Chess is the best known strategy game in the world. Baghchal is a strategy game from Nepal. They look very different. But a chess player will feel at home in Baghchal faster than you might think.
This post compares the two games side by side. It is for chess players who are curious, and for Baghchal players who want to try chess.
If you need the rules of Baghchal first, read the complete guide.
The two games at a glance
| Baghchal | Chess | |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 25 points (5 by 5) joined by lines | 64 squares (8 by 8) |
| Pieces | 24 (4 tigers and 20 goats) | 32 (16 for each player) |
| Kinds of pieces | 2 | 6 |
| Start | Different for each side | The same for both sides |
| How pieces move | One step along a line | Different for each kind of piece |
| Capture | Tiger jumps over a goat | A piece takes another piece's square |
| How you win | Tigers: capture 5 goats. Goats: block every tiger. | Checkmate |
| Learning the rules | About five minutes | Longer |
The biggest difference: the two sides are not equal
In chess, both players start with the same army. In Baghchal, they do not. One side has four strong, fast hunters. The other has twenty weak pieces that must work as a team.
This changes how you think. As the tiger player, you ask: "Where is the weak spot?" As the goat player, you ask: "How do I stay safe and still push forward?"
Games like this are called asymmetric. Baghchal is one of the simplest and oldest examples.
What feels the same
- Look ahead. In both games, you win by seeing what happens two or three moves from now.
- Threats and forks. A move that attacks two things at once is strong in chess. It is just as strong in Baghchal. We call it a double threat. See our tiger strategy guide.
- Trades and sacrifices. In chess, you may give up a piece to gain something better. In Baghchal, the goats can lose up to four goats and still win.
- Phases. Both games have an opening and an endgame, and the best plan changes between them.
- Traps. A piece with no moves is a problem in both games. A tiger trapped in a corner is like a trapped bishop.
What feels different
- Pieces are all alike. In chess you must learn six pieces. In Baghchal there are only two kinds.
- Safe squares matter more. A goat's safety depends on the point behind it. That idea is rare in chess.
- No luck, but a tiny board. Baghchal is small, so a single mistake can decide the game quickly.
- Placing pieces. In Baghchal, the first part of the game is about placing goats. Chess has no placing phase.
Which is harder?
Chess has more pieces and more rules. So it takes longer to learn. Baghchal has fewer rules, but it is not easy to play well. Researchers needed computers to find out the result of perfect play. A study published in 2009 showed that Baghchal is a draw with perfect play. Chess has not been solved. You can read more in our post on whether Baghchal is solved.
If you play chess, try this in Baghchal
- Play the tigers first. Look for forks.
- Then play the goats. Think of each goat as a pawn that must be protected.
- After each game, find the moment when the game turned. This is the same habit as reviewing a chess game.
If you play Baghchal, try this in chess
- Count what your opponent can attack, not only what you can attack.
- Look for moves that make two threats.
- Keep your pieces connected. A lone piece is weak in both games.
Play Baghchal on your phone
Baghchal Online lets you practice or play for fun in four ways:
- Play real people online.
- Make a private room and send the code to a friend.
- Play 34 creatures that get harder as you win.
- Use Pass and Play to share one phone with a friend. No internet needed.
The app is on Google Play for Android. An iPhone version is coming soon.
Questions and answers
Is Baghchal like chess?
In some ways. Both are strategy games with no luck. Both reward looking ahead. But Baghchal has only two kinds of pieces and the two sides are not equal.
Is Baghchal easier than chess?
The rules are easier. Playing well is still hard.
Has Baghchal been solved?
Yes. A 2009 study showed that the game is a draw with perfect play.
Has chess been solved?
No, not as far as we know.
Which game is older?
Nobody knows for sure. Baghchal has no written history. We cover this in our post on [the history of Baghchal](../baghchal-history/).