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Lasca
Lasca
Lasca
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Lasca
GenresBoard game
Abstract strategy game
Players2
Setup timeLess than a minute
Playing timeVaries, chess clocks can be used
ChanceNone
SkillsStrategy, tactics
SynonymsLaska
Laskers

Lasca (also called Laska or Laskers) is a draughts (or checkers) variant, invented by the second World Chess Champion Emanuel Lasker (1868–1941). Lasca is derived from English draughts (American checkers) and the Russian draughts game bashni (Towers).

History

[edit]

Emanuel Lasker became familiar with bashni in the 19th century while participating in chess tournaments in Moscow and St. Petersburg. According to contemporary memoirs, in Moscow Lasker stayed in the house of D. I. Sargin, a famous historian, researcher, and popularizer of board games. By the time he met Lasker, Sargin was regularly editing columns on draughts (towers) in several Russian newspapers and magazines. The mutual influence of these famous researchers on each other is quite obvious, since Sargin is the author of the fundamental work "The Antiquity of the games of checkers and chess", and Lasker's book "Board games of Nations" was repeatedly reprinted.

Public presentation of a new kind of columns draughts was at that time done by a strong marketing company using the brand in the person of Lasker, the current world champion.

In 1911, factory kits for the game of Lasca, including a game board, sets of draughts of four colors and a booklet describing the rules of the game, were widely sold in Europe and the United States.

  • E.Lasker plays his game Lasca. — New game // Ogonjok : Magazin/ — 1911. — № 39. — С. 17.
    E.Lasker plays his game Lasca. — New game // Ogonjok : Magazin/ — 1911. — № 39. — С. 17.
  • Original set for Lasca, booklet with description of rules and box
    Original set for Lasca, booklet with description of rules and box

Description

[edit]

The game is played on a 7×7 board; as with draughts and most descendant games, play takes place only on alternating squares, so that only 25 of the 49 squares are actually used. The playing pieces are known initially as soldiers; when they reach the last row of the board, they become officers, with the same ability as kings in English draughts to move and jump backward.

Rules

[edit]

The major difference between Lasca and other draughts variants is that instead of pieces being removed from the board when they are jumped, they are placed under the piece that jumped them, forming a column. A column is under the control of the player whose piece is on top, and has the move and jump capabilities of that piece (so that, for instance, a column with a black officer on top is under Black's control, and can move and jump in either direction.) If a column is itself jumped, only the top piece is removed to go under the column doing the jumping.

There are a few other changes in the rules, as well. Capturing is mandatory when possible; this means that a clever player may be able to force his opponent to capture several pieces of his color, then capture his opponent's piece from the top, leaving a powerful column composed of several pieces of his own color. A player wins the game when:

  • the opponent has no legal move, or
  • all the opponent's pieces have been captured, or
  • the opponent resigns.
A soldier must jump forward over an enemy soldier, making a column from the two pieces.
A column controlled by an officer (notice the marking) must jump backwards over an enemy column, whose uppermost piece is put under the attacking column.
A soldier jumps over a rival column, and reaches the last row of the board to become an officer (notice the marking).

Examples, tasks, and games

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  • Whites win. Lasca Task by Alexander Sladkoff, Moscow)
    Whites win. Lasca Task by Alexander Sladkoff, Moscow)
  • Peter Mikhaelsen (Dutch) - Victor Pakhomov (Russia)(1999 г.)
    Peter Mikhaelsen (Dutch) - Victor Pakhomov (Russia)(1999 г.)

