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    You are here: Home / Games / Five Field Kono: Abstract Strategy Game from Korea

     

    Five Field Kono: Abstract Strategy Game from Korea

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    My kids are loving all of these traditional games we've been discovering and I hope you have been playing them too! Today's abstract strategy game is from Korea. In English, it is known as Five Field Kono. In Korean, it is called o-pat-ko-no. If you have ever played Chinese Checkers, the game play will be familiar to you. However, my son and I agreed that we like Five Field Kono a bit better because it does not take as long to play. We are big fans of playing games on the fly, so short games always come in handy.

    Five Field Kona is an abstract strategy game you can make at home. Easy to learn and fun to play and good for mathematical skills.

    Note: this post contains affiliate links.

    Watch this video to see it in action or scroll down for the written instructions.

    What you need:

    • Game board. You need a 5 point by 5 point array.  You can draw one yourself using a 4 by 4 grid as shown in the photo and video, or download and print our printable game board.
    • 7 counters per player, in separate colors. Make your own like we did by painting small wooden craft blocks, or pilfer them from games in your closet.
    • 2 enthusiastic players.

    Objective: 

    To speedily traverse the board and place all of your counters on the points previously held by your worthy opponent.

    Five field kona starting position of counters

    starting position

    Instructions:

    • Place counters in the starting position, as shown above.
    • Decide who goes first. (tip: parents never get to go first)
    • Counters may move one point at a time
    • Counters may move diagonally only.
    • Counters can move forwards or backwards.
    • You may not capture or jump any other counter.
    • You may not land on an occupied point.

    Tip: We've played this games dozens of times now. Occasionally the two teams can both get to a place in which they are able to perpetually block each other from moving; or one player can decide to make moves which don't allow the game to make any meaningful progress. When this happens you can either call it a draw, or one player can decide to make a move which allows game play to continue. It wasn't a frequent occurrence, but it is mathematically possible.

    Opening moves in Five Field Kono

    opening moves - made diagonally

    Five field kono blocked moves

    green cannot move forward -- must move backward

    More about Five Field Kono:

    I have shared several types of abstract strategy games. For example, Tapatan is a three in a row game; Pong Hau K'i is a blocking game; Len Choa  and Fox and Geese are a hunt games. Five Field Kono belongs to a category known as replacement games. The game is traditional, but was first recorded in the west by Stewart Culin in his book, Korean games : with notes on the corresponding games of China and Japan, published in 1895. If you are feeling a little nerdy, you can view Culin's book online here.

    If you want to invest in a manufactured version of the game, this wooden game set is gorgeous. But honestly, I would just use our printable. Takes up much less space, right?

    Game nerds will now want to take two actions:

    1. Sign up for our newsletter so you can stay in touch.
    2. Visit all our game posts.

    Five field kono game from Korea

    Five field kono game is great for math and strategy skills. Kids love it.
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    Comments

    1. Fily Davis says

      September 05, 2017 at 2:33 pm

      We just discovered this game today and I've been playing it with my 4 year old and she's beat me twice. I love it!

      Reply

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