Hunt Games 📍 South Asia — played for 2,000+ years ⏱ ~10 min Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

How to Play Tiger & Sheep

A classic South Asian strategy game played for over 2,000 years. Two tigers hunt eight sheep on a triangular board. Tigers win by capturing enough sheep; sheep win by trapping both tigers completely.

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How to Play Tiger and Sheep

Objective

Tigers: Capture 3 or more sheep so the flock cannot trap you.
Sheep: Surround and block both tigers so neither can move.

Placement Phase

Players alternate turns. The sheep player places one sheep per turn onto any empty node. The tiger player moves a tiger or captures a sheep by jumping over it to an empty node behind it.

Movement Phase

Once all 8 sheep are placed, sheep can move to any adjacent empty node. Tigers continue moving and capturing.

Captures

A tiger captures a sheep by jumping over it in a straight line to an empty node directly behind it. Only one capture per turn allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you win as the tigers in Tiger & Sheep?
Tigers win by capturing 3 or more sheep. Once the flock is depleted enough, the remaining sheep cannot surround both tigers and the tigers win.
How do you win as the sheep in Tiger & Sheep?
Sheep win by surrounding and completely blocking both tigers so neither has any valid move or jump available. This requires careful coordination of the flock.
Can tigers jump over each other?
No. Tigers can only capture sheep by jumping over them. Tigers cannot jump over other tigers or move through occupied nodes.
Is Tiger & Sheep the same as Sher Bakri or Bagh Chal?
Tiger & Sheep is closely related to Sher Bakri (Urdu) and the Nepalese game Bagh Chal. All are variants of traditional South Asian hunt games played on triangular boards.
Can sheep capture tigers?
No. Sheep cannot jump or capture. Their only strategy is positioning — blocking the tigers by occupying adjacent nodes until neither tiger can move.
How many nodes does the Tiger & Sheep board have?
The board has 10 nodes arranged in a triangle with two internal horizontal lines and one vertical line from apex to base.

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