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How to Make a Chinese Checkers Set

If you're looking for a craft to occupy you on a rainy day or want to make a special present for a loved one, consider creating your very own Chinese checkers board. Chinese checkers is a star-shaped board game in which players attempt to move all their pieces from one triangle across the board into the triangle opposite. Although this game is designed for marbles, homemade versions can use items from around the house.

Things You'll Need

Cardboard square
Ruler
Magic marker
Pencil
Game pieces

Instructions

- 1
  Find a piece of square cardboard large enough to hold your game design. The larger the board is, the easier it will be to manipulate the pieces.
- 2
  Use your ruler to measure the top edge of the cardboard and place a mark in the center of this edge with magic marker. Use the marker to pinpoint the center of the cardboard bottom as well.
- 3
  Divide the left and right sides of the cardboard into three equal sections, placing pencil marks at the 1/3 and 2/3 points on each side. Using the pencil and ruler, draw a horizontal line connecting the 1/3 marks on each side and draw another horizontal line connecting the 2/3 marks.
- 4
  Connect the 1/3 point on each side to the marker point on the bottom edge using the pencil and ruler. This should make a large upside-down triangle.
- 5
  Take the pencil and ruler and connect the 2/3 points with the marker point on the top edge, creating a large right-side-up triangle. The final image should look like a star with smaller triangles formed at each point.
- 6
  Label the six smaller triangles A, B, C, D, E and F in order moving in a clockwise rotation. These triangles are the home bases for each player. Place a small circle the size of a hole puncher in the center of the point in each star.
- 7
  Measure the line between the circle in triangle A and the circle in triangle E. Divide this number by 13 to determine how much space to put between circles.
- 8
  Add 11 equal-size circles at equal intervals along the straight line connecting the circles in triangle A and E. There should be 13 equal-size circles at equal intervals once you finish this step. Add 11 equal-size circles at equal intervals between the point circles in A and C, B and F, B and D, C and E, and D and F.
- 9
  Notice how each triangle has one circle at its point and the next row has two circles; the following row should have three circles. Add all missing circles to all rows at equal intervals.
- 10
  Finish your board by coloring each of the triangles a different color and adding matching pieces to each circle of each triangle. These pieces could be small, wadded pieces of paper or coins or other objects of a player's choosing.

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