Chowka Bhara - Set Up

Set Up

Chowka bhara normally has a 5x5 square and four players, but one can also increase the number of squares depending on the number of players to any odd number x odd number (say 11x11). Assuming the size of the board is NxN (with N being odd), then each player will have N-1 pawns.

The 5x5 version looks as shown in the image - there will be four players each having four pawns, starting at different positions (say North, East, South, West). They will start from the four crossed squares at the outermost ring and each player takes a turn to roll the shells. The mouth of the shell is considered to be of value 1 and the other end is of value 0. However, if every shell manages to show a value 0 (i.e. land on the other end), then the value is considered to be 8. Therefore, the various values of this "special" dice are 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8. If a player has cast the values 4 or 8, then he/she will get an additional turn. This may progress until that player gets a number other than 4 and 8 (i.e. 1,2 or 3).

Depending on the number the player gets, he/she can move one (or more) of their pawns that many number of squares on the board. Each player has a fixed path to move his/her pawns, which is in an anti-clockwise direction. The path for Player 1 is given in the figure above. Each player must completely traverse the outer squares, before stepping into the inner squares.