Chowka Bhara
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Chowka Bara or Ashta Chamma is a two- or four-player board game from India. This game is an example of a “fully observable” system that has an element of chance introduced by the roll of special dice and an element of strategy (the strategy being the pawn the player decides to move after the roll of the dice). While traditionally played with 4 or 6
cowry shell Cowrie or cowry () is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. The term ''porcelain'' derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell (''porcellana'' ...
s,
dice Dice (singular die or dice) are small, throwable objects with marked sides that can rest in multiple positions. They are used for generating random values, commonly as part of tabletop games, including dice games, board games, role-playing g ...
can also be used.


History

The game of Chowka Bhara is one of the oldest
board game Board games are tabletop games that typically use . These pieces are moved or placed on a pre-marked board (playing surface) and often include elements of table, card, role-playing, and miniatures games as well. Many board games feature a comp ...
s in existence, still being played in certain parts of India. There are references to this game in some ancient
Indian epics Indian epic poetry is the epic poetry written in the Indian subcontinent, traditionally called ''Kavya'' (or ''Kāvya''; Sanskrit: काव्य, IAST: ''kāvyá''). The ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'', which were originally composed in ...
like the
Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the Kuruk ...
.


Names

This game is called by various names in different languages in different regions of India. This list shows the name, the language and then the region: *Chauka Bara -
Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
- Mysuru region *Katte Mane - Kannada - Rural Mysuru *Gatta Mane - Kannada - Rural Mysuru *Chakaara or Chakka - Kannada - North Karnataka *Pakidakali -
Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
- Kerala region *Ashta Chamma -
Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of India *Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Telugu language ** Telugu (Unicode block), a block of Telugu characters in Unicode S ...
- Andhra Pradesh/Telangana *Daayam or Thaayam -
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nativ ...
- Tamil Nadu *Atthu (अट्ठू) -
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
- Madhya Pradesh *Kanna Kauri (कन्ना कौड़ी) -
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
- Jabalpur,Madhya Pradesh *Kavidi Kali - Malayalam - Kerala *Chunga (चंगा) -
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
- Madhya Pradesh * Champool/ Kach kangri - Marathi - Maharashtra *Ahmedabad Baji - Gujarati *Chomal Ishto - Gujarati *Kaangi chaala - Gujarati *Mach kooki - Gujarati *Changa po - Rajasthan *Cheeta - Madhya Pradesh *Chanda - Madhya Pradesh Teri chowk- Chhattisgarh


Setup

''Chowka bhara'' normally has a 5x5 square board and four players, but one can also increase the number of squares depending on the number of players to any
odd number In mathematics, parity is the property of an integer of whether it is even or odd. An integer is even if it is a multiple of two, and odd if it is not.. For example, −4, 0, 82 are even because \begin -2 \cdot 2 &= -4 \\ 0 \cdot 2 &= 0 \\ 41 ...
squared (for example, 11x11). Assuming the size of the board is NxN (with N being odd), then each player will have N-1 pawns. The 5x5 version is shown in the example diagram. Four players each have four pawns, starting at different positions at the four crossed squares at the outermost ring.


