Ludus Latrunculorum is an ancient Roman board game that you can play on almost any gridded board.

The initial set-up is similar to checkers, but the moves are more like hnefatafl.

The aim of the game is to capture all of the other player's pawns, or their Dux, or King.

Supplies

Historically, Ludus Latrunculorum has been played on square and rectangular boards from about 7 to 12 squares across. The important point is that the ranks (left to right) are an odd number.

You could make a set in any number of ways, from almost any material, but here I'm just going to repurpose my travel chess set. You could do the same with a draughts set - you just need enough pawns to fill a rank for each player, and a different piece to be the Dux.

Step 1: Set Up

Here, I'm ignoring File A, making an 8x7 board.

Each player has a rank of seven pawns, with the Dux in the centre of the next rank.

Step 2: Moves

All the pieces move the same way - in a straight line along the ranks or files (no diagonals), as far as you want.

Step 3: Capturing a Pawn

An opposing pawn is captured (and then removed) by flanking it with two of your own pieces. They can be along a rank or file, but they must be in a straight line.

In both the photos, the red pawn is being captured by white pawns.

A Dux may help capture pawns.

Only one pawn may be captured at a time.

If you capture all your opponent's pawns, you win.