Forty-four pieces fill almost every point on the board, and the first capture usually comes on move one. Fanorona unblocked brings the traditional game of Madagascar to your screen, with a computer opponent at three levels or a friend on the same device.
Captures here feel unlike anything in checkers. Nobody jumps. You slide toward an enemy line or pull away from it, and the whole line comes off the board.
How to play Fanorona
The board has 5 rows and 9 columns of points joined by lines, some of them diagonal. Each side has 22 pieces, and white goes first. A move slides one piece along a line to an empty neighboring point.
If you slide into a spot right next to an enemy piece in the direction you moved, you capture it and every enemy piece in an unbroken line behind it. That is an approach. If you slide straight away from an enemy piece you were touching, you capture that line instead, which is a withdrawal. When both are possible, the game asks which one you want.
After a capture, the same piece may keep capturing, but it must change direction each step and cannot revisit a point. You can stop early. Capturing is forced when available, and you win by taking every enemy piece.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Move a piece | Arrow keys and Enter to pick the piece, then the target point | Click your piece, then the empty point it should slide to | Tap your piece, then the empty point it should slide to |
| Choose the capture type | — | Click "Capture forward (approach)" or "Capture backward (withdrawal)" when both are possible | Tap "Capture forward (approach)" or "Capture backward (withdrawal)" |
| End a capture chain early | — | Click "Done capturing" | Tap "Done capturing" |
| Start a game against the computer | — | Click "vs Computer", pick white or black and a level, then click "New game" | Tap "vs Computer", pick white or black and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Take back a move | — | Click "Undo" | Tap "Undo" |
Tips
- Pick the longer line. When a move could capture by approach or withdrawal, count both lines and take the bigger one.
- Think about the chain. A small first capture that sets up two more steps can beat one big grab that ends your turn.
- Stop before you walk into danger. Ending a chain early is allowed. If the next capture leaves your piece open, take the safe stop.
- Use forced captures against your opponent. Since capturing is required, you can offer a single piece to pull an enemy into a spot you can punish.
- Value the diagonal points. Only some points have diagonal links, and pieces on them have more ways to move and capture.
Fanorona questions
Why won't the game let me make a normal move?
One of your pieces can capture somewhere on the board. Capturing is required in Fanorona, so plain moves are only allowed when no capture exists.
Can I play against a friend?
Yes. Pick the two-player mode and share the screen. You can also play the computer on Easy, Medium or Hard and choose your color.
Can I take back a mistake?
Yes. There is an undo button for taking back a move, which is handy while you are still learning how captures work.
