Chaturanga Family

 

  

  

                   Shatar is a traditional game of Mongolia.  Modern

                   Shatar is almost the same as chess, with a few rules

                   differences.  However, the old Shatar rules change

                   the rules even more, making for an interesting different playing game. Bers (queen) which moves like a 龍王(promoted rook) in shogi. 

Another possibly older version of the teme (bishop) moves up to 3 spaces diagonally.  This makes sense looking at other games in the Chaturanga family.  Often the bishop type piece moves only 2 spaces diagonally such as the Elephant in a number of games.  So up to 3 spaces diagonal movement seems like a natural change. This later became like a modern bishop with the influence of Chess. 

Pawn promotion is a little different as well.  Pawn upon reaching the last rank of their opponent's side promote to the baras (queen).  However if they go back to the 6th rank they promote to what is called the full-power tiger (the baras being a half-power tiger).  This moves exactly like the queen in chess.   I've put together a booklet describing the rules as I understand them from limited sources.

 

*If anyone has more information of the old shatar rules, I'd love to know.

As well as any old Hiashatar rules.  

 

<- That is my personal set (well, actually my Hiashatar set).  It is a replica of a wooden Hiashatar set from Mongolia.  Getting a nice set outside of Mongolia is expensive.  However, cheap tourist sets are readily available, at least here in Japan, for about $30.