There is nothing more refreshing then some cool, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. And there’s nothing parents want more than to keep their kids’ minds engaged all summer. Watermelon Chess is the perfect pairing. It has a fun theme and is a great strategy game that kids will want to play again and again.
Originally from China with the name of Xi Gua Qi, I have no idea why it’s called Watermelon Chess. It might be because the game board looks a little like a watermelon? Either way, it’s a fun game that you can make yourself with every day supplies.
Watermelon Chess is a light strategy game similar to Mastermind, Gobblet Gobblers and Blokus.
Supplies For Watermelon Chess
To make this game you will need a sheet of paper, a ruler, a pen/marker, and two sets of six movers in different colours.
Making the Game Board
To start, make a large circle in the middle of the page. Next, draw two lines through the middle of the circle, making a cross. After that, make a smaller circle in the center of the first circle with the middle of the cross in the middle.
Next, draw half circles at the end of each of the lines, connecting with the outer circle’s walls.
There, are game board is ready. If you don’t want to make your own, you can download our game board in our Fun Library.
Playing Watermelon Chess
To set up the game, first place all of the first player’s “seeds” or movers onto the places where the lines intersect, keeping to one side of the board. Next, place the second player’s seeds on the other side of the board in the same spots. Now you are ready to play.
The object of the game is to capture your opponent’s seeds by surrounding them.
The first player moves one of her seeds along a line to the next intersection. It is now the second players turn to move one of his seeds along a line to an intersecton.
When a seed is unable to move because it has been blocked in by the other players seeds, it has been captured and is removed from the board.
Winning Watermelon Chess
To win, you need to capture four of your oponent’s seeds.
Refreshing Fun
Watermelon Chess is a fun, easy to play strategy game that kids will love to play on a hot summer’s day.
If you’re looking for more DIY games that kids love, check out our DIY game section where you’ll find tutorials on how to Pente, Ruma and Story cards game.
And if you’re looking for more watermelon themed fun, check out the watermelon ball that acts like a regular ball but in the pool. You can also see our Pool Games where you can have great summer fun with it. Canadians can shop for watermelon ball here.
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