Shashi is the game almost everyone in Georgia learned as a child — at school break, in the courtyard or at their grandparents’. Some people also call it damka, after the crowned piece. This page sets out the rules of shashi as Georgians play it, and answers the question of where to play.
To say it plainly: shashi is not on Tamashebi.cc yet and cannot be played here. The site currently has Nardi, domino, Joker, Japanese Joker and Bura — all free and in the browser.
The board and the pieces
Georgians traditionally play Russian draughts. The board is 8×8, with 64 squares, and play takes place on the dark squares only. The board is set so that each player’s bottom-left corner is dark. Each player has 12 pieces — white or black — standing on the first three rows of their side; the two middle rows stay empty. White moves first.
Moves and captures
- An ordinary piece moves one square diagonally forward. It cannot move backwards.
- Capturing: if an opponent’s piece stands diagonally next to yours with an empty square behind it, you jump over it and capture it. Captures may go forwards or backwards.
- Capturing is compulsory: if you can capture, you must. With several options you may choose any of them — in Russian draughts you are not obliged to take the longest capture.
- If another capture is possible after a jump, the piece carries on and completes the chosen capture to the end. Captured pieces are taken off the board at the end of the move.
The king (damka)
When a piece reaches the far row on the opponent’s side, it becomes a king — a damka. A king moves any number of free squares along a diagonal, forwards and backwards, and captures from a distance too — which is why it is called a “flying” king. If a piece reaches the far row in the middle of a capture, it is crowned on the spot and continues capturing as a king in the same move.
Winning and drawing
You win by capturing all of your opponent’s pieces or by blocking them so they have no move left. The game is drawn when both players agree, when the same position occurs three times, or when neither side can win any more. A block often comes at the end, when both sides have few pieces left: if your opponent has no move, the game is won even though their pieces are still on the board.
Shashi and other draughts
Several games share one name online, so check the rules before you look for shashi on a website. In English checkers an ordinary piece cannot capture backwards and the king moves one square at a time. International draughts is played on a 10×10 board with 20 pieces, and capturing the most pieces is compulsory. What Georgians call shashi is usually labelled “Russian draughts” or “русские шашки”.
Quick tips for beginners
- Take the centre: from the central squares a piece works in both directions.
- Do not empty your back row early — it slows down your opponent’s crowning.
- Move your pieces in pairs: when they guard each other’s backs they are hard to capture.
- Compulsory capture is also a weapon: “give” your opponent one piece, they are forced to take it, and then you capture two or three.
If you play shashi on another site or app, first check which rules it uses — and whether it asks you for money. Shashi is a game of skill and needs no money to be fun.
What to play in the meantime
- Nardi — the closest to shashi: two players, a board, fifteen checkers, blockades and hitting. The difference is the dice, which make every game new.
- Domino — a calm, logical game for two in which you count which tiles your opponent still holds. You can practise against a bot here too.
- Bura — if cards do not scare you: a quick game won by counting in your head.
You do not need to register for these games — you join as a guest with a name and an avatar, from your phone too. If shashi is ever added, this page will be the first to say so.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I play shashi here?
- Not yet. Shashi is not on the site. You can play Nardi, domino, Joker, Japanese Joker and Bura now.
- When will shashi be added?
- We cannot give a date and we are not making promises. If it is added, this page will say so.
- Is capturing compulsory in shashi?
- Yes. If you can capture, you must. You may choose any of several options, but you complete the one you chose.
- Can an ordinary piece capture backwards?
- In Russian draughts, which is what Georgians play — yes. A piece cannot move backwards, but it can capture backwards.
- What is a damka?
- A piece that has reached the opponent’s far row. It moves any distance along a diagonal and captures from afar.