Aadu Puli Attam

This game is more of a mind puzzle game, which requires sharp memory power and keen observation. Aadu Puli Attam originated in Tamil Nadu and is a strategic, two-player board game.

It is also popular in Karnataka, known as Huli Gatta, and in Andhra Pradesh (Puli Joodam or Puli-Meka). This game is also used for gambling, as it needs tactics and smarts to win, so many will lose it. The game is asymmetric in that one player controls three tigers and the other player controls up to 15 goats. The tigers ‘hunt’ the goats while the goats attempt to block the tigers’ movements.

Things Needed to Play:

The properties of this game are not much; it needs a board or a chart with a pyramid-like maze with exact partitions. Unique coins to differentiate Pulli (the tiger) and Aadu (the goat) are needed. There should be a total of 3 tigers and 15 goats.

How to play:

This game requires patience, keen observation, and mind calculation to guess what move will block the opponent. The Aadu Puli Attam starts with one tiger at the apex, and the other two are placed in the boxes next to the apex. The important rule is that the coins should move and be placed only at the intersection point of the columns; they should not move, neither inside nor out. The Aadu Puli Attam begins once the goat is placed at a free intersection on the board.

The game becomes more interesting when all 15 goats are inside the columns and start moving. A tiger can jump on any goat and capture it by moving to an adjacent free position. The moves should be valid ones. The goats can move only when all 15 of them are inside the columns; until then, they have to stay still.

Tigers can capture the goats anytime, but only by moving on the adjacent column. A tiger can capture one goat at a time, not more than that. A tiger should not jump over another tiger. Goats can encircle the tiger and block it from moving. Each tiger’s aim is to kill five goats. The victory is based on whether the tiger eats up all the goats or whether the goats block the tigers from moving.

Objective:

This game is played to sharpen the thinking power and develop strategy. Through this game, the players are taught the importance of teamwork and how united and well-guided goats can pause the movement of powerful tigers. And also how to feed on our prey in an efficient way. This game is played mostly by men. In ancient houses, we can see the engravings of this game chart on every verandah.