NRICH: Games from Around the World
Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.
Age 5 to 11
Here’s a dectet of strategy games from around the world for you to play over the ‘Olympic’ summer when athletes from many nations will be gathering in Rio for the 2016 Olympics.
Try playing outdoors – at the park, on the beach, in the garden – and use stones, pebbles, shells or acorns for ‘counters’.
See if you can find a winning strategy – can you an become the Achi champion, for example, amongst your family and friends?
Each game is great for developing ‘gold-medal’ strategic thinking muscles – enjoy!
Two Stones
Age 5 to 18
This game is known as Pong hau k’i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Find a friend to play or try the interactive version online.
Sz’kwa
Age 5 to 18
This Chinese game for two players is a simple version of Wei ch’i or Go. Each player has 20 distinctive pieces – try coins, pebbles, shells. You could try marking the board out in wet sand.
Mulinello Quadrupio
Age 5 to 18
A game from Italy. Play with a friend and see if you can be the first to get five pieces in a line.
Pumpkin Patch
Age 5 to 18
A game for two players based on a game from the Somali people of Africa. The first player to pick all the other’s ‘pumpkins’ is the winner.
Mu Torere
Age 5 to 18
Try playing this game from New Zealand at the beach by drawing the board in the sand. Find an opponent and see if you can win by ending up with your shell in the centre space.
Seega
Age 5 to 18
An ancient game for two from Egypt. You’ll need twelve distinctive ‘stones’ each to play. You could chalk out the board on the ground – do ask permission first.
Alquerque
Age 5 to 18
This game for two, was played in ancient Egypt as far back as 1400 BC. The game was taken by the Moors to Spain, where it is mentioned in 13th century manuscripts, and the Spanish name Alquerque derives from the Arabic El- quirkat. Watch out for being ‘huffed’.
Scissors, Paper, Rock Chinese Style
Age 5 to 18
Try the Chinese version of this well-known game with a friend. Great to play in the garden or in the park.
What English games would you add to this collection?
What is your favourite strategy game?
Can you find some more strategy games from other countries?
NRICH provides thousands of free online mathematics resources for ages 3 to 18, covering all stages of early years, primary and secondary school education – completely free and available to all.
An ancient game for two from Egypt. You’ll need twelve distinctive ‘stones’ each to play. You could chalk out the board on the ground – do ask permission first.
Try playing this game from New Zealand at the beach by drawing the board in the sand. Find an opponent and see if you can win by ending up with your shell in the centre space.
A game for two players based on a game from the Somali people of Africa. The first player to pick all the other’s ‘pumpkins’ is the winner.
A game from Italy. Play with a friend and see if you can be the first to get five pieces in a line.
This Chinese game for two players is a simple version of Wei ch’i or Go. Each player has 20 distinctive pieces – try coins, pebbles, shells. You could try marking the board out in wet sand.
This game is known as Pong hau k’i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Find a friend to play or try the interactive version online.
This game for two, was played in ancient Egypt as far back as 1400 BC. The game was taken by the Moors to Spain, where it is mentioned in 13th century manuscripts, and the Spanish name Alquerque derives from the Arabic El- quirkat. Watch out for being ‘huffed’.
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Resource k12
Here are a collection of games from around the world to try during the holidays or the last few weeks of term.
Age 5 to 11
Here’s a dectet of strategy games from around the world for you to play over the ‘Olympic’ summer when athletes from many nations will be gathering in Rio for the 2016 Olympics.
Try playing outdoors – at the park, on the beach, in the garden – and use stones, pebbles, shells or acorns for ‘counters’.
See if you can find a winning strategy – can you an become the Achi champion, for example, amongst your family and friends?
Each game is great for developing ‘gold-medal’ strategic thinking muscles – enjoy!
Two Stones
Age 5 to 18
This game is known as Pong hau k’i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Find a friend to play or try the interactive version online.
Sz’kwa
Age 5 to 18
This Chinese game for two players is a simple version of Wei ch’i or Go. Each player has 20 distinctive pieces – try coins, pebbles, shells. You could try marking the board out in wet sand.
Mulinello Quadrupio
Age 5 to 18
A game from Italy. Play with a friend and see if you can be the first to get five pieces in a line.
Pumpkin Patch
Age 5 to 18
A game for two players based on a game from the Somali people of Africa. The first player to pick all the other’s ‘pumpkins’ is the winner.
Mu Torere
Age 5 to 18
Try playing this game from New Zealand at the beach by drawing the board in the sand. Find an opponent and see if you can win by ending up with your shell in the centre space.
Seega
Age 5 to 18
An ancient game for two from Egypt. You’ll need twelve distinctive ‘stones’ each to play. You could chalk out the board on the ground – do ask permission first.
Alquerque
Age 5 to 18
This game for two, was played in ancient Egypt as far back as 1400 BC. The game was taken by the Moors to Spain, where it is mentioned in 13th century manuscripts, and the Spanish name Alquerque derives from the Arabic El- quirkat. Watch out for being ‘huffed’.
Scissors, Paper, Rock Chinese Style
Age 5 to 18
Try the Chinese version of this well-known game with a friend. Great to play in the garden or in the park.
What English games would you add to this collection?
What is your favourite strategy game?
Can you find some more strategy games from other countries?
NRICH provides thousands of free online mathematics resources for ages 3 to 18, covering all stages of early years, primary and secondary school education – completely free and available to all.
An ancient game for two from Egypt. You’ll need twelve distinctive ‘stones’ each to play. You could chalk out the board on the ground – do ask permission first.
Try playing this game from New Zealand at the beach by drawing the board in the sand. Find an opponent and see if you can win by ending up with your shell in the centre space.
A game for two players based on a game from the Somali people of Africa. The first player to pick all the other’s ‘pumpkins’ is the winner.
A game from Italy. Play with a friend and see if you can be the first to get five pieces in a line.
This Chinese game for two players is a simple version of Wei ch’i or Go. Each player has 20 distinctive pieces – try coins, pebbles, shells. You could try marking the board out in wet sand.
This game is known as Pong hau k’i in China and Ou-moul-ko-no in Korea. Find a friend to play or try the interactive version online.
This game for two, was played in ancient Egypt as far back as 1400 BC. The game was taken by the Moors to Spain, where it is mentioned in 13th century manuscripts, and the Spanish name Alquerque derives from the Arabic El- quirkat. Watch out for being ‘huffed’.
What are you looking for?
Organization
Website URL
Type of Resource
Outside Activity
