shiku

Shiku, also known as Sikko or Xiqiu, is a traditional Chinese board game played with black and white stones. The game is similar to Go but with distinct differences in its objective and rules. The primary goal in Shiku is to surround a larger area of the board than your opponent. Players take turns placing stones on the intersections of the grid. Unlike Go, where capturing stones is a significant part of the strategy, Shiku focuses more on territorial control.

The board for Shiku is typically a grid, though the exact size can vary. The game begins with an empty board. Players alternate placing one stone of their color on any vacant intersection. Stones are not captured in the same manner as in Go; instead, they are used to delineate territory. A player's territory is defined as the empty intersections completely surrounded by their stones. The game ends when both players pass consecutively, indicating no further advantageous moves can be made. The player who has surrounded the most empty intersections, plus any stones they have on the board within their territory, is declared the winner. Shiku is known for its strategic depth and requires careful planning and foresight. Its origins are ancient, and it has been played for centuries across various regions of China.