See also

[edit]

Reviews

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Lasca

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Lasca is a two-player abstract strategy and variant of draughts (), invented in 1911 by , the German mathematician and second World Chess Champion who held the title from 1894 to 1921. Played on a 7×7 chequered board, it features unique stacking mechanics where pieces form columns, including captured opponents' pieces as "prisoners," and can be promoted from soldiers to officers (kings) upon reaching the opponent's back row, blending elements of English checkers and the Russian game Bashni. The objective is to capture all of the opponent's pieces or leave them without legal moves, emphasizing tactical depth through multi-level captures and strategic positioning of stacks. Lasker, born on December 24, 1868, in Berlinchen (now Barlinek, Poland), documented the rules in his 1911 booklet The Rules of Lasca, the Great Game, portraying it as a "" contest of strategy that rivals chess in complexity despite its checkers roots. The game's name derives from Lasker's surname, and it has also been called Laska or Laskers, though it remains relatively obscure outside niche communities, with occasional revivals through online play and printed sets. Unlike traditional draughts, Lasca's innovation lies in its vertical dimension: capturing involves placing the top enemy piece under one's own stack, potentially freeing lower pieces for the opponent later, which introduces bluffing and long-term planning. Each player starts with 11 pieces—soldiers placed on the first three rows of dark squares—moving forward diagonally like standard but with stack tops determining direction and power. Notable for its creator's dual legacy in chess and , Lasca exemplifies early 20th-century experimentation in abstract games, offering a steeper than basic while maintaining accessibility for strategic enthusiasts. Modern implementations, including digital versions and 3D-printed boards to visualize stacks, have helped preserve it, though it has not achieved widespread popularity.

History and Development

Invention by

, the second World Chess Champion from 1894 to 1921, invented Lasca in 1911 as an evolution of intended to incorporate stacking mechanics for added strategic depth. This innovation built upon the simplicity of traditional draughts while introducing layers of tactical complexity, aligning with Lasker's expertise in . Lasker's motivation for creating Lasca arose from his passion for abstract games, aiming to blend chess-like with ' accessible rules to produce a more engaging two-player contest. As a mathematician and philosopher alongside his chess career, he sought to design a game that emphasized foresight and adaptability, drawing indirectly from existing stacking variants but refining them into a distinct system. The first public presentation of Lasca occurred in 1911, when game kits—including boards, multi-colored pieces, and a rule booklet titled The Rules of Lasca, the Great Military Game—were sold in and the . Lasker personally authored the rules in this publication, ensuring clarity and completeness for new players. Lasker maintained active involvement in Lasca's development and promotion, sharing it within international chess circles during tournaments and lectures to attract fellow strategists to the game. He further documented Lasca in his 1931 book Brettspiele der Völker, where it featured alongside analyses of global board games, solidifying its place in his broader contributions to .

Influences and Precursors

Lasca's design was primarily influenced by the 19th-century variant known as Bashni, or "Towers," which introduced the innovative mechanic of stacking captured pieces atop the capturer rather than removing them from play. This column checkers game, played on an board akin to Russian shashki, allowed stacks to grow into multi-level towers that could be manipulated strategically, a concept adapted into Lasca's "prisoner" system where jumped pieces become captive layers beneath the opponent's piece. The stacking approach in Bashni aimed to extend gameplay duration and introduce dynamic reversals, elements central to Lasca's appeal. Russian board game scholar D. I. Sargin described Bashni in an 1885 article, contributing to its documentation; Lasker encountered these ideas during his visits to . English draughts (also called American checkers) provided foundational mechanics for Lasca, particularly the diagonal movement of pieces and the basic rules for non-king captures. Lasker, who regarded English draughts highly for its tactical purity, integrated these elements to form the baseline for his variant, blending them with Bashni's vertical dimension to create a hybrid that emphasized both horizontal positioning and stack control. This synthesis addressed perceived shortcomings in standard , such as overly predictable endgames.

Publication and Early Popularity

Lasca was first published in 1911 through Emanuel Lasker's self-published four-page booklet titled The Rules of 'Lasca' - the Great Military Game, which detailed the game's rules and mechanics. Game sets were produced and sold by in the United States beginning around 1913. The rules appeared in Lasker's later writings, such as Brettspiele der Völker (), helping to integrate Lasca into broader discussions of strategic games. Early adoption of Lasca occurred primarily in chess clubs across and the , where it appealed to enthusiasts of abstract strategy games seeking alternatives to traditional chess and . It received mentions in and periodicals, reflecting growing interest among dedicated players. Lasker's prominence as the reigning world chess champion from 1894 to 1921 significantly boosted initial interest, drawing attention from intellectual and gaming circles familiar with his work. The game gained wider popularity in , the , and the after . Sales of Lasca sets remained modest in and the through the 1920s, with production limited compared to standard variants that dominated the market. Despite this, the game saw some uptake between the World Wars, supported by Lasker's promotional efforts and occasional club tournaments. Its popularity waned due to disruptions from , which halted international distribution and events, compounded by the absence of widespread organized tournaments to sustain momentum.

