Yoté (African Checkers)

How to play Yoté (African Checkers)?

African Checkers is adapted from the traditional "Yoté" game of West Africa (Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso), which has been played for over 200 years. You play on an empty 5x6 board by arranging or sliding 12 tiles from your hand. What makes Yoté special is the "double capture" rule: when you jump over and eat an adjacent opponent's piece, you can remove ANOTHER opponent's piece from the board, absolutely free!

1. The board is 5x6 (30 squares) and initially completely empty. Each player has 12 tiles in hand (in reserve).
2. It's your turn: you can place a tile from your spare on an empty square OR you can move a tile on the board to the adjacent empty square (horizontally/vertically).
3. You can jump in a straight line over an adjacent opponent's piece to eat it and land on the empty square.
4. DOUBLE DEATH: When you capture a tile, you can choose ANOTHER piece from your opponent's board (if you want) and remove it for free!
5. You win if your opponent (board + spare) has no pieces left or cannot move. If neither side falls to 3 or fewer stones and is unable to concede, the game ends in a draw.

Yoté (African Checkers) strategy tips

• Don't throw all your pieces onto the board immediately; The stones in hand are spare to meet threats at unexpected moments.
• Before landing adjacent to your opponent's piece, check whether it can bypass you.
• In a double take, remove your opponent's most dangerous (ready to attack) piece.

Yoté (African Checkers) history

African Checkers is adapted from the traditional game of Yoté played in West Africa (especially in and around Senegal). The board is initially empty and each player can place 12 tiles from the reserve on the board at any time.

The most exciting rule of the game is "double capture": the player who eats a piece can remove one of the opponent's pieces from the board as he wishes. That's why the game is fast and full of surprises.

Other names: Yote, Yote, West African Checkers