How to play Taabla or Tabul Fale

Introduction

In this game, different types of elements are used as dice. The dice used in the game are long semi-cylindrical wooden pieces known as "dicers" or "taablan shakers." In Kannada, they are called "taabla kocchu." This manual will guide you on how to play the game effectively.

Game Setup

The game can be played by 2 people or multiples of 2. Each group should have an equal number of players.

Game Board

The game board consists of a series of numbered squares. The movement reference for the game is as follows:
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
 
Red Birds/Pawns

Home place is 1-12. Red birds shall move from 13-24, 25-36, and 37-48.

Green Birds/Pawns

Home place is 48-37. Green birds shall move from 25-36, 13-24, and 1-12. 

Winning the game

The player who occupies the most squares on the opponent's house row wins the game. Additionally, capturing the maximum number of opponent's pawns is also considered for winning the game. The objective is to occupy as many squares in the opponent's row as possible.

Gameplay

There are different methods for playing the game. Here is the first method:

  1. Tabl (1+1) can be moved as 1 and 1 or a total of 2 together.
  2. Eight/Att (4+4) can be moved as 4 and 4 or a total of 8 together.
  3. Twelve/Bara (6 + 6) can be moved as 6 and 6 or a total of 12 together.
  4. The Dogam (2) and Tigam (3) should be moved as 2 and 3, respectively. No splitting of moves is allowed.
  5. When you get Tabl (1+1) / Eight (4+4) / Twelve (6+6), you will get one more chance to play. This can be repetitive until you get a Tigam or Dogam.
  6. There is no chance to play if you capture opponents' pawns.
  7. You can move more than one pawn based on the throws.
  8. You can capture more than one pawn at a time.

Rolling (Throwing) the Dice

  1. A large circle is marked for throwing the dice. (Optional)
  2. The dice are shaken in hands and hit the floor repeatedly for 2-3 times.
  3. Then the dice are thrown into the air.
  4. The result of the dice throw is counted based on the movement reference provided above.

Pawn Movement

  1. To move a pawn from the home place, a Tabl (1+1) throw is required and can be combined with other throws.

  2. One set of pawns must move from 1-12, then take a turn to 13-24, and then another turn to 25-36, and finally attempt to land in the opponent's houses in 37-48.

  3. The other set of pawns will move exactly opposite to the first set. i.e., 48-37, then take a turn to 36-25, and then a turn to 24-13, and finally try to land in opponent houses in 12-1.

  4. Opponent's pawns can only be captured in the opponent's house row or the middle two rows.

  5. At any point in the game, no two pawns can occupy the same square. Doubling of pawns is not allowed.

  6. All throws must be used at any point in time. If you are unable to make a move, skip the play.

  7. While moving on the board, each pawn can capture the opponent's pawns with appropriate moves and keep moving within the middle two rows.

  8. Pawns can enter the opponent's house either by capturing pawns in the opponent's place or simply moving their own pawns. Once a pawn enters the opponent's house, it is locked and cannot be moved further.