Game Components

Board Layout

The Lasca board consists of a 7×7 grid, comprising 49 squares in total, but gameplay occurs exclusively on the 25 dark squares in an alternating checkered pattern, beginning with a dark square in the top-left corner. This setup adapts a standard checkers board to the smaller dimensions required for Lasca, ensuring that only these designated squares are used for piece placement and movement. The board's layout is oriented with columns numbered 1 through 7 from left to right and rows numbered 1 through 7 from bottom to top from the perspective of the white player, facilitating algebraic notation similar to that in variants. The playable dark squares form a distinctive that supports diagonal interactions, visually resembling a cross-like structure when considering the interconnected pathways across the board. To play Lasca, a 7×7 board—often a modified board—is essential, along with 22 stackable discs (11 white and 11 black) that allow for the formation of columns during captures. Pieces are initially placed on the dark squares at each player's end of the board.

Pieces and Their Types

In Lasca, each player begins with 11 identical soldiers, also referred to as men, which are the basic playing pieces. These soldiers are stackable discs, typically one color per player such as black for one and white for the other, marked with a spot on one side that remains hidden at the start. The pieces are placed on the dark squares of the first three rows closest to each player on the 7x7 board. Soldiers promote to officers, akin to kings in checkers, upon reaching the opponent's back row, gaining enhanced capabilities. The primary distinction between the types lies in their movement: soldiers can only advance diagonally forward or capture in that direction, while officers are permitted to move and capture diagonally in any direction, including backward. This differentiation allows officers greater flexibility on the board once achieved.

Rules of Play

Setup and Initial Positioning

Lasca is prepared for play on a standard 7×7 chequered board, where is confined to the 25 dark squares, leaving the light squares unused. The board is oriented such that the bottom-left square from perspective (row 1, column 1) is a dark square, ensuring consistent positioning across games. Each player receives 11 identical soldiers—flat, stackable discs marked on one side to indicate officers upon promotion—with white assigned to one side and black to the other. No randomization is involved in the setup; the arrangement is fixed to promote balanced starting conditions. White's soldiers occupy the dark squares of rows 1 through 3, while black's occupy rows 5 through 7, with row 4 remaining entirely empty to allow for initial forward advances. This configuration positions the players' forces in close proximity, emphasizing the stacking and capturing mechanics from the outset. White always moves first, alternating turns thereafter. The pieces are placed plain side up (unmarked) at the start, ready for potential stacking during play. The precise initial placement follows a staggered pattern on the dark squares, akin to traditional variants but adapted to the 7×7 grid for 11 pieces per side:
RowWhite Placement (Columns)Black Placement (Columns)
11, 3, 5, 7-
22, 4, 6-
31, 3, 5, 7-
4(Empty)(Empty)
5-1, 3, 5, 7
6-2, 4, 6
7-1, 3, 5, 7
This arrangement ensures four pieces in the first and third rows and three in the second (and mirrored for black), totaling 11 soldiers each and setting up diagonal movement paths.

Movement and Basic Play

In Lasca, players alternate turns, with the first player (typically ) initiating play. On each turn, a player must move one of their pieces or stacks or capture if possible; inability to make a legal move results in loss. This turn structure ensures continuous alternation unless a player is unable to act, contributing to the game's tactical depth. Basic non-capturing moves are restricted to diagonal steps on the 7x7 board's dark squares. Soldiers, the unpromoted pieces, advance only forward diagonally to an adjacent empty square, prohibiting any backward or sideways progression to maintain their forward momentum. This limitation underscores the game's emphasis on progression toward promotion while preventing retreats. Officers, formed by promoting soldiers upon reaching the opponent's back row, gain versatility by moving one square diagonally in any direction—forward, backward, or sideways—to an empty square, akin to enhanced mobility without the long-range capabilities of traditional kings. Stacks, formed during play, function as unified units controlled by the color of their topmost piece, which dictates the permissible movement. A stack moves as a whole to an adjacent empty square diagonally, following the directional rules of its commander: forward only if topped by a soldier, or in any diagonal direction if topped by an officer. Stacks cannot be divided or split during a move, preserving their integrity as tactical assets. This mechanic allows players to maneuver multiple pieces cohesively, adding layers to positioning without altering the one-square limit.

