The 12 Beads game is a traditional strategy board game that is known by many popular names such as Barah Goti, Sholo Guti, 12 Tehni, 12BT and Twelve Soldiers. It has been played for generations in many countries, especially in village communities, where people enjoyed simple but smart board games. Today, the 12 Beads game is still loved by players of all ages. It is considered a great brain game that improves focus, planning ability, and logical thinking. Its simple rules and deep strategy make it one of the most searched and played traditional board games in the world.
Objective: Eliminate all of your opponent's beads or reduce them to zero. If each player has only one bead left and no capture occurs for 8 consecutive moves, the game ends in a draw.
Board: The game is played on a 5Γ5 grid with additional diagonal and kiteβshaped lines. Each player starts with 12 beads placed as shown (the center intersection is empty).
Movement: On your turn, select one of your beads and move it to an adjacent empty intersection connected by a line. Moves can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Capturing: If an opponent's bead sits on an adjacent intersection and the space directly beyond it is empty (along any connecting line), you must jump over and capture that bead. Captures are mandatory β if a capture is possible, you must take it. Multiple captures in one turn are allowed and encouraged.
Draw: When only one bead remains for each side and 8 moves pass without a capture, the game is declared a draw. A notification will warn you when a draw is near.
Winning: The player who removes all opponent beads wins. If a draw occurs, neither player receives a win.
Controls: Use the color pickers to change bead colors, toggle hints with the lightbulb button, and pause or exit using the bottom bar. The AI can play against you or watch two AIs battle in AI vs AI mode.
Played across India, the Arab world, and South Asia for centuries β now alive in your browser. Free. Instant. No login. Just pure, timeless strategy.
There are games that get invented. And then there are games that get discovered β patterns of thought so natural that different civilizations landed on them independently, centuries apart. The 12 Beads Game (also known as Bara Tehni, 12BT, Baro Guti, 12 Goti, 12 Diti, and Bara Biti) is one of those games.
Each player controls 12 beads on a cross-hatched board of 25 intersecting points. You move. You jump. You capture. The player who eliminates every one of the opponent's beads β or locks them so they can't move β wins.
Sounds familiar? That's because it shares DNA with some of the greatest strategy games ever played. In Arabic it's called Alquerque (Ψ§ΩΩΨ±ΩΨ§Ψͺβ) or Quirkat. In the Americas, Spanish settlers called it El 12 de Cuentas. Similar spatial logic runs through Halma, Chinese Checkers, and Konane. This family of games crossed deserts, oceans, and centuries. And now it loads in your browser in about two seconds.
New to it? You'll understand the full game within your first three moves. Here's everything you need.
Whether you're a first-timer or a veteran of Alquerque tournaments β there's a mode built for you.
Simple to learn. A lifetime to master. Here are the core rules:
Luck plays zero role here. Every outcome is earned. Here's how to earn more wins.
This game lives under dozens of names around the world. If you've searched for any of these, you've found the right place:
In the USA it's gaining traction as a classic strategy board game online free alternative to Checkers and Chinese Checkers β and for good reason. The diagonal capture mechanics of Alquerque's board feel familiar, but the 12-bead setup creates an entirely different strategic landscape. Think of it as the ancestor game that taught Checkers everything it knows.
Opens in seconds on any device. No install, no app store, no account. Just click and play your free online board game.
Three difficulty levels from beginner-friendly to expert-level. The hard AI plays a genuine game β don't take it lightly.
Tap-friendly board, auto-scaling layout. Play your 12 beads game on mobile free without pinching or zooming.
Made a terrible move? Take it back. Practice mode lets you explore positions without consequence.
Your win-loss record saves automatically in your browser. The scoreboard doesn't lie β but it does motivate.
New players can turn on legal-move highlights. See every option before committing. Learning has never been cleaner.
Classic warm wood aesthetic in light mode. Deep midnight board for late-night sessions in dark mode.
Beat the hard AI? Tell everyone. One-tap sharing to WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.
It's not nostalgia alone β though there's plenty of that. Players who grew up watching grandparents play Bara Tehni or Baro Guti on hand-carved boards feel something genuine when the game loads in their browser. A continuity. A thread connecting a childhood kitchen table to a smartphone screen.
But newcomers β people encountering it through Checkers or Alquerque online searches β fall for it for different reasons. The rules are simple enough to explain in two minutes. The strategy is deep enough to discuss for hours. That combination is genuinely rare in free browser board games.
And the mandatory-capture rule? Pure genius. It removes passivity. Both players are always attacking. The board is always moving. There's no hiding, no stalling β just constant, escalating pressure until one player's formation cracks.
Every capture delivers a micro-reward β a small but real hit of satisfaction. Your brain registers the removed bead as progress, as dominance, as proof that your strategy is working.
The forced-capture rule amplifies this brilliantly. When your opponent must take your bead, you've engineered that outcome. You predicted their move before they made it. The satisfaction of watching someone walk into your trap β even a digital opponent β is deeply, almost embarrassingly enjoyable.
Pattern recognition fires constantly. The cross-hatched board with its diagonal connections creates geometric relationships your brain starts to read subconsciously after just a few games. Suddenly threats are visible before they're real. Escape routes appear before they're needed. That's spatial intelligence developing in real time. Hidden inside what just looks like a fun classic board game online.
Completely. No cost, no subscription, no hidden paywall. The full game β including the AI opponent β is free the moment the page loads.
Nothing. This is a 12 beads game online free no download browser game. No app, no plugin, no install. Works on any modern browser.
Yes β play 12 beads game on mobile free no download, no login required. Tap to select a bead, tap to place. Optimized for touchscreens.
These are regional names for the same 12 Beads board game, popular across South Asia. Bara Tehni and Baro Guti are Bengali-language names; the game is also called 12 Goti, 12 Diti, 12 Tani, and more.
Related, but distinct. Alquerque (Ψ§ΩΩΨ±ΩΨ§Ψͺβ) is widely considered the ancestor of modern Checkers β and it shares the diagonal-capture logic with the 12 Beads Game. They're cousins, not the same game.
Yes β three difficulty levels. The beginner AI teaches you the game. The expert AI will genuinely challenge you.
12 beads per side. Move to adjacent points. Capture by jumping. Captures are mandatory. Chain captures in one turn. First to eliminate all opponent beads wins.
Excellent for kids 7 and up. It builds spatial reasoning, forward planning, and patience β without any of the frustration of luck-based games.
Yes β it runs in any desktop browser. No software required. 12 Tehni game for PC plays beautifully on a large screen with mouse controls.
Once the page has loaded, it continues to work even if your connection drops. Perfect for travel or commuting.
No download. No account. No waiting. The same game that crossed deserts and oceans is ready in your browser right now β free, instant, and deeply satisfying.