Piece movement
- Mouse – slides any number of squares in straight lines (rank or file).
- Lion – glides any number of squares diagonally.
- Elephant – combines both directions, just like a queen.
- No captures exist. You only move into empty squares.
New
Guided onboarding
Learn how to play Barca
Five interactive drills walk you through movement, scaring, and the watering-hole finish so you can jump into games with confidence.
Pieces
Mouse · Lion · Elephant
Board
10 × 10 with 4 watering holes
Win
Hold 3 watering holes
What you'll practice
The guided session is broken into six quick drills so you can focus on one mechanic at a time.
- Step 1 · Orientation Learn the watering holes and the 10×10 layout.
- Steps 2-4 · Piece skills Mouse lanes, Lion diagonals, and Elephant hybrids.
- Step 5 · Scaring rule Resolve forced moves when predators are adjacent.
- Step 6 · Win condition Chain moves until you occupy three watering holes.
Interactive mode
Launch the full-screen lesson
Opens a dedicated page that mirrors the analysis layout so you can focus without distractions.
Quick reference
Everything you need to recall during a game—all in one glance.
Scaring order
- Mouse → scares → Elephant
- Elephant → scares → Lion
- Lion → scares → Mouse
- If one of your pieces is scared (adjacent to its predator), it must move this turn.
- If multiple pieces are scared you choose which one to move; if none can move you may play any piece.
Winning the game
- The four watering holes are the dotted squares: d4, d7, g4, g7.
- Occupy any three at the same time to win immediately.
- Threaten holes with long-range pieces first, then rotate in whatever piece is forced to move.
- Because there are no captures, controlling lanes and scare chains is everything.
Ready for the next challenge?
Jump into a computer game, study openings, or watch the live leaderboard once you finish the lesson.