Capturing and Stacking Mechanics

In Lasca, capturing is performed by an adjacent opponent's piece or stack diagonally forward (for men) or in any diagonal direction (for kings or stacks topped by kings) to an empty square immediately beyond, mirroring the jumping mechanism in English draughts. This action is mandatory whenever possible, taking precedence over any non-capturing move, and players cannot jump over their own pieces or stacks. Upon a successful jump, the captured piece—always the topmost piece of the opponent's stack, whether a man or king—is not removed from the board but instead placed directly beneath the capturing piece or stack, thereby forming or augmenting a column. The remaining pieces in the original stack now form their own stack, controlled by the owner of the new topmost piece. This stacking mechanic introduces a layer of strategic depth, as imprisoned pieces remain on the board and can potentially be liberated if the controlling top is later captured. Multiple captures with the same piece or stack are required in a single turn if further jumps are available after the initial capture, continuing until no additional captures can be made from the landing position; the direction of subsequent jumps is determined by the type of the top piece (forward for men, any direction for kings). When multiple capture sequences are possible, the player chooses one. A stack cannot jump the same opponent's stack more than once in a single turn to prevent repetitive exploitation.

Promotion and Special Rules

In Lasca, promotion occurs when a reaches the opponent's back row (row 7 for and row 1 for Black on the 7x7 board); the topmost piece of the stack is flipped to reveal its spotted side, transforming it into an , while only the top piece undergoes this change. If promotion happens as the result of a capturing move, the turn ends immediately without allowing additional captures. Officers, whether standalone or atop a stack, gain enhanced mobility by moving one square diagonally in any direction, including backward, unlike soldiers which are restricted to forward diagonals; this backward capability persists even when the officer tops a stack, allowing the entire stack to maneuver accordingly. Among the special rules, Lasca prohibits "flying" movements, confining non-capturing advances to adjacent diagonal squares without leaping over unoccupied spaces. Players may resign at any time, conceding the game to their opponent. The game concludes in victory for the player who captures all of the opponent's pieces, immobilizes them by blocking all possible moves, or prompts their resignation. Lasca has no formal draw rules, though a mutual inability to move could theoretically result in a , depending on player agreement.

Strategy and Tactics

Opening Strategies

In Lasca, the opening phase emphasizes establishing control over the central columns (3 through 5) by advancing soldiers from the second and third rows, as this facilitates early stack formation and restricts the opponent's mobility. The initial position on the 7x7 board is symmetrical, limiting White's first move to three distinct options: a3-b4 (a wing advance), c3-b4 (a semi-central shift), or c3-d4 (a direct central push). The c3-d4 move is often preferred for its potential to dominate the center, allowing White to develop stacks quickly while pressuring Black's e5 and d6 soldiers. In contrast, the a3-b4 opening, known as the , risks early edge commitments that can lead to isolated pieces vulnerable to counterattacks, as Black can respond with c5xa3 to capture and build an immediate stack. Key strategic concepts in the opening revolve around initiating safe jumps to build multi-piece stacks, which enhance capturing power without exposing pieces to retaliation. Players aim to protect promotion paths on rows 4 and 5 (for White advancing toward row 7), using central advances to block Black's similar routes while avoiding premature engagements on the flanks. For instance, the Opening (1. c3-b4 a5xc3 2. b2xd4) exemplifies this by capturing Black's a5 to form an early stack on c3, securing column control and setting up threats against Black's g5 or c5 responses. White's first-move provides a slight advantage in achieving central dominance, enabling proactive stack development before Black can symmetrize the position with mirroring defenses like e5xc3 in response to c3-d4. Common pitfalls include overextension, where aggressive wing advances or hasty captures create weak columns that Black can exploit through forced jumps, tying up White's pieces in defensive stacks. To counter this, openings stress spreading captures across multiple columns to maintain balanced strength, as concentrating jumps in one column (e.g., overbuilding on column 1) can result in a vulnerable stack easily lured and dismantled by an opposing . The (1. c3-d4 e5xc3 2. b2xd4 c5-b4) illustrates Black's symmetric counter, regaining and preventing White's unchecked central buildup. Overall, successful openings prioritize measured central pressure over risky gambits, laying the foundation for midgame stack maneuvers.

