip your turn. Your opponent will then take another turn immediately. For more information, see below.
Rule M7: The round ends as soon as one of the players successfully moves one of their towers to any square within their opponent’s “home row”. This means they have won that round.

Deadlock Situations and Who Loses the Round

Let me tell you something interesting about this game. It’s actually possible, although highly unlikely, for both players to end up in a deadlock situation. This happens when all of their towers are completely blocked and cannot be moved. In this special case, no further towers can be moved at all. And you know what? The player who made the last move before this happened is considered to have lost the round. Yes, you heard it right. The player who caused the deadlock is the one who loses, and their opponent is the winner of that round. It’s like a tough lesson for making a wrong move!

Strategy in the Opening Moves

Now, let’s talk strategy. I want to show you an example of how the game starts. This example features Alain and Johan. Alain, being the more experienced player, chooses the gold dragon towers. Johan, on the other hand, is still learning the ropes, so he goes with the black dragon towers. And here’s an important detail: Johan has the first move of the round. It’s a chance for him to make his mark in the game!

When we start a game, the first thing to consider is who will move first. In this game, the player using the black dragon towers is the one who takes the first move. We call this player the Challenger. The other player, on the other hand, is known as the Defender for that round.

Now, let’s talk about subsequent rounds. In these rounds, the player who lost the previous round becomes the Challenger and takes the first move. The player who won the previous round becomes the Defender.

Remember to make a move if you can

Whenever it is possible to do so, you must move your tower at least one square. This is an important rule that we must follow.

What if your tower is blocked?

Sometimes, you may find that your tower is completely blocked and you cannot move it at all, whether it’s forwards or diagonally forwards. In this case, you must forfeit your turn. It’s a rule that we need to remember.

In the game, there is a dragon tower that appears to be stationary. However, it is believed that the tower has actually made a move, ending up on a different square.

So, if your opponent’s dragon tower gets trapped on a square, you will have a chance to move again. But here’s the catch – you can only move the tower that matches the color of the square where your opponent’s dragon tower is stuck.

Deadlock

Sometimes, both players can get stuck in a situation where none of their towers can move. This can happen repeatedly in a never-ending cycle, and it’s called a ‘Deadlock’ situation.

When a deadlock happens, the player who moved last before the deadlock occurred loses that round. They are considered to have ’caused’ the deadlock, even if they were forced into it.

Deadlock situations are incredibly rare because players are very careful not to cause them. These situations can happen when there is a never-ending sequence of two dragon towers, four towers, six towers, or even more.

How the Game Ends

When you are playing a game with only one round, it ends as soon as a player moves their dragon tower to their opponent’s “home row”. That player becomes the winner.

If you want, you can play a series of single-round games. Each time you start with each tower on the square that corresponds to it. For each game you play, you score one point. Take turns being the first to move.

More Advanced Game Options

Hey there! Once we’ve agreed to play up to 3, 7, or even 15 points, our game moves on from the ‘Initial Round’ we talked about earlier. Let me break down the exciting new features we encounter in these matches:

• We’ll explore advanced set-up positions to kick things up a notch.
• There’s a super special thing called a ‘Sumo’ dragon tower that comes into play.
• We’ll learn about ‘Sumo Push’ moves that can turn the tide of the game.
• For a standard match, we’ll dive into the scoring system and see how it works.
• Ever heard of a ‘Double Sumo’ dragon tower? Get ready to find out.
• Discover the powerful ‘Double Sumo Push’ moves and how they can change everything.
• If we’re playing a long match, we’ll explore the unique scoring system for that.
• Hold onto your hats because there’s even a ‘Triple Sumo’ dragon tower to contend with.
• We’ll uncover the awesome ‘Triple Sumo Push’ moves and the strategy behind them.
• Finally, for the ultimate challenge, we’ll learn about the scoring system for a marathon match.

We’ll go into all these juicy details in the coming sections. Get ready to take your game to the next level!

Wanna Spice Things Up?

But wait, there’s more! There are other exciting ways to play this game. Let me fill you in:

• click here for the Standard Match
• click here for the Long Match
• click here for the Marathon Match

When you’re looking for a challenge, there’s a match for every competitor. You can choose between three different options: the Standard Match, the Long Match, and the Marathon Match. Each match is designed to push you to your limits and test your skills. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, there’s something for everyone.

Let’s start with the Standard Match. This match is perfect if you’re just starting out or if you’re looking for a quick competition. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and see how you measure up against other players. The Standard Match is fast-paced and exciting, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes.

Next up is the Long Match. This match is for those who want to take their skills to the next level. It’s a bit longer than the Standard Match, giving you more time to strategize and make your moves. The Long Match is perfect for players who enjoy a challenge and want to test their endurance.

Finally, we have the Marathon Match. This match is not for the faint of heart. It’s the longest and most intense match of them all. The Marathon Match will push you to your limits and test your stamina. It’s a true test of skill and determination.

So, if you’re ready to take on a challenge, choose your match and give it your all. Remember, each match offers a unique experience, so don’t be afraid to try them all. No matter which one you choose, you’re sure to have an unforgettable adventure. Good luck!