Game of the Amazons
Move a queen, shoot an arrow, wall your rival in.
How to play the Game of the Amazons
The Game of the Amazons was invented by Walter Zamkauskas in Argentina in 1988. It is played on a 10×10 board. Each player has four amazons, which move like queens in chess. White starts with amazons on a4, d1, g1 and j4, and Black on a7, d10, g10 and j7. White moves first.
Goal
Be the last player who can move. On your turn, if none of your amazons can make a full move, you lose. In practice the board slowly splits into closed areas, and the player with more room wins.
Turn by turn
Every turn has two steps, and you must do both.
- Move an amazon. Pick one of your amazons and move it any number of empty squares in a straight line: across, up and down, or diagonally, like a chess queen. It cannot jump over or land on amazons or arrows.
- Shoot an arrow. From the square where it landed, the same amazon shoots an arrow. The arrow also flies like a queen and lands on any empty square it can reach, even the square the amazon just left.
- The square burns. An arrow stays on its square until the end of the game. Nobody can cross it or stand on it.
- No captures. Pieces are never taken. Instead, you block squares to shrink your rival's space.
On this site, tap an amazon, then tap a green dot to move. Orange rings then show where the arrow can go. Changed your mind? Tap the amazon again, press Escape, or use Undo to take back the queen step before you shoot.
End of the game
The game ends when the player to move has no amazon that can move. That player loses. Draws are not possible. The numbers next to each name show the squares each side reaches first, a quick guide to who is ahead.
Like territory games? Also try Go or the Viking game Hnefatafl.
Strategy tips
- Stay mobile. An amazon boxed in by arrows is nearly useless. Keep every amazon near open space in the opening.
- Head for the centre early. Amazons in the middle reach more squares and can claim land in several directions.
- Shoot to block, not to fill. The best arrows cut off the enemy's lines or close the door to a region you want.
- Trap a lone amazon. If an enemy amazon sits alone near an edge, a few arrows can shut it in a tiny space. That is often worth more than anything else.
- Count your rooms. Near the end, check which closed areas belong to whom. Fill your own areas carefully so you do not waste squares, and make the last move.
Game of the Amazons FAQ
Can an amazon shoot an arrow back to where it came from?
Yes. The square it just left is empty, so the arrow may land there. This is often the only move left late in the game.
Can pieces be captured?
No. Amazons are never captured. You win by taking away space with your arrows until your opponent cannot move.
How do I cancel a move before I shoot?
Tap the amazon you just moved, press Escape, or press Undo. The amazon goes back to its square and you can choose again.
How strong is the computer?
Easy often plays random moves. Medium judges every possible move by the territory it gains. Hard also checks your best answer before it plays.
