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This single
track game is called “Panchi”, is played by two
persons to mark out along the track starting from the opposing
crosscut squares, the first player to complete the looped course
and return home wins. The track is set out as a series of cells
with right angle turns, square holes of 5x5 cells forms a looped
circuit, cross-cut cells, (representing safe squares) occur at
the corners and at the junction of the right angle turns. The
board has 60 squares, out of which 48 are looped circuit and 12
are safe squares. Players have 5 pawns each of red and black
color and the game is played by 7 cowries. The action is
controlled by throwing cowries, requiring 1, 5 or 7 to enter the
game and the same number allows the player to play again. The
other numbers 2, 3, 4 and 6 allow the player to normally move
his pawn. When all the 7 cowries are thrown on their back, the
player looses a chance. Landing on an opposing player’s piece
captures the piece, unless the piece is on a cross cut Safe
Square. An exact throw is required to ‘get out’ and there by win
the game.
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