Grasshopper

Grasshopper is racing game of pure skill for two players invented by Matt Crispin.

Equipment: No dice are used in this game. Each player has fourteen checkers.

Setup: All checkers start off the board. Both players move in the same direction and bear off from the same quadrant. Movement is from Quadrant A to B, from B to C, and from C to D.

Object of the game: To win, a player must score twice, though not necessarily in two successive turns. A player scores by moving his checkers around to Quadrant D, building a wall, and then bearing the wall off.

To start: Flip a coin or roll dice to determine who goes first. The first player enters a checker onto any point in Quadrant A. Then the second player enters a checker onto any different point in Quadrant A. After the first two checkers have been entered, players choose either to enter more checkers onto vacant points in Quadrant A or to move a checker already on the board.

Moving: A move consists of taking a single checker from any quadrant (except Quadrant D) and placing it on a vacant point in the next quadrant.

Walls: A wall consists of two checkers of the same color residing on the same point. Players may build a wall when they have two checkers exactly six points apart by moving the farther-back checker on top of the forward one. Once a wall is built, no single checker of either side may move across the wall. However, the top checker of a wall has the freedom to jump as many walls as there are in its way, provided that beyond them is either a vacant point to land on or a single checker of the same color six points away on which to build a wall. In all other respects, the top checker of a wall is governed by the same rules as single checkers. There will be times when one player is unable to make any move at all. The other player continues to play until the immobilized player has an opportunity to move again.

Bearing off: Once a checker reaches Quadrant D, it cannot move any further until a second checker of the same color joins it and forms a wall. The whole wall can be borne off in one turn. Bearing off a wall scores a point. If the player who last scored a point scores again, he wins the game.

Strategy: Grasshopper gives both players an equal chance. Fast, isolated checkers running to the final quadrant are not effective. Players should advance cautiously in small or large groups. The idea is to build a supply line by occupying the same numbers on several consecutive points. Players cannot build walls in the first quadrant where they enter their checkers. But they can cut off the supply line of their opponent by occupying the point that leads to his wall. The player with the better supply line wins.