Midgame Tactics

In the midgame of Lasca, players focus on maneuvering stacks to gain control over key board positions, leveraging the stacking mechanic to outmaneuver opponents. Stack tactics revolve around utilizing -tops for enhanced flexibility, as officers allow diagonal movement in any direction and multiple jumps without repeating spaces. By positioning a stack with an officer on top, a player can execute versatile jumps that capture the top piece of an opponent's stack, thereby dismantling it and potentially liberating their own pieces buried underneath. This approach not only disrupts the opponent's structure but also rebuilds one's own stacks with favorable compositions. Forcing sequences become central as the board fills with mixed stacks, where compulsory captures compel the opponent into predictable responses. Players set up multiple jumps by aligning their stacks to bait captures, allowing recaptures that remove key opponent pieces and consolidate column control for blocking advances. Column control tactics involve dominating central files to restrict opponent mobility, often by sacrificing minor pieces to force exchanges that favor one's officer-led stacks. These sequences exploit the liberation of freed pieces, turning midgame skirmishes into opportunities for material and positional superiority. Defensive plays emphasize maintaining cohesive stacks to avoid vulnerabilities, such as isolated soldiers that can be easily targeted and captured. Trading stacks judiciously reduces opponent mobility by dismantling their tall formations, while preserving one's own connectivity ensures sustained counterplay. Promotion benefits, such as increased jumping power, are briefly pursued here to bolster these defenses without overextending. A common midgame pattern is the "tower assault," where players build tall stacks to threaten rapid promotions and overwhelm opponent lines. These towering structures, often topped with , enable aggressive pushes along columns, forcing defensive concessions and setting up cascading captures that can decisively shift the game's momentum.

Endgame Considerations

In the endgame of Lasca, players focus on promoting any remaining to to gain enhanced mobility, as can move diagonally in any direction, enabling them to lead stacks in capturing sequences across the board. This promotion occurs when a reaches the opponent's back row, flipping it to reveal the officer side, which remains in effect for the rest of the game. With fewer pieces active, officer stacks become crucial for long-range captures, as the top officer directs the stack's movement and jumping over adjacent enemy stacks to imprison their commanders. Officers dominate late-game positions due to their ability to maneuver backward and forward, allowing them to sweep isolated or weakened opponent stacks while repositioning friendly columns efficiently. However, players must guard against over-stacking their own pieces, as excessively tall columns reduce agility—moving only one square at a time and risking immobility if blocked—potentially turning a material advantage into a liability. Zugzwang scenarios emerge as a key tactic, where blockades are constructed to confine the opponent's remaining pieces, forcing them into positions with no legal moves and thus securing victory. Such blockades exploit the mandatory capture rule, compelling the opponent to make disadvantageous jumps that further entrench their immobility. Evaluating endgame positions centers on tallying free pieces—those not imprisoned under enemy stacks—against imprisoned ones, with a clear emphasis on achieving numerical superiority in mobile units to outmaneuver and command the board. Imprisoned pieces can be liberated only by capturing the overlying stack's commander, making the count of accessible versus trapped material a decisive factor in late-game planning.

