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Games To Make

Games from around the world and long ago

Games To Make

Games from around the world and long ago
 
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Games To MakeNeedle and Thread Crafts

The Game of Achi

Ghanaian game that's fun for the whole family!
Felt game board for Achi
What you will make:

In this project, make a felt or paper game board for Achi, a game from Ghana which goes beyond tic-tac-toe. Children play similar games all around the world. Some of the oldest games, dating back over 3,500 years, are in a group called games of alignment. Tic-tac-toe is one of the most popular of these games in the United States, but in Ghana the children play Achi.

At the end of this project page, learn more about the history and rules of Achi.

Here's what you need:
  • Two 9" by 12" pieces of felt in contrasting colors or construction paper
  • Scissors or rotary cutter and mat
  • Black permanent fabric marker
  • Embroidery floss in colors of felt
  • Sewing needle
  • Straight pins
  • Ruler and pencil or chalk
  • Optional supplies: Fabric glue instead of needle and thread, or a regular black marker and glue stick for a paper board.

This project is rated EASY to do.

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Before you start
  • Make a place to work.
  • Read all of the directions.
  • Gather everything you need to do the project.
  • Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.
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How to Make an Achi Game Board

Read all of the steps before starting.
Step 1: Choose a Pattern and Print It

Download and print the pattern for the felt game board. (The felt templates can also be used with paper or cardstock.)

Bonus pattern: Use the Picaria templates to make a game board for another 3-in-a-row game from the Pueblo Indians of  New Mexico. For how to play Picaria and additional patterns, see Picaria Game Board Patterns.

Easy Game Board: The Printable Game Board pattern, with Adinkra Symbols,  can be used to make a simple print, cut and play game board. Just follow the instructions in the English Board Solitaire craft project.

Felt or Paper Pattern
Pattern for a felt Achi game board
Printable Game Board
Pattern for a printable Achi game board
Picaria Felt or Paper
Pattern for a felt Picaria game board

Patterns are Adobe PDF files. The Adobe Reader is available for free.

All of Aunt Annie's project patterns are designed to be printed on standard letter size paper (8.5"x11" or A4). When printing from Adobe Reader, you may need to select Auto-Rotate and Center or Choose paper source by PDF page size to ensure the best fit.

Step 2: Cut

Cut a 6" square from the lighter felt (or paper). Cut the darker piece of felt (or paper) into a 9" square and four 2.25" squares. Cut each of the four 2.25" squares in half on the diagonal. Picaria: Cut the squares a second time on the diagonal.

Cut felt pieces for Achi game board

As an aid in cutting, you can pin the pattern templates to the felt, or use a ruler and pencil or chalk to measure and mark the squares.

Step 3: Mark Lines (optional)
Mark game lines on 6-inch square of felt

Using the printed pattern as a guide, draw four lines on the 6" square of lighter felt with the black permanent fabric marker. Draw two diagonal lines, corner to corner, and horizontal and vertical lines that go through the point where the diagonal lines cross. Picaria: Draw four additional lnes joing the mid-points on each side.

The game lines are optional, but without them, placing the triangles accurately will be more difficult.

Step 4: Sew Triangles
Sew triangles to 6-inch square using running stitch

Pin the felt triangles to the 6" felt square. Center each piece in a triangle created by the drawn lines.

Using 3 strands of embroidery floss, sew each felt triangle in place with a running stitch about ¼" from the edge. You may find that the sewing is easier if you first baste the felt triangles to the 6" square. (Baste with long, loose running stitches to temporarily hold the fabric together.)

For a paper board, glue the triangle pieces centered in the triangular spaces created by the drawn lines.

Step 5: Stitch Squares Together
Sew 6-inch square to 9-inch square to complete the felt game board

Pin the 6" felt square in the center of the 9" felt square. Stitch the squares together with 3 strands of embroidery floss, using a running stitch about ¼" from the edge of the 6" square.

For a paper board, glue the 6" square in the center of the larger square.

That's it! Your game board is done and now it's time to play!

Step 6: Play Achi

Achi is a two-player game. Each player needs four game pieces in a color that contrasts with the other player's game pieces. Two different dried beans, like red kidney and white Great Northern, work well; alternatively, use pennies and dimes. The object of the game is to be the first player to align three pieces in a row.

  1. Draw lots to see who goes first.
  2. Players take turns putting playing pieces on any line intersection.
  3. The game moves into its second stage after all pieces have been played and no one has three in a row. Players now take turns moving one of their pieces along a line to an empty spot. No jumping allowed.
  4. The first player to get three in a row wins. The row can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

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When were Achi and Tic-Tac-Toe invented?

Children play similar games all around the world. Some of the oldest games, dating back over 3,500 years, belong to a type of game called games of alignment. Tic-tac-toe is one of the most popular of these games in the United States, but in Ghana the children play Achi. They usually mark the game board on the ground and use little sticks as playing pieces. One player will have four little sticks with the bark on, and the other player will have four sticks with the bark off.

A game board like those used for Achi was found carved into a roofing slab of the temple at Al-Qurna in Egypt. It dates from 3,500 years ago. In addition, Confucius describes the game of yih that was played in China as far back as 500 B.C.; yih is now called tic-tac-toe. There are many other historical references to alignment games from around the world. Two boards dating from 2,000 years ago were found in Sri Lanka. Other references come from Rome, Crete, Ireland, and Norway.


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