My family and I were recently asked to review the Board Game Bag from The Paper Bag Company. After receiving the Game Bag, we were pleasantly surprised by what we found inside!
The Paper Bag Company specialise in all things paper bags. And not just paper bags, but also fabric bags too! On their easy-to-navigate website, you’ll find endless options to suit all your bag needs! You can even customise your very own bag!
The Board Game Bag was something completely different to what I have seen in the board game world – and indeed the bag world! The bag itself is a tote bag and is extremely well made and of great quality. The handles are sturdy and the fabric is durable. The unique thing about this bag is it doubles up as a board. Printed on the bag is a full-sized chessboard. The squares are very clearly marked with great colour variation.
Inside the bag, you’ll find chess pieces. These are stored in a neat little bag. The bag also contains scorecards, dice and pencils. Also in the bag are draughts pieces, so it’s 2 for 1 on games night! The pieces fit nicely onto the board – whether you choose to play draughts or chess. They move around the board with ease – it is just like playing on a regular chess board, but you have the convenience of taking your games with you wherever you go!
We travel quite a bit and the Board Game Bag will be perfect for us – we can play chess on the go! All the pieces are stored inside the bag which can be carried on the shoulder. Thanks to its compact size, we can transport our Board Game Bag in our suitcase, or even leave it in the car when we travel. It will be the perfect accompaniment to a quiet evening on our holidays!
To accompany the Board Game Bag, we have put together a brief set of instructions on how to play both chess and draughts so you can get the most out of your Board Game Bag!
Chess Rules
The Chessboard and Pieces
Each player starts with 16 pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. White pieces go first, and the players alternate turns.
Moving the Pieces
Each type of piece has its unique movement pattern:
- Pawns:
- Move forward one square, but capture diagonally.
- On their first move, pawns can advance two squares.
- Pawns can be promoted to any other piece (usually a queen) upon reaching the opposite end of the board.
- Rooks:
- Move any number of squares horizontally or vertically.
- Knights:
- Move in an “L” shape: two squares in one direction and one square perpendicular.
- Knights can jump over other pieces.
- Bishops:
- Move diagonally any number of squares.
- Queens:
- Move any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
- Kings:
- Move one square in any direction.
- The king is the most important piece; the objective is to checkmate the opponent’s king.
Special Moves
Chess includes a few special moves that can change the game’s dynamics:
- Castling:
- Involves the king and a rook. The king moves two squares towards a rook, and the rook jumps to the square next to the king.
- This move is allowed only if neither piece has moved before, there are no pieces between them, and the king is not in check or moving through check.
- En Passant:
- A special pawn capture. If a pawn moves two squares forward from its starting position and lands beside an opponent’s pawn, the opponent can capture it as if it had moved only one square.
- Pawn Promotion:
- When a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it can be promoted to any other piece, typically a queen.
Check and Checkmate
The primary goal of chess is to checkmate your opponent’s king:
- Check: The king is under threat of capture. The player must move the king, capture the threatening piece, or block the threat.
- Checkmate: The king is in check and cannot escape. The game ends with the player delivering checkmate as the winner.
- Stalemate: The game ends in a draw if a player has no legal moves and their king is not in check.
By understanding these basic rules, you’re well on your way to enjoying the fascinating game of chess. So set up the board, challenge a friend, and may your strategy and wits lead you to victory!
Draughts Rules
Draughts, also known as Checkers, is a beloved board game enjoyed by players of all ages around the globe. Its straightforward rules and strategic depth make it a perfect blend of simplicity and complexity. Here are the essential rules of English draughts, the most widely recognized version of the game.
Setting Up
- Board: Only the dark squares are used in play.
- Pieces: Each player starts with 12 pieces, commonly referred to as “men,” positioned on the dark squares of the three rows nearest them.
Basic Moves
- Men’s Movement:
- Men move diagonally forward one square to an adjacent unoccupied dark square.
- They cannot move backwards or onto light squares.
- Capturing:
- To capture an opponent’s piece, a player jumps over it diagonally to an empty square directly beyond.
- Multiple captures are possible in a single turn if the capturing piece can continue to jump over opponent pieces.
- Captures are mandatory; if a player can capture, they must do so.
- King’s Movement:
- A man is “kinged” when it reaches the farthest row on the opponent’s side. This is usually indicated by stacking a second piece on top.
- Kings can move diagonally both forward and backwards.
- Kings capture opponent pieces by jumping over them and can continue to capture in both directions.
Winning the Game
- Victory: The game is won by capturing all of the opponent’s pieces or blocking them so they have no legal moves.
- Draw: If neither player can move, the game ends in a draw.
Tips for Playing
- Control the Center: Holding the central squares offers greater movement options and control.
- Support Your Pieces: Avoid leaving pieces isolated where they can be easily captured.
- Advance with Strategy: Aim to promote your men to kings for added mobility and strategic advantage.
The Board Game Bag is the perfect item for family game nights or for entertainment on family holidays. We will certainly be enjoying our new game pack over the summer holidays!
