How to Play the Medieval Game of Ringo

Put the pieces in the correct position around the board. The seven attacking pieces should be placed on the outside of the circle, in the outer ring of spaces. The shaded (or sometimes white) section of the circle is the Neutral Zone, and no pieces start in it. The four defending pieces should be placed on the four black squares surrounding the castle, in the center of the board.

Move one of the attacking pieces first. The aim of the game for the attacking player is to gain entry to the castle in the middle of the board. To do this, the attacker can move their pieces forward (inward) and sideways (to an adjacent position the same distance from the center). You can only move into a space that is not occupied by another piece. The castle space in the very center is the only exception to this rule, and you have to get two attackers into the space to win the game.

Move one of the defending pieces after the attacking player has moved. The defending player's aim is to prevent the attacking player from getting two of his pieces into the castle. To do this, the defender can move his pieces in any direction: forward, backward or sideways. If the defending player manages to reduce the attacking force to one piece, then he has won. The players take turns, and are permitted to move one of their pieces in each.

Capture an opponent's pieces by "jumping" them with one of yours. This means that if your piece is in front of an opponent's piece, and there is an empty space behind it, you move to the empty space (two spots away) and take the opponent's piece off the board. Attacking players can't capture pieces by jumping backward (moving further away from the center), but can jump pieces sideways and forward. You can only jump one piece in a turn.

Move your piece into the Neutral Zone if you want to protect it. Pieces stood in the Neutral Zone can't be captured, but you can start or end a capturing jump in a neutral space. This means that if an opponent is beside the neutral zone, you can jump her piece and finish inside it so you can't be taken in retaliation.

Jump over attackers in the castle if you're defending. Defending pieces cannot finish or move into the castle, but if there is an attacking player in the castle space, the defending player can jump over it and land on the other side. This captures the player in the castle space and leaves the defending piece on the opposite side of the castle. You cannot finish or begin a jump from inside the castle.