Dhamet Rules and How to Play in the App

First: What is Dhamet?

Dhamet is a traditional Mauritanian game from the checkers family, but it is not simply a standard version of the well-known forms of checkers. It differs in board shape, movement directions, capture method, the Soufla system, and the existence of a mandatory opening at the beginning of the match.

The game is played on a board of connected points and lines, not only squares. For that reason, understanding the board structure and the kinds of points is the correct foundation for understanding the game.

Second: Core rules of the game

1. The board and the pieces

   Dhamet is played on a 9×9 point board, meaning 81 playable points. Each player starts with 40 pieces. At the start, the board is full except for the center point, which is empty.

2. Types of points on the board

   The points on the board are divided into two types:

   • Tight points: allow movement only along vertical and horizontal lines.
   • Wide points: allow movement along vertical and horizontal lines, and may also allow diagonal movement if a diagonal line exists.
3. The mandatory opening

   The beginning of a Dhamet match is not completely free. The first 10 half-moves, meaning 5 moves for each player in alternation, are fixed and mandatory. After this phase, play becomes free according to the general rules. The aim is to organize the opening and prevent the board from locking due to the large number of pieces.

4. Piece movement

   Ordinary piece: moves only one step forward along a connected line:

   • If it is on a tight point, it moves only vertically forward.
   • If it is on a wide point, it moves vertically forward or diagonally forward if a diagonal path exists.

   An ordinary piece may not move backward or sideways as a normal move.

   Dhaim: a piece becomes a Dhaim when it reaches and settles on the last row on the opponent’s side. After that, it gains stronger movement than an ordinary piece: it may move along connected lines in any available direction and may cross several points in one move as long as the path is clear.

5. Capturing

   Capture is made by jumping over an opponent’s piece to an empty point beyond it on the same line. Capture may be vertical or horizontal, and may also be diagonal if a diagonal line exists.

   If a player starts capturing and can continue from the new position, the player must complete the correct capture chain to its end.

6. Soufla

   Soufla is the penalty applied when a player ignores a valid capture, chooses a wrong capture path, or fails to complete a required capture chain.

   Soufla occurs when:

   • The player ignores an available capture
   • The player performs a shorter capture while a longer chain exists
   • The player starts a capture chain and stops before completing it
   • The player chooses an incorrect path while a better or longer path exists

   When Soufla occurs, the opponent may choose one of two penalties:

   • Force the offending piece to perform the correct capture or chain
   • Remove the offending piece from the board
7. End of the match

   A player wins if they:

   • Remove all of the opponent’s pieces
   • Or leave the opponent unable to make any legal move

   In this app, a draw is counted when only one Dhaim remains for each player.

Third: What makes Dhamet different from common checkers?

• Play happens on points and paths, not only squares
• Movement is not always diagonal; it depends on the point type and the connected path
• The beginning follows a mandatory opening sequence
• Capturing is tied to the Soufla system as a core part of the game logic
• The Dhaim is highly influential because of its freedom of movement and ability to control and capture

Fourth: How do these rules appear inside the app?

1. Play modes

   The app provides three main modes:

   • Play against the computer
   • Online play
   • Spectating, when a suitable match is available to watch
2. Starting the match

   When play begins, the app prepares the board according to the active settings. During the mandatory opening stage, only the correct opening moves are allowed. After that, play becomes free under the general rules.

   In play against the computer, the computer strength is shown as levels only. These levels adjust search depth and thinking time internally without exposing algorithms to the user. A level change applies starting from the computer’s next move.

   In online play, the user may send an invitation to an online player, accept an invitation, or enter some matches as a spectator when available. Once an invitation is accepted, a match room is created and the state is synchronized between both sides.

3. Making a move

   To make a move inside the app:

   1. The player selects the piece to move
   2. Then selects the legal destination point available for that piece

   If the move is illegal, the app will not allow it. This may be because:

   • The mandatory opening is still active
   • The move does not match the piece type
   • The path is not connected
   • A required capture has not been played
4. Capturing inside the app

   If a legal capture exists, the player must execute it correctly. If a capture chain begins and can continue, it must be completed to its end.

5. The “End capture” button

   The End capture button is used after a capture chain is complete so that the end of the turn is recorded correctly. The turn may remain open, or play may fail to pass correctly to the opponent, if the capture state is not closed after the chain is complete.

6. Applying Soufla

   If the opponent ignores a valid capture, fails to complete the required chain, or chooses a path that violates the rule, the Soufla button can be used to enforce this rule inside the app. This button is not cosmetic; it is a tool for applying a real rule of Dhamet.

Fifth: Match tools inside the app

The app provides some supporting tools related to the progress of the match, such as:

• Undo: go back one move or a set of moves depending on the play mode.
• New game: start a new match after ending the current one.
• Save: save the current match state locally.
• Resume: reopen a saved match from the same device or browser.
• Exit: end the current session and return to menus.
• Refresh: appears in online play to attempt resynchronization when delay or mismatch occurs.

In some online play modes, room-related tools may also appear, such as:

• Chat
• Voice
• Microphone
• Leave room

Sixth: Important notes for beginners

• The mandatory opening constrains the first moves
• Selecting the piece alone is not enough; you must choose the correct legal destination
• A capture chain must be completed in full
• The End capture button is an important part of ending the turn
• The Soufla button is meant to apply a real rule of the game
• Some tools differ in function or usage conditions depending on the play mode