description Arimaa Overview
Designed by Omar Syed in 2002, Arimaa is a two-player abstract strategy game that can be played with a standard chess set on an eight-by-eight board. Its animal pieces have different strengths, from the elephant down to the rabbit. Stronger pieces can push or pull weaker opposing pieces, while trap squares make unsupported pieces vulnerable to capture. Each turn allows several steps, creating opportunities to coordinate movement across the board.
The main objective is to get a rabbit to the opposite edge. There are no dice or hidden information, so results depend on the players' decisions. Syed developed the game in response to Deep Blue's defeat of Garry Kasparov, seeking rules that people could understand but computers would find difficult to master. Arimaa suits players who enjoy positional contests and flexible plans, with strength relationships and trap control replacing familiar chess movement patterns.
help Arimaa FAQ
What type of board and pieces are used to play Arimaa?
Arimaa is played on an 8x8 board, similar to a standard chessboard, but it utilizes six different types of animal pieces. The pieces consist of elephants, camels, horses, dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Why was Arimaa originally invented in 2002?
The game was invented by Omar Syed specifically to be difficult for artificial intelligence and computers to master. Syed offered a cash prize for anyone who could build a bot capable of beating top human players.
How do the animal pieces in Arimaa interact with each other?
Each piece has a specific strength level, and stronger pieces can freeze or push and pull weaker opposing pieces. For example, the elephant is the strongest and cannot be moved by any other piece.
What is the primary objective or win condition in Arimaa?
The goal of the game is to move one of your rabbits to the opposite side of the board. You can also win by capturing all of your opponent's rabbits or eliminating all of their possible moves.
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