Onitama Game

2 minutes to learn, 10 minutes to play, a lifetime to master! Onitama is a two-player, perfect information abstract game with a random starting set-up. On a 5x5 board, both players start with five pawns on their side, with the master pawn in the middle (the Shrine).

 

Each player has two open cards that each display a possible move for any of her pieces. There is a fifth card that cannot be used by either player. On a player's turn, she chooses one of her cards, moves one of her pieces according to the chosen card, then replaces the card she used with the fifth card. The other player then chooses one of his cards, moves accordingly, and exchanges that card with this fifth card — which is, of course, the card the first player just used.

 

Moving onto one of the opponent's pawns removes that pawn from the game. Taking the opponent master pawn, or moving your master pawn into the opponent master pawn's Shrine, wins you the game.