Overview

La-Trel is an abstract strategy board game designed by Richard Morgan. Nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 1996, it features chess-like pieces on a grid board where attackers capture by jumping (as in checkers) and defenders protect by blocking. The goal is to defeat all of your opponent’s attacker pieces.

Components

• 1 game board (grid)
• Per player (16 pieces each):
  • 8 Defenders (placed in pawn positions)
  • 4 Sabres (attacker pieces)
  • 2 Tridents (attacker pieces)
  • 2 Warriors (attacker pieces)

Setup

Each player places their 16 pieces on their side of the board in a chess-like formation:

• 8 Defenders line up in the second row (pawn positions).
• Sabres, Tridents, and Warriors line up along the back rank.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On your turn, move one of your pieces according to its movement rules. If a capture is available, it must be taken (captures are mandatory, as in checkers).

Actions

Piece Movement

Piece	Movement	Capture
Defender	1 square in any direction except diagonally	Cannot capture
Warrior	Any number of squares in any direction (like Chess Queen)	Jumps over opponent’s piece
Sabre	Any number of squares cardinally (like Chess Rook)	Jumps over opponent’s piece
Trident	Any number of squares diagonally (like Chess Bishop)	Jumps over opponent’s piece

Capturing

• Attacker pieces (Warriors, Sabres, Tridents) capture by jumping over an opponent’s piece to land on the empty space beyond (as in checkers).
• Multiple captures in a single turn are possible (chain jumps).
• Defenders cannot capture.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Win condition: Defeat (capture) all of your opponent’s attacker pieces (Warriors, Sabres, and Tridents).
• Defenders do not count for victory – only attackers matter.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Mandatory captures: If a capture is available, it must be taken.
• Defenders are invulnerable targets: They cannot be captured, but they also cannot capture. They serve as blockers.
• Chain jumps: Multiple captures in a single turn are allowed if the jumping piece can continue jumping.
• Movement range: Warriors, Sabres, and Tridents can move any number of squares in their allowed directions, but capture still requires jumping exactly one space over the target.
• No promotion: Unlike chess, pieces do not promote.

Player Reference

Pieces per Player:

Piece	Count	Movement	Can Capture?
Defender	8	1 space, non-diagonal	No
Warrior	2	Any direction, any distance	Yes (jump)
Sabre	4	Cardinal only, any distance	Yes (jump)
Trident	2	Diagonal only, any distance	Yes (jump)

Win: Capture all 8 of opponent’s attacker pieces (4 Sabres + 2 Tridents + 2 Warriors).