Lasca
Lasca is a two-player abstract strategy board game and variant of draughts (checkers), invented in 1911 by Emanuel Lasker, the German mathematician and second World Chess Champion who held the title from 1894 to 1921.[1][2] Played on a 7×7 chequered board, it features unique stacking mechanics where pieces form columns, including captured opponents' pieces as "prisoners," and can be promoted from soldiers to officers (kings) upon reaching the opponent's back row, blending elements of English checkers and the Russian game Bashni.[2][3] The objective is to capture all of the opponent's pieces or leave them without legal moves, emphasizing tactical depth through multi-level captures and strategic positioning of stacks.[2][4] Lasker, born on December 24, 1868, in Berlinchen (now Barlinek, Poland), documented the rules in his 1911 booklet The Rules of Lasca, the Great Military Game, portraying it as a "military" contest of strategy that rivals chess in complexity despite its checkers roots.[1] The game's name derives from Lasker's surname, and it has also been called Laska or Laskers, though it remains relatively obscure outside niche board game communities, with occasional revivals through online play and printed sets.[1][5] Unlike traditional draughts, Lasca's innovation lies in its vertical dimension: capturing involves placing the top enemy piece under one's own stack, potentially freeing lower pieces for the opponent later, which introduces bluffing and long-term planning.[2][4] Each player starts with 11 pieces—soldiers placed on the first three rows of dark squares—moving forward diagonally like standard checkers but with stack tops determining direction and power.[3][2] Notable for its creator's dual legacy in chess and game design, Lasca exemplifies early 20th-century experimentation in abstract games, offering a steeper learning curve than basic checkers while maintaining accessibility for strategic enthusiasts.[1][5] Modern implementations, including digital versions and 3D-printed boards to visualize stacks, have helped preserve it, though it has not achieved widespread popularity.[6][7]History and Development
Invention by Emanuel Lasker
Emanuel Lasker, the second World Chess Champion from 1894 to 1921, invented Lasca in 1911 as an evolution of checkers intended to incorporate stacking mechanics for added strategic depth.[1] This innovation built upon the simplicity of traditional draughts while introducing layers of tactical complexity, aligning with Lasker's expertise in chess strategy.[8] Lasker's motivation for creating Lasca arose from his passion for abstract games, aiming to blend chess-like strategic planning with checkers' accessible rules to produce a more engaging two-player contest.[1] As a mathematician and philosopher alongside his chess career, he sought to design a game that emphasized foresight and adaptability, drawing indirectly from existing stacking variants but refining them into a distinct system.[4] The first public presentation of Lasca occurred in 1911, when game kits—including boards, multi-colored pieces, and a rule booklet titled The Rules of Lasca, the Great Military Game—were sold in Europe and the United States. Lasker personally authored the rules in this publication, ensuring clarity and completeness for new players.[1] Lasker maintained active involvement in Lasca's development and promotion, sharing it within international chess circles during tournaments and lectures to attract fellow strategists to the game.[8] He further documented Lasca in his 1931 book Brettspiele der Völker, where it featured alongside analyses of global board games, solidifying its place in his broader contributions to game theory.[1]Influences and Precursors
Lasca's design was primarily influenced by the 19th-century Russian draughts variant known as Bashni, or "Towers," which introduced the innovative mechanic of stacking captured pieces atop the capturer rather than removing them from play. This column checkers game, played on an 8x8 board akin to Russian shashki, allowed stacks to grow into multi-level towers that could be manipulated strategically, a concept Emanuel Lasker adapted into Lasca's "prisoner" system where jumped pieces become captive layers beneath the opponent's piece. The stacking approach in Bashni aimed to extend gameplay duration and introduce dynamic reversals, elements central to Lasca's appeal. Russian board game scholar D. I. Sargin described Bashni in an 1885 article, contributing to its documentation; Lasker encountered these ideas during his visits to Russia.[9][10][11] English draughts (also called American checkers) provided foundational mechanics for Lasca, particularly the diagonal movement of pieces and the basic rules for non-king captures. Lasker, who regarded English draughts highly for its tactical purity, integrated these elements to form the baseline for his variant, blending them with Bashni's vertical dimension to create a hybrid that emphasized both horizontal positioning and stack control. This synthesis addressed perceived shortcomings in standard checkers, such as overly predictable endgames.[12]Publication and Early Popularity