Play

Cowrie shells used as dice, though in this picture six were thrown instead of the four used in this game. Shows three as is and three inverted. The game is controlled by throwing four
cowry shell Cowrie or cowry () is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. The term ''porcelain'' derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell (''porcellana'' ...
s and counting how many are 'as it is' versus those that land 'inverted': if all four shells land inverted it is called "ashta" and if all land as it is then it is called an "chamma". Each player takes a turn to roll the
cowrie shell Cowrie or cowry () is the common name for a group of small to large sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Cypraeidae, the cowries. The term ''porcelain'' derives from the old Italian term for the cowrie shell (''porcellana'') du ...
s. The mouth of the shell landing upwards has a value of 1 and downwards has a value of 0. However, if every shell shows a value of 0, then the value of the roll is 8 and if all of them shows a value of 1, then the value of the roll is 4. Therefore, the possible values are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. Casting 4 or 8 gives the player an additional turn, which can continue until that player rolls a number other than 4 or 8 (namely 1, 2, or 3). Depending on the number rolled, the player can move one (or more) of their pawns that many number of squares on the board. Each player has a fixed path to move pawns, which is in an
anti-clockwise Two-dimensional rotation can occur in two possible directions. Clockwise motion (abbreviated CW) proceeds in the same direction as a clock's hands: from the top to the right, then down and then to the left, and back up to the top. The opposite s ...
direction. The path for Player 1 is given in the example diagram. Each player's piece must completely traverse the outer squares before moving into the inner squares. The tokens enter the board only after a Chamma or Ashta is thrown. Since each cowrie carry 2 points, 2 tokens for Chamma and 4 tokens for Ashta are entered on the board. The tokens travel anti-clockwise in outer squares, clockwise in inner squares and finally lands up in central square (home), with a throw of Ashta or Chamma. If a player's token lands on a square occupied by opponent's token, then the opponent's token is "killed" and the player gets an extra turn to play. The killed token returns to its starting home square and has to go round all over again. In crossed boxes, killing is not possible. When a token reaches the square left of its home square, it further moves up into the inner squares and now moves in clockwise direction. However the tokens enter the inner squares, only when at least one of the opponent's tokens are killed. Otherwise they keep circling around until at least one of the tokens of opponent is killed by them. Every token need not kill an opponent. Each token finishes its race when it manages to get into the home. The first player to get all his tokens into home wins the game. Whenever a Chamma or an Ashta (4 or 8) is obtained during a throw of cowry shells, the player gets a bonus turn to throw the cowries. When a player cuts an opponent's token, he gets an extra turn to play. During an extra turn, either the same token or some other token can be played. If a player throws either a Chamma or an Ashta three times consecutively during his turn, he is out, and cannot use any of the moves. If a player has cut once, all the coins can move into the inner circle, not necessary for every coin to cut opponent. When most of the tokens are dead, it is possible to bring back the dead tokens. For Ashta, 2 tokens and for Chamma 1 token can be brought back. Cowries and their values: *3 inverted, 1 as is - Move 1 square *2 inverted, 2 as is - Move 2 squares *1 inverted, 3 as is - Move 3 squares *4 as is Chamma - Move 4 squares *4 inverted Ashta - Move 8 squares In Senior board (8x4=32) tokens of four distinct colors are used. Since each cowry carries 1 point, 4 tokens for Chamma and 8 tokens for Ashta are entered on the board. The rules of playing Senior board is same as that of Junior board. When most of the tokens are dead, it is possible to bring back the dead tokens. For 8, 1 token, for Ashta, 4 tokens and for Chamma 2 tokens can be brought back Cases when cowries are cast: *1 as is and 7 inverted; move 1 square In some places there is no move of 1. If you throw 1 as is and 7 inverted ; you move 11 squares and this is also a bonus chance. *2 as is and 6 inverted; move 2 squares ; In some places a player can move Two tokens opposite of the closing square and by throwing 2 one can declare Two tokens finishing the race. As 1 doesn't exist. But making two tokens stand opposite the clearance square also puts the player at higher risk as the opponent can kill two tokens at one time and they have to do the whole race again. *3 as is and 5 inverted; move 3 squares *4 as is and 4 inverted; move 4 squares *5 as is and 3 inverted; move 5 squares *6 as is and 2 inverted; move 6 squares *7 as is and 1 inverted; move 7 squares. If one gets 7 he cannot kill an opponent token by this move and can only carry on a movement normal. *8 as is Chamma; move 4 squares Or Is considered as 12 and gets a bonus to throw again. In ashta chamma played by Telugu people of Andhra Pradesh. *8 as is Ashta; move 8 squares *8 inverted drakshi move 16 squares


Objective of the game

For a player to win, he/she must have all their pawns in the center square.


