How to Play Surakarta

By Jaques of London · Est. 1795 · Updated 2026-08-17

Surakarta is a two-player abstract strategy game played on a 6x6 grid with a distinctive feature that sets it apart from almost every other board game: four circular loops at the corners of the board. Pieces slide along lines and, crucially, can travel around these loops to capture opponent pieces in a way that feels unlike anything in chess or draughts.

Players love it because the loop mechanic turns apparently safe positions into sudden traps, keeping the tension high from start to finish. The game is compact, needs no language, and plays quickly, making it a favourite on kitchen tables, at school games clubs, and at family gatherings.

A little history

Surakarta's origins are unclear. It is traditionally associated with the city of Surakarta (Solo) in Java, Indonesia, and is widely described as a traditional Javanese game, but detailed historical documentation is thin. It gained broader international recognition during the latter half of the twentieth century as abstract strategy games attracted growing collector and hobbyist interest, and sets are now produced worldwide.

Setting up

1. Place the board so both players face one of the two short sides.
2. The light player fills the two rows nearest their side of the board with their 12 pieces, one piece per intersection point.
3. The dark player does the same on their side of the board.
4. The two central rows are left empty at the start.
5. Decide who moves first by any agreed method; light traditionally moves first.

How to play

1. Players alternate turns. On your turn you must move exactly one of your pieces.
2. NON-CAPTURING MOVE: A piece may slide one step in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) to an adjacent empty intersection point along a straight line. A non-capturing move cannot use the loops.
3. CAPTURING MOVE: To capture, a piece must travel along a straight line, pass through at least one of the board's circular loops (completing at least part of the loop arc), and land on an intersection occupied by an opponent's piece, removing it from the board. The capturing piece may travel any distance along lines and through as many loop arcs as needed in a single straight path before landing on the target.
4. A capturing move is only legal if the piece actually passes through at least one loop arc during that move. Simply travelling in a straight line without entering a loop arc cannot result in a capture.
5. If a capturing move is available to you, you are not obliged to take it unless house rules specify otherwise (see Fine Points). Standard international rules treat capturing as optional.
6. A piece that enters a loop arc follows the arc and exits on the continuation of the same line on the other side of the board.
7. You may not move onto a square occupied by your own piece.
8. There is no concept of promotion or special status for any piece; all pieces are equal throughout the game.
9. Play continues, alternating turns, until one player has captured all of their opponent's pieces.

Winning and scoring

The player who captures all 12 of their opponent's pieces wins the game. There is no points system and no draws under standard rules, though a draw by mutual agreement or by repeated position may be declared informally if both players agree that no progress is possible.

The fine points

The most common dispute concerns whether a capturing move is compulsory. In many informal and traditional settings, players enforce a mandatory capture rule: if any capturing move exists on your turn, you must take one of them. This significantly changes strategy and is worth agreeing on before play begins. Standard published rules generally treat captures as optional, so clarify this before your first game.

A second dispute involves what counts as a valid capture path. The piece must pass through at least one loop arc during the move; a piece cannot capture by moving in a straight line that happens to terminate on an opponent's piece without entering a loop. Additionally, the piece must travel in a single straight direction throughout the capture, though that direction may re-enter the board at the opposite side after traversing a loop. A piece cannot change direction mid-capture.

How to win more often

• Control the centre early. Pieces placed on central intersections have more directions available for both movement and loop-based captures.
• Learn the loop exit points. Each loop connects specific lines on opposite sides of the board; memorising which entry point produces which exit is the foundation of all attacking play.
• Do not advance your pieces in a solid block. A tightly packed formation can be swept by a single capture run that passes through multiple loop arcs.
• Threaten captures from unexpected angles. Because a loop capture can arrive from the far side of the board, a piece that looks untouchable from your opponent's current position may be in danger from a diagonal approach through a loop.
• When ahead in material, simplify. Swap pieces whenever you can to shorten the endgame; your numerical advantage becomes decisive as the board empties.

Variations

Mandatory Capture

Under this common variant, if any capturing move is available on your turn you must make a capture. You may choose which capture to make if more than one is available, but passing to make a non-capturing move is not permitted. This rule speeds the game up, increases tactical sharpness, and is favoured by experienced players.

Majority Win

Instead of playing to the elimination of all opponent pieces, the game ends after an agreed number of turns or when a set time limit expires. The player with more pieces remaining on the board wins. This variant suits younger players or situations where time is short.

Blitz Surakarta

Each player is given a chess clock with a short time allowance, typically three to five minutes per player. A player who runs out of time loses regardless of the board position. This variant is popular at games clubs and adds significant pressure to the loop-calculation phase of each turn.

Extended Board (8x8)

Some enthusiasts play on an 8x8 grid with additional loop arcs positioned along the sides as well as the corners, and 16 pieces per player. This variant extends the game considerably and increases the number of loop capture routes available, rewarding deeper calculation. Rules for piece movement and capture remain otherwise identical.

Surakarta: frequently asked questions