Known Variants of Lasca

While Lasca has no major official variants established by its inventor or subsequent standardized rulesets, several informal adaptations exist, often as house rules modifying board dimensions, piece counts, or capturing options to suit different play preferences. Gomony, created by Harvey Klein in 1979, is an 8×8 variant played on a standard board, using 12 bi-colored pieces per player instead of the original 11 on a 7×7 grid; this expansion reduces initial crowding and enhances piece mobility, allowing for more fluid non-capturing moves while retaining the core stacking mechanic where captured pieces are placed beneath the capturer. Pieces are marked on the sides to indicate or status, unlike Lasca where the stack top conceals lower types. Pasta, invented by Alvin Paster in 1956, modifies promotion rules such that single pieces cannot promote upon reaching the last row; instead, a stack promotes only when two pieces of the same color are on top and reach the promotion line, with an alternative win condition of being the first to achieve promotion. It can also be played with 20 pieces per player on a 10×10 board. Digital implementations, such as those on igGameCenter, feature online play with AI opponents at varying skill levels and minor balance tweaks like adjusted promotion thresholds to accommodate shorter sessions or handicap play. Overall, these modifications remain niche, with most players sticking to house rules that tweak board size for accessibility or alter promotion rules to prolong games, rather than creating codified variants.

Similar Stacking Checkers Games

Bashni, also known as column checkers or towers, is a traditional Russian variant of draughts played on an 8×8 board, where captured pieces are stacked beneath the capturing piece rather than removed, forming columns controlled by the topmost piece. In this game, pieces are only permanently removed if an entire stack is captured, allowing for dynamic play where opponents can reclaim pieces by capturing the top of enemy stacks, which releases the underlying pieces for their next turn. Unlike standard variants, Bashni emphasizes building and dismantling stacks strategically, with movement and captures following rules but adapted for column heights. Stapeldammen represents a modern adaptation within the International draughts family, retaining the 10×10 board and long-range king moves but incorporating stacking captures without piece promotion. Here, captured pieces are placed under the capturer as prisoners, enabling multiple jumps that build powerful stacks, though pieces reaching the promotion rank become immobile unless capturing backward. This variant, popular in Dutch circles, heightens tension through forced captures and the risk of trapping stacks near the opponent's side. Emergo, invented by Christian Freeling and Ed van Zon in 1986, further explores stacking on a 9×9 board (or 7×7 for shorter games), where players begin by placing pieces to form initial stacks before engaging in diagonal captures that add enemy tops as prisoners. Captures are mandatory and prioritize maximum enemy pieces taken, with revealed opposite-color checkers switching ownership, creating fluid alliances within stacks. As a column checkers game, Emergo refines the mechanic by starting with an empty board and emphasizing stack liberation over traditional setup. While these games share Lasca's core stacking capture principle, Lasca distinguishes itself with a compact 7×7 board and unique officer promotions that grant enhanced movement options, contrasting Bashni's uniform 8×8 uniformity and lack of such ranks. , though influential in the broader draughts lineage through its orthogonal movement and powerful kings, lacks true stacking and instead focuses on immediate removals during captures.

Reception and Modern Play

Historical Reviews and Criticism

Early 20th-century opinions on Lasca highlighted its innovative design and strategic depth, with Emanuel Lasker himself promoting the game in his 1911 publication as a dynamic "great military game" that combined familiar checkers mechanics with stacking and capturing innovations for exciting tactical battles. Lasker emphasized its accessibility, positioning Lasca as a more approachable alternative to chess by building on simple movement rules while introducing layers of decision-making through piece promotion and column management. A 1976 retrospective in Games and Puzzles magazine echoed this praise, describing Lasca as an "intriguing" abstract game with subtle strategic elements that rewarded thoughtful play. Criticism of Lasca in historical accounts often centered on its perceived complexity for casual audiences, with the stacking mechanic seen as slowing the game's pace relative to traditional and introducing rules that could overwhelm beginners. Reviewers noted that while the forced jumps and prisoner captures added depth, they disrupted the fluid progression of standard draughts variants, making it less suitable for quick, recreational sessions. This view contributed to Lasca's limited adoption beyond dedicated players, as the demanded greater attention to stack compositions and long-term positioning. Overall, Lasca garnered niche appeal among intellectual and enthusiast circles, remaining obscure despite Lasker's endorsement and its unique blend of familiarity and . Aggregate user ratings reflect this modest reception, with assigning it a 6.5 out of 10 based on community feedback highlighting its tactical intrigue tempered by accessibility barriers.

