How to play Sholo Gutti (Bead 16)

(Tutorial is in Kannada with English subtitles)

Board Setup

  1. The game begins with Orange soldiers and Black soldiers placed at their starting positions on the board.
  2. Soldiers are placed on designated spots (nodes), and the board lines act as movement paths.
  3. Both players will have an equal number of soldiers.

Movement Rules

  1. Players take turns starting with a randomly chosen player.
  2. In a single turn, a player can either:
    • Move one of their soldiers, OR
    • Capture an opponent’s soldier.
  3. A soldier can move to an adjacent empty position by following the lines on the board.
  4. Movement is restricted to:
    • Straight (forward along the line).
    • Sideways.
  5. Soldiers cannot move backward.

Taking Out Opponents

  1. To capture (eliminate) an opponent's soldier:
    • The player’s soldier must be adjacent to the opponent’s soldier.
    • There must be a vacant position immediately beyond the opponent’s soldier in a straight line.
    • The player’s soldier leaps over the opponent’s soldier and lands on the vacant position.
  2. The captured soldier is removed from the board and considered "dead".

Claiming the Dead

  1. If a player successfully moves one of their soldiers to the opposite edge of the board (the opponent’s starting edge), they can:
    • Revive a dead soldier (bring it back to life).
  2. The revived soldier can be placed on any vacant position on the board, chosen by the player.
  3. This rule adds a strategic layer, encouraging players to aim for the opposite edge to reclaim lost soldiers.

Winning the Game

  1. The game continues until one player captures/eliminates all the soldiers of the opponent.
  2. The player who eliminates all of the opponent’s soldiers wins the game.

 

Strategies

Here are a few strategies to win Sholo Gutti (Bead 16 / Sixteen Soldiers):

  1. Control the Center:

    • Occupy central positions early to maximize movement options and control the board.

  2. Block Opponent's Moves:

    • Position your soldiers strategically to block the opponent from advancing or capturing.

  3. Force Captures:

    • Lure the opponent into positions where they are forced to make moves that expose their soldiers for capture.

  4. Focus on Sideways Movement:

    • Use sideways moves to position soldiers safely and create opportunities for future captures.

  5. Avoid Early Captures:

    • In the beginning, focus on movement and defense rather than rushing to capture, to avoid overexposure.

  6. Target Isolated Soldiers:

    • Look for opponent soldiers that are alone or poorly defended, making them easy to capture.

  7. Advance Toward the Opponent's Edge:

    • Reach the opponent’s starting edge to revive captured soldiers, maintaining your advantage.