Jump an enemy piece to capture it, then remove a second piece of your choice from anywhere.
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About Yote
Free online Yote, the West African war game. Drop pieces onto the board or move them, and capture by jumping - then remove a second enemy piece of your choosing.
Yote is played across Senegal, Mali and the wider Sahel, traditionally in shallow holes scooped into the sand with pebbles and sticks for pieces. What makes it bite is the double capture: a single jump costs your opponent the piece you jumped and a second one you pick from anywhere on the board. That turns one loose piece into a two-piece swing, so strong players keep most of their army in hand and only commit when a drop is genuinely safe. Beginners empty their hand quickly and hand over the game; the reserve is a weapon, not a waiting room.
Frequently asked questions
Why do I get to take two pieces?๏ผ
That is the rule that defines Yote. The jump removes the piece you leapt over, and as a bonus you may remove any one other enemy piece on the board, wherever it stands.
Can I capture diagonally?๏ผ
No. Movement and capture both run up, down, left and right only. Yote has no diagonal lines.
Should I put all my pieces out early?๏ผ
No, and it is the most common beginner mistake. A piece in hand cannot be captured, and a lone piece dropped next to an enemy usually costs you two. Hold your reserve until a drop is safe or useful.
Is capturing compulsory?๏ผ
No. Unlike draughts you are never forced to jump, so you can decline a capture that would leave your piece exposed to a bigger reply.
Can multiple jumps be chained in one turn?๏ผ
Not in this version. Each turn allows one jump, followed by the free removal - which is already a two-piece swing.
How does the game end?๏ผ
When one player has nothing left, on the board and in hand, or has no legal move at all. In practice games are usually settled long before that by the piece count.
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