Rules

This game has several intricate rules which need to be followed. Although there are several variations of this game, the following rules are for the standard implementation if we got 4 time 3 then which player got his pawns will not move and.if We got 4 time 4 them which player and he/she can't not move and he/she turns has cut . 1. A player casts the shells to determine the number of square his/her pawns can move. If a player has cast 1,2 or 3, then he/she needs to choose one of their pawns and move it that many squares along the path designated for that player. The player needs to be able to smartly choose a pawn to move, so that it optimizes his chance of winning the game. If a player has cast either a 4 or an 8, the player will have another turn to cast the dice. The player does not have to move any of his pawns until he has cast 1, 2, or 3. For example, if a player casts a 4, he will get another chance to roll the dice. If on the second turn he gets a 3, then the player can move one of his pawns 4 squares and one of his other pawns 3 squares. He can of course choose to move the same pawn (4+3) 7 squares if he wants to. This argument can be extended to the player getting 3 or more consecutive turns. 2. "Hit": Pawns of two players cannot exist in the same square, other than a "Safe" square, which are marked with an X in the figure. For a 5x5 board this is simply the starting positions of each of the players and the center square. However, for higher dimension boards, more safe squares can be added symmetrically across the board. So if the pawn of player X lands on the same square of a pawn of player Y, then player X has "hit" player Y. Player Y's pawn is returned to its starting square and this pawn needs to start over. For a player's pawn to progress into the inner squares, he should have "hit" at least one of his opponent's pawns. This condition is imposed on the player and not on his pawn. For example, even if one of the player's pawns has hit one of the opponent's, then all his other pawns will be eligible to enter the inner square. If it so happens that a player cannot move any of his pawns because he has not "hit" any of his opponents, then the player will lose that turn. 3. "Double": It is possible for a player to have two of his pawns in the same square. This is called a "double". If a player forms a double on the outer square, then it blocks the opponent's pawns behind him for one move; i.e. if an opponent's pawn crosses the double, then that move is voided and the opponent loses a turn. However, on the next turn for the same opponent, his pawn can go past (or "cross") the double. This rule is applicable for every opponent of the player in the game. This rule is not valid once the double is formed on the inner squares. For the player forming the double, there are two choices on his subsequent moves. He can "break" the double by moving only one of the pawns in it, or keep the double and advance the pawns together. In case a player has got multiple turns (as he may have thrown 4s and 8s), he can treat the double as one pawn and make it move to one of the values on the dice. 4. Double vs Single: It is not possible for a single pawn to "hit" a double. A player cannot move his single pawn to the same square as an opponent's double. A player cannot move past an opponent's double for 1 move. However, a double can "hit" a single pawn, and make it move back to its home square. If 2 singles are in the same square,then the double can "hit" only one of the singles.the other single is not affected at all. 5. Reaching the central square: A pawn needs to reach the central square exactly. For example, if a pawn is 3 squares away from the center and the player throws a 4, then that pawn cannot be moved. If that is the only pawn left for the player to move (which may be because of a variety of reasons such as being blocked by double, or by virtue of being the last pawn left), the player will lose his turn.


Tools

* Four pawns per players (Maximum players - 4, Minimum players - 2) * Four tamarind seeds or four shells or a dice * Piece of chalk * An even surface for the board and to roll the dice (draw 5x5 square on the plane space)


Popular culture

Ashta Chamma plays a pivotal role in the 2006 Indian
art house An art film (or arthouse film) is typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made primarily f ...
film '' Vanaja''. In 2008, a Tollywood comedy film, ''
Ashta Chamma ''Ashta Chamma'' () is a 2008 Indian Telugu-language romantic comedy film written and directed by Mohan Krishna Indraganti. The film stars Nani, Colours Swathi, Srinivas Avasarala, and Bhargavi with Tanikella Bharani in a supporting role. An a ...
'', was released, which was written and directed by
Mohan Krishna Indraganti Mohana Krishna Indraganti is an Indian director known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema. His debut directorial venture ''Grahanam'' (2005) fetched him eleven awards including the National Film Award for Best First Film of a Director ...
. The film deals with four quirky friends interwoven in a romantic narration.


See also

*
Ashte kashte ''Ashta-kashte'' is a race board game from Bengal akin to the Cross and Circle family for two to four players originating in India. Although there is no evidence for that, it is considered by some as the direct ancestor of ''Pachisi''. It is play ...
*
List of chess variants This is a list of chess variants. Many thousands of variants exist. The 2007 catalogue ''The Encyclopedia of Chess Variants'' estimates that there are well over 2,000, and many more were considered too trivial for inclusion in the catalogue. ...


Bibliography

* Mahabharata, Ved Vyasa * Traditional Board Games of India, Raghu Dharmendra
Chauka Bara

Online KavidiKali (Malayalam name of Ashta Chemma)
* Peddabala Siksha (Telugu Encyclopedia) - by Gajula Satyanarayana


References

{{Reflist


External links


Java applet of a player vs player Chowka BharaNodejs implementation of Chowka BharaKavidkali - A flash implementation of Chowka BharaBordgame - An online implementation of Chowka Bhara to play with friends
Traditional board games Race games Board wargames