Pelainen
Pelainen refers to a traditional Finnish board game that has been played for centuries, particularly in rural areas. The game is a form of checkers or draughts, with roots tracing back to earlier European and Middle Eastern games. Pelainen is typically played on a wooden board divided into 64 squares, arranged in an 8x8 grid, similar to a chessboard. The game is played by two players, each controlling 12 pieces, usually made of wood or stone, which are placed on the dark squares of the board.
The objective of Pelainen is to capture all of the opponent's pieces by moving them diagonally forward
Regional variations of Pelainen exist across Finland, with slight differences in rules, board design, and piece
Pelainen holds cultural significance in Finland, reflecting the country's history of folk games and communal leisure