Aadu Puli aatam (goat and tiger game) is a strategic, two-player (or 2 teams) board game originated in Tamil Nadu and is also played in Karnataka(Huli gatta) and Andhra Pradesh(Puli Joodam or Puli - Meka). The game is asymmetric in that one player controls three tigers and the other player controls up to 15 goats. The tigers 'hunt' the goats while the goats attempt to block the tigers' movements. Lambs and Tigers Game locally referred as "Meka puli aata" (Telugu: , Game of goats and tigers ?), or "Aadu puli aatam"(Tamil: , Game of goats and tigers ?), or Aadu Huli aata (Kannada: , Game of goats and tigers ?) or Pulijudam is a strategic, two-player (or 2 teams) leopard hunt game that is played in south India. The game is asymmetric in that one player controls three tigers and the other player controls up to 15 lambs/goats. The tigers 'hunt' the goats while the goats attempt to block the tigers' movements.
General gameplay
An alternative version of the game board, white circles represent the initial positions of the three tigers
At the start of the game all the 3 Pulis (dots) are placed on the apex, and 2 inner places closest to the apex. All aadus (goats) start off the board.
The pieces must be put at the intersect of the board lines and moves follow these lines.
The player controlling the goats moves first by placing a goat onto a free intersection on the board. Then it is the puli's turn. One puli is then moved to an adjacent position along the lines that indicate the valid moves. Moves alternate between players.
A puli captures a goat by jumping over it to an adjacent free position (as in checkers). Goats can not move until all 15 have been put on the board.
The pulis must move according to these rules:
- They can start capturing goats any moment after the match has started.
- They can capture only one goat at a time.
- They can jump over a goat in any direction, but it must be to an adjacent intersection following any of the lines drawn on the board.
- A Puli cannot jump over another Puli.
The Goats must move according to these rules:
- They must leave the board when captured.
- They can not jump over the Pulis or other goats.
- They can only move after all 15 goats have been put on the board.
Puli wins if all the goats are captured. Goats' side win if all Pulis are blocked from movement.