The game does not actually originate from China (nor is it a variation on
checkers or Chinese chess), but was given that name in the United States to
make it sound more exotic. When it was first released in Germany, it was called
Stern-Halma, as it is similar to the older game of Halma except that the board
is star ("Stern" in German) shaped.
[WikiPedia]
Getting Started:
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At the start you have a menu where you select how many players are playing, and
which color they represent. Chinese Checkers can be played by two or three
players. Cycle through each color to either set them as Computer, Joystick 1/2
or none. You you can only set one color to none, but can also have all colors
as Computer to see a demonstration, or perhaps learn some techniques.
Should you chose to play instead of just watching the computer, the next thing
to input is your name(s).
CHINESE CHECKERS
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Rules:
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A Chinese Checkers board is star-shaped with six triangles. Each point on the
board is a field, and each triangle has ten colored fields. Each player has a
set of colors which will fill one star triangle at the start of the game.
The aim of the game is to move all of the ten pieces across the hexagon in the
center and into the triangle opposite with the same color. The first player to
occupy all ten of the destination fields is the winner. There aren't any rules
against blocking another player's destination field with your own, although it
is generally considered cheating or unsportsmanshiplike to do so if it is done
to give a third player an advantage.
To move, players take turns one of their pieces. The simple way is to move from
one field to an adjacent one. The second way is to hop over other pieces on the
board. This can be done over your own pieces, or any other color as long as
they have a vacant field directly beyond it. For example:
x O 2
O * * O
O 1 O
x is your current piece. You can jump over the adjacent piece (*) to 1, then
hop again to 2 and so on. Unlike chess and checkers games, no pieces are
removed in this process.
It is allowed to move one's piece into any gap on the board including fields in
triangles with other players' color, no matter if the triangle is used in the
game at this present time. An exception to this rule is that once a piece has
reached the opposite triangle of its own color, it may not leave this area
again and only move around within the triangle, for example to make space for
others, re-arrange to finish or even a strategic move to block another piece.
Strategy:
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Since you are able to make several hops in a row, it is strategically wise to
make it possible to so by building paths for the pieces to hop on. This way it
is possible to quickly move a piece from one end of the star to the opposite
side. Look out for these opportunities to speed up your movements and
strategically position your advanced pieces rather than getting them 'home'
early. Building a bridge across the way will rapidly move the left behind
pieces across and once they are gone you can start catching up from the back.
In other words, if all goes well the piece that first moved ahead on the board
could easily be the last one to arrive on the destination color.
At the same time you should also look out for opportunities for the other
players to hope across the board. Your strategy should also include ways to
slow down the opponent's pieces and not allow them to cross quickly. With more
player's this is harder as you are required to watch out for more pieces at the
same time.
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This guide is available for and to anyone who wishes to use the information on
their site or in their own guide. Remember this was posted on GameFAQs first if
you want to copy and credit anything.
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