Lasca was first published in 1911 through Emanuel Lasker's self-published four-page booklet titled The Rules of 'Lasca' - the Great Military Game, which detailed the game's rules and mechanics.[13] Game sets were produced and sold by Parker Brothers in the United States beginning around 1913.[14] The rules appeared in Lasker's later writings, such as Brettspiele der Völker (1931), helping to integrate Lasca into broader discussions of strategic games.[1] Early adoption of Lasca occurred primarily in chess clubs across Europe and the United States, where it appealed to enthusiasts of abstract strategy games seeking alternatives to traditional chess and checkers.[15] It received mentions in 1910s and 1920s periodicals, reflecting growing interest among dedicated players.[15] Lasker's prominence as the reigning world chess champion from 1894 to 1921 significantly boosted initial interest, drawing attention from intellectual and gaming circles familiar with his work. The game gained wider popularity in Germany, the USA, and the Netherlands after World War I.[11] Sales of Lasca sets remained modest in Europe and the US through the 1920s, with production limited compared to standard checkers variants that dominated the market.[14] Despite this, the game saw some uptake between the World Wars, supported by Lasker's promotional efforts and occasional club tournaments. Its popularity waned due to disruptions from World War I, which halted international distribution and events, compounded by the absence of widespread organized tournaments to sustain momentum.Game Components
Board Layout
The Lasca board consists of a 7×7 grid, comprising 49 squares in total, but gameplay occurs exclusively on the 25 dark squares in an alternating checkered pattern, beginning with a dark square in the top-left corner.[4] This setup adapts a standard checkers board to the smaller dimensions required for Lasca, ensuring that only these designated squares are used for piece placement and movement.[16] The board's layout is oriented with columns numbered 1 through 7 from left to right and rows numbered 1 through 7 from bottom to top from the perspective of the white player, facilitating algebraic notation similar to that in checkers variants.[17] The playable dark squares form a distinctive pattern that supports diagonal interactions, visually resembling a cross-like structure when considering the interconnected pathways across the board.[18] To play Lasca, a 7×7 board—often a modified checkers board—is essential, along with 22 stackable discs (11 white and 11 black) that allow for the formation of columns during captures.[4] Pieces are initially placed on the dark squares at each player's end of the board.[17]Pieces and Their Types
In Lasca, each player begins with 11 identical soldiers, also referred to as men, which are the basic playing pieces.[4] These soldiers are stackable discs, typically one color per player such as black for one and white for the other, marked with a spot on one side that remains hidden at the start.[19] The pieces are placed on the dark squares of the first three rows closest to each player on the 7x7 board.[18] Soldiers promote to officers, akin to kings in checkers, upon reaching the opponent's back row, gaining enhanced capabilities.[4] The primary distinction between the types lies in their movement: soldiers can only advance diagonally forward or capture in that direction, while officers are permitted to move and capture diagonally in any direction, including backward.[19] This differentiation allows officers greater flexibility on the board once achieved.[18]Rules of Play
Setup and Initial Positioning
Lasca is prepared for play on a standard 7×7 chequered board, where gameplay is confined to the 25 dark squares, leaving the light squares unused. The board is oriented such that the bottom-left square from white's perspective (row 1, column 1) is a dark square, ensuring consistent positioning across games. Each player receives 11 identical soldiers—flat, stackable discs marked on one side to indicate officers upon promotion—with white assigned to one side and black to the other. No randomization is involved in the setup; the arrangement is fixed to promote balanced starting conditions.[19][4] White's soldiers occupy the dark squares of rows 1 through 3, while black's occupy rows 5 through 7, with row 4 remaining entirely empty to allow for initial forward advances. This configuration positions the players' forces in close proximity, emphasizing the stacking and capturing mechanics from the outset. White always moves first, alternating turns thereafter. The pieces are placed plain side up (unmarked) at the start, ready for potential stacking during play.[17][18] The precise initial placement follows a staggered pattern on the dark squares, akin to traditional checkers variants but adapted to the 7×7 grid for 11 pieces per side:| Row | White Placement (Columns) | Black Placement (Columns) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1, 3, 5, 7 | - |
| 2 | 2, 4, 6 | - |
| 3 | 1, 3, 5, 7 | - |
| 4 | (Empty) | (Empty) |
| 5 | - | 1, 3, 5, 7 |
| 6 | - | 2, 4, 6 |
| 7 | - | 1, 3, 5, 7 |