Kholam

Kholam is a two-player abstract strategy board game originating from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It is a game of capture and territorial control played on a board that typically consists of a grid, though the exact dimensions can vary depending on the specific set.

The game is played with a set of pieces for each player, often stones or counters, which are initially placed on the board according to a set starting configuration. Players alternate turns, moving one piece per turn. A typical move involves sliding a piece orthogonally (horizontally or vertically) to an adjacent empty space.

The primary objective of Kholam is to capture the opponent's pieces or to maneuver your pieces into a position where the opponent cannot make any legal moves. Capture is typically achieved by surrounding an opponent's piece on two opposite sides orthogonally. The surrounded piece is then removed from the board.

Winning conditions vary slightly depending on the specific ruleset being used, but generally, a player wins when the opponent has no pieces remaining, when the opponent has no legal moves, or when a player occupies specific strategic locations on the board and the opponent is unable to dislodge them.

Kholam is considered a game of skill, requiring strategic planning, tactical maneuvering, and foresight to anticipate the opponent's moves. While regional variations exist, the core mechanics of movement, capture, and blocking remain consistent.