History TabletopGame / Arimaa

''Arimaa'' is an AbstractStrategyGame -- specifically one that can be [[VariantChess played using a chess set]] -- in which two groups of animals attempt to shove each other around and throw each other into {{pit|Trap}}s in an effort to get their bunny rabbits [[EscortMission safety across the field]]. Way better than it sounds.

''Arimaa'' is a [[VariantChess chess variant]] in which two groups of animals attempt to shove each other around and throw each other into {{pit|Trap}}s in an effort to get their bunny rabbits [[EscortMission safety across the field]]. Way better than it sounds.

* DeerInTheHeadlights: Animals freeze in place when threatened by stronger animals.

The pieces represent different animals of varying levels of strength. These pieces on each side are (in order of descending power): [[{{WarElephants}} The Elephant]], [[{{TheBigGuy}} The Camel]], [[{{TheCavalry}} Two Horses]], Two Dogs, Two Cats, and [[{{RedshirtArmy}} Eight Rabbits]].

Can be played online at the official website [[http://www.arimaa.com here]].

Arimaa is a [[VariantChess chess variant]] in which two groups of animals attempt to shove each other around and throw each other into {{pit|Trap}}s in an effort to get their bunny rabbits [[EscortMission safety across the field]]. Way better than it sounds.

* ArtificialStupidity: Computers are far worse at this game than chess, by design. However, the creator still encourages programmers to prove him wrong. He has set up a time limit of the year 2020 to subvert this trope before assuming that [[{{TechnologyMarchesOn}} processors will simply become too fast to stop]].

The game was designed by computer programmer Omar Syed, who created it because he was disappointed by the dominance of computers over humans in modern chess play. He designed Arimaa to be similar to TabletopGame/{{chess}}, using the same physical equipment, but making it [[ComputersAreFast harder for computers to solve]] while still being intuitively simple and interesting for humans. Syed created a contest along with the game, with a $10,000 prize, in which he challenges people to make such an AI that actually can beat the top players. So far, none have succeeded.

* FragileSpeedster: Averted with the rabbit. Although they are the weakest, they don't gain any speed as compensation. In fact, as the only piece that cannot move backward, they actually have the least mobility out of all the pieces.

Arimaa is a [[VariantChess chess variant]] in which two groups of animals attempt to shove each other around and throw each other into {{pit|Trap}}s in an effort to get their bunny rabbits [[EscortMission safety across the field]]. [[BetterThanItSounds Way better than it sounds]].

* AmplifiedAnimalAptitude: The armies are comprised entirely of animals, yet they organize and move in strategic ways.

* FieldPromotion: Averted, unlike {{chess}} and most [[{{VariantChess}} variants]]. The strength and effectiveness of a piece is limited by their species, and can never be improved.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Played straight, in contrast to chess. When using chess pieces, the relative strength of a piece is dictated by its traditional value in chess, with The King as the strongest and The Pawns as the weakest.

* VariantChess: A case that intentionally sticks to using the same board and pieces.

* InstantWinCondition: If a rabbit reaches the side of the board opposite of their team's home territory at any point, their team wins.