12 Bead · Rules
12 Bead is the classic Indian two-player game known as Bara Guti, 12 Teni (Tehni), 12 Daane, and a smaller cousin of Sholo Guti. Two players each place 12 beads on a 5×5 board and take turns moving and jumping to capture. Here is how a game works from the first setup to the final capture.
How to play 12 Bead
Five steps — setup, moves, jumps, chaining captures, and winning.
1. Set up the board
Each player has 12 beads. Red fills the top two rows and the left of the middle row, Green fills the bottom two rows and the right of the middle row. The centre point starts empty.
2. Move along the lines
On your turn, move one bead one step along a line to an empty neighbouring point. Some points have diagonal lines too, which gives those beads more options.
3. Jump to capture
If an opponent's bead is right next to yours and the point directly behind it is empty, jump over it. The jumped bead is captured and removed from the board.
4. Keep capturing, then pass
After a capture, the same bead may keep jumping if another capture is possible. When you are done, tap PASS (or the bead) to end your turn.
PASSEnds your turn after a capture
5. Win the game
Capture all 12 of your opponent's beads to win. Think ahead: leaving a bead with an empty point behind it invites a capture!
Ready to try it?
Download 12 Bead free on Android and play online, against the computer, or Pass & Play on one phone.
