Juroku Musashi: Rules and How to Play
As the Parent or sixteen Children, alternate one step along a line: the Parent captures by stepping between two Children; Children trap the Parent by blocking every exit.
Setup
- Two players: the Parent starts at the centre and sixteen Children at the edges. Parent moves first.
How to play
- Alternate moving one piece one step along a line to an empty neighbouring point.
- When the Parent steps to a point with two Children right beside it on opposite sides of one connected line, it captures both; all such pairs are captured, and captured Children do not return.
- Children must not repeat a previous position and turn. Only positions just after Child moves, and the initial position if Parent moves first, are recorded.
Winning and scoring
- Children win immediately when every exit of the Parent is blocked.
- Parent wins when six or fewer Children remain (ten captured).
- Parent also wins when Children have no legal move or fail to trap it in 100 Child moves. You may resign.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| First moveFirst moveThe side set to move first plays the opening move. The Parent starts in the centre and the sixteen Children on the outer edge. With role swapping on, the next game exchanges the sides. | Choose which side (Parent or Children) moves first. This is not your role: in the first game the first seated player is the Parent and the next is the Children. | Parent (standard) | Can be changed |
| Parent wins atParent wins atSets how many Children the Parent must capture to win. Standard is ten (six or fewer left). Because the Children are favoured, lowering this to six makes Parent practice more balanced. | The Parent wins when six or fewer Children remain. Children have the advantage; capturing six can help practise as the Parent. | Capture 10 (about 15 min) | Can be changed |
| Child move limitChild move limitOnly Child moves are counted. If the limit passes without the Parent being boxed in, the Parent wins. With no limit, patient Children can keep playing and games run long. | Count only Child moves. If they cannot trap the Parent by the limit, the Parent wins. This limit keeps games from running too long. | 100 (about 15 min, standard) | Can be changed |
| Board shapeBoard shapeThe standard board is the 5x5 square plus the triangular Setchin on the right, 33 points in all. The 25-point square board, as in Edo-period diagrams, drops the eight Setchin points for a smaller, simpler board. | Setchin is the triangle on the right. You can also choose the square board used in Edo-period diagrams. | 33 points with Setchin (standard) | Can be changed |
| Swap roles on rematch | Swap Parent and Children on rematch. | On | Can be changed |
| Show threatened Children | Dashed rings show Children the Parent could capture next. On the Parent’s turn, show capturing destinations and counts. | On | Can be changed |
Terms
- Point
- An intersection where a piece stands.
- Line
- Connects neighbouring points for a one-step move.
- Setchin
- Eight points in the triangle on the right.
- Pair capture
- Parent steps between two Children and takes both.
- Repetition
- Repeating a position and turn; Child moves must avoid it.
- Trap
- Block every exit of the Parent. Children win.
FAQ
Which side has the advantage?
Children. For Parent practice, you can lower the capture target to six.
Can Children capture the Parent?
No. Children win by blocking every exit.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-10-08 · Run by Qdan, Inc.