Chinese Checkers - Free Go Bang Reversible Family Board Game

You do not need to choose. This Jaques board plays Chinese checkers on one side and Go Bang on the reverse, with instructions included for both games. That means one purchase covers a jumping and strategy game for up to six players plus a simpler placement game for two. It suits mixed-age households who want variety without buying a second board.

Jaques suggests this set from around 6 to 7 years old. At that age children can usually grasp moving a peg into an adjacent hole or jumping over one peg into the space beyond. The pegs are a manageable 2.5cm long, so small hands can place them without too much fiddling. Adults will still enjoy it, since the winning strategy takes longer to master than the basic rules.

This board supports 2, 3, 4 or 6 players, each with ten pegs of one colour starting at a point of the star. You take turns, moving clockwise, and the goal is to reach the star point directly opposite your start. A move is one step into an adjacent hole, or a jump over a single peg into the hole beyond. First to occupy the opposite point wins.

The 60 playing pegs are solid wood, hand carved by Jaques craftsmen and finished in gloss colour, ten per player. The board itself is handcrafted from timber with a gloss varnish finish rather than a printed surface. This is the kind of detail worth checking on any cheaper set, since a printed or plastic-pegged board wears differently over years of family play.

The board is circular, 23.5cm in diameter and 1.5cm high, so it sits comfortably on most side tables or a lap tray. Playing pegs are 2.5cm long with a 1cm widest diameter, and the Go Bang pieces on the reverse are 13mm in diameter. It is compact enough for travel or a games shelf, not a large tabletop commitment.

Yes, instructions are included for both games, since the board has Chinese checkers on one side and Go Bang on the reverse. You get the full rule set for Chinese checkers, covering turns, direction of movement and how jumps work, alongside separate Go Bang rules. Nothing extra needs to be bought or downloaded to start playing either game.

Jaques positions this set as a family game to introduce at Christmas, and it works well for that since it plays 2 to 6 people across two games on one board. The gloss finish and hand carved pegs make it a nicer object to give than a plain plastic set. It suits grandparents wanting something that plays straight away, with no batteries or extra parts needed.

Each player starts with ten pegs at one point of the star and aims to occupy the point directly opposite. Players move in turn, in a set direction such as clockwise, placing a peg in an adjacent hole or jumping over one other peg into the hole beyond. You can chain multiple jumps in one turn, but only one placement move otherwise. First player to fill the opposite star point wins.