Picaria-New Mexico Pueblo game
One site suggested: "Picaria is an abstract strategy game very similar to tic-tac-toe and checkers, which was popular among the Pueblo people and other nearby tribes in the American Southwest. The two player game is played on a board with four “exed” out boxes creating 13 intersection points. Each player is given three stones, which are placed in alternating turns on the board until all six stones are in play. After all of the stones have been placed players move their stones along the lines from intersection to intersection, until one player has aligned three of their pieces in a row. Each player can only move one space at a time and jumping is not allowed. It’s a very simple game with some fun math-based strategies—think a simpler version of go mixed with that tic-tac-toe pub game. "
I was searching information that would be historical for our farm and our area and wondered how those who lived here before the Thanksgiving Day parade was on TV but in the field might have entertained themselves while the bird was roasting. I didn't find much but did find this game that some natives in the US might have played. There was a hint that this is played somewhat like our current tic-tac-toe in research. I'm sure mothers didn't draw this one on placemats in restaurants to play with their children as they waited for food to be served, as I did oh, so many times with CJ. I love the board, which was likely on a skin or drawn on the earth with a stick. Stones are used to mark the places.
One site suggested: "Picaria is an abstract strategy game very similar to tic-tac-toe and checkers, which was popular among the Pueblo people and other nearby tribes in the American Southwest. The two player game is played on a board with four “exed” out boxes creating 13 intersection points. Each player is given three stones, which are placed in alternating turns on the board until all six stones are in play. After all of the stones have been placed players move their stones along the lines from intersection to intersection, until one player has aligned three of their pieces in a row. Each player can only move one space at a time and jumping is not allowed. It’s a very simple game with some fun math-based strategies—think a simpler version of go mixed with that tic-tac-toe pub game. "
I found it interesting that this game of strategy and math was actually simplified as the generations passed to the tic-tac-toe we play today. While this is a simple game, easy enough for children, I find that the math skills in strategy are a higher order thinking. I'm left to wonder if this was an adult game or if parents might have played with their children. It helped me reminice about my grandmother, would pull out the checkers when I stayed the night and she would teach me about the strategy of winning this game. I also remember when she stopped letting me win and made me earn the victory. A hard lesson that would take many frustrating attempts before success.
For more specific Picaria directions:
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.00/treptau1/game11.html
http://mathcentral.uregina.ca/RR/database/RR.09.00/treptau1/game11.html
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