A touchdown, which scores four points, is made by blowing the ball through the opponents’ goal. The captain of the victorious side then takes the ball back to the opposite goal and blows it across the table, the object being to pass it through the same goal again. This, if successful, scores two more points.
The time limit of the game is thirty minutes, divided into two parts of fifteen minutes each. After the first half the two teams change positions, as in football.
Nine Men’s Morris.—Two persons, having each of them nine pieces, or men, different in colour from those of his opponent, lay them down alternately, one by one, upon the spots; and the aim of both players is to prevent his antagonist from placing three of his pieces so as to form a row of three without the intervention of an opposing piece. If a row be formed, he that made it is at liberty to take up one of his competitor’s pieces from any part he thinks most to his advantage; unless he has made a row, which must not be touched. When all the pieces are laid down, they are played backwards and forwards in any direction that the lines run, but can only move from one spot to another at one time. He that takes all his antagonist’s pieces, is the winner.
Nine Men’s Morris. Fox and Geese.
Fox and Geese.—Fifteen draughtsmen serve for the flock of geese. The fox may be two draughtsmen placed one upon another. The game is played on a board marked as shown in the illustration. Sometimes holes are pricked at the junction of the lines and pegs are used instead of draughtsmen. The fox is placed in the middle of the board, and the geese as shown in the illustration. The game is to confine the fox to some spot on the board, so that there shall be either the edge of the board or else two rows of men round him. When the fox cannot escape, the game is done, and the player of the geese wins; but when one of the geese is left on a point next to that occupied by the fox, and is not supported by another goose behind, or by the edge of the board, the fox can take it, and by jumping over its head to the next space, as in draughts, he may, perhaps, escape the others, as all the geese are compelled to move forwards towards the end of the board that was unoccupied at the commencement of the game. The fox is allowed to move either backwards or forwards. Neither the fox nor a goose must be moved more than one space at a time. If the fox neglects to take when he has a chance, he is huffed, and one of the captured geese is restored to the board. The fox should avoid getting into the lower square of the board if possible, as he will find it difficult to extricate himself from a position which can be so easily blockaded.
Fox and Geese — A Second Method.
A Second Method.—There is another way of playing fox and geese on a chessboard, with four white men, representing the geese, and one black one, for the fox.
The geese are placed on the four white squares nearest one player, and the fox may be put where his owner pleases. The best place for him is that marked in the diagram.