How to Play Ludus Lantruncolorum

Ludus Latrunculorum is an ancient Roman board game that you can play on almost any gridded board.

The initial set-up is similar to checkers, but the moves are more like hnefatafl.

The aim of the game is to capture all of the other player's pawns, or their Dux, or King.

Historically, Ludus Latrunculorum has been played on square and rectangular boards from about 7 to 12 squares across. The important point is that the ranks (left to right) are an odd number.

You could make a set in any number of ways, from almost any material, but here I'm just going to repurpose my travel chess set. You could do the same with a draughts set - you just need enough pawns to fill a rank for each player, and a different piece to be the Dux.

Here, I'm ignoring File A, making an 8x7 board.

Each player has a rank of seven pawns, with the Dux in the centre of the next rank.

All the pieces move the same way - in a straight line along the ranks or files (no diagonals), as far as you want.

An opposing pawn is captured (and then removed) by flanking it with two of your own pieces. They can be along a rank or file, but they must be in a straight line.

In both the photos, the red pawn is being captured by white pawns.

A Dux may help capture pawns.

Only one pawn may be captured at a time.

If you capture all your opponent's pawns, you win.

A Dux is captured by being surrounded on all sides by the opponent's pieces.

One Dux may help surround the other Dux, but it is a risky tactic.

If you capture your opponent's Dux, you win the game, even if they have pawns left on the board.

If both players agree before starting, pieces can jump.

If your pawn is already next to an opposing piece, it can jump over to the opposite side of the piece.

The piece you jump over doesn't get removed.

The jump must be the whole move - you can't move to the piece and then jump, nor can you jump and then move further.