How to Play Amazons
The Game of the Amazons is a fascinating territory game invented in 1988 by Argentine game designer Walter Zamkauskas. Players control four amazons (queens) that move like chess queens, but after each move must shoot a 'fire arrow' that permanently blocks a square. The board gradually fills with blocked squares until one player cannot move.
Objective
Control more territory than your opponent. The game ends when a player cannot make a legal move on their turn. That player loses. Effectively, you're trying to secure space for your amazons while blocking your opponent's amazons.
Setup
The game is played on a 10×10 board. Each player starts with four amazons. White amazons begin on squares a4, d1, g1, and j4. Black amazons start on a7, d10, g10, and j7. The arrangement is symmetrical.
Gameplay
Each turn has two parts: First, move one of your amazons any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally (like a chess queen), but you cannot jump over pieces or arrows. Second, that amazon shoots an arrow that travels in a straight line and burns the square it lands on. This square is now permanently blocked.
Winning
The game ends when one player has no legal moves available. Since you must both move an amazon AND shoot an arrow each turn, being unable to do either means you lose. The player who made the last move wins.
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