Jeson Mor

Jeson Mor (English: "Nine Horses") is a two-player strategy board game from Mongolia. It is considered a chess variant. The game is played on a 9x9 square checkered gameboard. Each player has nine chess knights which move exactly as they do in chess. They are initially lined up on the first rank of each player. The players attempt to place one of their knights onto the central square of the board (square e5), and then leave that square.

Equipment

A 9x9 square checkered board is used. Alternatively, an 8x8 square grid can be used with pieces played on the intersection points. Each player has a set of nine chess knights; one set is colored black, the other white.

Rules

• Players decide who will be White, who will be Black, and who moves first.
• Each player's knights are initially set up on their respective first rank.
• The knights move exactly as chess knights.
• Players alternate turns.
• On a player's turn, a knight may be moved to a vacant square, or capture an enemy knight on its square the same as in standard chess.
• The player who is able to reach the central square of the board (e5) with one of their knights, and then leave that square, is the winner. A knight moved to the central square (e5) may be captured. Merely occupying e5 is not enough to win the game; in order to win the knight must subsequently leave the square.
• Alternatively, a player may capture all of their opponent's pieces to win.