Product Description

Why is this game called Chinese Checkers if it didn’t originate in China and it’s not a variation of the game of Checkers? Chinese Checkers is a classic board game you played as a child that’s still as popular today. The game board features a six cornered star. Each corner hold 10 marbles of a different color. You can play with two to six players. Of course, you could play by yourself, but that would just be sad.

The object of the game is to move all of your marbles from your home point of the star across the board to the opposite home point. Marbles move by jumping over your own or an opponent’s marbles. When you jump an opponent’s marble it is moved back to their home base and must start over. The game may seem simple but involves strategy to create the longest possible hops across the board. Because there are no complex rules Chinese Checkers is a great game for children and adults. This 11.5-inch board is made of natural wood with drilled holes to hold the bright yellow, red, black, blue, green and white marbles.

So how did the game get its name? Chinese Checkers is an adaptation of a game called Halma, which is played on a square board much like a checkers’ board which allows for up to four players. In 1892 the board was modified into a star to allow for up to six players and the game became known as Stern (star) Halma. The game came to the United States in 1920’s. At this time, America was interested in anything oriental after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. The game was mass produced and given the name by J. Pressman & Company to capitalize on that craze.