Contemporary Availability and Community

In the digital realm, Lasca is accessible through online platforms such as igGameCenter, where players can engage in multiplayer matches against others worldwide. The game has also been adapted into a mobile application titled Laska Strategy Game, available on , featuring an integrated AI opponent with three difficulty levels for solo play; the app received updates as of July 2025. Additionally, maintains an entry for Laska (an alternate name for Lasca) dating back to the , serving as a hub for user ratings, rules discussions, and file downloads that support ongoing interest among enthusiasts. Physical components for Lasca remain available via print-on-demand services like The Game Crafter, which has offered customizable sets since August 2013, allowing players to produce boards and stackable pieces tailored to their preferences. Nestorgames provides deluxe editions with high-quality acrylic discs and boards, released on , 2013, and still in production for collectors of abstract strategy games. These options cater to those preferring tangible play without relying on digital interfaces. The Lasca community is modest and niche, centered around online forums and abstract game enthusiasts. Sites like MindSports.nl host interactive play options and discussions on Lasca's . Occasional events occur within abstract game clubs, where Lasca features alongside similar titles in informal settings. As of November 2025, Lasca maintains steady but limited engagement within dedicated circles, with no large-scale revivals emerging to broaden its appeal beyond niche strategy aficionados. This sustained interest underscores Lasca's enduring fascination for enthusiasts, though it lacks the widespread adoption seen in more mainstream board .

References

  1. http://www.lasca.org/
  2. https://www.iggamecenter.com/en/rules/lasca
  3. https://ludii.games/details.php?keyword=Lasca
  4. https://nestorgames.com/rulebooks/LASKA_EN.pdf
  5. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6862/laska
  6. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.laska&hl=en_SG
  7. https://www.cs.ucla.edu/~klinger/laskers.html
  8. https://en.chessbase.com/post/study-of-the-month-2020-11
  9. https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/8267.pdf
  10. https://mindsports.nl/index.php/the-pit/608-bashni
  11. http://www.abstractgames.org/uploads/1/1/6/4/116462923/abstract_games_issue_1.pdf
  12. https://www.mindsports.nl/index.php/on-the-evolution-of-draughts-variants/column-checkers
  13. http://www.lasca.org/show?23I
  14. http://gamecatalog.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/GC8.pdf
  15. https://www.kwabc.org/files/kwabc/news/2010/06/Laska%20Vortrag.pdf
  16. https://gambiter.com/checkers/Lasca.html
  17. http://www.lasca.org/show?621
  18. https://mindsports.nl/index.php/the-pit/609-lasca
  19. http://www.lasca.org/show?2RU
  20. https://www.iggamecenter.com/he/rules/lasca
  21. http://www.pjb.com.au/laska/laskers_rules.pdf
  22. https://www.di.fc.ul.pt/~jpn/gv/lasca.htm
  23. https://draughts.github.io/lasca.html
  24. http://www.lasca.org/show?6V6
  25. http://www.lasca.org/show?6NU
  26. http://www.lasca.org/show?6U7
  27. http://www.lasca.org/show?2KP
  28. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/135803/gomony
  29. https://mindsports.nl/index.php/on-the-evolution-of-draughts-variants/116-column-checkers
  30. https://sites.google.com/site/boardandpieces/list-of-games/checkers
  31. https://boardgamegeek.com/wiki/page/Checkers_Family
  32. https://www.iggamecenter.com/en/rules/bashni
  33. https://draughts.github.io/bashni.html
  34. https://mindsports.nl/index.php/the-pit/588-stapeldammen
  35. https://www.iggamecenter.com/en/rules/emergo
  36. https://mindsports.nl/index.php/the-pit/592-turkish-draughts
  37. http://www.lasca.org/show?6YF
  38. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.laska&hl=en_US
  39. https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/lasca
  40. https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/217875/nestorgames-deluxe-edition
  41. https://boardgamegeek.com/image/9002557/laska
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